Thanks Jim! I am kinda broke all over. Since my neuropathy is mostly in my elbow, I am a little leary about leaning down on tri bars, besides the 'ol back... I tried the super padded bar tape today, but it just made things worse. I think it is sort of like having a too squishy saddle. It worms it way into the places it shouldn't touch. I am running the Fizik gel padding under brooks tape currently...Seems to be the best I can do. I don't know whether it is position, elbow bend, vibration, hand placement or?.....stumped. I have tried everything I can think of. I might try an elbow brace next. Thank you for your suggestions. I will ponder over getting some aerobars. If I can get them high enough, I'll give them a try. Clay
________________________________ From: James Philip <ja...@jimflip.com> To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013 7:38 AM Subject: [RBW] Re: Help needed from the collective mind. Hi Clayton, Sorry to hear about the condition. I hope this helps - while out on the road a few weeks back, I met gentleman who "apologized" for his triathlon aero-bars by explaining that he had carpal tunnel, and that resting on his forearms was the only way he could ride any distance, as he had difficulty holding onto the hoods of his bike. When I read your post, I wondered if this might be an option ? >From the rest of your original post, however, I understand that your lower >back may not allow you to use aero-bars in their more traditional position, >but how about something which looks like this: >http://sheldonbrown.com/org//thorn/index.html and placing the aerobars where >Sheldon had the top flat bar ? If you decide to try aero-bars, I also found a thread on a Triathlon forum which suggests J-shaped bars to be better suited than S-shaped or straight bars (http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1067607) as they place the hands in a more comfortable position. I hope that helps ! Regards Jim On Thursday, August 29, 2013 11:36:24 AM UTC-7, Clayton wrote: I just got back from my Nerve doctor, a Physiatrist, pain specialist...I have had four total carpal tunnel surgeries. Three on my hands and one ulnar nerve relocation in my left elbow. The results from my latest nerve conduction study show that I have rather bad nerve damage in my left elbow that is permanent. Riding antagonizes the pain and numbness. I ride a Rivendell Atlantis and it has been pretty much my only bike for the past 20 years or so. I run a White Brothers suspension seatpost, B-17 saddle, 2.2 wide tires at 40 psi, 100mm dirtdrop stem at max extension and woodchipper bars. I wear gel gloves and use brooks handlebar tape. I see two options. Sell my Atlantis (oh God NO!) and buy a 29er with a front suspension fork or full suspension (I have a bad back and have had multiple back surgeries) or run my air pressure at 20psi with ridiculously fat handlebar padding. I have very little weight on my hands as the bottoms of the drops are level or higher than my saddle. I have tried flat bars, bike fits, noodles, alt bars etc. The wood chippers are the most comfy so far. Does anyone have any experience with numb hands and cyclist palsy? I am counting on the collective mind...P.S. I have been a race team mechanic, a racers coach and managed bike shops, so I am somewhat knowledgable on bike fit and options. Also I can't ride stooped over due to my back problems, ie; road bike position. Rest isn't an option, because I refuse to own a car (PTSD issues) and the bike is my only transportation. Help? Thanks in advance. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/Sl0ZYMGLF2k/unsubscribe. To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
