Handlebar Extensions to ease Elbow Tendonitis

bonzo_k

Hi,

Can anybody recommend handlebar extensions that would have lots of different hand positions. I have inner elbow tendonitis and my daily cycle tends to irritate it unless I cycle with one hand for around half the journey.

smacl

Drop bars seem like the obvious way to go, as they give you a lot of positions, but even bar ends give you a second position which helps hugely. Another one popular with trekkers is butterfly bars.



The other thing to check is to make sure you don't lock your elbows when cycling, if you keep them a bit bent relaxed they're not going to pick up road buzz so much. That said, I was cycling a flat bar rental bike last week with no bar ends, and even having the cheapest of bar ends would have been an improvement. The bar ends on my hybrid are similar enough to these and do the job fine.

Chuchote

**Not medical advice**

This article https://www.tenniselbowsecretsrevealed.com/2-bike-riding-tips-to-wipe-out-elbow-pain-quickly/ also suggests that the actual size of the bike and the height and distance from you of the handlebars are important.

Discussion here, too: http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/79807-elbow-tendonitis-has-wrecked-my-commuting.html

More important, what about asking your doc, and maybe asking to be referred to a specialist sports doc who'd know about cycling?

bonzo_k

Thanks a million. I have suspected the bike geometry for a while so I will probably sell it early next year. Its a Cube Hyde Race, the frame causes the rider to put a lot of weight forward onto the wrists. I can't get the handlebars any higher than they are. Its not a very comfortable bike to ride.

The tendonitis is due to overuse, and I have had it on and off for the last 5 years. I practice yoga daily, which includes lots of arm balances, which puts strain on the elbows.

Have been to doctors, PT and physios. Its not that bad, I just don't want it to get worse. I am in my 40's so things like this take a bit longer to heal and I need to mind myself.

I will check out the bar ends as a short term solution until I can get a new bike.

Thanks !

Chuchote

Maybe a pro bike fit? http://www.bikefitstudio.ie/ could look at your current bike and recommend a replacement if necessary, if you felt it worth the price?

Going Forward

bonzo_k wrote: »

Thanks a million. I have suspected the bike geometry for a while so I will probably sell it early next year. Its a Cube Hyde Race, the frame causes the rider to put a lot of weight forward onto the wrists. I can't get the handlebars any higher than they are. Its not a very comfortable bike to ride.

The tendonitis is due to overuse, and I have had it on and off for the last 5 years. I practice yoga daily, which includes lots of arm balances, which puts strain on the elbows.

Have been to doctors, PT and physios. Its not that bad, I just don't want it to get worse. I am in my 40's so things like this take a bit longer to heal and I need to mind myself.

I will check out the bar ends as a short term solution until I can get a new bike.

Thanks !

Another thing worth trying is a stem riser, it'll give a few extra inches height and experiment with saddle position fore and aft and tilt

I had the same trouble, after returning to cycling, fitted stem riser first and did improve the problem, then added trekking bars.

Problem is not eliminated but much better; there are a lot of tweaks you can try with trekking bars.

If the bike is otherwise suitable it might be worth experimenting with it because any relief given by a whole new bike might only be short term.

cdaly_

bonzo_k wrote: »

I practice yoga daily, which includes lots of arm balances, which puts strain on the elbows.

Do you do much core work? Maybe start to incorporate pilates core exercise into your routine. Should help with reducing pressure on arms on the bike.