AXS and thumbs

[Mikerb]

I have never had any hand, wrist arm pain when riding......except since having my 2024 bike with AXS T type I have noticed some soreness at the base of my thumb on my right hand.
I do quite a bit of manual work and am left handed so I do not have "office" hands.
My hypothesis as to the cause is that it is due to not using a full grip on the bars with my right hand. No doubt we all ride with the index finger on the brake lever but with AXS....and a 12 speed cassette I have noticed that a lot of the time my thumb is hovering over the AXS changer pod. I am going to stop doing that!!

 

[Stihldog]

I have never had any hand, wrist arm pain when riding......except since having my 2024 bike with AXS T type I have noticed some soreness at the base of my thumb on my right hand.
I do quite a bit of manual work and am left handed so I do not have "office" hands.
My hypothesis as to the cause is that it is due to not using a full grip on the bars with my right hand. No doubt we all ride with the index finger on the brake lever but with AXS....and a 12 speed cassette I have noticed that a lot of the time my thumb is hovering over the AXS changer pod. I am going to stop doing that!!

I’ve got to paddle shifter on the Rail and a Pod shifter on the Fuel. I can use my index finger for up-shifting with the AXS paddle controller. The AXS pod controller sucks IMO, but it’s expensive to upgrade to the AXS paddle controller.

I also use the I-spec mount with Magura brakes. Not as much adjustment or orientation, but it works for me.

Larger diameter grips also helped for me. Apparently Ergon has an even larger grip available …time for an upgrade me thinks .

I wonder if you need to try a different bar-seeep or stem length? Geometry changes?

 

[Mikerb]

I don't believe it is related to bar sweep etc. All my bikes use the same bars and stem and it is right hand only. Convinced that not having my thumb wrapped on the grip a lot of the time is putting force on the palm side base of the thumb which is soft tissue, rather than on the joint between thumb and palm which is then bone/joint structure.
Also going to adjust the position of the AXS POD to minimise the angle my thumb has to take to operate it.

 

[Stihldog]

Could it be your body geometry or arm position?
If you video yourself, in a typical place where the pain begins, you may see something that you didn’t realize you were doing. (Or a coach).

I personally don’t shift enough for a problem to develop, or I’m moving around a lot. Hand cramps were typical for me …so I went with new style and larger diameter grip. My hand positioning, for braking/shifting was not the problem …it was too small a grip. Problem solved after I changed grips. (Less death-grip also).

My bar width is 770mm, I’m 5’9” but longish arm-span.

 

[JC-1]

I never had an issue with the pod shifter, but keep it adjusted very close. I’ve also changed to the new rocker rather than buttons. Maybe that would help?

Fresh Produce | SRAM's New AXS Pod Controller Rocker Paddle

The SRAM AXS Pod Controller Rocker Paddle is available as a complete unit or as a standalone upgrade for those with a SRAM Transmission.

flowmountainbike.com

 

[Mikerb]

thanks for your thoughts. I spent a few minutes examining the position of the POD on my bike and realized that I had not really done anything to get it in the best position, albeit I had removed everything on the priginal bars, to fit my usual Deity bars. Having now looked at it, I can see what the problem is ( potentially) . I now have it positioned in a much more natural position/angle for my thumb....and I will also remind myself not to just leave my thumb hovering on the POD ( mostly on climbs). Lets see if those changes do the trick!!

 

[Choc3]

I just purchased a e-bike that came with the AXS T. It came with 780mm bars and rode the stock setup for a while with out any major wrist/ hand/ arm pump. I have always had 800mm bars so I wanted to change and read many good reviews on the One Uo carbon bars so installed and ever since I have had increase pain o my right hand, don’t think that bars are that great for the money, now that I have used for a few weeks so the bars could be the problem maybe too stiff. Then I thought the stock grips too thin causing the pain so got ODi reflex XL thick grips. I have been only out once and had less pain. Thinking now that I see this post, probably the pod shifter position is causing pain on my hand. Thumb reach is not in a very natural position at times trying to get to the shifter buttons (not easy to adjust) I have Hope tech 4 V4 brakes with hope mount for the pod shifter. This Hope shifter mount has less adjustability than the one that came with the pod. Now thinking on changing the pod buttons to pod rocker upgrade kit that may solve this issue also try the alloy bars agin never had this issue with my other E-bike with XT or link glide shifter, alloy 800mm bars with hope tech 4 brakes. To add too is that I have bee riding a lot more with carbon bar setup more consecutive days, no time to rest that much a difference from alloy setup.

