Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

Handlebar question for fellow geezers

Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Handlebar question for fellow geezers

Old 08-14-19, 12:22 PM
  #1  
frogbiscuit
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 90

Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Cannondale Catalyst, Diamond Back Extreme TG, Schwinn Mesa Runner with an 88cc 2 stroke engine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Handlebar question for fellow geezers

I have been riding a Specialized Sirrus for a couple of years - I really like it but I do get some hand/wrist pain after 10 or 15 miles. Has anyone tried replacing them with the Soma Clarence bars or something similar? I was wondering if it was worth the trouble.
frogbiscuit is offline  
Old 08-14-19, 02:59 PM
  #2  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,095
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8183 Post(s)
Liked 8,841 Times in 4,390 Posts
What do you have on there now? Regular drop bars? Maybe it's a fit problem like maybe you're putting too much weight on your hands.

You should be able to ride while lightly resting your hands on the bar.
big john is online now  
Likes For big john:
Old 08-14-19, 03:25 PM
  #3  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,500

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3872 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
Hand Pain

Something's wrong somewhere. You shouldn't have hand pain after 150 miles. I doubt a different bar would make any difference. Photos of you on bike.
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Old 08-15-19, 03:14 AM
  #4  
ironwood
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston area
Posts: 2,039

Bikes: 1984 Bridgestone 400 1985Univega nouevo sport 650b conversion 1993b'stone RBT 1985 Schwinn Tempo

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 542 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times in 100 Posts
There are so many variables involved. Some bars might be perfect for one rider, but torture for another. Saddle height, bar height reach, width, type of handlebar wrap all play a role, along with shape. I like Nitto Noodles and some French Randonneur bars. Nitto Randonneur bars are copies of the French bars but I have'nt tried them; they're not cheap. The VO Randonneur bars are good, but I wish they had a little higher "bump".


Those are my preferences, but I am not saying they would work for you.


I also move my hands around the bar a lot.
ironwood is offline  
Likes For ironwood:
Old 08-15-19, 07:05 AM
  #5  
FiftySix
I'm the anecdote.
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823

Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times in 795 Posts
Maybe a new stem that angles up more to raise the bars? As much as I like the looks of 10 degree stems with low rise bars, my hands and back like either a higher angled stem or higher rise bars. Plus ergo grips.

But that's me. Everyone is different.
FiftySix is offline  
Likes For FiftySix:
Old 08-15-19, 07:26 AM
  #6  
terrymorse 
climber has-been
 
terrymorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,002

Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3335 Post(s)
Liked 3,435 Times in 1,737 Posts
Sirrus is essentially a flat bar road bike:



If your hands are getting sore after just a few miles, you're carrying too much weight on your hands. This is a common problem for beginners and people who don't cycle much—their core muscles haven't developed enough to hold their upper bodies in the riding position, so they rest their upper body weight on the handlebars.

Swept-back handlebars will move the bars closer to your body, but if you have a weak core, your hands will still end up carrying too much weight.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse


terrymorse is offline  
Old 08-15-19, 10:35 AM
  #7  
frogbiscuit
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 90

Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Cannondale Catalyst, Diamond Back Extreme TG, Schwinn Mesa Runner with an 88cc 2 stroke engine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
That's an interesting thread. I may play with the stem first. After reading that I am thinking the stem length is too much.
frogbiscuit is offline  
Old 08-15-19, 10:36 AM
  #8  
davester
Senior Member
 
davester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,531

Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"

Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 926 Post(s)
Liked 1,281 Times in 482 Posts
I find flat bars unbearable for anything except short rides due to the lack of multiple hand positions. However, 10 to 15 miles is not very far so there may be something else at play...

Many people position their seats too far forward in an attempt to get closer to the bars, resulting in a bike fit problem. The problem is that sliding your seat forward puts more weight on your hands. If you have too much weight on your hands (i.e. you fall forward if you take pressure off the bars) then your seat needs to be moved backwards. That may also mean changing the stem to make it have less forward reach. It's difficult to diagnose whether this is a bike fit issue without seeing pictures of you riding your bike. You could also go to a good LBS and talk to someone experienced in bike fitting.
davester is offline  
Old 08-15-19, 10:56 AM
  #9  
The Snowman
Senior Member
 
The Snowman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 99

Bikes: 2017 Trek DS3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 9 Posts
A higher stem or maybe riser bars will bring your body into a position where you aren't putting as much weight on your hands. Someone also mentioned your reach. If your riding position is such that you ride without a slight bend in your elbows, the reach may be too far. In that case, possibly adjusting your seat forward a little may alleviate some pain.
The Snowman is offline  
Old 08-15-19, 11:38 AM
  #10  
tyrion
Senior Member
 
tyrion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 4,077

Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet

Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2228 Post(s)
Liked 2,011 Times in 972 Posts
Originally Posted by FiftySix
Maybe a new stem that angles up more to raise the bars?
+1. A high rise stem is the cheapest, easiest way to get more upright posture. I would try that first. $25 and five minutes.

