Anyone else ever experience this or am I just a Sally?

[H-man]

Hey all.

So since I have gotten back into Mt. Bike riding in the last 5 months, (15+ year absence) I have been riding a lot. About a month ago, when I raced in a 24 hour race (Great Glen), on my last lap, I noticed that I had very little strength in my right hand to shift gears. Since then, depending on how often I am riding, it comes and goes, but is generally getting worse.

Yesterday I rode for 4 hours on the course for my next 12 hour race happening in two weeks. That course is basically 100% tight technical single track about 10 miles per lap. Today my hand has no strength and I can even feel it up into my forearm. It is so bad that I can't turn the key in my car ignition or front door, clip my fingernails, cut my chicken for dinner or stab a carrot in my salad.

What is going on here? Anyone ever had a similar experience? Is it the vibrations of riding a lot of rocky rooty single track or is it the shifting itself? Different shifting nechanizm or placement, holding onto the handle bars to tight or too loose???? Anyone?

I am concerned enough at this point that I don't know If I would be able to ride for 12 hours straight without having an unintended single speed.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[hammerhead]

It is most certainly vibrations. I have experienced similar at the tail end of the Petersham Epics the last few times I participated (missed this year due to the busted collar bone). Riding technique can minimize the vibrations as well as making sure your fork is properly eating the small bumps.

Be sure to change your hand position a lot on long rides (ask Peterdbikes about his grips)

H.

[bdee]

I might be a Sally here but... 5 months back into it and you're riding an awful lot at a time. Your fitness is obviously really good but your body takes time to acclimate to the different position. Keep moving your hands around, as stated earlier, and maybe experiment with some different rises and sweeps until it really feels natural. Sounds like you may be pinching a nerve but, hey, I'm no doctor so take that for what it's worth. Good luck!

[ridefaster]

Well, my Ergons have eliminated 1 of the 3 major pains in my hands during rides long and short, so I'd recommend them. Make sure that you aren't using too much enegy to brake, if you have worn down brakes, and have to really squeeze the lever, it could fatigue the rest of your hands.
Also, there is ALS.......possibly? Hopefully it's nothing like that though.

[C.P.]

All of the aforementioned, and I can add to bdee's bar sweep comment and recommend you try a pair of On One Mary Bars (http://www.on-one.co.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=6)...they are certainly not for all, but worthy of a try.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/oldsite/mary.mov

[Slider]

I'm thinking cubital or carpal tunnel. Repetitive motion + non-specific conditioning = bad

Slider

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cubital+tunnel
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=carpal+tunnel

[Graphics]

my first thought was a pinched nerve.

most people think that it's carpal tunnel...but most times the nerve is being pinched higher up and referring pain to that area.

you might want to look into some regular massages. as well as some ice after a ride.

[splat]

what 12 hr race ? I'mdoing hte CHurn and Burn 24 Hr race this weekend .

any way what Type of shifters ? Thumb shifter or grip shifters ? which ever on it is you might want to try the other .

[Husqvarna]

I occasionally have a similiar problem on long mtb rides with a lot of techinical downhill and road rides. I tried ergo grips, but have had more success in changing my riding position on the bike so that i'm not as heavy on the hands when descending. My technique is pointing the toes up and dropping the heals which helps me move my weight back over the cranks more, without having to push my weight back with my arms. It's also helped with corning and rolling down through knarly rocky rooty terrain.

I've also found that holding a beer in my hand for 5 mins after a ride helps significantly. Repeat with the other hand and a fresh beverage. Repeat until any memomy of pain is gone, and only the euphamistic high from the ride is left.

[Husqvarna]

Ergo grips or Ergon (http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/grips/index.html?WYSESSID=1qqju2tc4auuh29heiiuv5t3n5) grips? There are many cheap imitators.

"ergo" short language for ergonomically corrected, no specific maker or model. But i'm sticking with the beer theory.

[Slappy]

"ergo" short language for ergonomically corrected, no specific maker or model. But i'm sticking with the beer theory.

I'm with him!

[H-man]

what 12 hr race ? I'mdoing hte CHurn and Burn 24 Hr race this weekend .
http://http://www.bradburytwelve.com/index.php

Went to the doc yesterday. He says carpal tunnel. Cure? Stop riding. WTF? This really blows.

Can anyone recomend a good place to get my bike better fitted to me in the Portland Maine or North Conway area?

Did I say that this sucks?

[bdee]

I'd say seek some advice from a sports med doctor - get your regular doctor to refer you to someone good.

[ride in maine]

For a good fit try ems in portland. Ask for cliff and tell him what is going on and he should be able to help you. don't forget to take your bike
ltr Calvin

[NembaHobbit]

I fully agree with the previous comments to try other grips and have a good shop check your position on the bike. If you're racing do you have flat bars? Do you have friends with different bars and cockpit setups you can try out?

Try lowering the angle and reducing the reach of your brake levers. You'd be surprised how much difference subtle adjustments will make, esp if you have small hands like me. Your wrists should be relaxed and angle slightly downward, and your first knuckle should be able to bend a bit on the levers. Cocking your wrists or stretching your fingers causes continuous hand and arm fatigue, esp on very technical trails and long downhills. Adjust this so it is comfortable both standing and in the saddle.

I would back off the riding intensity & frequency until you get this improved, there may be some risk of damage. Try the usual treatments for inflammation. But I would question the Doc who says you have carpal tunnel, that's often code for "we don't really know what's wrong, but we think surgery is the best answer for everything". I've experienced that arrogance firsthand, grrr :-( If nothing works and the problem persists, even when you're not riding, then seek further opinions.

Good luck!!

[MickAv8r]

I've got carpal tunnel issues in my right hand (it actually hurts in the fingers, wrist, upper forearm/elbow and shoulder). However it's not from riding but sitting at a PC all day. Riding doesn't seem to aggravate it much, however both hands will go numb during a ride. I just ordered some Ergon grips to see if this helps.

I'm also going to look into getting a bar with more rise and/or a shorter stem if the grips don't help.

[lobolator]

I pinched a nerve, in my neck, a few years back. After some chiro(and I was a skeptic, but the docs drugs didn't fix anything, just masked the problem) I was better.
Long story short, it's now a recurring injury for me. And I know it's time to stretch and maybe get adjusted when my fingers start to go numb. The longer I wait the farther up my arm the tingling goes.
So I found a nice gentle Chiro that adjusts me according to my complaints. I go in, say,"My arm hurts because I crashed." She asks what I hit and how, then checks me out and adjusts accordingly.

You could go to Red Jersey in N. Conway for fit suggestions.

How was your 24, I was in it too. As a ss. Have been contemplating Bradbury, but never ridden there. Map of the course looks good, though.

[ride in maine]

The Bradbury 12 hour course will perfect for single speeders. and the trails are in perfect shape even after all of the rain. Look me up as I will be timing the event. and don;t forget there is camping there.
ltr Calvin Weeks

[H-man]

The Bradbury 12 hour course will perfect for single speeders. and the trails are in perfect shape even after all of the rain. Look me up as I will be timing the event. and don;t forget there is camping there.
ltr Calvin Weeks

I'm on the fence about racing at this point. It has been 8 days since my last ride and that was at Bradbury. I think I will ride tomorrow for an hour or so and see how it feels and then make my decision. Skiing is really my gig so I don't want to head into that season gimp.

The Bradbury course is fantastic. All the riding at Bradbury is fantastic. What a great resource. If I race I will look you up.

Thanks,