Why does cycling make my hands ache?

[FumblesandFrolics]

That's it really. I haven't been on a bike in years, and found myself looking at one today. Tried one in a shop and was on it less than 5 minutes and my hands ache at the base of my thumb in the fleshy bit towards my forefinger. I remember this from my teens when I did last own a bike, and when I borrowed one for a day a couple of years ago.

Am I weird? The only bike that didn't ache was a 'sit up and beg' style, which isn't exactly going to fit in with my husbands idea of using a bike as a form of exercise.

Hypermobile perhaps ?? Do you have extra flexible finger/ hand joints ??

Or just stress of being on a bike & feeling unbalanced makes you grip too hard ??

What you need is a shorter stem or even a change in height or a different frame size - the pain is caused by your arms having to support too much of your body weight because you lean forward too far.

Best speak to a proper bike shop, they should be able to advise.

No, not hypermobile.

I do have small hands, but it doesn't matter if I do thumbs on top, or underneath when I grip. When I hold on, my weight seem to rest mostly on the fleshy part at the base of my thumb though, could that be it.

It can't just be me though, surely?

Thanks Widow. That sounds sensible.

Could be exacerbated by my not particularly brilliant back I imagine too.

I am beginning to realise quite what a long road to fitness it is going to be...

yes, it's the fitting as Widow says - too much weight on your hands. After a while your shoulders will ache too. If you sit back too much it leads to lower back pain.
It's only a question of getting the right sizes and posture - nothing else. A proper bike shop will be able to sort this out.

Only just realised I stumbled into the "excersise" dept - thought it was chat.

glad I did though, as I've learnt something very useful - my DD suffers with EDS (hypermobile medical condition) & needs a new push bike, which we will probably get her for Xmas -

shes had this same problem in the past & we thought it was because of her diagnosis - obviously not

Thank you for the info - book marking this so we can make sure we get her the best fit bike next time round :)

Mine ache if I do a long ride without gloves. I'm fine with gloves, and no other posture-related problems. I think it's vibration.

Trying gloves will be cheaper than a new bike too!

Try bar ends as well. Helps to move position around during a longer ride. I get pins & needles - remnants of carpel tunnel syndrome that came on during pregnancy and these help, so should also help with general hand pain. You can also get gel gloves, with small gel pads in the base of the palm, which help.

But - as above - getting properly fitted on the bike is the key. Your weight needs to be in the right place.

Mine ache after off road cycling, it's definitely vibrations and me gripping on for dear life

Like most cycling related aches, it does ease with regular cycling.

You can change basic stuff like seat height and handle bar adjustments by loosening the stem to assist with posture. IF you google 'bike riding posture' I bet something productive will come up.

Probably the size of the frame and/or set up.

The outside of DH's feet were aching until he had his bike reset for him. All very odd!

It gets easier as your core muscles build up, your just putting all your weight on your hands at the minute.

you are putting to much weight on your hands - use your core to stable your body and only rest your hands on the handle bars

at times cycling you will put different amounts of pressure on the handle bars

as another poster states - get properly fitted on a bike by an experienced shop sales person, some makes of bike are far better than others for different lengths of arms and legs - for example I for on a trek much better as I have a shorter arm length and longer legs.

Go to a bike shop and get the bike set up on a turbo trainer to test, make sure you wear suitable clothing and whatever shoes you intend riding the bike with

Through cycling I've discovered just exactly how disproportionately shaped I am - I have v short legs and a long back. So I have a mtb with a frame that according to the manufacturer (giant) is too big for me, and I had v to get a chunk cut off the seatpost just to get on the damn thing, but it's incredibly comfortable for me, and I can go miles offroad on it and feel fine. Bikes are incredibly individual things, and you really need to try all kinds of makes and sizes to see what fits.

I have similar body geometry, Habbibu.

life - nothing wrong at all with using a sit up and beg type bike. I have a hand built bike I inherited from my mother, it is almost like a sit up and beg,who was the same height as me and leg length so it is incredible comfortable for 4-5 hours riding. But I also have a road bike and it is much lighter, the gearing is different and therefore much faster - which is very satisfying.

my dd2 doesn't like me riding with her on the sit up and beg -nothing to do with street credit it is the simple fact I can go faster and therefore not slow her dow so much.
Possibly op's dh wants to ride with her and knows it will slow things up - I don't know?

I have this numb hand problem too. I have just got an expensive racer, which I thought would solve the problem, with there being at least three positions in which I could place my hands. It's worse though! I have a women's bike with a 54 inch frame as I have a long body and my hands ache worse thank ever. I will watch this thread avidly.

It's a pain, isn't it, lljkk? Only really realised when setting up my new bike and looking at the top tube clearance guide on the box, and then discovering that I didn't so much have an inch clearance, I had none. The bike is incredibly comfortable for me, though.
OP, where did you try bikes? A decent bike shop should be able to tweak bikes and try lots to see what suits you.

Whoops, sorry to post and run, only sporadic connection where we are this week.

Personally I would be happy with a Pashleyesque bike, but know DH will have ideas which are bound to include mud, rocks and hills.

I have been into a proper bike shop this week (we are on a weeks hols so have had some time) and thanks to the lovely man there did manage to find one bike that was comfortable. The key feature seems to be more swept back handle. Now just need to save for it as was quite a bit more than original budget. Was a 'Specialized crossroads'.

Do you grip a bit too strongly? Hold on for dear life? Grip more over the bumps or round sharp corners?

If you do, this could be the cause. Try calmer riding.

Try ebay. There are a few on there just now.

It's worth looking into buying the right handle bars and putting them onto a bike. I switched mine for narrower bars with a flattened tube.
Frame size is very important and has an impact whether too small or too big.
Also, well padded gloves are a must.
And lots of core stability work so you can comfortable maintain a forward position without all of your upper body weight going through your hands.
Also bear in mind that trying bikes on turbo trainers is not as comfortable as when you're on the road. I get arse ache on trainers but am fine on the road.

Get some endura aerogel mitts.

Adjust saddle angle so nose is pointing ever so slightly upwards.

Ensure you have the right size bike.