Painful hands
The hands play a crucial role in cycling, managing tasks like gripping, steering, and braking. However, they also bear significant pressure, which can lead to painful irritation affecting the nerves, fingers, and hands.
Causes of aching hands
Wrong grip size
The right grip size is crucial. If a grip is too large, it cannot be completely enclosed, which can lead to cramping of the fingers or the hand. The personal grip size is important for comfort and safety. That is why we have developed a method for determining the optimal grip size.
Grip size is the measurement from the tip of the middle finger to the crook of the thumb. This is because the fingers grasp the grip precisely by this measurement. The SQlab grip series, sizes differ in range, length and shape.
Our bicycle grips are available in up to three different sizes depending on the model.
Wrong grip shape
Cause - wrong grip shape
A round grip leads to high pressure on the outside of the hand
Pressure measurement round grip
SQlab Solution
A relief wing, which reduce the pressure
Pressure measurement SQlab 702
The round grip sounds comfortable but gives only a small contact surface. The extremely high pressure on the outside causes irritation of the ulnar nerve. The consequences are pressure pains and numbness on the little finger and ring finger.
The SQlab grip concept
Flattened at the top and drawn forward and back for pressure relief and comfort. Surface is optimized for support and fingers can encompass the grip.
Too straight handlebar
Cause – too straight handlebar
leads to a lateral, overstretched wrist, or a kink
SQlab solution
handlebars with backsweep for a natural position of the hand
A kink in the wrist especially a laterally overstretched wrist can narrow the carpal tunnel. Similar to a kinked garden hose, through which no more water flows, the nerve information can no longer be transported through the narrowed carpal tunnel. This problem only occurs in healthy people when the joint goes to “block”. The cause is almost always a handlebar with too little bending to the rear.
The so-called backsweep, the backward bend, ensures the wrist is not overstretched, the carpal tunnel is no longer constricted and the supply to hand is improved. The risk of sleepy and numb fingers is minimised. Especially discomfort in index- and middle fingers is reduced.
Which Backsweep-Type are you?
16° Backsweep
stretched out riding position, Hardtail, Racefully
- Ideal for marathons and long mountain bike tours
- The 16° backsweep provides a natural transition from the lower arm to the hand when in a more stretched riding position
- The Upsweep determines the elbow position for an active riding style
- Three different heights allowing individualized riding positions
- Also available in carbon
12° Backsweep
upright riding position, All Mountain, Enduro
- Perfectly complements the gravity biker
- The 12° backsweep with its short reach provides a natural transition from the lower arm to the hand when in a more upright riding position thus protecting the wrist from the extreme strain occurring in downhill riding
- The 4° Upsweep determines the elbow position for an active riding style
- Three different heights allowing individualized riding positions
- Also available in carbon
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