Grips

[Davet261]

Jetdriver and I went for a ride on Sunday and about 100 miles into it I got bad hand cramps on both hands.   I tried shaking them, opening my fingers and resting them on the clutch and brake levers, nothing seemed to work.  This seems to be happening more frequent.

Has anybody else had this problem?  I am going to try buying different grips but not sure which would be the best, any suggestions?

[..]

Grip puppies are a cheap fix for thicker grips
https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=BXRKNp8AAWJ4UylUxstpig&cp=7&gs_id=q&xhr=t&q=grip+puppies&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=grip+pu&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=41e29ab53187148e&biw=784&bih=481

Do you ride with a  death grip? Could you relax the grip a little?

Do you ride with your the back of your hands - wrists - forearms all in a straight line? Maybe you need to just alter the handlebar position a little?

[MacDragon]

I had a similar problem for a while.  I put Kuryakyn ISO grips on my bikes with Throttle Bosses so I could just rest my palms on the boss instead of keeping a grip with all my hand muscles... helped tremendously.

Don't have any great pics of just the throttle grip, but here is one on my Ace Cruiser and the grips can be seen on the Valk.

[Rams]

Dave,
I don't know how much you ride but, this does not seem to me to be a normal problem.  I ride a lot of short distances and some long ones when I can.  Though, my Fat Lady is equipped with the Kuryakyn (edited for correct spelling) throttle boss grips, I've never experienced such symptons.  May I respectfully suggest that you might want to discuss this with you family physician.  There may be more to it than just changing your grips.

Lord only knows how much I hope changing grips is the answer but, things like this are symptons to greater problems.  Never hurts to be safe versus being sorry.

Just advice from a friend that cares.

[solo1]

i've had the same thing happen to me.  Crap, at my age,  all kinds of things like thiis crop up for me while riding. .  

If you have the standard grips go larger. Small diameter grips bring it on.   I have foam covers over my grips.  On the Valk, Kuryakyn grips are the best.  Also install a throttle lock and/ or a palm rest.  These fixes all help.  

While riding, relax one hand at a time, straight down at your side.  That gets the circulation back.  A throttle lock really helps here.  Obviously, don't do it in traffic.

[Jack]

I have ISO-Grips and they help a lot.  One of the other things I have done, rather than buying expensive grips or foam covers, is to wrap the grips in tennis racket tape.  It is very comfortable and has a leather appearance.  You can get it for about $1/grip and it last at least a year.

[Daniel Meyer]

Also, make sure, when you are in your normal riding position, that your wrists are straight and your elbows slightly bent. If not adjust your bars/add risers/whatever. Your wrists have got to be straight for the most part.

[cookiedough]

I get the numbness in my left fingers more so than my right hand, especially the pinky finger after say 40-50 miles of riding especially all hwy. miles.  I think age is a part of it plus maybe carpo-tunal (spelling) in the hands since I type a lot at work or if you use your hands hard manual labor, also could affect tingling in the fingers.  If you get tingling in the palms of your hands, then go see a dr. but I think this numbness tingling sensation in your fingers is fairly common after so many miles of riding a cycle especially once over 40 years old.  I don't see how cyclists ride with ape hangers.  I was following a HD with huge ape hangers into town on my cycle yesterday and he was pretty shaky cornering that thing.  He was also holding up traffic going 50-55 mph in a 55 mph zone on the hwy. backing up traffic.  I guess gotta look cool over function???

[Jabba]

Try using different gloves.

I have had buddies who's gloves made their hands do that.

Glove switch... GONE!!

Good luck!

Jabba

[cookiedough]

Try using different gloves.

I have had buddies who's gloves made their hands do that.

Glove switch... GONE!!

Good luck!

Jabba

I don't wear gloves unless below 50 degrees out.  But, when I do wear light comfy gloves, I do find I can ride longer and my hands and more importantly my fingers are more comfy/less tingly.

[Jabba]

Well, there you go.  Find some gloves that you can wear when it's warm.

I ALWAYS wear gloves.  If you go down... even a little bit, the palms of your hands will take a beating.  If you skin the hide off your dickskinners, you're crippled until they heal.  I don't care what your job is.  Helmet and gloves for me.  I'll skip the jacket... boots SOMETIMES and even long pants for SHORT rides home from the gym... but not the gloves.

I buy mine at Foxcreekleather.com.  VERY happy.

