Conference noted::bicycle

	Never used anatomics, but I haven't heard much good about them.
	I did fix a similar hand problem by switching to Spenco gel
	gloves.  I was amazed by what a difference they made.  You 
	might think about giving them a try.  Make sure you get the
	standard gloves and not the "racing" model - which don't have
	as much gel.  Also, I tried a pair of Nashbar clones and they
	were pretty poor compared to the Spencos.

	There's a note somewhere in here about this stuff.

	chris

     I ran the MODOLO's for a year. This bar won't cure numbness. Numbness
    is generally caused by "death-gripping" the bar. The anatomical design
    is primarily a large hand "foot-print" on the bar strategy.
    
     There are no (substantiated) aerodynamic benefits. I don't remember
    ever having read this either... 
    
     The Modolo's are nice bars. I still have the (hanging on a beam in
    my cellar.
    
       Chip

    .2 is pretty accurate - no aerodynamic benefits, but improved comfort.
    I use Modolo Q-even, bought last year, which have a straight section
    below the brake lever. For long downhills, when more of one's weight is
    on the bars, they're excellent. I wouldn't go back to all-curved bars.
    
    This year's Modolo bars have added more straight sections above the
    brake levers, where the bars bend round to the tops of the bars. The
    advertising claims greater clearance for the heel of the hand when
    holding the brake hoods during a sprint. Wouldn't make much difference
    to me, who avoids sprints, especially after seeing the last stage of
    the TdF.
    
    
    Rod

    There are  lots  of  things to work on for hand numbness. You have
    the  first  which is to change hand positions often. Spenco gloves
    often  help,  as  does  padding  the handlebars. I prefered Spenco
    grips  on the bars, but I know people who prefer wrapping the bars
    in  an old inner tube before taping them, and using the inner tube
    for padding.

    Does the  bike  fit?  Too  long a stem or handlebars too low could
    increase the weight you put on your hands.

    If none  of  that  works,  get  a  recumbent,  in  which  there is
    essentially no force on your hands.

--David

    Thanks for the replies.  For now, I think I'll buy myself a pair
    of gel gloves.  I'm planning to buy a new bike next year anyway,
    so I'll give the anatomics a try then.  Maybe the dealer will let
    me take an extended test ride.  So far, from the people I've talked
    to, more seem to prefer the traditional style bars, but mostly for
    cosmetic reasons (that's just what they're used to seeing).

RE: Note 2025.4 By: ULTRA::WITTENBERG "Uphill, Into the Wind"

>    If none  of  that  works,  get  a  recumbent,  in  which  there is
>    essentially no force on your hands.

        A person  could also switch to _aerobars_.  Prior to going aero I
        would get numbness on  rides over 2hours;  I haven't had numbness
        in my hands since. 
        
        They are very relaxing for  very  long  rides;   my first century
        with aerobars was a _pleasure_!
        
        Later,
        
        John

    I wrapped my bars with some pipe insulation. The foam kind that is used
    to keep pipes from sweating/freezing. I then wrapped it with tape to
    keep it in place.
    
    It gives nice padding and keeps your hands in a more open position
    because you end up with the bars being effectively 2" or more in
    diameter.  It looks funny but it feels great and now I never have hand
    problems.
    
    /tb/
    

    I consider  aero  bars  to  be  special purpose equipment for time
    trials and riding on lightly travelled roads.  

    They provide  significantly  less control than standard bars, both
    directionally,  because  you  hands  are  closer  together, and by
    moving  your  hands  farther  from  the  brake  levers.  They also
    encourage  a more head down position, which makes it harder to see
    far  enough  in  front of you. For this reason I suspect that they
    increase the number of accidents where you ride into the back of a
    parked car, which can be dangerous and are always embarrasing.

    For all  that,  they  provide  no  advantages  over a recumbent if
    you're  buying  a  new  bike. Recumbents have no problem with hand
    numbness, and make it much easier to see where you're going.

    So, if you have a bike, and you need a solution for hand numbness,
    and  you don't ride much on roads with traffice, get aero bars. If
    you're  racing  time  trials,  get  aero  bars.  Otherwise  get  a
    recumbent.

--David

        Obviously, aerobars  aren't  appropriate  for  all riders and all
        conditions.  Any  rider  would  be lunicidal to ride "aero" under
        busy, congested conditions --- in  fact  I  think  any cyclist is
        crazy  to  ride  in  those conditions at  speeds  in  which  aero
        positioning makes a difference [ie:  above ~32kph]. 
        
        Although  I  would  agree that one's _braking_ response  time  is
        typically  degraded,  because  with  aero  bars one's  hands  are
        further from the brake levers, I _disagree_ that  the positioning
        of the hands contributes to a reduction in _directional_control_.
        I would characterize it as more of an _increased_sensitivity_ due
        to  the  lengthened  control arm, coupled with a reduction in the
        _damping_ provided by  the equal and oppositely-directed force of
        one's arms in the usual position. IE, it's "hairy".
        
        Maybe that equates with "less control" for some folks...
        
        Later,
        
        John
        
        

    I bought some Modolo Anatomical bars about 18 months ago, and would not
    go back to classic bars now; I've ridden with classic bars a few
    times since then and really noticed the discomfort.
    
    The modolo bars are really great for whizzing down long km's of
    alpine slopes where holding on comfortably for dear life is
    critical...
    

    Regarding .8:
    
    I've was toying with the idea of buying a recumbent, but I was 
    planning to enter some road races next year just for kicks.  As
    far as I know, there are no races in my area for recumbents.  Still,
    they sound like a lot of fun and ideal for commuting.
    
    Speaking of racing, aren't aero bars also illegal in mass-start races?
    
    
    
    
    Steve

    
    John Erickson's suggestion for aero bars is a good one ... if
    you are doing distance which includes relatively flat terrain.
    They not only rest your hands, but also work different muscles
    in your arms and back (especially the trapezius area).  They
    helped me on a recent long distance ride.
    
    I now wear cycling gloves, but they're only a mixed blessing
    for shock absorption.  The thicker the gloves, it seems the less
    careful I am to have a light touch on the handlebars - and a light
    touch is the best medicine (as someone's already stated).
    
    In equipping for RAAM, I tried out the Modolo anatomic bar, and
    finally gave it up, before it totally ruined my riding stance
    and muscular equanimity.  The bar has one great position: in the
    drops on the flat segment of the bar.  To get that, it sacrifices
    other things:
    
      - The bar is "deeper" - so if it's the right height at the top
        of the bar, it may well be too low for you on the flat part of
        the drops.
    
      - The front of the bar is farther forward - so you will be stretching
        to reach the brake hoods, especially noticeable while you're
        climbing out of the saddle.
    
      - The flat part of the drops is shorter, making it uncomfortable
        to rest your hands there.
    
    Ironically, local cycling friends had pointed out most or all of these 
    deficiencies to me before I tried the bar, but I impartially ignored
    their advice.  
    
    The Modolo anatomic bar may be ok for some physiognomies - maybe
    people with long, flexible arms - but for the general ridership,
    it's not a good choice.
    
    -john