How To Prevent Numbness Or Pain In Your Hands Whilst Cycling
How To Prevent Numbness Or Pain In Your Hands Whilst Cycling
Hold on tight….Or NOT!! Top Pro tips for more pleasure and less pain whilst out on the bike.
Subscribe to GCN: http://gcn.eu/SubscribeToGCN
Get exclusive GCN gear in the GCN store! http://gcn.eu/2dJqGW8
Sign up to the GCN newsletter: http://gcn.eu/gcnnewsletter
Enjoy every ride by perfecting your riding position, if there is pain there is a problem and the GCN team will help you tackle this uncomfortable common issue.
Watch more on GCN…
How to deal with neck pain 🎥 http://gcn.eu/2dreN7O
How to deal with saddle-related pain 🎥
http://gcn.eu/1Ve81Qj
How to double wrap bar tape 🎥
http://gcn.eu/1L0yYTr
Buy NEW GCN cycling kit, casual wear and accessories in the GCN Shop: http://gcn.eu/_TheGCNShop
Photos: © Bettiniphoto / http://www.bettiniphoto.net/ & ©Tim De Waele / http://www.tdwsport.com
About GCN:
The Global Cycling Network puts you in the centre of the action: from the iconic climbs of Alpe D’Huez and Mont Ventoux to the cobbles of Flanders, everywhere there is road or pavé, world-class racing and pro riders, we will be there bringing you action, analysis and unparalleled access every week, every month, and every year. We show you how to be a better cyclist with our bike maintenance videos, tips for improving your cycling, cycling top tens, and not forgetting the weekly GCN Show. Join us on YouTube’s biggest and best cycling channel to get closer to the action and improve your riding!
Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside cycling
Thanks to our sponsors:
Santini cycling kit: http://gcn.eu/1SFf8PV
KASK helmets: http://gcn.eu/1FrbcHK
fi’zi:k shoes and saddles: http://gcn.eu/1tsXI7S and http://gcn.eu/1KxBGd5
Topeak tools: http://gcn.eu/1Lc4HAj
Canyon bikes: http://gcn.eu/1Oge4gz
Muc-Off: http://gcn.eu/1XlT5Og
Science in Sport: http://gcn.eu/1GrXo6n
Ass Savers: http://gcn.eu/1XlTmkm
Orbea bikes: http://gcn.eu/1oks6GH
Trek Bicycles: http://gcn.eu/1RUwyGf
Vision wheels: http://gcn.eu/1qHTlMu
Zipp wheels: http://gcn.eu/1OcMUv5
Powertap: http://gcn.eu/1XlfT2p
power2max: http://gcn.eu/1sdoPva
Rotor: http://gcn.eu/1q3vtCo
Reynolds: http://gcn.eu/1JjCDVL
YouTube Channel – http://gcn.eu/gcnYT
Facebook – http://gcn.eu/gcnFb
Google+ – http://gcn.eu/gcnGPlus
Twitter – http://gcn.eu/gcnTW
GCN newsletter – http://gcn.eu/gcnnewsletter
Leave us a comment below!
Planet Bike gel pads #1
https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Century-gel-pads/dp/B000QSXYHM/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1530399784&sr=1-2&keywords=road+bike+gel+pad+for+handlebars
Rather than learning to take your hands off the bars–which can lead to losing control of the bike–I like to place the knuckles of my pointer, index and ring finger gently on the tops, then hold the bar with my pinkies. This does require the core muscles to consciously take the load off of your wrists and, bonus, straightens the wrist so the blood flows more easily. Keep in mind, this can’t be done when accelerating, climbing, or shifting, so do it as often as you can when cruising or going downhill.
i use a fixie but even with a speed bike my elbows hurt like crazy ! what can i do ?
Vancouver sun
I know that you suggested sliding your seat back, but I found sliding my seat seat slightly forward allowed me to relax my arms and not ride stiff armed.