Jabba

[Valkahuna]

I get the numbness in my left fingers more so than my right hand, especially the pinky finger after say 40-50 miles of riding especially all hwy. miles.  I think age is a part of it plus maybe carpo-tunal (spelling) in the hands since I type a lot at work or if you use your hands hard manual labor, also could affect tingling in the fingers.  If you get tingling in the palms of your hands, then go see a dr. but I think this numbness tingling sensation in your fingers is fairly common after so many miles of riding a cycle especially once over 40 years old.  I don't see how cyclists ride with ape hangers.  I was following a HD with huge ape hangers into town on my cycle yesterday and he was pretty shaky cornering that thing.  He was also holding up traffic going 50-55 mph in a 55 mph zone on the hwy. backing up traffic.  I guess gotta look cool over function???

If it's your pinky and ring finger, that's due to a pinching of the Ulnar nerve. If it is Carpal tunnel, it would be your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. 

Much of this is positional, as others have said, since you tend to trap either nerve if your hands and wrists are positioned a certain way. Also, if your riding gloves are too tight around the wrist, it can aggravate things. Unfortunately, I have a very bad neck, and the three herniated and three bulging disks cause all of those things.     I have to watch my posture, but mostly I just grin and bear it!

Hey, I'm riding, and it still hurts just sitting still in a chair, and even worse cutting the grass bouncing around on the tractor.

So, I choose, wait for it, drum roll - RIDING

[sugerbear]

grip puppies helped a lot with my arthritis.

[Davet261]

I figure there are quite a few factors in my situation, my age, bad rotator cuff in right shoulder, bad left elbow, in my younger days in the 70's I worked in the oi fields which required a lot of heavy lifting.  Another possibility is the type of roads I ride on, 90% are scenic highways or backroads, straight roads are rare, the roads I take have lots of curves.  The size of the grips I am sure are part of the problem, I will buy bigger ones.  I try not to tense up when going into curves but I am sure I do, then powering out of them probably contributes some too. 

I have even heard drinking dill pickle juice before riding will keep the cramps away, I havent tried it yet but next time I will just to see if it helps......

[..]

I figure there are quite a few factors in my situation, my age, bad rotator cuff in right shoulder, bad left elbow, in my younger days in the 70's I worked in the oi fields which required a lot of heavy lifting.  Another possibility is the type of roads I ride on, 90% are scenic highways or backroads, straight roads are rare, the roads I take have lots of curves.  The size of the grips I am sure are part of the problem, I will buy bigger ones.  I try not to tense up when going into curves but I am sure I do, then powering out of them probably contributes some too. 

I have even heard drinking dill pickle juice before riding will keep the cramps away, I havent tried it yet but next time I will just to see if it helps......

Potassium pills, preferably eat a bannana every day.

Drink more water.

[VALKIFIED]

I figure there are quite a few factors in my situation, my age, bad rotator cuff in right shoulder, bad left elbow, in my younger days in the 70's I worked in the oi fields which required a lot of heavy lifting.  Another possibility is the type of roads I ride on, 90% are scenic highways or backroads, straight roads are rare, the roads I take have lots of curves.  The size of the grips I am sure are part of the problem, I will buy bigger ones.  I try not to tense up when going into curves but I am sure I do, then powering out of them probably contributes some too. 

I have even heard drinking dill pickle juice before riding will keep the cramps away, I havent tried it yet but next time I will just to see if it helps......

Potassium pills, preferably eat a bannana every day.

Drink more water.

this took of it for me.

[Oss]

i have had my hand lock up which sux big time when it happens.  But I find not riding in tornados and thunderstorms helps to avoid that.  Loosen the grip on the bars when you find that happening you may not realize how tight you are holding them


Wife made me a St John's oil with arnica oil and I rub that on the hands, which are always covered with leather gloves (Olympia Kevlar for the last 7 years) and that really helps me finish a full day ride

Stickin the hand in an ice bucket after a ride also helps the cramp  A magnesium deficiency also will give you cramps

[old2soon]

Well i learned a couple of things from this thread. And here i thought it was due mostly to the ritis brothers and bad(seemed good at the time)living. I do have a 10 lb and a 15 lb barbell that seems to help the whole shootin match. I do notice that even when the weather is cooler my stops are more frquent. I really try not to push too hard these days and just learn to enjoy the ride. RIDE SAFE.

[mario]

i have had my hand lock up which sux big time when it happens.  But I find not riding in tornados and thunderstorms helps to avoid that.  Loosen the grip on the bars when you find that happening you may not realize how tight you are holding them


Wife made me a St John's oil with arnica oil and I rub that on the hands, which are always covered with leather gloves (Olympia Kevlar for the last 7 years) and that really helps me finish a full day ride

Stickin the hand in an ice bucket after a ride also helps the cramp  A magnesium deficiency also will give you cramps

+1 on the arnica cream.

[cookiedough]

Man, we learn a lot on this website about nerves and meds and riding attire and what to eat to remedy the situation.  I'll think I will skip going to see the Dr. and just ask all these fine folks on this board.