Has anyone else noticed a correlation between riding with a camelback or backpack and hand numbness? I thought my numbness was fixed when i got some new gel gloves last fall, but now that the warm weather has me using my camelback, it's back with a vengeance. Is there any physiological basis for this?
backpack & hand numbness?
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 9:02am
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 9:43am
#1
Not heard of this problem, but...
If you're riding a road bike, where more of your torso and head weight is supported by your arms and hands on the handle bars, as opposed to the more upright position on a mounbtain bike or hybrid, it is possible that the additional weight of a full camelback could be putting increased pressure on your hands and contributing to the problem.
Other factors that should be taken into account are the overall fit of you to the bike. A poor fit can cause all sorts of problems - aches and pains or even injuries - and not just in the hands.
If you've noticed a difference since you've been using the camelback with the warmer weather, that could be the main cause. But if you haven't got a great fit with the bike, the camelback could just be the final straw.
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 9:46am
#2
I have never had a problem w wearing a camelbak. Perhaps you are putting too much weight on your handlebar. You should only have a light touch and should not be leaning on it. Your arms should be very loose. A good test while riding is to shake your elbows in & out. If they are nice & flexy then you are fine, but if they are hard to move, then you are putting too much weight on the bar. This is also a good trick for spin class as many people lean on the bar insted of using their legs.
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 11:14am
#3
The bladder doesn't matter.
Heavily padded gloves are treating the symptoms but not the cause. If your hands are aching, you have too much weight on them; your bike doesn't fit. A higher and/or shorter stem would be a good start.
Camelbacks for the road are just plain silly. Just carry two (or even three) large bottles and refill as needed. It's not like we live in the Mojave, right?
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 2:27pm
#4
C-backs fine for me
I have ridden and hiked with a camelback for years and never have encountered numbness. Sounds like a bike geometry problem.
Fixer, some folks like to have a lot of water on a ride, and they couldn't care how it looks.
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 2:27pm
#5
You could try adjusting the vertical position of the Camelbak. When I first got mine, I spent several months dialing in the correct position.
Personally, I wear mine with the center of gravity several inches lower than the waistband of my shorts. I wear it much lower than I would wear a hiking backpack.
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 8:21pm
#6
hand numdness
"I've found that the root of the numdness comes from also how relaxed my shouldres and neck are in relation to the fit of the bike. If you feel jambed at all it'll pinch the nerves in the neck- hence the trickle down effect.
Also, thanks to those that tried to help with my hot foot problem: I did the cleat shift- better, not best. Tomorrows ride will include the suggested orthotics. In addition it was pointed out that I had the float of the pedal set to ""0"", which also helped... stay tuned."
Fri, 05/21/2004 - 8:29pm
#7
hand numdness
"I've found that the root of the numdness comes from also how relaxed my shouldres and neck are in relation to the fit of the bike. If you feel jambed at all it'll pinch the nerves in the neck- hence the trickle down effect.
Also, thanks to those that tried to help with my hot foot problem: I did the cleat shift- better, not best. Tomorrows ride will include the suggested orthotics. In addition it was pointed out that I had the float of the pedal set to ""0"", which also helped... stay tuned."
Tue, 05/25/2004 - 12:35pm
#8
Hand numbness
I'm no expert on all the adjustments on the bike, but often hand numbness is caused from either nerve compression at the wrist, or a problem at the cervical, or neck area. For the wrist, try and make sure that the wrist is not either quite flexed, or hyper-extended, or you could get a carpel tunnel like syndrome; i.e try and keep the wrist in as neutral position as possible (that would be the way you would have your wrist if you were carrying a can of soda or beer -- obviously not while you are riding, but try it out at home). I also agree that a looser grip puts less pressure. As for the neck, you might also try and notice if you are riding in a position that strains your neck. You can always go into a Doctor and have EMG's to see specifically which nerves are causing the problem, but hopefully one of the many suggestions is this whole thread will help.