tyrion is offline  
Likes For tyrion:
Old 08-15-19, 11:47 AM
  #11  
Digger Goreman
Quidam Bike Super Hero
 
Digger Goreman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,150

Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times in 282 Posts
I ride a relatively flat bar on my Trek 800 Sport. Switching grips to Ergon brand eliminated any problems I had....
Digger Goreman is offline  
Old 08-15-19, 12:55 PM
  #12  
phughes
Senior Member
 
phughes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,055
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1018 Post(s)
Liked 1,246 Times in 719 Posts
Originally Posted by frogbiscuit
That's an interesting thread. I may play with the stem first. After reading that I am thinking the stem length is too much.
As others have said, if the fit is correct, for you, you shouldn't have a lot of weight on your hands, That being said, flat bars can be worse. What kind of grips do you have? You can prevent the wrist from dropping, and alleviate wrist pain by getting grips with some support. Something like this: https://bicyclewarehouse.com/collect...andlebar-grips

phughes is offline  
Likes For phughes:
Old 08-15-19, 01:34 PM
  #13  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,500

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3872 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
Originally Posted by frogbiscuit
That's an interesting thread. I may play with the stem first. After reading that I am thinking the stem length is too much.
Did you see the arm positions in the photos? And read where it says greater reach = less pressure on the hands?
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Likes For Carbonfiberboy:
Old 08-15-19, 10:46 PM
  #14  
NVanHiker
Senior Member
 
NVanHiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 596

Bikes: 2008 Giant FCR2, 1992 Raleigh hybrid, my son's old mountain bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 7 Posts
Bar ends. That'll give you many more hand positions. Just bought a Sirrus for my girlfriend (beautiful bike) and that's the first thing I installed on it.
NVanHiker is offline  
Likes For NVanHiker:
Old 08-16-19, 04:43 AM
  #15  
tim24k
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NW
Posts: 747

Bikes: To many to list. I like them all!

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 43 Times in 32 Posts
Originally Posted by frogbiscuit
I have been riding a Specialized Sirrus for a couple of years - I really like it but I do get some hand/wrist pain after 10 or 15 miles. Has anyone tried replacing them with the Soma Clarence bars or something similar? I was wondering if it was worth the trouble.
Have tried a recumbent bike. Seriously, after riding one I have no more wrist, neck, back, or butt pain. It’s now hard to go back to my up right bikes.
tim24k is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 06:35 AM
  #16  
frogbiscuit
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 90

Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Cannondale Catalyst, Diamond Back Extreme TG, Schwinn Mesa Runner with an 88cc 2 stroke engine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by phughes
As others have said, if the fit is correct, for you, you shouldn't have a lot of weight on your hands, That being said, flat bars can be worse. What kind of grips do you have? You can prevent the wrist from dropping, and alleviate wrist pain by getting grips with some support. Something like this: https://bicyclewarehouse.com/collect...andlebar-grips

I have something very similar on my bikes.
frogbiscuit is offline  
Likes For frogbiscuit:
Old 08-16-19, 06:39 AM
  #17  
frogbiscuit
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 90

Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Cannondale Catalyst, Diamond Back Extreme TG, Schwinn Mesa Runner with an 88cc 2 stroke engine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Thanks for the advice. I did put an extension and the original bars back on the bike and it helped, but it's not perfect. I think that the lack of options for differnt hand positions is an issue as well - It is much less when I ride my road bike. I am going to put some bar ends on it and see what happens.
frogbiscuit is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 06:43 AM
  #18  
frogbiscuit
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 90

Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Cannondale Catalyst, Diamond Back Extreme TG, Schwinn Mesa Runner with an 88cc 2 stroke engine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by NVanHiker
Bar ends. That'll give you many more hand positions. Just bought a Sirrus for my girlfriend (beautiful bike) and that's the first thing I installed on it.
Which ones did you get? I was thinking of the grips with the horns on them.
frogbiscuit is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 08:38 AM
  #19  
The Snowman
Senior Member
 
The Snowman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 99

Bikes: 2017 Trek DS3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 9 Posts
I have 3 compressed cervical vertebrae and carpal tunnel in both wrists and ergonomics is my friend. I use Ergo GP2 grips. The bar ends are small and allow for a change in hand position, which helps. I also cut the width of my bars down so that my arms are parallel to each other when I ride and not turned outward away from each other.

My complete bar setup is:

Spank Spike Race 50mm riser bars
Bontrager Elite Blendr 90mm 25 degree stem
Ergon GP2 grips/bar ends

Here are a couple of photos:



The Snowman is offline  
Likes For The Snowman:
Old 08-16-19, 10:35 AM
  #20  
frogbiscuit
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 90

Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Cannondale Catalyst, Diamond Back Extreme TG, Schwinn Mesa Runner with an 88cc 2 stroke engine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by The Snowman
I have 3 compressed cervical vertebrae and carpal tunnel in both wrists and ergonomics is my friend. I use Ergo GP2 grips. The bar ends are small and allow for a change in hand position, which helps. I also cut the width of my bars down so that my arms are parallel to each other when I ride and not turned outward away from each other.

