What % of your 1/2 century ride is spent on the dropdown bars?
In my research to determine why I am experiencing wrist strain when riding and to find out if I ride in a proper position, I am finding that I spend much more time on the dropdown bars than most cyclists. My typical ride is very hilly and windy, lasts about 2 1/2 hours and covers 50 miles. I am 5' 7.5" tall and weigh in at a muscular 185 lbs., so I have more upper body weight and a build unlike a 150 lb cyclist. I ride 4 to 5 times per week, always alone. I spend 90-95% of the ride on the dropdowns. I am faster on the dropdown bars (aerodynamics) and feel like I have more power. I even climb on the dropdowns. My wrists start to bother me after 30-45 minutes in to the ride.
When I went to a local bike shop today to see if my bike needed to be re-fitted to me, I was told that my riding positions looks perfect. He thought that my wrist discomfort was probably due to the inordinate amount of time spent on the dropdowns. He did not recommend any equipment changes until I see if altering my riding position for a portion of the ride does the trick.
Am I spending too much time on the dropdowns and could that cause wrist discomfort even if my positioning is correct?
I would think about getting some clip on aero bars or finding a secondary hand position that will still keep you somewhat aero. Personally I rarely ride in the drops but prefer to use my lever hoods kind of like knobs and let my forearms rest on the straight part of the bars. This doesn't get me as flat as riding in the drops or using aero bars, but it does help a lot and helps me gain about 2 mph. Try out a couple different positions so that you can change when your hands, wrists or arms start getting stiff or sore.
Like OCR says, changing hand positions is the easy fix. No need to stay in the drops for climbing, or when you've got a tailwind. I'd try to change every 5-10 minutes, before any soreness can get started.
Even staying low, you could try moving from the drops to the very ends of the bars, or just turning your wrists in or out every few minutes to change the wrist angles and relieve the strain.
Lance's position on the bike due to his vertabrae issue forces him to arch is back for comfort. After much research, they determined that being a thinner profile is much more important than being uncomfortable. Keep those elbows in and keep in the drops when it counts - on your own, in a headwind, and going downhill.
I have wrist pain as well - but your wrists are going to get stronger. It's like sitting in the saddle, move around and keep yourself comfortable - but push yourself to get your strength up.
I had wrist pain too. My lower back also started to ache being inthe drops too much. I used to climb in the drops but now I prefer to climb with hands on the hoods.
DownTick said:
What % of your 1/2 century ride is spent on the dropdown bars?
In my research to determine why I am experiencing wrist strain when riding and to find out if I ride in a proper position, I am finding that I spend much more time on the dropdown bars than most cyclists. My typical ride is very hilly and windy, lasts about 2 1/2 hours and covers 50 miles. I am 5' 7.5" tall and weigh in at a muscular 185 lbs., so I have more upper body weight and a build unlike a 150 lb cyclist. I ride 4 to 5 times per week, always alone. I spend 90-95% of the ride on the dropdowns. I am faster on the dropdown bars (aerodynamics) and feel like I have more power. I even climb on the dropdowns. My wrists start to bother me after 30-45 minutes in to the ride.
When I went to a local bike shop today to see if my bike needed to be re-fitted to me, I was told that my riding positions looks perfect. He thought that my wrist discomfort was probably due to the inordinate amount of time spent on the dropdowns. He did not recommend any equipment changes until I see if altering my riding position for a portion of the ride does the trick.
Am I spending too much time on the dropdowns and could that cause wrist discomfort even if my positioning is correct?
