Pins & needles, bars and spacers... Advice sought.
Discussion
Evening all,
I've been getting issues with pins & needles in my hands, both on road and CX bikes. Decent padded gloves improve the situation, but don't make it go away completely. It's annoying but tolerable up to 30 miles or so, but gets nasty quickly after that. It also seems to build up somewhat over the course of a heavy week of commuting, even though each individual ride is only 15 miles.
As I understand it, the ultimate underlying cause of this is that I'm putting too much weight on my hands. I think that if I remove a couple of spacers under the stem this will probably improve matters, but was wondering what others thought?
Part of me thinks this is counter-intuitive, as removing spacers would mean leaning forwards more, and thus putting even more weight through my hands, but on overall balance, I reckon my core muscles can keep my torso where it currently is, just without as much weight going through my arms. Does this make sense?
Also, is there any reason I couldn't try this out initially by just moving the spacers from below to above the stem? Obviously I don't want to be cutting the steerer down and then finding out that it doesn't fix the issue!
I assume as well that cutting a carbon steerer isn't as simple as getting out a junior hacksaw, so presumably that's one to take to the LBS?
I've been getting issues with pins & needles in my hands, both on road and CX bikes. Decent padded gloves improve the situation, but don't make it go away completely. It's annoying but tolerable up to 30 miles or so, but gets nasty quickly after that. It also seems to build up somewhat over the course of a heavy week of commuting, even though each individual ride is only 15 miles.
As I understand it, the ultimate underlying cause of this is that I'm putting too much weight on my hands. I think that if I remove a couple of spacers under the stem this will probably improve matters, but was wondering what others thought?
Part of me thinks this is counter-intuitive, as removing spacers would mean leaning forwards more, and thus putting even more weight through my hands, but on overall balance, I reckon my core muscles can keep my torso where it currently is, just without as much weight going through my arms. Does this make sense?
Also, is there any reason I couldn't try this out initially by just moving the spacers from below to above the stem? Obviously I don't want to be cutting the steerer down and then finding out that it doesn't fix the issue!
I assume as well that cutting a carbon steerer isn't as simple as getting out a junior hacksaw, so presumably that's one to take to the LBS?Spacers above the stem is fine. All my bikes run like that. Of course, that's 10mm or so: 50mm of spaces above the stem would be "interesting" in a crash!
EDIT: You'd soon "relax" onto the lowered bars despite your core strength, and then you're back to where you started, if not worse.
Has this come on recently? I recall you've been riding for some time now. Have you changed anything? What gloves are you using?
EDIT: You'd soon "relax" onto the lowered bars despite your core strength, and then you're back to where you started, if not worse.
Has this come on recently? I recall you've been riding for some time now. Have you changed anything? What gloves are you using?
Edited by Jimbo. on Monday 8th July 21:59
Jimbo. said:
Spacers above the stem is fine. All my bikes run like that. Of course, that's 10mm or so: 50mm of spaces above the stem would be "interesting" in a crash!
EDIT: You'd soon "relax" onto the lowered bars despite your core strength, and then you're back to where you started, if not worse.
Has this come on recently? I recall you've been riding for some time now. Have you changed anything? What gloves are you using?
No, it hasn't come on recently, it's just not really been enough of a pain to do much about it. I've decided to have a spurt of doing things I've not been bothering to do though! EDIT: You'd soon "relax" onto the lowered bars despite your core strength, and then you're back to where you started, if not worse.
Has this come on recently? I recall you've been riding for some time now. Have you changed anything? What gloves are you using?
I've tried a variety of gloves with varying degrees of padding. They all seem to provide some improvement, but none of them solve it completely.
As you say, I've been riding for a while - 5,000 miles or so since I got back into it.
Edited by Kermit power on Monday 8th July 22:05
Hi KP,
Theres no reason why you cant remove the spacers from under the stem and temporarily put them above it. I am always rearranging my stem/spacers trying to dial in my position.
I have to admit I dont think you will cure the numbness by lowering the stem but Im happy to be proved wrong.
If I was in your situation I would put the stem at its highest position. If its already at its highest position you could orientate/flip it so it is pointing up and thus is slightly closer to you. I recommend this first as its a free 'mod' and simply requires 5 mins fiddling.
If your stem is already pointing upwards you could always borrow/buy a shorter stem, again with the intention of giving you a more upright riding position. You may be surprised how much difference a 10mm shorter stem can make.
p.s. might be worth mentioning dont forget to keep moving your hands around on the bars while riding. Take a break from the hoods and hold the drops/tops for a few mins.
Theres no reason why you cant remove the spacers from under the stem and temporarily put them above it. I am always rearranging my stem/spacers trying to dial in my position.
I have to admit I dont think you will cure the numbness by lowering the stem but Im happy to be proved wrong.
If I was in your situation I would put the stem at its highest position. If its already at its highest position you could orientate/flip it so it is pointing up and thus is slightly closer to you. I recommend this first as its a free 'mod' and simply requires 5 mins fiddling.
If your stem is already pointing upwards you could always borrow/buy a shorter stem, again with the intention of giving you a more upright riding position. You may be surprised how much difference a 10mm shorter stem can make.
p.s. might be worth mentioning dont forget to keep moving your hands around on the bars while riding. Take a break from the hoods and hold the drops/tops for a few mins.
I had pins and needles in my left hand a lot; solved by moving the saddle rearwards a centimetre. Theory being that, rather like a standing squat off the bike, sticking my bum out backwards shifts the centre of mass rearwards and off the hands. I thought it would mean not being able to reach the bars but you settle into it.
Seems strange to me as I got this when I started and if dont do anything for a while then I have to consciously hold myself up (ie make my core muscles work). You do way more cycling than me by the sounds of things though.
Are you sure your saddle isn't pushing you forward on to the bars or something?
Are you sure your saddle isn't pushing you forward on to the bars or something?
NorthDave said:
Seems strange to me as I got this when I started and if dont do anything for a while then I have to consciously hold myself up (ie make my core muscles work). You do way more cycling than me by the sounds of things though.
Are you sure your saddle isn't pushing you forward on to the bars or something?
It may be. Our the answer may just be "lose more weight"! Are you sure your saddle isn't pushing you forward on to the bars or something?
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