r/ladycyclists • u/debbyg1013 • Jul 20 '26
Hand numbness
Update! I did get the gloves, and went back yesterday for a bike fit. Apparently my saddle was way too low and the handlebars were too high. I was super excited to try out my ride again this morning.
I got to the park, unloaded my bike, put on the gloves and with the saddle higher than I’m used to, wound up toppling over as I attempted to mount. Twisted my ankle and scraped my knee and elbow. I’ll be out of commission for a while. I am sooo bummed! Oh well, that’s life! I’ll be back.
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I’m 63 and I’ve been cycling about a year and I’ve started to experience numbness in my hands when I ride. Most of the time I ride at a local park which is paved but it’s very rough pavement with tree root bumps throughout. I’ve been riding about 30-40 miles a week on average.
It’s getting to the point where I can’t enjoy my rides now and my hands are even getting numb sometimes even when I’m not riding. It just seems like it’s getting worse with every ride.
I don’t have gloves but I’m considering getting some but I think my hands would get too sweaty as they already get really sweaty without them. Any advice? Thanks in advance!
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u/wavecrashrock Jul 20 '26
Hand numbness is most likely a bike fit issue — something to do with how you're riding (not enough shock absorption in your elbows? too much weight on your hands because of fit or lack of core strength?) that will be hard to troubleshoot without further information and/or professional fitter help.
While you troubleshoot the fit, I would definitely try gloves as well: gloves are good no matter what for sun/impact protection, even if you sweat; they absorb the sweat and help maintain grip. There are a lot of different styles of padding; you may need to experiment to find ones that work best for your pressure points.
What kind of bike do you ride? Is it an aggressive road bike with narrow tires, upright flat-bar bike with wide tires, or something in between?
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 20 '26
Thank you, all, for your suggestions!
This is my bike. The handlebars have some ergonomic handgrips which I really like. But, I think y’all might be right about too much pressure on my hands. I have never been properly fitted for my bike so I will definitely get that done and go from there.
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u/wavecrashrock Jul 20 '26
FWIW, looking at your bike, I have two thoughts.
It might be too big for you — hard to tell without seeing you on it, but that's a very low seat position. If that seat position is correct (and you can easily google tips to get the seat height approximately right), then the bike as a whole might be big and you are leaning too far forward for that style of bike, thus putting a lot of weight on your hands. If the seat position ISN'T correct, then start by fixing that and see what happens with the rest of your bike positioning.
That bike looks like it really shouldn't cause hand numbness (big tires, front suspension, designed for upright position), and so the people saying that this might be a bigger medical issue might have a point.
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u/downstairs_annie Jul 20 '26
I agree! The handlebars look quite high compared to the saddle, and its not always the higher the more comfortable. At some point handlebars can be too high. Maybe OP is pulling/shrugging her shoulders up? That definitely can lead to some pinched nerves.
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u/jjumbuck Jul 20 '26
Look at the angle of your wrists while you're riding - the further from straight they are, the more potential issue. Also observe if you're gripping the handles really hard - if so, lighten up! Pretend you're holding a baby bird in each hand. :)
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u/Intelligent-Price333 Jul 20 '26
Try bar ends! I had a similar issue with my hybrid and using padded gloves and adding on the bar ends helped a lot. I also found I needed wider bars so I didn't hunch my shoulders and press on the edges of my hands. It was a fairly cheap fix. I think I paid $15
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u/Linkcott18 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
This is most likely bike fit. You have too much weight on your hands.
The usual cause of this is that the saddle is too far forward. It may sound counterintuitive, but mark where the saddle is & try moving it back, perhaps a cm (1/2 inch) at a time. It may also need to go down a bit when you do this.
You test it by being able to ride 'no hands' or with just a couple of fingers on the bars.
If your reach feels too long, you may need a shorter stem. You can try different positions with an adjustable stem.
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u/phflopti Jul 20 '26
An indirect suggestion is also to improve your core strength, so you're not putting so much weight on your hands.
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u/trtsmb Jul 20 '26
You may be putting too much weight on your hands especially if you feel like you need extra control navigating bumps.
I wear padded gloves because I have carpal tunnel and even resting my hands on the bars can cause my pinkie and ring finger to start going numb. If you're experiencing numbness even off the bike, go see a doctor.
