Ultracycling

I'm no expert and you should probably talk with a professional. But, ulnar nerve flossing could help, you could google some exercises. I suppose it might also be your neck instead of you hands that's causing the problems, nerves pinching somewhere further. And with aerobars I feel it's important to have extensions that put you wrists in a neutral position, which many of the straighter extensions don't really do, I'd say it's better to have a proper bend in them. And on the MTB I like the inner barends for a slightly different position that's still good enough for some of the terrain and keeps your fingers on the brake levers.

oh thanks, will look into the flossing. My aerobars are the profile design ones that bend up, and I have extenders under them to lift them up – super comfortable and I don't think they're making the issue worse, just any time in the hoods is. Had my eye on some of those SQ lab inner bar ends, maybe worth a go.

I had it, from gripping the bars very tight when my hands were numb from cold.
Are you gripping really tight?

it rained the entire time and I got pretty cold, so maybe

If you're on the aerobars you don't really grip the bars. Maybe you're overestimating how much time you were using them. Particularly hilly and/or rough courses you might find you're not using them much at all.

Maybe this is hard to quantify and probably very route dependent, but how much time do you think you spend in the aerobars on a road ultra? Maybe this is an area I could improve in, I thought I was spending as much time as poss in them, but I'm sure it accounted for way less than half the overall time. The weather (and wind) was bad the entire time, and the roads were bumpy (Belgium) but perhaps this is a skill I can work on.

I moved into ultras from a 24hr TT background where I was almost never out of the aerobars, other than for braking and handups. I spend a LOT of time on aerobars training.

I'll climb in the aerobars until it gets too steep. I'll get out of the aerobars riding through busy places, technical climbs and some technical descents. Basically, if there's hazards I might need to brake for or maybe in ultras I'm taking a photo of something I'll sit up but I'm definitely in the aerobars more than most. Nowadays less so because I don't train so much and I'm tending to do hillier and or rougher rides but any time the road/trail is clear I'd be back on the extensions.

interesting, thanks!

I use mine almost always for non-technical descending, usually for on the flat and often for gentle climbs.

I don't use them for steep hills, either up or down. I usually don't use them in urban areas or after dark, or if the road surface is bad. I also come off them for a break now and then, or to eat, play with my phone, look at the scenery, etc.

I would love to know what the % is! I expect it's lower than 50%.

Yeah I'm signed up for TPR and can't figure out if it's worth bothering with aerobars or not as you're either climbing or descending for most of it. Useful for hanging shit on though.

I use them as much as poss on the usual kind of UK audax / long distance events in a similar way you describe - I'll have 30 mins of 'heads down' on them and then have a break to drink in the scenery etc

I've still got some carpal tunnel from APN back in May, which isn't great, but has improved via flossing exercises - and I know this is likely down to gripping the hoods too tightly on various sharp climbs.

Doing it wrong. You're supposed to close your eyes tightly on descents, not your hands.

weather (and wind) was bad

What did mine was riding with numb hands in a cross wind trying to keep the bike straight, and couldn't tell how hard I was gripping.

Yes, pretty marginal, but it is pleasant to be able to give your hands a complete break now and again.

I've put them on the tandem for PBP. I don't expect to use them much at all, but I like to have the option. Also helps arse-wise to have an alternative position

yes hands aside, the best thing about them is getting pressure off the sit bones, I would take them even if I only got to use them 10% of the time

Another thing to consider is aerobar position. I see loads of numpties with aerobars set up like they're gonna be riding a 25mi TT on them and presumably they don't get touched after day one.

Also, when on the drops, my biggest issue is the 'heel' of my palm, so I make an effort to move this off the side of the bars/levers for the most part.

Yeah I first started out with them low and now run Profile Design with 60mm spacers. Comfortable first, another place to mount shit to second, aero (a bit) third...

...added benefit being you can reach the tops of your bars without needing the flip-up pads kind, which I tried but found to be super annoying as they rattled. I know there's hacks with bits of rubber but meh

I run the Top Mount Zipp Vukas on all my road bikes. It's gonna vary for people depending on their size and flexibility but I would definitely set them up for comfort first - if you can't ride 99% of a 24hr in the aerobars - they're setup wrong.

https://youtu.be/Ls82LOTNGOY

Barely worth calling ultra but I'll put it here. My video report of Grelly'23, a local 850km offroad challenge (not a race):

https://youtu.be/nisUJBwOCnA

looked tough going, nicely filmed!

Hippy is doing a bike ride. So you can enjoy some days with less shit posting and watch his torment if you wish.

https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/tsogirona23

Goooo hippy. I hope it goes well skinny :)

Ulrich is clearly a class above the field, over 100km ahead after 280km!

Thanks

Yeah most slept 6h but he rode through. @frank9755

Hippy up to 4th, Ulrich's lead stretched out to 160km.