The Bike Doc 250+
Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 1398 Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:59 pm GMT +0000 Post subject: |
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HotRod 210:
Your numb pinky is likely due to excess compression on the ulnar nerve were it goes under the bone on the heal pinky side of the hand. Look to getting a lightly padded set of gloves (Specialized Body Geometry Gloves are designed to help alleviate this problem). Develop a lighter hold on the handle bars; raise the handle bars up an inch or so to lessen the weight being place on the hands and look at handle bars that are slightly back swept to put your hands in a more neutral position. Also, look at getting a set of bar ends that will allow you alternating hand positions that you can switch to periodically on rides and alleviate pressure points.
For your numb toes, look at your shoes. Shoes that fit at the start of the race may be too tight at the end of the race due to foot swelling. You may want a slightly wider box at the toes or not lace/strap them as tight. Wearing knee length support hoes can help reduce swelling (and black ones hide chainring tatoos nicely). Also look at you clipless pedals. If the shoes do not have rigid interface with the cleat undo pressure can be transferred to the foot structures including the nerve that go to the toes. A wider based clipless pedal may serve you better by giving you a broader weight distribution to the bottom of your foot.
Thanks, _________________ Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc |
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