 

[Bazzer485]

Have you considered you might have rheumatism in your hand, particularly that thumb joint?

 

[QuackFU]

I have never had any hand, wrist arm pain when riding......except since having my 2024 bike with AXS T type I have noticed some soreness at the base of my thumb on my right hand.
I do quite a bit of manual work and am left handed so I do not have "office" hands.
My hypothesis as to the cause is that it is due to not using a full grip on the bars with my right hand. No doubt we all ride with the index finger on the brake lever but with AXS....and a 12 speed cassette I have noticed that a lot of the time my thumb is hovering over the AXS changer pod. I am going to stop doing that!!

I started having these same issues years ago in that same area and it has progressively gotten worse. Having tried every iteration I can think of for grip size, bar sweep, bar rise, brake lever what it came down to for me was pressure on the Median nerve from carpal tunnel.
Hope this is not your case and you find a solution, but just wanted to give you another un-professional opinion

 

[Mikerb]

make a fist as if you are holding the grip.....including with the thumb. Now note where the percussive force from the bars is largely centred at the base of the palm. Now do the same but with the thumb out to the side as if changing gear with the POD etc. Note how now with the thumb "open" the base of the thumb is exposed to those forces and no longer supported by the thumb being in line with the fingers. Further note, the higher you angle the thumb ( e.g if the POD is not in the ideal position), the further towards the joint of the thumb with the wrist the force moves to. This I believe is the issue. There is no reason why both hands would not equally suffer if the issues was related to the bars etc.
As a bove I have reposition the POD so that when using it my thumb stays at a low angle ( much closer to the position it would be if wrapped on the grip)..................plus I am not going to leave my thumb hovering overr the pod for any length of time in future.
Interestingly, my mate is finding the same soreness at the base of his right hand thumb having just bought a new bike with 12 speed. First time he has experienced that as well.................which is what got both of us thinking a bout the potential cause. We both have second bikes which we have had for a few years which do not cause the same problem.

 

[Bazzer485]

As I wrote earlier, I have arthritis in both thumb joints, mine is caused by manual work. I get relief from Celebrex, only from a doctor, and using some pain gel, Diclofenac which you can find in Costco for cheap. I have the same setup as you. Mine is so bad that I can’t curl my hands around the grips all the time. Shifting the Sram needs a lot of thumb pressure. On my moots which has Shimano xtr is way easier to shift. If it could do ten speed I would swop it over in a heartbeat, I can’t afford electronic shifters as I would love to use them.
I ride a Spec Levo because of health issues and the shifter is my one and only gripe. When the price comes down on electric shifters I will surely change.
I hope your issue is purely position of the thumb shifter. That’s an easy fix.
Incidentally I have the same problem with the dropper lever. I changed to a longer throw lever and that made things much better.
Barry

 

[leftside]

All my thumb issues have been resolved in both thumbs since I switched to AXS. I wouldn't be riding if it wasn't for AXS.

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Clearly nature has seriously fked up and didn't consider MTBing when it came to evolution. We really needed to have been born with 6 fingers and 2 thumbs on each hand

 

[Bazzer485]

Clearly nature has seriously fked up and didn't consider MTBing when it came to evolution. We really needed to have been born with 6 fingers and 2 thumbs on each hand

 

[leftside]

Just when I think I might need to give up mountain biking a new technology comes along. First ebikes, now AXS. FSD next?

 

[Mikerb]

As an update to my issue with soreness at the base of the thumb...only on my right hand............

