Having ridden 4X and DH for 3 years, I finally decided to give XC a go and bought a Commencal Meta 5.5 in the New Year. I only rode it about twice a month at first but by May and June I was going out once or twice a week. After a couple of long peak district rides one week I started to develop some aching in my wrists (starting in the palm and going up outside of forearm) which persisted a week later, even though I gave the XC riding a rest. I stopped riding altogether for another week as I was due to go on a DH trip round the alps and wanted my wrists to recover. They did, and I did not have any pain (in the wrists at least!) whilst riding my DH bike for 7 days solid.
This weekend, I got the XC bike out again, and on the second ride (approx 2.5hrs) I got wrist ache again on a fairly technical descent (Blackamoor, sure lots on here know of it). Back to work, and I am typing or clicking or hand-writing for 8 hours a day, and I can feel the nagging ache that I had previously returning. It has crossed my mind that my wrists are just tired, but they don’t get a chance to recover because I spend all day at a computer...
I don’t want to develop a wrist injury – I’ve already got a persistent back problem! - does anyone have any recommendations?
Cheers!
Katie
Have the bars on your XC bike got less sweep than on your other bikes? Perhaps a heavily swept back XC bar would help e.g. 17 degree Salsa Pro Moto, On-One Mary etc.
Seems strange. Def ride the trail bike just the same as the DH - ie don't lean on the bars - ride with your feet, not your hands. But assume you're doing that already, since you've got the 4X and DH experience.
Possible that you are leaning on your hands when just riding along? Try and use your torso to hold your position, with shoulders, elbows, wrists relaxed and just laying on the grips.
Bar height? Seat angle? (sliding forward so having to push on the bars) Brake lever angle? try ergon grips?
maybe have a look at your brake lever angle? are they the same?
Has your posture changed at work? Get then to do a health and safety review to make sure you are comfortable at work, especially as your using a keyboard for so long. I find if i am lazy and rest my wrist on the desk when using the mouse that my wrist aches very quickly (cue jokes 🙂 )
I used to get very bad wrists, and using Jeff Jones handlebars sorted it out.
maybe obvious already, but are your levers at the same angle? - i.e. are they making you put stress on your wrists by not allowing a natural neutral posture when bripping the bars and resting your fingers on the brake levers?
Ergo bar grips?
Thanks everyone for comments. It maybe my brake levers and/or saddle position. My current setup is Formula Oro brakes with an X7 shifters. I've found it difficult to get an optimum position with that setup (the lever body is quite big and gets in the way of shifter). Also, it took me 3 attempts to find a saddle that was comfortable so now I've found one I could play around with the position of that. Saddle position is so much less of a big deal on a downhill bike - fine adjustments don't really come into it.
Work - I've got a full ergo setup... but you're right, laziness could be forcing me to rest my wrists on the desk...
Will give the above a go and let you know how I get on.
IME It sounds as though your bar position is too far back or forwards causing pressure points on your hands.
Looking side on to the bar, I prefer the bars in a five past seven position,a degree or so either way can make a Huudge difference.
As stated above,stem length,height and lever/shifter positions all influence comfort and fatigue. 😉