Conference noted::bicycle

    
    Long hours on a bike can result in nerve damage to the hands.  Over
    the long run, it can be serious.  I'm sure your's will get better
    but you should guard against it happening.
    
    Did you use cycling gloves?  I find that the standard glove does
    not give me enough protection.  I use Spenco gloves (extra gushy
    padding).  Foam cushioning on the bars is another approach.
    
    Chuck
    

    
    Sounds like it might be a positioning problem as well, ie. the stem's
    too short, and there's too much weight on your hands. Better gloves
    may just mask this. When fitted properly, your hands should just
    lay on the bars with little weight on the wrist. The stem length
    is what determines your fore-aft center of gravity. You should be
    able to ride with your hands on the brake hoods, let go while in
    that position, and not fall forward or strain your back excessively.
    
    Proper fit first, then the best gloves you can afford.
    
    CdH
    
    

    
    	Also worth checking your "style" on the bike.  A lot of folks
    seem to go the shock absorbing material route when a slight bend
    in the elbow will do the trick.  Your shoulder pain seems to suggest
    that you may be riding in the locked elbow position, which is hard
    on most of the upper body.
    
    	Reg
    

    I have been using a pair of SECA gloves, mostly because the backs
    are made of a Terrycloth Type material that is great for removing
    facial perspiration.  I also noticed riding home the other night
    that I tend to always reach for my water bottle with my right hand
    which put a great strain on my left, this could be causing part
    of the problem.  I'll start using both hands equally and see if
    this helps.  As far as the stem is concerned, what should one look
    for as a good fit indicator?  Thanks for your tips so far!

    
    There really are no hard and fast rules for stem fitting. The best
    way is to have someone who knows how to fit you take a look at your
    position while riding or on the turbotrainer. That's how we do it.
    I'd be willing to fit you if we could arrange a convenient place
    (how about at a club ride?).
    
    CdH
    
    
    

    A club ride would be great, but I thought that most of the rides
    are south of Merrimack...Is the schedule published in notes.  I
    didn't see one mentioned in the directory....if theres a mailing
    list I'd like to get on it.  I just started riding with the Granite
    State Wheelmen this past week.  Theres a metric Century in Methuen
    this Saturday that I'm going to try.  Hopefully I'll meet alot of
    Digital Bikers at that one.  

I thought there was an Aug newsletter, but could not find it.  97.6 has
the DECbikeclub ride schedule for the remainder of the summer.

We (the GSW) did not get the Methuen metric advertised for the DECbikers
so they did not know about it until now.

Glad to hear that you are sufficiently recovered from Saturday to go at
another good ride.  If all goes well, I'll be up in the Mtns doing the
4 notches and a Pass, again.

ed

    Well I did the Methuen Metric.  It was poorly attended, only about
    8 people showed up.  Due to poor navigating and no one to ride with
    I ended up in Haverhill instead of Methuen. It was more like a regular 
    Century.  I tried the suggestion
    on the bent elbow and was very concious not to ride stiff arm.
    This seemed to help my shoulder/neck pain a bit but didn't do anything
    for my fingers.  After the ride I couldn't open the car door with
    my left hand.  I think I'm going to have to spring for the $25 Spenco
    Gloves.  Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.  Bikers are
    a neat group of people.

    The numbness/pain is caused by an irritation of the Ulnar nerve.
    This runs down the Ulnar bone (hense the name) on the little finger
    side of the arm. It then crosses out into the palm and splits to
    the fingers. The irritation screws up everything distal (away from)
    that point.
    
    As 129.1 mentioned pernament damage can result over prolonged occurance.
    If the pain/numbness does not abate after rest, have a doctor check
    it out. Nerve damage is most often pernament so prevention is all
    the more important.

    There is a pamplet in Spenco products which outlines this (and how
    THEIR product can help [ie plug]).
    
    I used to get it occasionally, put foam pads (Spenco, I like the
    brand) on the handlebars and have no problems anymore.


        Steve W.

    Another thing to watch which can make a real difference here is
    making certain that you keep your elbows in.  The natural tendency
    is to turn your arm in such a way that your slightly bent elbows
    are pointing out (i.e., in looking down at your arm, it does not
    describe a straight line).  You should concentrate on keeping your
    elbows in. By in I mean that your arm should bend down, but not
    out (or in for that matter).  This can be an unnatural feeling position
    for your arm when you first use it, however it will reduce the
    pressure on the nerves in your wrist and hand.
    
    This can be an especially important consideration for women, I've
    been told, because their arms swing in a different arc than mens.
    
    Jim
                                   

    
    If you have such a problem that you had trouble opening the car
    door, then I say YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW.
    
