artifice

After even a short ride I'm having numbness and tingling in my left index finger, that lasts for days (and is probably re-aggrivated after only a day or two of rest). What a trip going to work, and trying to type all day. Cycling gloves fit well, have tried a couple different positions, and making sure I'm not gripping too tight.

Also, my toes (from the outside to the inside) go numb, only my right foot (which is millimeters bigger than my left)- cleat forward or backward?

Any suggestions?

FatguyRacer

try GEL bar tape.

Make sure the pedal spindle is centered on the ball of the foot. Adjust the clete appropraitely. You may need someone to help you with this. Your right and left feet will be different. You should also check to see if you pronate your feet when pedalling. You may need shims to correct it.

arterture

When I first started cycling I had problems with my left hand going numb after about a half hour of riding. I tried gel gloves and that didn't work. It wasn't until I started getting really serious about riding that I started adjusting my fit on the bike. As soon as I raised and moved my seat forward the numbness disappeared. I understand that you have tried different fits, but maybe you haven't found the right one yet. Do you adjust your fit in small increments?

DasProfezzional

I'm no doctor, but pressure on your nerves is probably to blame, as you probably already figured. What kind of gloves are you using? I find that some people who have trouble with numbness use very thinly padded gloves. My hands don't have too much meat on them, and I use Louis Garneau Ergo-Airs as my short-finger gloves. Their padding is very well-placed, I find, and it's very firm, so it actually does what it's supposed to do, that is, protect your hands' nerves.

As for shoes, if your cleat is way far back, I could see that as presenting a problem. Just remember the pedal axle should roughly bisect the ball of your foot. That said, foot issues are much weirder, I find, so I'll keep my two cents limited to just that.

artifice

Hm, good tip on the gloves. I assumed more padding was better. And, the padding isn't too firm.

artifice

The fit with everything else on my bike is good, with the exception of the left hand. I'm hesitant to adjust anything for fear of causing another issue. I did tweak the handlebars a bit yesterday, and think i'll give myself a day for the numbness to go away completely before I get back on. 5 days on in a row, I haven't given it a chance to dissipate yet.

zpl

I had this problem pretty bad when I first started riding a road bike last year. I found a pair of Adidas gloves with minimal padding were best, but the biggest difference came when I swapped out my stem for a higher-rise version. My saddle is not even an inch higher than my handlebars, which is a more comfort-oriented setup.

Also, make a point of regularly letting your left arm hang down and shake out your hand, say every 15-20 minutes while on a ride.

Good luck,

Scott

Kotts

I had the same problem in my right hand last year, and then a problem with a burning sensation in my right shoulder. Getting a pinched nerve at the base of my neck resolved fixed them both.. Get checked out by a chiropractor or orthopoedist if it persists.