Pins and needles
Discussion
I ride most nights between 5-10 miles for general fitness on my MTB fitted with road tyres.
About half way through my ride I get pins and needles in my hands, and need to remove a hand from the bar for a moment to get some feeling back. I do have the seat nice and high, and have adjusted the bars to see if that solves the issue but no luck so far.
I just wondered if anyone else has this? Do I need to get a higher set of bars (I don't really want to) or does this show that my current bars are simply not up to the job ergonomically?
BTW, I do wear bike gloves when I ride too.
About half way through my ride I get pins and needles in my hands, and need to remove a hand from the bar for a moment to get some feeling back. I do have the seat nice and high, and have adjusted the bars to see if that solves the issue but no luck so far.
I just wondered if anyone else has this? Do I need to get a higher set of bars (I don't really want to) or does this show that my current bars are simply not up to the job ergonomically?
BTW, I do wear bike gloves when I ride too.
It would suggest to me that the bars are not right for you, however trying out different bars can be an expensive exercise. Specialized make gloves that claim to stop pressure on one of the main nerves going through your had (can't remember what it is called) so that might be worth a try.
I got this for years too...tried gloves, helped for a while...then grips ('Ergo' style) helped for a while... the one thing that REALLY stopped it was changing from a racy XC hardtail to a more sit up staight Enduro full Suss...I think its all in the geometry... if you can sit more up-right your weight travels down the spine onto the saddle rather than alot going down your arms onto your wrists etc..
having said that I've just gone back to XC hardtail...cos they're faster...
having said that I've just gone back to XC hardtail...cos they're faster...
Can I suggest that you take the bike and get an expert to have a look at your riding poistion.
I'd suggest that along with the replies above, you're putting too much weight on the front because, for exmaple, the frame is too short.
Or possibly you have other health issues and riding your bike is just the quickest way they are shown?
I'd suggest that along with the replies above, you're putting too much weight on the front because, for exmaple, the frame is too short.
Or possibly you have other health issues and riding your bike is just the quickest way they are shown?
I thought I just had crap handlebars!I've started getting pins and needles also when I ride plus the ring and pointer finger on my left hand feel bruised. This happens when riding plus I'm getting background aching at other times.
I saw this article recently which may help. It talks about readjusting the brakes so that you actually get a bend in the wrist as opposed to having everything inline. Not sure if it will help but I'm going to give it a try.
http://www.imbikemag.com/technique.php?q=Under%20R...
I saw this article recently which may help. It talks about readjusting the brakes so that you actually get a bend in the wrist as opposed to having everything inline. Not sure if it will help but I'm going to give it a try.
http://www.imbikemag.com/technique.php?q=Under%20R...
IMHO its all down to 2 things . . .
Riding Position and Riding "stye".
It sounds to me that you are putting too much of your weight on your hands and a slightly different position should cure that - a trip to a suitable LBS that does bike-fitting would be a good start.
Secondly you really need to relax whilst riding - gripping the bars too hard causes this problem.
You will be suprised what even the slightest alteration in position will do for you!
khushy
Riding Position and Riding "stye".
It sounds to me that you are putting too much of your weight on your hands and a slightly different position should cure that - a trip to a suitable LBS that does bike-fitting would be a good start.
Secondly you really need to relax whilst riding - gripping the bars too hard causes this problem.
You will be suprised what even the slightest alteration in position will do for you!
khushy
Edited by khushy on Saturday 31st October 08:41
The Specialized gel-padded gloves helped a greate deal on my old bike.
Had a bit of the problem with numb hands on my new bike in the early days and also neck/back ache after a long ride, both of which stopped happening after I raised the seat and raised the handlebars, replacing the original stem with an adjustable one.
Had a bit of the problem with numb hands on my new bike in the early days and also neck/back ache after a long ride, both of which stopped happening after I raised the seat and raised the handlebars, replacing the original stem with an adjustable one.
ive done allsorts to get rid of this.
ive got ergo grips,gel gloves etc but still get it.
when i remove my hands for a mo i can feel the blood coming back in, then in a few mins its back again.
im not convinced its all about the bike,i'm thinking its me 'cos im now getting it when driving the Z4(high hands?) and even in bed...guess its my age.
ive got ergo grips,gel gloves etc but still get it.
when i remove my hands for a mo i can feel the blood coming back in, then in a few mins its back again.
im not convinced its all about the bike,i'm thinking its me 'cos im now getting it when driving the Z4(high hands?) and even in bed...guess its my age.
