CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Handlebar Pain

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Handlebar Pain http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Handlebar Pain en Sat, 27 Jun 2026 15:52:11 +0000 Cyclingmollie on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38594 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:12:10 +0000 Cyclingmollie 38594@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ On the drops and hoods you'll be putting more weight on the bars than when you ride on the tops, especially with the wide 48cm bars. Do you use or have you tried padded gloves? Wilmington's Cow on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38591 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:01:10 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 38591@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ It could, but would that not present itself more often than just when I'm riding on the hoods of some drop bars? (I know nothing in this respect whatsoever). Cyclingmollie on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38586 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:22:33 +0000 Cyclingmollie 38586@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Could it be a trapped nerve in your elbow presenting as pain in your hand? For example a trapped sciatic nerve can cause a sore knee. Wilmington's Cow on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38570 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:14:22 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 38570@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Teaching granny to suck eggs perhaps, but have you put both bikes next to each other and visually compared the angles / heights etc ?" Yeah. Although as I say I've had a recurrence on two very differently set-up bikes, and two different positions on one bike. Perhaps most notable on the Kaff when finally giving in - I did nothing to change the position other than change from drop bars to moustache and the problem disappeared. Nelly on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38557 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:11:43 +0000 Nelly 38557@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ To me, it sounds like it is an issue of body position affecting the pressure you are putting on your hand / grip. Teaching granny to suck eggs perhaps, but have you put both bikes next to each other and visually compared the angles / heights etc ? p.s. if you DO want bullhorns, I have some you can have gratis. steveo on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38556 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:02:50 +0000 steveo 38556@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Have you considered <a href="http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/">rule 5</a>? ;) I quite like the look of moustache bars tbh. amir on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38552 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:51:12 +0000 amir 38552@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Is it like ulnar palsy? See <a href="http://www.angelwellbeingclinic.co.uk/content.php?pge=doyoucycletoworkanddoyougethandpain" rel="nofollow">http://www.angelwellbeingclinic.co.uk/content.php?pge=doyoucycletoworkanddoyougethandpain</a> wingpig on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38546 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:41:01 +0000 wingpig 38546@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Are your wrists straight when on the hoods? I was reading 'on drops' as 'on the drops' as distinct from 'on the hoods'. In order to make my hoods comfy my bars are rotated back a bit and the levers mounted quite high so that my wrists can stay straightish. Wilmington's Cow on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38543 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:37:09 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 38543@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ That's what I was saying above Wingpig, I'm hardly ever on the drops (as in maybe one ride in 5, not hardly ever during each ride). The issue seems to come from riding on the hoods (with all the benefits you describe). wingpig on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38540 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:14:56 +0000 wingpig 38540@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Are your wrists straight when on the drops? I never use them, but if I pretend to try, my wrists have to be bent (in the plane of the palm of my hand) in order to grip the bars at a point where the levers are accessible. On the hoods my wrists are straight and unstressed, I can lock my elbows if I want or keep them loose to absorb potholes and cobbles AND I can reach the gear-flickers. Wilmington's Cow on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38538 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:08:48 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 38538@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ But that would have had the same issue on drops.... (and the Roadrat is almost the same price, and it was a present... ;) ) It's definitely the bars that are the problem, not the bike... DaveC on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38537 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:07:37 +0000 DaveC 38537@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Perhaps you could have saved some cash and got the Roadrat?? Actually I know you only bought the frame and forks... Wilmington's Cow on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38535 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:06:35 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 38535@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Could do. Thing is it's been the same on the >X< and the Kaff, which have completely different geometries (and the Kaff went through two different stem lengths as well - all had the same result). I'm wondering if it's something about the exact angle of hoods riding... kaputnik on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38534 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:56:01 +0000 kaputnik 38534@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I think some measuring and scale-drawing might help. If you have some photos I could do some? Coudl work out exactly where the position of your hand is relative to body / saddle (up/down, fore/aft, left/right), and if it may be putting more/less weight on the hand Wilmington's Cow on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38530 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:33:43 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 38530@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Ooh. Or possibly some bullhorns with that dop to them... I don't remember any pain being caused by them... Wilmington's Cow on "Handlebar Pain" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3667#post-38527 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:30:55 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 38527@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Okay, background, a few years back I shattered my elbow riding cycle speedway (well... trying to ride cycle speedway and failing). Ever since then there's something about the position on drops that creates a pain down the right hand side of my right hand (and if I ride on drops every day moves further up the arm as time goes by). It's definitely riding with drop bars, but strangely not on the drops, which I don't use much - I tend to stick to the hoods. I thought it was the narrowness of drops, so for the >X< I got a 48cm wide set of Nitto Noodles. They've got a slight sweep back on the tops as well, which makes them really comfortable. I figured the width would mean the hand position on the hoods would be similar to the moustache bars on the Kaff (which have NEVER given me an issue). But no, this morning my hand issue has resurfaced after riding to work on the >X<. Should I just give in and get some moustache bars for the >X< as well and to hell with how they look (although I do actually quite like the look, but the >X< is more a 'racer' than the Kaff being a 'tourer')? Or is there another drop option I haven't considered? I should mention as well that when riding the position on the hoods really doesn't feel uncomfortable. And I'm not too bothered about losing the ability to get down on the drops. Sod it, I think I'm answering my own question here and might just get some moustaches...