Ergonomic Design for Improved Alignment

Keeping you riding longer and further.

Do you experience back, shoulder, elbow or wrist pain or numb fingers and hands from longer rides? Do you like a more upright riding position? Do you find your current bar doesn't offer you a comfy riding position? If yes, then the Eyropro handlebar features may be what you are looking for. Featuring a unique top bar the Eyropro is designed to provide the most optimum gripping position.

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Check out the innovative ergo designed top bar on the Eyropro handlebar. Guaranteed to improve your riding experience with a more comfortable ride. Hands, wrists and shoulders benefit from the unique top bar shape. Try it, and if not satisfied with it return for a full refund less any postage/handling costs with our 90 day money back guarantee.

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Handlebar Palsy and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Handlebar palsy

A relatively common complaint among cyclists known medically as Ulnar neuropathy but also as handlebar palsy. It’s caused by compression of the ulnar nerve, which enervates your ring and little finger, and manifests in the fingers as tingling, numbness or pain or weakness in the hand. As well as compression, hyperextension of the nerve can also lead to similar symptoms and this can occur when spending long periods of time riding down on the drops. If you experience any symptoms of this nature you should act on them immediately as they can be extremely stubborn to resolve. (1).

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome is characterised by numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers or weakness in the hand. A common cause in cyclists is excessive pressure when riding on the bar tops or with flat bars. As with handlebar palsy, don’t ignore these symptoms (1).

The Role of the Shoulders

Although the symptoms of CTS are in the lower part of the arm and hand, the underlying problem is often in the shoulder. Rounding of the shoulders shortens the front shoulder and neck muscles compressing nerves in the neck, which can be felt all the way down to the fingers. Since the shoulder is the largest joint in the arm, if its function and position are compromised, the smaller joints in the arm chain such as the elbow and wrist will be put under more strain and are more likely to be injured (3).

Whilst the above conditions are treatable, if left untreated the results can be severe resulting in a inability to continue cycling and other activities. Besides exercises, a correct bike fit, padded gloves and bars and moving the hand position frequently there does not exist a handlebar with a full anatomical top bar design except for the Eyropro handlebar.

How the Eyropro bar works

With a top bar angle of 10 degrees rise/forward the Eyropro handlebar feels natural to grip. A traditional handlebar shape when gripped on the tops forces a rider's elbows away from the body. This creates wind drag and to keep your elbows in takes effort and extra energy. This also places stress on the wrists and shoulders and in many cases leads to numb hands known as handlebar palsy or in more severe cases, carpal tunnel syndrome due to the restriction of blood flow and pressure on nerves in the hand. Whilst, gripping the Eyropro handlebar rotates your elbow inwards towards your body maintaining alignment of the arm joints and reducing wind drag and maintaining blood flow by providing an improved wrist and shoulder position.Try it and you will see what you have been missing.

Photo: A tradition top bar forces the elbows away from the body.

Wrist pain is a common complaint as the straight top bar places your wrists at an angle to the elbows but using the Eyropro handlebar joints are aligned so the chance of this occurring is reduced. By providing additional top bar positions you can move you hands around more and keep the blood flowing where it is needed and limit the amount of pressure on the wrist joints.

Customers have reported how the bar feels, with some users saying that when using the Eyropro handlebar their shoulder, elbow and hand pains or numbness disappeared. Others have reported how the Eyropro handlebar improved their breathing.

Video: Eyropro features explained

Why Rider Position is Important

As the bike is responsible for around 30% of aerodynamic drag and the rider well over 60% it is clear that the human body is the object where most focus should be targeted. There are plenty of aerodynamic frames, components and wheels that can and do make a difference to speed for a given power. However, the right rider position can give significantly more speed still (7).

Ergonomic Design

The Eyropro handlebar top bar has been designed to match the position of a rider's arms when the elbows are tucked in. With its 10 degree back sweep the Eyropro top bar provides the most optimum alignment of a rider's arms reducing stress and subsequent pain and/or numbness. Riding with your hands on the tops close to the centre provides a more efficient position than one where your elbows are flared out.

Sports Physiologist's and bike fitters report one benefit of the Eyropro bar "...is the outward rotation at the shoulder drops the shoulder blade and unloads the neck too." In addition,"... the wrist position is perfect..." resulting in significant reduction in tenderness."