I went on a long cycle last weekend, maybe 260 km (155 or so miles) in three days. I wore cycling gloves the whole time I was on the bike. Since the second day, and up to now, I have had a numbness in my pinky and ring finger in my left hand, and in my pinky in my right hand. Is this from all the time gripping the handle bars? The numbness isn't really going away, but when I played basketball last night, they felt better for a while, but now they're back to a little numb, like I slept on them. The sensation is strongest in the fingertips. Any ideas what this is?

I went on a long cycle last weekend, maybe 260 km (155 or so miles) in three days. I wore cycling gloves the whole time I was on the bike. Since the second day, and up to now, I have had a numbness in my pinky and ring finger in my left hand, and in my pinky in my right hand. Is this from all the time gripping the handle bars? The numbness isn't really going away, but when I played basketball last night, they felt better for a while, but now they're back to a little numb, like I slept on them. The sensation is strongest in the fingertips. Any ideas what this is?
Well, on an extended ride the vibrations that were transmitted through the front forks to your hands can take a toll on your fingers. It's like using a weed eater that's out of balance. After about 10 minutes of vibration your hands tend to tingles. If you did it over several hours, I'd say they would get numb. Now you were wearing cycling gloves, and I assume they had some sort of gel padding. These will help absorb the shock, but over a long ride there isn't much you can do other than move you hands or try to grip a little differently.

I went on a 25 mile ride this past weekend, and had a strange occurance with numbness. I had always heard about how "Mr. Happy" can fall asleep between your legs if your seat position wasn't adjusted right. Which can lead to permanent damage if not dealt with properly. So I made sure that I had the bike shop fit the proper measurements for my body to yhe bike. I was about 7 miles into the ride and decided to take a detour to see my brother. The road was about 1/2 mile long and was gravel and tar, and was a rough as a washboard. I finally got to his place, and got off the bike, and felt this wierd sensation "down there". You all know what it feels like when your foot falls asleep and it starts to tingle with pins and needles? Well, "Mr. Happy" was on pins and needles that way also. I had never felt that before, and really don't care to again. I have been back riding now for about 3 years but had never had that happen. Anyone else have that happen?

I get the same thing both in my fingers, elbow, "Mr Happy" as you call it and toes...dam annoying. I just sit up straight, shake my arms, stand up for a few hundred meters to loosen up "Mr Happy" and problem fixed. Do this regularly, and you shouldn't have any probs.

Yes, like Duckman said, just get out of the saddle, change positions, move your hands around, generally try not to spend too much time in the exact same position.

If you are riding for hours, you can also do some little streching on the bike to loosen up and get some extra blood flow.

On any ride, exercise each hand by either taking each hand off the bar and flexing for a few seconds or by drumming your fingers on the top of the bar as you ride. I do this constantly. Relaxation is the key, especially on bumpy rides. When you tense up, your body doesn't absorb shock as well.

Mr. Happy...well, thats another story....

Seriously, give your seat nose a slightly downward tilt. It helps. New shorts might be in order. I can tell a difference from riding my older shorts as opposed to my new shorts. A new saddle may help also.

Do you lean on the handle bars when biking? This could possibly be a support issue. If you put too much weight into your hands ( or any body part) for long periods of time, they will start to get tingly and numb.

This is your body's way of telling you you're putting too much pressure on the nerves and to lay off else bad things will happen. Usually though the sensation should dissapate if you move around a bit.

Seriously, give your seat nose a slightly downward tilt. It helps. New shorts might be in order. I can tell a difference from riding my older shorts as opposed to my new shorts. A new saddle may help also.

I have a pair of padded rinding shorts, (which makes the risde good but felt like diaper when I first wore them. :p)

I have tried two different seats. The first was the standard issue that came with my Trek 1000. The other was one that had a groove cut out down the middle. They said that it was to help prevent those problems with Mr. Happy. Well, it felt worse than the standard issue seat so I went back. Incidentally, the bike shop I go to is owned by the former coach for the 1996 Austrailian Olympic Cycling team. He basically told me the same thing, no matter what seat you have, if the nose is to high, then Mr. Happy falls asleep.

Do any of you guys use the pedal clips built into the shoes? I currently have the straps, but was considering getting the clip setup.

Numbness in my hands was a big problem when I was riding mountain bikes. Since switching to a beach cruiser (http://www.obscurasite.com/jon/images/bicycles/) the problem has gone away.

I love the beach cruisers because the riding position is upright and comfortable. If you just can't imagine yourself on a beach cruiser try adjusting your seat and handlebars around to refine your riding position. A friend who is a custom frame builder told me that if your bike fits and everything is adjusted properly you shouldn't get any numbness... even on long rides.

I solved any crotch numbness problems by switching to a Brooks Leather Saddle (http://www.brookssaddles.com/).

I won't ever ride anything else. After a few hundred miles the saddle changes to conform exactly to your sit bones. They also breathe so you don't get swamp ass. ;-)

Do any of you guys use the pedal clips built into the shoes?

Yes, I have "Look" pedals on all my bikes. I think that from all the gadgets you can get for your bike, the one that makes the biggest difference is some clipless pedals (the ones that have cleats attached to your cycling shoes). Your pedalling motion is just much better and smoother with them.

Getting used to them takes a little while, generally people tend to be afraid that they will not be able to get their feet off the pedals in a hurry, but they are designed in a way that the "quick removal of feet from pedal in a panic" move will actually disengage the cleats.

Some people don't recommend clipless for mountain bikes if you are going to ride a rough surface, I have them even on my mtb and considering how I spilled quite hard a couple of times and ended up on the ground with the bike on top of me, feet still securely on the pedals, they might have a point ;)

I'm currently riding Look pedals on my road bike and Shimano pedals on my MTB. It is the only way to go. You can pull as well as push, which employs more muscles, delaying fatigue and is far more efficient.

My local bike club just finished a 14mi MTB ride this afternoon and then an 8 mi night ride by our local lake. Lots of fun. I try to ride 4 nights a week (75-100 mi per week). I usually ride MTB on the weekends. I just raced my first race, but I'm slow. Anyway, the local club rides rain, cold, dark, whatever, so you can guess what I do for cardio.