My complete bar setup is:

Spank Spike Race 50mm riser bars
Bontrager Elite Blendr 90mm 25 degree stem
Ergon GP2 grips/bar ends
That's an awesome setup. Thanks for showing me that.
frogbiscuit is offline  
Old 08-16-19, 09:58 PM
  #21  
woodcraft
Senior Member
 
woodcraft's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 923 Times in 569 Posts
I also don't like the flat bars - puts the wrists/forearms in an unsustainable position IMO,

so I'd say get a drop bar bike. 10-15 miles is pretty limiting.
woodcraft is offline  
Old 08-17-19, 07:19 AM
  #22  
badger1
Senior Member
 
badger1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 5,088
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1563 Post(s)
Liked 1,151 Times in 587 Posts
Originally Posted by frogbiscuit
Thanks for the advice. I did put an extension and the original bars back on the bike and it helped, but it's not perfect. I think that the lack of options for differnt hand positions is an issue as well - It is much less when I ride my road bike. I am going to put some bar ends on it and see what happens.
If you find riding your (drop bar) road bike more comfortable/sustainable, then maybe you are just one of those who prefer drop bars to flat bars for your road cycling.

I don't. I use simple flat bars (580 width, 3 degree bend, 0 rise) with bar ends/Ergon grips. No issues at all on regular weekend rides of 40-60 miles, or centuries (done two over the years, just to see if I could). I prefer shifting/braking from the 'mtb position'.

Bike (Sirrus) is set up so that my position on the bar ends is pretty much identical to what I'd have on the hoods of a properly-fitted Roubaix. Bar ends facilitate the same wrist/arm/shoulder realignment as moving between hoods and tops on drop bars, and that's all that I've found necessary. But as I said, lots of folks simply find drop bars more comfortable; you may be one.

My set-up:
badger1 is offline  
Old 08-17-19, 07:49 AM
  #23  
xroadcharlie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Windsor Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531

Bikes: 2018 Giant Sedona

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 179 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times in 95 Posts
Flat bar's actually look painful. Your hands are locked in an unnatural position, and the more weight on them the worse it gets. It probably depends on the bike, Some seem to be fine. All it takes is a slight angle to make a huge difference in comfort. The Soma Clarence bars look much better. Other options are bar ends like badger 1 suggested, or drop bars, But staring at the ground or craning my neck to see using the drops looks worse then straight bars. Good though if your fighting strong wind, and we do have the option of using the hoods or top of the handlebar.
xroadcharlie is offline  
Old 08-17-19, 11:19 AM
  #24  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,500

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3872 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
Originally Posted by xroadcharlie
Flat bar's actually look painful. Your hands are locked in an unnatural position, and the more weight on them the worse it gets. It probably depends on the bike, Some seem to be fine. All it takes is a slight angle to make a huge difference in comfort. The Soma Clarence bars look much better. Other options are bar ends like badger 1 suggested, or drop bars, But staring at the ground or craning my neck to see using the drops looks worse then straight bars. Good though if your fighting strong wind, and we do have the option of using the hoods or top of the handlebar.
No staring at the ground or neck pain, even on 18 hour rides with a drop bar bike. It's all in one's position, which should incorporate a straight back from the top of the shorts to the top of shoulder blades. As should be used by riders with any setup. One rolls the pelvis forward and straightens the back. Neck pain gone. Most MTB riders use the same position as roadies using the hoods, but the MTBers hands are rotated 90°, which is an issue for many folks. The ordinary road or MTB position is not about aero. It's about comfort.
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Old 08-17-19, 11:36 AM
  #25  
phughes
Senior Member
 
phughes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,055
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1018 Post(s)
Liked 1,246 Times in 719 Posts
Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
No staring at the ground or neck pain, even on 18 hour rides with a drop bar bike. It's all in one's position, which should incorporate a straight back from the top of the shorts to the top of shoulder blades. As should be used by riders with any setup. One rolls the pelvis forward and straightens the back. Neck pain gone. Most MTB riders use the same position as roadies using the hoods, but the MTBers hands are rotated 90°, which is an issue for many folks. The ordinary road or MTB position is not about aero. It's about comfort.
Yeah, it's all about fit. I just did a 400 mile trip on my LHT, with drop bars, and no neck pain, back pain, or hand and wrist pain. I did obsess over them during the many hours in the saddle each day, and realized they were a bit wider than my liking, so I just switched them for some Nitto Noodles in a narrower size, but still, I was comfortable on the trip.
phughes is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.