This past week was my first time on a road bike. It was a complete rush!

I noticed thaat half way through my ride my fingers started going numb. It probably occurs because I am putting to much weight/pressure on my hands.

If I wore a pair of gloves, would they relieve the pressure?

Are there any other remedies?

Thanks for any input.

This past week was my first time on a road bike. It was a complete rush!

I noticed thaat half way through my ride my fingers started going numb. It probably occurs because I am putting to much weight/pressure on my hands.

If I wore a pair of gloves, would they relieve the pressure?

Are there any other remedies?

Thanks for any input.

Maybe a decent pair of gloves would work, but the best bet is to just move your hands around every once in awhile. Put them on the top of the bar, the drops, the hoods, as appropriate. If you start to feel them going numb, just move around a touch.

Maybe a decent pair of gloves would work, but the best bet is to just move your hands around every once in awhile. Put them on the top of the bar, the drops, the hoods, as appropriate. If you start to feel them going numb, just move around a touch.

I agree. Moving your hand position around and using good gloves should do the trick. Gloves are a must-have in my 20 years of road riding. They help with comfort as well as prevent severe hand damage in a crash. There is no need to turn your palms into hamburger meat! They can also prevent long term carpal tunnel damage.

Sheldon Brown has a good bit of advice at http://sheldonbrown.com/pain.html#fingers

I found my advice from 2002 here in RBR.com's archives (http://archive.roadbikereview.com/04/0EFA9F02.php)...

With your hands resting on the top bar, you can relieve some types of numbness by fluttering your fingers on one hand at a time. The other hand can hold the bar firmly for safety while you flutter your fingers almost like playing a piano. Speaking of firmly, make sure you don't have a death grip on the bar. As long as both thumbs are wrapped around the bar, even a sudden pothole won't dislodge them.

Also move your hands to several different positions on the bar throughout a ride. I see most people holding only the hoods. Try scooting your hands back a little to the curved part of the bar.

A strong lower back (requires strengthened abdominal's) will also take pressure off of your hands and arms. Try this test. Ride in your normal, comfortable position with your hands on the top bar. Now slowly lift your hands off the bar without changing the angle of your body position. The hands can lightly rest on the bars for safety, but don't apply any weight to them. Can you hold this position at all? for a few seconds? for 10-15+ seconds? If not at all, you may need to strengthen your lower back/abdominal's, and/or raise your stem a little.

Straight, locked elbows are also a sign of too much weight on your hands or a too low bar height that doesn't suit your body.

I noticed thaat half way through my ride my fingers started going numb. It probably occurs because I am putting to much weight/pressure on my hands.

This gets discussed about 2X per week. Do a search and you will get all the ideas you can stand, in addition to the good ones already offered in this thread.