I have a client that is a Cat 3 Roadie and we made some changes to fit and now is having numb hand issues in thumb and first finger. We moved from a 42 bar to 38 and made several adjustments on saddle position. When we started he had lots of issues, one including numb fingers in last three, and now with changes it has moved into other two fingers only. I don’t see this often and was looking for suggestions
Likely a compression of the medial nerve, at the hood/bar or all the way up in the armpit.
going down from a 42 wide to a 38 is pretty dramatic - making me wonder if the impingement is up in the armpit.
also, did the drop from saddle bar increase as well after the fit? could be a combination of saddle height to bar change and increase in pressure.
thank you
The drop from saddle to bar is a large amount but it didn’t change during our fit. I do feel it is from to much pressure on hands but not sure how to help him. He wants to continue to be in low position and his body will allow it.
I can’t help but wonder about the 38cm bar! How tall/small is your guy? Under 5’5"?
If you cross your arms you willl feel how it pinches the axillary; it’s a busy intersection in there.
Also, to be ‘that person’, if he is racing crits he should be in the drops, not on the hoods. So extreme pro drop to the hoods is not the metric he is looking for.
He may be flexible to assume the position, but lack of core engagement or stability at pelvis/saddle means he is doing handstands. Or the bars are too narrow. Or both.
As a fitter, you need to make sure that their position is efficient and safe. If the position isn’t safe you can’t let him ride and represent your work.
I can’t help but wonder about the 38cm bar! How tall/small is your guy? Under 5’5"?
If you cross your arms you willl feel how it pinches the axillary; it’s a busy intersection in there.
Also, to be ‘that person’, if he is racing crits he should be in the drops, not on the hoods. So extreme pro drop to the hoods is not the metric he is looking for.
He may be flexible to assume the position, but lack of core engagement or stability at pelvis/saddle means he is doing handstands. Or the bars are too narrow. Or both.
As a fitter, you need to make sure that their position is efficient and safe. If the position isn’t safe you can’t let him ride and represent your work.
What Ann Said, 1,000%!
Great note! I’m still fighting with this after 3 decades of racing (I know, I’m a slow learner…)
I have actually seen this happen to my friends a fair amount. I think this happens because of a pinched nerve or muscle soreness. For muscle soreness, I used to take amino acid capsules because it helps with the pain and the regeneration of muscle. I think you might be able to get them from a supplement store like on here https://www.vitaminexpress.org/uk/amino-acids-supplements
42cm to 38cm, like others have said is a big drop. You measured a 38 shoulder width? He must be a shorter guy?
You talked about his body being flexible enough for the big drop. But, did you do a plank or core strength test?
It sounds like (as others have said) the bars are too narrow and the drop too big.
Great reply Anne!