painful wrists, hands while biking...

ronda_gettinghealthy

I used to mountain bike years ago and never had this problem but this summer I began to road bike and I have noticed that it is painful on the wrist on the pinky side of my hand after about 10 miles or so, I have a hybrid bike and wear really well padded mountain bike gloves..any hints or help??? am I doing something wrong???

thanks....
ronda

Bratsche

My husband - the uber biker - was peeking over my shoulder when I read this one - here are his suggestions -

It could be that the handlebars are too low or the seat is tilted to far forward, causing weight to shift toward the hands. If neither of those are the cause then try 'bar ends' attached to the handlebars to give you more possible hand positions.

Hope it helps some, its no fun to be hurting when you should be enjoying the ride

ronda_gettinghealthy

it is a new bike...I do try to use the bar ends...never thought about the seat...thanks...will see if I can lean it back a bit..

coppercurlz

I just got a hybrid bike this year too and I noticed the same thing. When I go to my spinning classes my wrists don't bother me, neither did they when I rode mountain bikes. SO, I asked around to people that ride a lot and asked my spinning instructors about it...turns out I was bearing too much weight on my arms/upper body. Two of them even said almost verbatim "ride with your core" and not to get lazy leaning on the handlebars too much.

I've been trying it and it's true, the more I focus on my abs while riding (pretending they are pulling my legs up and pushing down instead of my quads) I hold myself more steady on the bars/bear less of my weight on the bars.

A week ago I went for my longest ride so far on that bike and no wrist problems. I also change my grip a lot too. I have the end grips that I can move to and I go down to my forearms when I'm on a flat or on a descent.

I think I was more used to riding on my bum and standing up with a mountain bike, and now the geometry is just different with this type of bike...it took some getting used to.

Good luck with it, and hope this helps a little...

coppercurlz

Hey! I just clicked on your profile and saw you were from Wolfforth! lol! I moved from Lubbock in 2008
Just wanted to say "Hey!" way down in Texas

ronda_gettinghealthy

@copper...thanks...I can use all the core work I can get.....I actually live south of wolfforth,,,between ropes and new home...gotta love Lubbock...no mountain trails except at McKenzie Park...