Painful Hands during cycling

The hands are one of the main contact points on the bike. They steer, brake and stabilize the upper body against the handlebar. During a ride, continuous forces act on the palm and fingers. If pressure is not distributed well, the contact area becomes small and specific zones of the hand are loaded more than intended. SQlab grips are designed to enlarge the contact area and guide the hand into a defined position. The result is a more balanced pressure distribution and a stable connection between rider and cockpit. Because control on the bike starts where the hands meet the handlebar.

For this reason, SQlab has developed a method to determine the optimal grip size. Grip size is measured from the tip of the middle finger to the base of the thumb. Grip sizes differ in diameter, length, and shape. Depending on the model, our bicycle grips are available in up to four different sizes.

The cause of painful hands and numbness in the index, middle or thumb is an overstretched wrist, which can constrict the carpal tunnel. This “kink” is usually caused by handlebars that are too straight, with too little bend towards the back (backsweep). The backsweep means that the wrist is less overstretched, the carpal tunnel is no longer constricted and thus the supply to the hand is improved. This minimizes the risk of numb fingers.