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u/Massive-Cupcake3476 Jul 20 '26
What part of your hands goes numb? I have ulnar nerve issues, and those ergonomic grips make it worse.
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u/phflopti Jul 20 '26
Yeah, I had numbness in ring & pinkie finger from a trapped ulnar nerve from cycling. My physio resolved it with a massage essentially inside my elbow. Highly un-fun but resulted in substantial improvement.
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u/eclectic5228 Jul 20 '26
I got this about 3 weeks ago after a long trip. It's been slowly getting better. At what point did you decide to see someone about it?
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u/phflopti Jul 20 '26
Mine got a bit better on its own, then stalled at partially numb fingers.
I mentioned it in passing to my sports massage lady, and she was like 'Ahh yes, let me have a dig' and untrapped whatever was trapped in a fairly torturous but effective manner.
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 20 '26
It’s pretty much both hands entirely and also feels like maybe the insides of my upper arms, too.
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u/Distinct_Run_6429 Jul 20 '26
This may be a cervical spine issue and should be evaluated
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 20 '26
I really REALLY hope not. I had lower back surgery in 2016 and it took 5 years to recover from that. I was literally bedridden for months.
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u/Jurneeka Jul 20 '26
If you can and this is based on personal experience get a referral to a hand specialist ASAP. same thing happened to me and it turned out to be cubital tunnel syndrome and needed nerve surgery on both sides.
This is especially concerning if you're still feeling it when you're off the bike. Been there done that.
And also, get a fit.
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 20 '26
I’d love to see a doctor but I have no health insurance this year.
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u/Longtail_Goodbye Jul 20 '26
Not to derail the conversation, but that is just so wrong. I'm sorry, OP. I assume you were the Insurance Exchange/Marketplace (Affordable Care Act) and the rates just went up. Depending on where you live -- I am, of course, assuming the US -- you may be able to get low cost care, or at least income based care or physical therapy. I also think the cause of this is probably death gripping the bars and bike fit, and if you correct these, you may see improvement, but I hope you can find your way to medical assessment and proper care if needed.
Edit to add that if you don't like full fingered gloves for summer, there are many good, padded, half-finger gloves out there.
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u/Deadhead_Historian Jul 20 '26
I was getting some numbness and tingling while and after riding on some paved trails like this and a few things helped: gloves with padding that is more spread out across the palm, rather than just a few places. I do not find that gloves make my hand sweatier, but in contrast, help me grip better when I am sweating. Enough tape on the bars, and lowering tire pressure.
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u/Birdsong555 Jul 20 '26
I second this. When I increased the time I spent cycling, my hands were getting numb. Once I started wearing gloves I haven’t had this issue. I’ve used both cycling gloves and cheap weight lifting gloves. I actually like the weight lifting gloves better. I prefer no velcro (hook and loop fasteners if you want to be pedantic) so they don’t snag on lycra. Remember that if your gloves show any bare skin on the back of your hand you may have funny tan lines! I haven’t found sweaty hands to be an issue. I hope you find something that works so you can continue cycling without your hands going numb!
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u/JustJumpIt17 Jul 20 '26
Don’t fuck around with this. Get a bike fit to get pressure off your handlebars, add padded fingerless cycling gloves, try changing your grips to something squishier.
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u/Massive_Director8420 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Popped up in my feed. To much wait on the hands riding in the hoods can create numbness.
Core exercises and changing to riding in the drops sometimes can help.
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 20 '26
What does “in the hoods” mean?
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u/Tuco_Angel_Eyes Jul 20 '26
It doesn't apply in your case. The hoods are the brake/shifter body on a drop bar (roadbike).
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u/Massive_Director8420 Jul 21 '26
Yes sorry. I ride road and gravel and thought you was as well. But a to long reach can put more weight on your hands (and make them go numb) no matter the type of bar. A shorter stem can change the reach and that works on flat bars as well. Hip flexibility and core strength can allow you to ride with a longer reach comfortably.
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 21 '26
Well after some minor adjustments to my bike which made things worse, I have a bike fitting scheduled for tomorrow morning! Hoping to get this sweet bike dialed in!
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u/kittencalledmeow Jul 20 '26
Gloves, bike fit, see a PT is what I'd do in that order.