In the end shot, where are they?
The best way I have found to eliminate numbness in hands and fingers is also immediate. Slow pace a bit, ride with one hand on bar. Slowly rotate free arm through a full rotation in shoulder socket, from pointing straight down to straight up in air, like a swimming motion, backward, forwards, it doesn’t seem to matter.. Do this for about twenty to thirty seconds per arm, perhaps four to five full revolutions, not fast,get a good stretch. Numbness is gone completely and does not com back for quit a while (somtimes 1-1.5 hr)
Never ever have I had hand or wrist pain riding. I honestly didn’t know a one had that issue.
Great topic
This video would be more helpful if it differentiated between different kinds of hand numbness (ie. ulnar compression with numb pink and ring finger on back and front and median nerve compression or carpal tunnel syndrome with numb middle finger through thumb on front side)
I always get the latter, I have tried gloves and extra thick gel padded bar tape and moving my saddle backwards but nothing seems to work. I think the problem is my wrists are extended to much but I don’t know how to fix it save getting at least a new wider handle bar.:(
Glad this is a common issue, I thought I was the only one
I use finger-less cycling gloves — don’t you, do road-bike riders not wear them? There’s a gel insert/padding in the heel of the palm, with a channel at the centre, so as not to put pressure on the carpal nerve. https://www.giro.com/bike/cyclocross/bravo-gel/p/7085633
This is why people prefer cars over bicycles for long travels. You are promoting speed over comfort, therefore taking ENJOYMENT out of the equation and benefiting car industries in the long run… literally
Wow super soft tires, thanks for the advice guys!
44 yrs old, ass pain has finally been disconnected from my brain!!!
Keep the pressure off the center of the hand…you know…where the nerves run. The roundness of the drops is PERFECT for pressuring that area. Rest the hand on the heel and thumb padded areas. The “flat top” of the aero handle bars helps…like double wrapping…distributes the weight.
This is really helpful. Thanks!
Claude from arsenal fan TV at 5 seconds.
To, Head Of the GCN, kindly use Electric Vehicle in the front with no sound to hold Recording camera , as silencer of the bike irritates lots of subscribers and thump on subwoofer. Electric vehicle will be ECO Friendly and Soundless too enabling us to indulge in pure surrounding natural sounds and presenters voices. Thank you…🙏🏼💐
Simple solution, Use Straight Bars!!!
Keep your shoulders low.
Stop promoting speed over comfort, and you will prevent numbness and soooo much discomfort in millions of lives. Stop promoting arriving first over enjoying the travel and you will have millions of happier people at the end of their journeys
I just found your channel and I’m liking it already.
What are good ways to secure your bike if you need to stop and rest?
The most important way to decrease discomfort in your hands is to make sure you keep your wrists in an anatomically neutral position no matter where your hands are on the bars.
I swapped my aluminum bar for carbon with a shorter reach. No need for padded gloves, but everyone is different.
I shave my arms to reduce the weight on my hands.
What about numb feet?
Thank you for your advice
Gloves are alright as a band-aid, and position is key, but for my TREK Superfly 7 FS MTB, changing out the grips to a pair of German-engineered pads (grips with a larger surface area supporting the palm edges without sacrificing control) w/ nubs completely changed the amount of pain and numbness I had from the shock on a locked-out suspension ride. Whether on the pavement or cobblestone, it is next-to-nothing on a 15-mile ride or greater now. If anyone is interested, I can post the brand I picked up here.
Get a recumbent bicycle.
Great video, thanks.
This year, I did away with some gloves that had TOO MUCH padding. Not sure of the exact breakdown, but essentially those pads were putting constant pressure in bad places on my hands and giving me lasting nerve pain near the bottom of my palms. Currently riding with no-padding gloves, but I think I may go buy some that I saw with thin squishier padding.
