eddief
12-31-2018, 09:09 AM
My old hands ache from arthritis right where my thumbs meet near my palms. I do believe this is a really common problem for we middle agers. I would guess this results from years of cycling and gripping drop bars on the tops near the shifters in the same position over 1000s of miles. The grip in the drops actually results in less pain but I can't ride down there all the time.
My 3 bikes are dialed in the same and I love how things work except my thumbs tend to bother me on and off the bike to some degree. I have extra padding under the bar tape and my bars are pretty high, so not from too much weight on my hands. Just gripping the same way forever.
So I am considering a new experiment and converting a bike to flat bars. But I would like to still be able to go fast, stand up when I climb, and cruise well on flats. My hope is a different cockpit setup will alter my grip and maybe delay or alleviate more pain.
I tried Riv moustache bars once a long time ago and that experiment lasted about 2 days. Wondering more about straight bars with some sort bar ends:
https://www.rei.com/product/884447/ergon-gp5-handlebar-grips?sku=8844470002&store=77&cm_mmc=PLA_Google_LIA|404_175507|8844470002|none|0 6ef85f5-98c9-41ea-ace1-de895b2bb73d|aud-553371945779:pla-448206113911&lsft=cm_mmc:PLA_Google_LIA|404_175507|8844470002|n one|06ef85f5-98c9-41ea-ace1-de895b2bb73d&kclid=06ef85f5-98c9-41ea-ace1-de895b2bb73d&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmafhBRDUARIsACOKERMtplzjH17MAlhbAsYj Dh7RJbssAPzxByNhSONIz8rTsazQ48gehBkaAsv7EALw_wcB
Have you experimented and what approach worked for you?
My 3 bikes are dialed in the same and I love how things work except my thumbs tend to bother me on and off the bike to some degree. I have extra padding under the bar tape and my bars are pretty high, so not from too much weight on my hands. Just gripping the same way forever.
So I am considering a new experiment and converting a bike to flat bars. But I would like to still be able to go fast, stand up when I climb, and cruise well on flats. My hope is a different cockpit setup will alter my grip and maybe delay or alleviate more pain.
I tried Riv moustache bars once a long time ago and that experiment lasted about 2 days. Wondering more about straight bars with some sort bar ends:
https://www.rei.com/product/884447/ergon-gp5-handlebar-grips?sku=8844470002&store=77&cm_mmc=PLA_Google_LIA|404_175507|8844470002|none|0 6ef85f5-98c9-41ea-ace1-de895b2bb73d|aud-553371945779:pla-448206113911&lsft=cm_mmc:PLA_Google_LIA|404_175507|8844470002|n one|06ef85f5-98c9-41ea-ace1-de895b2bb73d&kclid=06ef85f5-98c9-41ea-ace1-de895b2bb73d&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmafhBRDUARIsACOKERMtplzjH17MAlhbAsYj Dh7RJbssAPzxByNhSONIz8rTsazQ48gehBkaAsv7EALw_wcB
Have you experimented and what approach worked for you?