Numb fingers?

[meteor]

I'm getting numb fingers only on my throttle hand. Not sure why, I've got good summer gloves and about 3 sets of winter and seem to be getting numb fingers on longer rides, over and hour or so. I've taken to using some ski gloves but... not ideal. Not sure if it's a wrist angle thing or maybe a glove material bunching under my fingers??? Anyone else get that, what was your solution?

[ducatilover]

Lower the brake lever if you're covering the brake with your fingers.

[SMOKEU]

Lower the brake lever if you're covering the brake with your fingers.

It's a bad habit to ride like that anyway, I've been told not to do it.

[akkadian]

It's a bad habit to ride like that anyway, I've been told not to do it.

Me too.

Not wearing a watch on that wrist or anything? Could be cutting off your circulation

[Akzle]

learn what your ulnary nerve is. then stop leaning on it.

[ducatilover]

It's a bad habit to ride like that anyway, I've been told not to do it.

Nah, GP riders do it, must be perfect for teh roads.

I do it, I didn't die.

[SMOKEU]

Nah, GP riders do it, must be perfect for teh roads.

I do it, I didn't die.

When I went on a rider training course with Dan Ornsby he told me I should stop riding with my hand resting over the front brake lever as it's harder to control the throttle that way.

[FJRider]

Spread the weight of the grip on the throttle over the palm of the hand as well as the fingers. Keep the wrist straight. If you have to release the throttle to cover the brake with any of the fingers ... the angle and method of grip is wrong.

If they start to get numb ... keep pressure on the throttle with the palm only, and straighten and wiggle the fingers to keep the circulation going.

Tight fitting gloves can hamper circulation in the fingers too. In some circumstances ... tight fitting sleeves in a jacket can do the same thing.

[MIXONE]

I used to get the same thing on my mate's beema.Vibrations through the bars I think.

[meteor]

Covering the brake? sometimes, I ride a lot off road and it's never a problem but maybe I inadvertently do it on road too causing me to kink my wrist and pinch my radial artery?
Tight jacket? never thought of that, thanks, I'll check.
Ulnar nerve? not sure, thinking more likely pinching of the radial artery as above but if I'm covering the brake then the outside of my hand, where the nerve runs, will be weight bearing so possibly.

Will realign my brake lever to reduce the kink when (if) I cover the brake. And I'll check those things above.
Thanks guys, good advice.

[swbarnett]

Covering the brake? sometimes, I ride a lot off road and it's never a problem but maybe I inadvertently do it on road too causing me to kink my wrist and pinch my radial artery?

Seems to me that you need to adjust the position of your brake lever. It should be on the same line as your elbow and wrist.

[joan of arc]

Maybe something as simple as glove fingers too short. Tho' would probably affect both hands unless gloves are slightly different sizes or hands are!
When you grasp the throttle the glove is pulled tight on finger and thumb tips which after a time could cause numbness. Kinda like pins and needles.

[FJRider]

The biggest secret is to relax. If you start getting tired ... the grip tends to get "hang on for dear life". Stop and rest ... five minutes or so is good. A drink-snack-pee ... all the things you hadn't had time to do. So really the time isn't wasted. And the circulation returns.

[DrunkenMistake]

When I went on a rider training course with Dan Ornsby he told me I should stop riding with my hand resting over the front brake lever as it's harder to control the throttle that way.

Kinda makes sense,

I have my thumb and pointing finger on the throttle and my other 3 fingers covering the brake, means I kinda force myself to roll off the throttle to get on the brake, dunno I just find it comfortable.

[darkwolf]

If you really want to help your riding. Take the weight off of your hands all together. You only need a finger and thumb to control your throttle, your handlebars are for steering, not resting. Grip the bike with your legs, take your weight off your bars and profit.