Technique Question

[coolcheech]

I usually ride my single speed road bike around the city, but yesterday I did my 1st singletrack. Today my left wrist is fucking killing me.

I'm not worried about it being seriously injured, I'm sure in a day or two it'll be fine. After doing some research it seems like the left wrist being sore is kind-of a common thing ... so I want to know, am I doing some common newbie mistake? Is it something I can correct or is it just new muscles being sore from not being used? I didn't fall on it either.

[skiingsamurai]

tip#1: dont take a road bike on mtb trails

this will make a significant difference

[jayfrizzo]

Just Pop It (tm).

Srsly.

[coolcheech]

I wasn't on my road bike, what kind of retard do you take me for?

[El Chupacabra]

I usually ride my single speed road bike around the city, but yesterday I did my 1st singletrack. Today my left wrist is fucking killing me.

I wasn't on my road bike, what kind of retard do you take me for?

One with an aching left wrist.

I *really* like the shaped handlebars for a SS, where a lot of climbing is done standing, because they put your wrists in a much more comfortable position for standing and torquing on the pedals. Take a look at the On One "Mary" bar; Titec has something similar too.

Some people hate these bars. I think they're great.

[rideit]

Hipster singlespeeding is inherently limp-wristed.

[coolcheech]

Hipster singlespeeding is inherently limp-wristed.

I agree, but you're referring to fixed gear bikes with small, straight handle bars, and no brakes. Mine is just a stock standard road bike, albeit with one gear. But I wasn't on that bike anyway.

Not to sound self-depreciating, but I guess the answer to my question is stop being a pussy and deal with it ... got it.

Thanks guys.

[toast2266]

So what kind of bike were you on? All kinds of things can contribute to "hippster wrist."

a few off the top o' the noggin:

-rigid fork
-highly inflated tires
-bumpy trails
-poor genealogy
-shitty grips
-shitty brake lever positioning
-shitty h-bar positioning
-shitty rider positioning
-shitty saddle positioning
-too much wanking the bishop prior to ride
-wrong stem length
-wrong top tube length

[coolcheech]

I was on a Specialized Hardrock, the tires were at about 40psi. Trail was super bumpy (http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail...lid=BGN062-002), and I know that's why I'm hurting.

But I don't know if it's pain due to technique or muscle weakness. I'm pretty in shape and do a martial art that is very strenuous on the wrists/hands/arms, so I feel like physically I should be all right.
One thing I did, that the person who took me said I shouldn't, is lower my seat a bit. On declines, when my ass was over the back of the bike, the seat was bouncing up and catching my shorts or my ass and I was afraid I would get bucked off, so I lowered it.

I guess it's just too many variables to know without seeing it in person. Doing a google search earlier I found that a few people were asking about the same pain, in the left hand, in the same spot, so I thought maybe it was something specific. There were no real answers so I thought I'd ask the pros here.

Not a big deal, it still really hurts like a bitch though, it looks like the bishop will have to be smacked with the right hand for the time being.

[laxman2001]

40psi? How much do you weigh?

I would bet you could get away with less.

[DAFTC]

All kinds of things can contribute to "hippster wrist."


-too much wanking the bishop prior to ride

Seems counter-intuitive. I always thought "Bishop training" was a big part of the early Repack scene.

[Yukonrider]

On my first ride this season my right wrist hurt for a day or two. Now it feels fine, after many rides. It felt like a ligamant at the top, but in not a doctor.

[toast2266]

Seems counter-intuitive. I always thought "Bishop training" was a big part of the early Repack scene.

Sure, and now look at Gary Fisher - pretty much the hippster godfather. There's more at stake than just God killing kittens.