Every time i go on trails or just ride for a longer amount of time my hands get shredded, i have tried multiple different grips from the cheap rubber slide on ones up to lock-on deathgrips (i use them now) there is a LOT of difference in comfort but i skill got skinned a bit. Even tried gloves which i think only made it worse. Any advice on good grips that dont do this/a way to prevent it? Or is this just something i have to accept as a part of the MTB experience?
by OafishCashew423
25 Comments
How long have you been riding?
Calluses are a thing
What kind of gloves? They need to be fairly tight so they don’t move around. Try gloves from Handup they are amazing.
Make sure you’re keeping your grip light. Don’t white knuckle it.
I’d also consider giving gloves a try again. I exclusively ride with gloves and simply never run into this issue on even very long rides (8 hr+) or DH days.
It’s probably from your tight grip holding the bars, at least that’s why my hands get shredded
Your hands will toughen up the more you ride.
Calluses. Gym goers, Cyclists, any rough handling. Most of us own them. For those who dont, they use gloves.
Maybe the gym could teach you a thing or two about calluses.
Thin full finger gloves, and burts bees hand cream/wax will solve this 100%
That’s just calluses man, this is from having soft hands and doing something psychical with them, you get that from doing trade work or anything like that
I wear gloves on the MTB. But it is a generally a reminder to get the weight off your hands and lighten up the grip.
Looks like deathgrip, try to relax
Gloves – they should be skin tight. If they’re loose or baggy at all they’ll just rub more, likely what you experienced.
I split my time between a full rigid carbon MTB and a full sus, and my hands really calloused like yours, especially when I’m on the rigid bike, even with well fitting gloves. I still have noticeable callouses on my hands in those exact spots despite not riding either bike yet this year (still training on the cross bike though) If I didn’t wear gloves I’m not sure I could ride the rigid bike all that often/very long.
There’s no discomfort for me…until I notice the callouses and start picking at them lol.
I put gloves on, several different brands. I’ve tried multiple grips, settled on ODI Rogue V2, best fit my hands, and I get callouses 🤷🏻♂️. It is what it is, I’ve never even thought twice about it.
Normal for me when my hands aren’t used to riding much.
Good gloves is the answer. Don’t wear garden gloves or winter gloves, wear riding gloves. I’ve found mechanics gloves (weave, not leather or rubber/nitrile) work fine too.
That’s the dream
Yeeeeeep. Gloves help minimize it
Start doing lots of pullups if you want some strong calluses, that’s what worked for me anyways.
Some people don’t like gloves, but I’ll always recommend gloves. They protect your hands in a fall, doesn’t have to be a major crash to cut up your hands.
Mainly though, if you start riding hard and start to sweat, having slippery grips is just awful. Depends on environment too though. I ride in wooded and humid biome.
I’ve found the only gloves that save my hands are the fox ones with padding in the palm.
Nice. My callouses haven’t built up yet this spring, and I have been missing them.
Same here, you just deal with it until callouses build.
This is a good thing. Your body is adapting to the stimulus. I worked labor the majority of my career and I have oven mitts for hands. They’re called man hands.
Gloves make my callouses worse when my hands are sweating. MTB is rough on your hands, that will never change. But, in my case the dryer I can keep my hands, the better. I’m constantly stopping to rub my hands on my jersey or shorts to keep them dry and that has helped the most. If you have to wear gloves when you ride, keep spares with you and try wearing them for descents only. Don’t wear rings that aren’t made of some soft material. Otherwise, keep riding and your hands will get used to it.
Soft hands
Good quality, properly sized gloves and experiment with grips. I personally use Ergon grips, but they’re not for everyone. If no LBS, lightweight motocross gloves also work. Alpinestars and 100% work good.