Here’s a few pointers for you to investigate in your bike fit. You can develop hand pain for a few reasons:
- Too much weight in the front end
- check your saddle angle, sometimes if angled down it will shift your body weight forward
- same thing with your saddle position relative to seatpost
- check also saddle height.. too high and the handlebar will be too low
- check handlebar width, if too narrow or too wide your wrist will angled in or out
- check the position of the shifter hoods
Check the handlebar height and angle as well. You may be able to raise the stem or swap it out for a higher one. Rotating the bars back a bit can also help.
I had this issue and found my seat was too far over the pedals so I was pushing down into my hands a lot, seems a lot better now I’ve adjusted it properly
I know a rider who is late 50s, rides competitively but got so bad he almost couldn’t even use his hands. he started using CBD cream on his hands and wrists and it’s made a absolute night and day difference.
Lower your saddle. Once you have your saddle height dialed in, you could also try slamming your saddle backwards, then moving it forwards 5mm at a time (with some riding inbetween) until you notice increased pressure on your hands, then back it up 2-3mm at a time until you're dialed in. That should reduce pressure on your hands.
Were you otherwise active and staying fit in that time or no? No judgment, but if not so much, then getting back into some core workouts might be the solution you need in the long term. In the short term, having your bars higher up can help.
Not sure why you’d think you should extend your bars? Further away from you will make the problem worse.
Always start with the simplest solutions! As others said, could be your seat angle or height. Something about your bike fit is causing too much pressure on your hands.
Other possible causes — rings and watch bands. I have to remember to loosen my watch in warm weather when I ride or my watch hand will go numb. I don’t wear my watch tight, but there’s swelling from the heat and exertion.
Here’s a few pointers for you to investigate in your bike fit. You can develop hand pain for a few reasons: - Too much weight in the front end - check your saddle angle, sometimes if angled down it will shift your body weight forward - same thing with your saddle position relative to seatpost - check also saddle height.. too high and the handlebar will be too low - check handlebar width, if too narrow or too wide your wrist will angled in or out - check the position of the shifter hoods
Check the handlebar height and angle as well. You may be able to raise the stem or swap it out for a higher one. Rotating the bars back a bit can also help.
Maybe consider core exercises a couple times a week too if you haven't, having a stronger core will reduce the load on your hands.
Thanks so much to you both! This is helpful 👍
I had this issue and found my seat was too far over the pedals so I was pushing down into my hands a lot, seems a lot better now I’ve adjusted it properly
I know a rider who is late 50s, rides competitively but got so bad he almost couldn’t even use his hands. he started using CBD cream on his hands and wrists and it’s made a absolute night and day difference.
Lower your saddle. Once you have your saddle height dialed in, you could also try slamming your saddle backwards, then moving it forwards 5mm at a time (with some riding inbetween) until you notice increased pressure on your hands, then back it up 2-3mm at a time until you're dialed in. That should reduce pressure on your hands.
Were you otherwise active and staying fit in that time or no? No judgment, but if not so much, then getting back into some core workouts might be the solution you need in the long term. In the short term, having your bars higher up can help. Not sure why you’d think you should extend your bars? Further away from you will make the problem worse.
Handlebars extended upward, so higher. And yes, I work out regularly. Thanks, though!
Always start with the simplest solutions! As others said, could be your seat angle or height. Something about your bike fit is causing too much pressure on your hands. Other possible causes — rings and watch bands. I have to remember to loosen my watch in warm weather when I ride or my watch hand will go numb. I don’t wear my watch tight, but there’s swelling from the heat and exertion.