Carbon Handlebars

[theprep]

Has anyone made a change recently from aluminum bars to carbon handlebars?

On long rides my hands (mostly right) go numb. My current bars are Ritchey WCS. I have also tried aluminum Salsa's and ITM's.

My fork is an Ouzo Pro.

Are the claimed benefits of reduced vibration and damping valid?

[bfd]

Try using wider tires like 700x25. Wider tires provides more air volume, which allows you run *lower* air pressure, like 100-110psi, which equals more comfort. Wider tires will do more for comfort, than carbon h-bars, stems or forks.....

[MarinRider]

I ride with both carbon (MORE, Zipp, Easton, Kestrel) and aluminum bars (Prima 199, Forma, and ITM). In general, Carbon does dampen the road vibration a little. More importantly, they are stiffer and offer more handlebar shapes than aluminum bars.

I am not so sure about carbon bar as the solution to cure your numb hands. Vibration damping is marginal. On long ride, try switching hand positions more frequently: on the hoods, top, and in various positions in the drops. I think varying hand positions will help much more than carbon bars.

Good luck.

[shinomaster]

I have had problems on long rides too. Thicker bar tape like profile helps as do gel gloves. I hate gel but it turns out I need it..

[dnovo]

I got the FSA K-Wing carbon bar on the BLE I bought as a complete bike. One reason I liked it so much is that its basic shape (the drops and the flat section leading out to the hoods) are almost the same as my Ritchey WCS/Pro/Biomax. The added bonus is the 'scalloped' area behind the hoods on the inner portion of the bar that allows the bulge below your thumb to rest very comfortably as you ride with your hands on or just behing the hoods. The center portion of the bar has a curved top and another 'scollop' below which makes griping the tops a very pleasant experience. The only drawback some have expressed is that the bottom of the drops (where I rarely if ever put my hands) is fairly short.

On the other hand, it is hard to find under $200 and usually runs about $225. The Ritchey bars, for a lot, lot less, are still the best I can think of and I have no complaints of excessive flex. So the FSA has only found an occasional place in the fleet here at Casa Novo. Dave N.

[Dude]

sometimes it doesn't necessarily have to do with front end vibration damping, it may just be a matter of hand positioning on the bars/levers.

[Kevin]

Prep,

I have had the same issue with my right thumb going numb. It also swells. I have been to a hand specialist. He told me that there is a "carpal tunnel" in the palm of your hand, where your thumb connects to to your hand, in other words right where your hand rests when on the hoods. Apparently, it is similiar to the world famous carpal tunnel in your wrist that gives typists such problems.

The good doctor's advice was to try and minimize the time I spend riding with my weight on my thumb joint and minimize the impact to the joint. I already use Easton carbon bars so the bars have not eliminated the problem, though I suspect that they have helped a little. I also use PI Gel-Lite gloves, which are very comfortable. I find that the biggest help is to switch hand positions frequently: on the hoods, top, etc. The more time you spend off the hoods the better. Since we both ride in Long Island traffic we know it can be dangerous to come off the hoods. I try to spend 25% of the time off the hoods. This has helped but I still have the problem occassionaly so I am going to switch to gel tape. If I find a total cure I will let you know.

By the way, they are very reluctant to perform surgery to correct the problem. Apparently with all of the bones, nerves, tendons, etc, in your hand, a mistake can be problematic to say the least.

Kevin

[JohnS]

I sewitched from 3T Forma bars to Easton cf bars two years ago. They are much more shock absorbing. I don't know if it'll help your numbness, but it does soak up road vibration. I have severe arthritis in my left shoulder and find them a Godsend.

[Johnnyg]

Prep
Try changing hand positions often, Chenelli makes a gell bar tape which works well. I recently went to a Kestrel OS carbon bar a swich from the Deda Newton and have noticed a some what smoother ride on the rough roades hare in Maine. Also some gloves work better than others so try different brands. Many safe and smooth miles in the new year.

[Elefantino]

What fork/wheel/tire setup to you run? I have similar ailments and am considering the switch from ITM to CF ...

[Johnnyg]

Elefantino
I'm using the Serotta F2 fork, Victoria cs EVO 23cm tires mounted on duraace wheels or on mavic heliums for training.

[PBWrench]

I'm not sure how much the CF bars help. I've got Kestrel EMS bars on one bike, but it's a CF frame so I'm not sure of the ar's role. I echo DNOVO's praise of Ritchey WCS bars, which I ride on my Legend. The shape is brilliant,and I don't feel substantial vibration. Try the Cinelli Gel tape or Stella Azzura Techno-Spunga. Assos Prosline gloves are particularly well-padded. Good luck!

[Redturbo]

Specailized make somethin called bar fat(?). It goes under the bar tape and is cushie. May help.

turbo

[JohnS]

I have a Concours with an Icon Air Rail fork, Vittoria Open Corsa KX tires, with a 3T Forgie stem and an Easton cf bar. I also use Cinelli bar tape and PI Gelite gloves.

[dave thompson]

For those who want a more shock absorbing bar tape, but don't like the 'feel' of gel or squishy tape, use an underwrap of cotton bartape (Tressoro or CatEye) and then your favorite type of regular bartape. This also increases the diameter of the bar and can alleviate hand pain because your hand is more open and relaxed. It worked for me.

[Eric E]

Numb hands can be a function of excess weight on your hands due to your fore-aft position on your bike. I always had numb hands with stock bike geometries, even with the seat set back as far as possible. Once, after 100 miles on a MS150 ride, a massage therapist commented that she could have worked on my shoulders all day because they were so tight.

Getting a custom Serotta Rapid Tour with a 72 degree seat tube solved all of this, placing my weight farther back and placing less weight on the handlebars. I guess I needed this position due to my canoeist-sized shoulders and short legs. I expect that there may be a trade-off in that my set-back position may be perhaps less efficient in the sitting position relative to a standard KOPS position. But I'll never go back!

Eric

[Orin]

Choice of gloves is important. You want to avoid anything which can dig into the carpal tunnel. Specialized Body Geometry gloves may work for MTB bars, but I found the edge of the gel pads to be right over the carpal tunnel and to put pressure on the nerve rather than relieve the pressure...

I find gloves with thin padding that is uninterrupted in the carpal tunnel area to be best for me.

Orin.