We have three contact points between our body and our bicycle – feet, backside and hands. All of them are important and need to be comfortable to ensure enjoyable rides. For now, we will focus on the hands and specifically on comfort.
Besides steering, braking and shifting gears, our hands partially support our body weight. When we ride, we put some weight on the handlebars with our hands. The amount of weight varies throughout each ride, but it’s this weight on the hands that can lead to discomfort or even pain. Here’s how to ensure you have optimal hand comfort when riding a mountain bike.
BIKE FIT
When you start experiencing discomfort or pain in your hands, this should be your first stop. A professional, experienced bike-fitter will immediately see if your position is in need of adjustment. If you have a new bike, a bike fit should be top of your to-do list. If you haven’t ridden for a while, have been injured, have gained or lost weight, your body will have changed a slightly and a bike fit to ensure optimal comfort is highly recommended.
HANDLEBAR
Your handlebar may need adjustment. A very wide bar may need to be trimmed slightly. Most handlebars have some backsweep and rise. Simply by loosening the stem, you can adjust the handlebar angle, which could help alleviate pressure pain in your hands. In some instances, you may benefit from a different handlebar. One with more rise will have you putting a little less weight on your hands. Bike fit experts do this as part of their consultation.
BRAKE LEVER POSITION
The position of your brake levers needs to match you and your type of riding. Those who do more gravity style riding have levers set a little higher as their bike is usually pointing down when they need to be most in tune with their brakes. Most, however, will have their levers set a little higher. Levers that are too high or too low will definitely create hand-related issues. You must have this correct in order to have control and comfort!
GRIPS
Not all grips are the same. Some of thin and firm, while others are more chunky and absorb trail or road chatter to an extent. Grips are quite personal. Some grips are designed to be more ergonomically in tune with your hand position, especially for long distance riding and ultra-endurance racing. It’s worth considering a different type of grip if you are experiencing hand discomfort or pain – especially if you are confident with your set-up.
GLOVES
There are quite a wide range of glove designs. Some riders prefer no gloves, some like gloves with no padding and others feel like they need generous padding. The important thing is that gloves fit you properly. Loose gloves will definitely generate hand friction, which can lead to discomfort. If you already ride with gloves than have generous padding, consider a model with minimal or no padding. It sounds counterintuitive, but it may be just what you need, because no two mountain bikers are exactly the same.
Most of the above is what a bike fitter will manage. If you haven’t had one in the past year or more, or never had one at all, strongly consider booking a bike fit appointment https://www.lynnwoodcyclery.co.za/pages/retul-studio with Marcel at Lynnwood Cyclery’s Retul Studio. Otherwise, chat to the knowledgeable staff at Lynnwood Cyclery for hand comfort solutions.
Author, Lynnwood Cyclery