Numb Hands From Biking - Triathlon Week

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
rubberband my fingers together on the swim?

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

"Ironic" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:38f527b7.0406031417.2c077507@posting.google.c om...
> My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
> to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
> bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> rubberband my fingers together on the swim?

More Info is probably needed:

The obvious question would be about how much weight you have on your hands.

Based upon the limited info, I recommend a Google search on "bikers palsy".

rsquared

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

Thanks. I did the search, and it looks like you hit it on the head.
Are you inside my plan or outside, and do you accept Mastercard for
the Co-pay?

"rsquared" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<UCNvc.6103$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>. ..
> "Ironic" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:38f527b7.0406031417.2c077507@posting.google.c om...
> > My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> > without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> > ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> > to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
> > to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> > do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> > away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> > holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
> > bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> > rubberband my fingers together on the swim?
>
> More Info is probably needed:
>
> The obvious question would be about how much weight you have on your hands.
>
> Based upon the limited info, I recommend a Google search on "bikers palsy".
>
> rsquared

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

"Ironic" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:38f527b7.0406031816.7918a7c8@posting.google.c om...
> Thanks. I did the search, and it looks like you hit it on the head.
> Are you inside my plan or outside, and do you accept Mastercard for
> the Co-pay?

No charge. I am proof that if you stick around long enough, you become an
accidental expert on some things. Glad it helped. : )

Good Luck!

rsquared

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Ironic) wrote:

> My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
> to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
> bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> rubberband my fingers together on the swim?

Since you're already wearing gloves, some of this may be a bike-fit
problem. It sounds like you may have too much weight on your hands.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

"Ironic" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:38f527b7.0406031417.2c077507@posting.google.c om...
> My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
> to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
> bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> rubberband my fingers together on the swim?

I recently purchased a nice set of gloves. The only problem is, the padding
in the heel is too stiff, which causes my hands to go numb...to the point of
a tingly feeling for days.

Looks like I'll have to purchase some softer gloves or go back to no gloves.

a.

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

Not sure what you're on, but I noticed I was getting numb hands less often
once I switched to carbon forks. Gel padded gloves helped as well.

I can only assume that tying your fingers together is illegal for the swim.
Perhaps you can ask a race director, but I know I wouldn't be bold enough to
risk disqualification.

Jeff

"Ironic" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:38f527b7.0406031417.2c077507@posting.google.c om...
> My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
> to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
> bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> rubberband my fingers together on the swim?

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

"Jeff Alexander" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in news:Sh6wc.2328$AU1.1838
@nwrddc01.gnilink.net:

> Not sure what you're on

"I'm on my bike 6 hours a day, working my ass off. What are you on?"

Just couldn't resist the Lance quote.

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Ironic) wrote in news:38f527b7.0406031417.2c077507
@posting.google.com:

> My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
> to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
> bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> rubberband my fingers together on the swim?
>

I can think of three ways to dampen the thousands of tiny impacts bike
riders experience from the road:

- carbon forks are softer than those of aluminium.
- bike gloves with cushion gel.
- adding an extra layer of tape to your handlebars to make them thicker
and softer.

sinc.
Kim

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

"Jeff Alexander" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:Sh6wc.2328$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Not sure what you're on, but I noticed I was getting numb hands less often
> once I switched to carbon forks. Gel padded gloves helped as well.

They can make it worse too. Depends on the gloves, the bars,and the grip that's
used.

> I can only assume that tying your fingers together is illegal for the swim.

Tourniquets are hardly used in modern first aid because there are so many
downsides.

> Perhaps you can ask a race director, but I know I wouldn't be bold enough to
> risk disqualification.

If you don't do potentially dumb things then you don't need to ask if they will
be against the rules....

BTW, Jeff, please don't top-post. It makes replying coherently harder than
necessary. TIA.

> "Ironic" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:38f527b7.0406031417.2c077507@posting.google.c om...
> > My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> > without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> > ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> > to change hand positions.

Do you ever get this off the bike? If so, see a doc.

Do you only get this on the bike? It should be possible to get the bike set up
right, because it's wrong now.

And it may not be gloves or anything, most likely it's stem length/height and/or
seat position.

> > If I can't avoid it,

I think you can.

> > I would at least like
> > to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> > do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> > away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> > holding my fingers together when swimming,

Well, the latest advice from some leading coaches is that holding your fingers
together provides less drag on the water than letting them relax, and it uses
energy that you could save for the bike and run to boot.

> > or even shifting my road
> > bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> > rubberband my fingers together on the swim?

Don't mistake a self-applied tourniquet as anything but a shortcut to worse
troubles.
--
"To ... just not care that there are naked triathletes running
across your lawn, that's just a waste of exhibitionism."
- Kibo, in alt.religion.kibology

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

TriDane <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<Xns9500CBA382B2Avardinghushotmailcom@212.97. 206.85>...
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Ironic) wrote in news:38f527b7.0406031417.2c077507
> @posting.google.com:
>
> > My hands get numb from biking distances (like greater than 35 miles)
> > without aerobars. It lasts for weeks, and by then I have another long
> > ride--i.e. I have it all the time. I wear gloves, and try to remember
> > to change hand positions. If I can't avoid it, I would at least like
> > to know of some therapy that would make it subside quicker (so I can
> > do it all over again next weekend). Any thoughts on how to make it go
> > away. I serioulsy effects my hand strength to where I have trouble
> > holding my fingers together when swimming, or even shifting my road
> > bike (brake lever doubles as a shifter). Is it legal to tape or
> > rubberband my fingers together on the swim?
> >
>
> I can think of three ways to dampen the thousands of tiny impacts bike
> riders experience from the road:
>

Thanks Kim:

I have #1 (Cervelo P2K). I have #2. I just did #3.

Greg
> - carbon forks are softer than those of aluminium.
> - bike gloves with cushion gel.
> - adding an extra layer of tape to your handlebars to make them thicker
> and softer.
>
> sinc.
> Kim