From the
GWRRA Texas Chapter M-2 Education Corner
“Handlebars Aren’t Just for Steering”
Copyright 2008, Motorcycle Cruiser
Written by John Vaughan-Chaldy
Most of us recognize the
importance of at least a perfunctory visual check of our machines before we set
out for a scoot, but what many riders forget is that it's just as important to
check your body position, too. Out on a one-lane country road 30 minutes into
your ride is not the ideal time to be wondering, "Uh, why are my hands tingling?
Why are my shoulders tight? And damn it, why does my neck ache?" But
that's often how it goes with riders. Many of us simply don't acknowledge the
obvious things-such as the body-to-motorcycle relationship-until it's too late.
I found this out the hard way after my 17th back surgery, when my doctor told
me I had to give up motorcycling. That wasn't an option I was willing to consider,
so I doggedly pressed him for an explanation.
In a nutshell, my doc said
every part of the body affects the other parts: Fingers affect the wrist, which
affects the elbow, which affects the shoulders and so on. Just think of those
"Dry Bones" lyrics and you'll get the point: "With the finger
bone connected to the hand bone, and the hand bone connected to the arm bone .
. . "
That first line is one all
riders should memorize: A motorcyclist's main connection points to his bike are
his fingers. And it's no wonder that when most of us ride, those points are
usually being tweaked in some very malevolent ways.
The doctor mentioned the
following parts as being especially vulnerable:
WRISTS They're often turned to odd angles so the fingers can
grip the bar. This puts pressure on the median nerve in the
wrist/forearm(carpal tunnel), causing numbness and fatigue.
ELBOWS These are usually extended up and away from the
rider's torso and rotated out from the bike, which places stress on the ulnar
nerve, or "funny bone."
SHOULDERS They're being constantly flexed and rotated from
holding the elbows up, which often exacerbates tendonitis in the rotator cuffs,
causing aches and fatigue. Most riders also reach forward to grip the
handle-bars, rolling the shoulders. This adds flex to the trapezius muscle,
placing strain on the base of the neck and between the shoulder blades.
TRAPEZIUS AND NECK Rotating the shoulders means the large group of neck
muscles that control spine position is flexing. Constantly working these
muscles creates discomfort in the neck and alters the upper spine's alignment.
This realignment can also affect the lumbar area of the spine, resulting in
lower back pain.
It seems if you experience two
or more of those symptoms (like tingling and/or aches) then your “position of
control” is incorrect. The POC is where the contact point of your body meets
the control point of your bike, i.e., where your hands grip the handlebar.
So after I broke down all the
fancy medical phrases into layman's terms, I was left with these crucial bits
of advice:
1 My wrists shouldn't twist and should stay as straight
as possible in relation to the forearm.
2 Elbows should point down as much as possible and hang
rather than be held up.
3 Shoulders need to be relaxed and dropped rather than
suspended or flexed while riding.
4 My reach should be reduced so I don't roll or lift my
shoulders to grab the handlebar.
5 I should steer with my arms, not my neck, shoulders or
back.
So keep these tips in mind when
you’re adjusting your handlebars, ordering that custom seat, and when you’re
riding to extend your riding comfort and protect your body, too.
Nancy Kwiecien
GWRRA Spring, Texas Chapter M-2 Chapter Educator