attn:cycle gurus

[thestinker]

Fellas-

Dusted off the old k-mart mountain bike yesterday for a trip around the block with the kids in tow and my hands were killing me after the trip. We rode for about 45 min through the neigborhood, nothing too tough for our 1st trip out this year. I recently developed carpal tunnel in both hands, but have been getting a lot of releif through some "braces" that I wear while I sleep. But after the ride my hands were numb / throbing for hours. Do they make any kind of verticle extensons for handlebars that won't break the bank. Also, keep in mind that the bike only set me back a couple of hundred when I got her new. My gear shifts are on the grips I have now and instead of being levers that you operate with your thumbs they are the front part of the grip that turns tward or away from you and the breaks are just traditional in front of the grip squeze to stop kinda things. Thnkas in advance guys.

Riley

[JR]

Bar Ends

Bar ends is what they call the gizmos that clamp ont to the ends of the handlebars, projecting forward or upward as you desire.
Here is Performances page, featuring products as cheap as $10.

http://performancebike.resultspage.c...tom&w=bar+ends

I don't know how these work with grip shifts. It's assumed you would either move the grips inboard a bit or cut them off to make a place for the bar ends to clamp.

You might also try some gel-filled cycling gloves.

JR

[Sam Conder]

Start by trying a pair of cycling cloves. Preferably ones with "gel" in them. Vist your local bicycle shop and let them recommend a pair.

[sacherjj]

The way I solved that was more expensive, but I bought a recumbent bicycle. I now ride pain free for hours.

[atgcpaul]

Quill extender

Depending on the type of fork you have, you can also buy
an inexpensive extender that will elevate the height of
your handlebars a few inches. This will also help to
alleviate the pressure you feel on your hands and maybe
even your back. Your bike won't look as cool as before,
though. Bar ends are also an excellent solution and
probably easier to install.

One word of caution with bar ends. You are about to make
your handlebar into one big horseshoe. Those horns easily
wrap around everything like branches or the occassional
traffic barrier and won't let go. Don't ask me how I know.

Paul

[thestinker]

One word of caution with bar ends. You are about to make
your handlebar into one big horseshoe. Those horns easily
wrap around everything like branches or the occassional
traffic barrier and won't let go. Don't ask me how I know.

ok...sounds like exp to me. Thanks for the tips fellas. I got a pair of gloves and they helped bunches. Didn't totaly aliveate it, but helped a lot. I will try these for a while and might even pick up some bar ends also.

[TB Roye]

I have the same problem. When mine start acting up I wear the braces when I am driving, working in the shop and builing models. The straighter you can keep your wrists the better. The cycling gloves with gel with help also the main thing is keeping the wrist as straight as possible. I have had one cortirzone shot in my left wrist and couple of years ago that helped both wrists may be going back to do the other one. I am trying like crazy not to have the surgery, some people it works great and other it doesn't. I do find wearing the braces more often helps. I have to paint the house this summer and will have to do a bunch of brush painting I will wear the braces. Thank God for power tools.

Tom