    I have been riding for years, and have gotten sore hands, but never
    so I couldn't move them.  You are on the edge of bad damage, I think.
    
    (Hope this doesn't sound to stern.)
    
    Chuck
    

    After carefully analyzing my riding posture I find it physically
    impossible for me to hold the bar with bent elbows while keeping my arms
    straight because to do so causes my knees to hit my forearms.  I
    think that the only way I could assume this position comfortably
    would be to purchase a real wide handle bar, or use a mountain bike.
     I can get into this position by riding on the brake hoods (which
    is what I normally do anyway) but this wouldn't allow me to change
    positions frequently which would probably make the problem worse.
     Chuck probaly has a good point....I'm going to break down and get
    the SPENCO fast.

    Well I broke down and bought the SPENCO gloves just prior to the
    Flattest Century in the East this past weekend and it looks as if
    this problem is solved.  I still have a slight tingle in my pinky
    but I think its getting better.  I'd highly recommend the SPENCO
    gloves to anyone that doesn't have them even if they don't have
    the problem, that way hopefully they never will.  This Century was
    also much more comfortable than the last on my neck and shoulders
    thanks to all the tips on riding posture.  Thanks to all of you
    who contributed to my plee for help.

    Yesterday I completed the 33 mile "Women on a Roll" tour through
    Lincoln, Concord, and Sudbury.  Great tour, good turnout (maybe
    200+ ), police holding up traffic for us at some busy intersections,
    etc..   
    
    This was the first time I'd done any riding at *all* since before
    college (graduated 2 years ago).   I thought I'd be very sore in
    my legs, but I guess basketball and swimming are good for something!
    The only after-effect that's bothering is a twitch in the first
    3 fingers of my left hand.  I recall this hand falling asleep once
    during the tour.
    
    Before I thought that the foam grips on my Miyata ATB were 
    comfortable enough and that gloves were superflous.  
    
    However, after reading all the replies to this topic, it seems that
    gloves could prevent further numbness and day-after twitching in
    my hands... (I do plan to continue riding - it was loads of fun!)
    
    I've heard that mountain bike gloves are different than racing
    gloves...  Is this true?  Is there a certain brand of ATB glove
    you would recommend?
    
    Thanks in advance.
    							nancy b.
                                                                     

    Hi Nancy,
    
    	Three years later (almost to the day) and I'm still wearing
    Spenco and haven't had a recurrence of the numbness problem and
    I've done rides over twice the distances I was writing about back
    then.  I don't think that a special mountain bike glove is going
    to give you any more performance than a regular glove since its
    the shock absorbing material (Spenco Gel) in the plam that makes
    the difference.  I personally won't wear anything else since Spenco
    works for me, but if you think that $20 to $25 a pr. is to steep
    then you might want to try one of the new Gel Filled gloves like
    Nashbars for $17 and I think Performance has an inexpensive one
    also.  Hope they work for you.
    						_Jerry
    
    BTW: The new Nashbar glove almost looks more like a mountain
    bike glove than conventional gloves since they cover almost
    your entire hand.

    Nancy:
    
    For what it's worth.  I ride both an ATB and touring bike.  When
    I ride my ATB for more than an hour or so on the road, my hands
    tend to go numb unless I shake out the kinks every so often.  This 
    is more a result of the lack of hand positions available with ATB 
    style bars vs drops.  I don't have the problem with my C-dale, even
    if I stay in the saddle all day.  
    
    BTW:  I wear the same pair of gloves on both bikes.  
    

          re: .15  (Jerry Smith)

          Thanks for the advice!  I ended out ordering a pair of Nashbar
          Gel gloves for $17 after seeing the Spenco Gel gloves in Ray &
          Sons bike shop in Maynard for _$28_ (is that place a rip-off or
          are Spenco's normally that price?).  The smooth lycra on the back
          of the  Nashbar gloves are much more comfortable to me than the
          scratchy mesh stuff on the Spenco gloves; on the other hand, they
          might not wear as well.

          Took them on a 1.5 hour ride in today's glorious fall weather
          with no numbness during the ride whatsoever!

          re: .16 (Marty Hill)

          > When I ride my ATB for more than an hour or so on the
          > road, my hands tend to go numb unless I shake out the
          > kinks every so often.  This is more a result of the lack
          > of hand positions available with ATB style bars vs drops.

          I kept what you said in mind when I rode today and moved my hands
          around more on the grips, and didn't grip as tightly as I
          remember doing the first time out with the bike....no tingles or
          twitches 12 hours later - thanks.

                                                            nancy b.

    Nancy:
    
    Let me know how you like the Nashbar Gel gloves.  I have a pair
    (blue) and after many hours on the bike, they still turn my hands
    blue form perspiration.                                         
    
    R,
    Marty