The Hand
The hands are one of the most important points of contact with the bike. They provide steering impulses and are responsible for safe braking. Numerous fine and sensitive nerve and blood vessels run through the hands. This sensitivity is particularly noticeable when cycling, as the hand is constantly exposed to pressure, vibrations and bumps in the road. Excessive pressure can lead to pain, numbness and tingling fingers. The right, ergonomic grip in combination with handlebars optimized for the area of use relieves the hands, shoulders and neck and makes cycling more enjoyable.
The hand is a complex tool
It can grip round objects quite well, but the hand only really finds grip when there are surfaces in the form of edges. The wrist as a pivot point should not be bent strongly, especially under load. Viewed from above, the wrist can be bent outwards by approx. 40°, inwards by only approx. 20°, forwards by approx. 60° and backwards by almost 90°. Problems arise for the nerves, particularly in the carpal tunnel, when the end of the joint's range of motion is reached and nerves are compressed.
Conventional grips have a continuous round shape. This shape does not correspond to the shape of the fingers when bent. To give the fingers the best possible grip and thus maximum safety, all our grips have a wave-shaped elevation on the underside, while the Ergobar shapes the fingers perfectly. This means that a more secure grip can be achieved immediately with less effort.
Numbness, aching wrists, tingling fingers - problems and solutions
Potential problems
Fingers going numb, tingling hands and pain in the wrists. These symptoms can occur in different variations when riding a bike and can therefore drastically restrict riding enjoyment and safety. Numbness in the fingers/hands is a warning sign and should definitely be taken seriously.
Possible reasons
Hand complaints such as numb fingers or pain are caused by excessive pressure, often in combination with a hyperextended wrist, which can be attributed to an unsuitable grip, handlebars or a combination of these.
The SQlab solutions
Ergonomic design
The sensitive structures are located in the middle of the hand, where it is important to create space for relief and to shift the pressure to the less sensitive outer side of the hand so as not to compress the nerve tracts and blood vessels. SQlab grips relieve the strain on the hands while taking medical aspects into account.
Individual grip size
Every pair of hands is individual and the "one size fits all" approach cannot work here. Using the SQlab grip width determination, we can determine the right grip size and thus enable optimum pressure distribution and pressure relief. The different grip sizes vary in length, diameter and shape.
Pressure measurements in the SQlaboratory
Pressure measurements are carried out using an electronic pressure measuring foil/mat. This is also used to measure pressure during saddle development. Together with a manufacturer of pressure sensors, we were able to further develop the system so that the pressure mat can also be wrapped around the grip. Some of our premium partner dealers use our pressure measurement system for advice.
Low pressure on the outside of the grip
Very low, greatly reduced pressure at the carpal tunnel outlet
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