I have trouble cycling on the drops due to limited flexion in my hips. I’m working on it gradually to prevent throwing my hips out of alignment. Mind you, I had a double-hip replacement and cycling is a HUGE help. This is for the beginners and recovering cyclists. Shifting positions improve your cycling experience. What a rush! Ride safe.
How To Prevent Pain In Your Hands Whilst Cycling
tip 1: stay home
Every time my hands hurt I eat chocolate and the pain goes to my butt
I can’t even conceive of the pains of which you speak, well some leg pain after a century, since I ride a recumbent. No other pains at all. I will never understand riding torture devices the way you do.
Same here always had numbness when riding distance… Try many different ways yet numbness still happen… On wrist, fingers & arms…
been battling numbness for weeks….on a bike I’ve ridden for years. This video helped me find the problem and SOLVE it!!
You say ride with bent elbows (good advice) but then at 3:29 you show the bike fit diagram with straight arms, tisk tisk. The reason for numb hands whilst cycling is poor blood flow to the hands. Oddly enough the hands do very little "dynamic" work, they are firmly on the bars lower than the heart and the major blood flow goes to the major working muscles I.E. the legs and hips. One can figure that little or no joint movement equals little blood flow. The hands are in an Isometric contraction (muscle tension without movement) Feet are also in the same category. Numbness is often a result of long steady distance, relative low heart rate, and a static position on the bike. I never have numbness when climbing or sprinting, high heart rate and using arms and hands much more by pulling on the bars. two cents.
That’s why most cyclist have so slim arms and have also these problems: They overuse their arms while they could be resting them much more… and it’s not very efficient to have them working at all times if it’s your legs what give you actual propulsion. ¿Why don’t you use those classic rest handlebars or even a BMX handlebar and lay on your elbows (actually better on the bellies of your forearms) for an aerodynamic position? I did this to my MTB, it’s now a hybrid, MTB body with BMX steer. Maybe I will install a rest handle bar on another bicycle I have. …..Ah I understand… you want SPEED, and a rest handlebar will add weight…. well, that’s a good point…. but I believe 90% of people who go to the mountais by bike want COMFORT as well, not only speed, they are not actually competing, they are SIGHTSEEING!
….Ahhh you use cars to go near the mountains, then use bike for having fun…. So aren’t bikes here a symbol of freedom, but dependence from another vehicle…. ha ha ha…. So, the problem here is competition spirit and car-dependence… But let’s not get into a conspirational theory…
Getting back to the point: The best part of using a BMX handle bar for leaning forward and laying on my elbows it’s I REALLY REST my arms and upper body and is very aerodynamic at the same time, and whenever I want I can change position and turn into an also very comfy upright position. Also remember road cyclists used to this arm-overusing position don’t work core muscles sufficiently as studies have stated. So an upright position is also great for a more ergonomical work of core muscles, because we use the ‘rowing’ twisting movement with the upper body in a more vertical axis aligned with the legs, more like RUNNING. And remember running is the more complete exercise, or at least the one for which our body is built for
I go on daily 15 mile rides & my fingers always get all numb and tingly lol I thought I was dying 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I hear they have a shock for your handlebars now.
This was so helpful. Thanks so much.
I’m a very stocky build, 115kg, 168cm. My new bike, gifted to me from my dad, does not have the ability to lift the handle bars pole. Yet due to my maximum bike seat sitting posture/height, I think I get really sore hands/pins and needles is due to me putting to much weight on my hands. How can i possibly reduce this without getting a whole new cycle??
The only people who don’t like disk brakes, haven’t used them yet. Prove me wrong.
So basically tough it up ehh? … cushion ehh? OHHH Seat height.. niiiice !
Why aren’t the first 3 answers gloves, gloves, gloves.
where is tom last?
I love cyclers’ bodies, they’re nice & skinny. 😍👌 Why can’t bitches’ bodies be like that? 😕
Im new to road cycling and im getting pain in the part of the hand the thumbs attach to while riding on the hoods.. any suggestions?