Never fits like a glove

I'm starting to feel like I have very odd sized hands.  This year I have bought about 5 different sets of gloves and none of them fit right after a few rides. 

The main issue is my pinky finger and then ring finger going numb on longer rides (+20 miles).  I always choose gloves that will have good padding at the "exposed" nerves in my hand; After 5 rides or so the gloves always stretch out in the palm move the pads!!  I've tried Bontrager, Giro, and Pearl Izumi gloves all of them stretch too much in the palms.

Is anyone else having this problem?  Has anyone else had better luck with other brands? Should I just give up and wrap my hands with gauze like the Karate Kid or a boxer? My hand size seems to be between a medium and a large for most brands.

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Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on August 6, 2015 at 3:09am

Wash them in the laundry and put them in the drier (the manufacturer will most likely advise against this). They will shrink "back" to a functional shape in my experience. They probably wont last as long but they will fit better for the time you use them.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on August 6, 2015 at 4:43am

What are you riding? Specifically, what kind of bars? Is the problem new? Did anything else change? Different bike or anything? I had a lot of trouble with hand numbness back when I was touring on converted mountain bikes - seemed like the flat bars were the problem and i solved it by adding bar-ends so I could mix up my hand positions. The bar ends also gave me the option of riding in a more upright position which took some of the weight off of my hands which may have helped also.  

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 6, 2015 at 5:08am

I think bike fit is a far more likely explanation for the numbness.

Permalink Reply by Greg Berry on August 6, 2015 at 5:15am

I have been meaning to go in for a fit, I ride a cyclo-cross from Fuji, Tread 1.1.  Drop handle bars and stock bar tape (I know, that's changing this weekend). 

My worry from the glove is annoyance of the moving pad.  Where once a pad would be under the "meat" of my palm it slides to the outside by the pinky.  Padding by the thumb starts to move to the outer hand.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 6, 2015 at 5:43am

I'm not a fan of heavily padded gloves (or saddles for that matter). It's a bit counter-intuitive, but having a solid connection at the five contact points of a properly fitted bike is most comfortable for me. Heavy padding feels too "squirmy." YMMV.

Permalink Reply by Greg Berry on August 7, 2015 at 2:37am

I'm "renting" a stem from my local bike shop to see if a 7 deg will help.  I am half expecting to need new bar tape soon.

Permalink Reply by Nançois on August 6, 2015 at 8:06am

When your pinky and ring finger go numb, it is called "Cubital Tunnel Syndrome" (as opposed to Carpal Tunnel, where the index and middle finger go numb). Experimenting with the above suggestions will probably help but you can always google Cubital Tunnel and see if understanding the mechanics behind the problem helps you develop some good work-arounds.

Permalink Reply by Greg Berry on August 7, 2015 at 2:32am

Thanks Nancois!  I'll have to look that up.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on August 6, 2015 at 12:06pm

I just gave these gloves a terrible review last week. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftr/gloves/short-finger-gloves/bod... (Tony27)

Permalink Reply by Dave Grossman on August 6, 2015 at 10:46am

I used to wear gloves and ran into similar issues.  I stopped wearing them altogether except for weather conditions when it is cold.  I found I was grabbing my bars way too tight in order to get a "good grip".  I am fairly sure this was causing me problems.  Barehanded I grab with much less force and can feel bars much better.  You can always get some super cush bar tape like Lizard Skins or some thick cork/rubber to compensate. YMMV.

Permalink Reply by Greg Berry on August 7, 2015 at 2:35am

I found i was gripping a bit too tight, and after loosening my grip my hands felt a little better.  I saw the Lizard Skins at my local shop; I might switch to them.  For now I changed the stem, and that seemed to add more of a bend at the elbow.  Hopefully I'll have time this weekend to test it out.

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on August 7, 2015 at 1:32pm

In relation to the picture it makes sense to me that nothing should ever apply pressure to the blue indicated section of your hand while doing "work" under stress (really ever) and only slight pressure in the pink area. There is no muscle (natural padding) there. I believe that one should not grip any handlebar in anyway that contacts the area indicated in blue or heavily stresses the area indicated in pink. Try concentrating on minimizing stress in these areas while you ride and see if you have improvement.

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