Edited by milu on Monday 2nd November 08:57
milu said:
ive done allsorts to get rid of this.
ive got ergo grips,gel gloves etc but still get it.
when i remove my hands for a mo i can feel the blood coming back in, then in a few mins its back again.
im not convinced its all about the bike,i'm thinking its me 'cos im now getting it when driving the Z4(high hands?) and even in bed...guess its my age.
How old are you?ive got ergo grips,gel gloves etc but still get it.
when i remove my hands for a mo i can feel the blood coming back in, then in a few mins its back again.
im not convinced its all about the bike,i'm thinking its me 'cos im now getting it when driving the Z4(high hands?) and even in bed...guess its my age.
I'm 37, had the pins needles thing as mentioned above on the bike and am 100% it was down to riding position and weight on the wrists, cutting off blood supply. On a bike your hands are below the heart.
In the car and in bed (I had the bed thing) when resting my hands on my chest/stomach very rarely I'd get p&n again... I'm guessing in this instance where the hands are above the heart its a low blood pressure issue...
Don't know what I did to change things but I've not felt that for some time now...
Do you read PH with your hands in the air?? 
serioulsy get your BP checked, thats what i was told it was all to do with... if you're hands are on the table/desk down by your side when sat at a PC, you shouldn't feel it then... I'm not a doctor and dohn't work in any mdeicially related area... just think common sense suggest that if you (or your mates) get pins and needles during normal daily life then get ask somone who'll know... if you're getting it when excercising via weights or bike riding etc....then a tyle chnage is called for... 37-40 is only half way ffs.... shouldn't need to slow down just yet...
serioulsy get your BP checked, thats what i was told it was all to do with... if you're hands are on the table/desk down by your side when sat at a PC, you shouldn't feel it then... I'm not a doctor and dohn't work in any mdeicially related area... just think common sense suggest that if you (or your mates) get pins and needles during normal daily life then get ask somone who'll know... if you're getting it when excercising via weights or bike riding etc....then a tyle chnage is called for... 37-40 is only half way ffs.... shouldn't need to slow down just yet...
I have been doing the same ride recently on tarmac and around a reservoir and back on tarmac approx. 1hr 10 mins.
I decided to change my tyres to some really slick tyre ( specialised fat boys 1,25 wide at 70 psi )did the ride 10 mins faster but all of a sudden I have pins and needles in my hands? As the only change I made was tyres and pressure I put it down to this.
It must be the bars buzzing for me so I have some carbon bars on order as I have heard this can help reduce the vibration. Will try again this weekend.
Steve
I decided to change my tyres to some really slick tyre ( specialised fat boys 1,25 wide at 70 psi )did the ride 10 mins faster but all of a sudden I have pins and needles in my hands? As the only change I made was tyres and pressure I put it down to this.
It must be the bars buzzing for me so I have some carbon bars on order as I have heard this can help reduce the vibration. Will try again this weekend.
Steve
I ride a Specialized Crossroads Comp (Hybrid) to work & back approx 22 miles a day, the bike has ergonomic grips but I suffer from pins & needles in my left hand. If I take my hand off the grip & give it a shake while riding the feeling quickley comes back. I have just started riding my Giant Rainier MTB hard tail into work, just for a change, this bike has very basic rubber grips that are quite obviously not ergonomically designed & I have had no problems as of yet with pins & needles in my left hand. I think it is down to frame / pressure on your hands. Specialized seem to make shorter frames than Giant therefore I am slightly more hunched over on the Specialized putting more weight on hands whereas the Giant feels like a slightly longer frame & I have a more relaxed posture. I think front suspension also helps to softern the shocks throught my arms on the Giant vs the no suspension Specialized where the palms of my hands seem to take the brunt of the pot hole abuse.....
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