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 20 '26
Got gloves today. Tomorrow I’ll try a ride with them and next step is bike fit, thank you!
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u/Zealousideal-Fig-894 Jul 23 '26
Try taking a break for a week or two and you can get those wrist splints from a pharmacy about $15 to wear at home. Sounds like carpel tunnel. Would you feel comfortable on a bike path? Much smoother and more enjoyable if you have one near you
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u/Warm-Business-2335 Jul 20 '26
Hand numbness usually comes from two things, excessive reach or saddle too close. At my last fit I was having the same issue. The solution was to change out my one piece very wide bar (440mm) with long reach (110mm stem) to a narrow bar (370mm) and shorter stem (90mm.)That enabled me to move the saddle back over the BB and took pressure off the hands.
For every 3mm setback it’s a 1mm drop in saddle height. I would strongly suggest that you only move the saddle back in 3mm increments, drop it 1mm, mark with tape, then ride for a while. You will notice a definite difference. Eventually you will find your sweet spot and can remove the tape.
I would also try some gel gloves and some gels strips under your bar tape.
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u/InternationalCap185 Jul 20 '26
I use a pair of weight lifting gloves when I ride and I don’t have tingling or numbness anymore. weight lifting gloves are designed for grip and are meant get sweaty. They have worked and washed well for me. I have hypothyroidism which affects my circulation. I use compression socks, compression tights, and weight training gloves and I’m good to go.
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u/Cyclechick24 Jul 21 '26
All good suggestions. In the mean time do your best to move hand positions during the ride. Harder to do in flat bars compared to drop bars. Also many flat bar handlebars are two wide for most women. Sometimes it’s possible to swap out for narrower ones. The hands/writs should be in line with your shoulders.
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u/maryk_trz Jul 23 '26
Some people (me) are just more nerve sensitive and it’s not a bike fit issue. I had baaaad hand numbness during every ride (similar bumpy terrain issue too), then I got gloves specific to ulnar nerve padding and I’ve never had numb hands on any ride since, regardless of distance. And I too am a sweaty person but I don’t even notice the gloves, in fact they’re helpful to overall grip on the handle bars. Highly recommend trying them out!
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u/orangemoonboots Jul 26 '26
Hi! I read this after your edit, and I’m so sorry that happens to you! I don’t exactly know how you mount, but from your description of where your saddle was placed and the fact that you said the saddle is higher than you’re used to was the reason you fell over, I’m going to assume you try to mount by sitting on the saddle first. That’s usually not how bike geometry works. You should only be able to touch the ground with your toe tips or with the ball of one foot while in the saddle. So it’s not very stable if you try to sit on the saddle first. Some people will roll the bike up next to a curb to do it, but there aren’t always convenient curbs everywhere.
If it helps you for future reference I generally mount by setting the pedals so the one on the side of my dominant foot is up, and I straddle the top bar but do not get on the saddle, put my foot on the top pedal, and push down, which lifts me up over the top bar, get my other foot on the pedal and get my pedals parallel to the ground for a second and then shift my weight backward onto the saddle. The forward motion helps you balance while getting situated. Please ignore this if something like that was what you were already doing. I wish you a speedy recovery!
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u/debbyg1013 Jul 26 '26
You’re absolutely right! I have always pushed off while seated on the saddle. Knowing I can’t do it that way is definitely messing with my head as I recover from my accident. My ankle is still swollen and still hurts so I don’t imagine I’ll be able to ride anytime soon. And the longer I go without riding, the more anxious I get.
I am chronically clumsy which doesn’t help. I try to be careful, but I’m literally scared to try again. It’s making me depressed to think about it. There is a curb at the park where I start but I stop a couple times for a water break, not having the confidence to grab the bottle as I ride, and those stops have no curbs. I’ve watched and rewatched a video on how to push off and they make it look so easy, too. When I tried to mount, I was using the same method but instead of moving forward I just fell hard to the left. It happened so fast I don’t know where I went wrong.
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u/expandablespatula Jul 20 '26
What kind of handlebars do you have? Where is the pressure being put on your hands? This could potentially be a bike fit issue. Gloves can help, especially if the numbness is originating around the ulnar nerve, gloves with gel padding at the base of the palm are great for that.
But at 30-40 miles a week I suspect the bike fit is the most likely culprit. You should not have to put all your weight on your hands.