So apart from making sure I do not ride for any length of time with my thumb hovering over the AXS pod, and adjusting the position of the POD, I spent a bit of time on a recent cross country type ride just focusing on exactly where forces from the bars were acting on my right hand. I could actually feel that the forces were not being equally absorbed across my palm but rather more to the inside ( thumb side). Or it may be that I can feel the force more on the thumb side due to whatever injury has happened.
I am left handed, so my right hand does not do much physical work and unlikely to have been injured other than on the bike ......but I guess it could be weaker than my left hand....or maybe my wrist is oriented slightly differently on that side...who knows. Strange that I never experienced this on any previous bike despite using the same bars and set up.............so my reasoning is that some damage has been done due to the original position of the AXS POD.

The job now is to alleviate the issue. I bought a neoprene support which whilst good as a therapeutic is no good when riding...it makes it worse due to the bulk around the thumb.
So I have now bought Ergon GA3 grips. These are the type with a mini wing shape on the outer end of the grip. A short test ride certainly seems to spread bar load much more evenly across the palm so hopefull they will help................need to do a proper Forest ride and adjust the angle of the grip mainly for up on the pedal type descents, to make any final judgement. I will let you know!!

 

[p3eps]

Post in thread 'SRAM AXS Pod Rocker Upgrade'
Review - SRAM AXS Pod Rocker Upgrade

Have you tried the POD Rocker for your POD? So far on my 3 rides, I’ve found it a game changer.

 

[Mikerb]

Post in thread 'SRAM AXS Pod Rocker Upgrade'
Review - SRAM AXS Pod Rocker Upgrade

Have you tried the POD Rocker for your POD? So far on my 3 rides, I’ve found it a game changer.

no........whilst it may be more pleasing to use I dont think it would change the ergonomics greatly.

 

[p3eps]

no........whilst it may be more pleasing to use I dont think it would change the ergonomics greatly.

I find that I don’t need to stretch so much for the buttons as I can position the rocker better… which takes some strain off my thumb.
I can also use my index finger to shift down through the gears.

It’s maybe not for everyone, but at £20 for the rocker conversion, it’s a relatively (in bike terms!) cheap thing to try out.

 

[Mikerb]

I find that I don’t need to stretch so much for the buttons as I can position the rocker better… which takes some strain off my thumb.
I can also use my index finger to shift down through the gears.

It’s maybe not for everyone, but at £20 for the rocker conversion, it’s a relatively (in bike terms!) cheap thing to try out.

Looks the same as I have on one of my bikes that has the original AXS as opposed to the T type so I can contrast and compare between bikes.

 

[p3eps]

Looks the same as I have on one of my bikes that has the original AXS as opposed to the T type so I can contrast and compare between bikes.

I've used all the AXS controllers, and I can assure you it's not like the paddle on the original AXS at all.
The original AXS controller (for me anyway) was fixed at an angle I did't like... whereas the POD rocker can be rotated.

Perhaps my new love for the POD Rocker is purely down to the adjustability of it - and it feels like the first AXS shifter that I prefer to my old wired Eagle XX1 one.

 

[Mikerb]

Just as an update, apart from adjusting the AXS pod position I have now done a few rides using the Ergon GA3 grips and have found them really comfortable....but more importantly when properly adjusted they distribute forces from the bars far more evenly across the base of the palm. I can actively feel the non thumb side of my palm taking a good portion of that pressure.

 

[RickBullotta]

I have never had any hand, wrist arm pain when riding......except since having my 2024 bike with AXS T type I have noticed some soreness at the base of my thumb on my right hand.
I do quite a bit of manual work and am left handed so I do not have "office" hands.
My hypothesis as to the cause is that it is due to not using a full grip on the bars with my right hand. No doubt we all ride with the index finger on the brake lever but with AXS....and a 12 speed cassette I have noticed that a lot of the time my thumb is hovering over the AXS changer pod. I am going to stop doing that!!

Mine is the exact opposite situation - with mechanical shifters and the arthritis in my thumbs from many, many crashes and hard hits, shifting became very painful after 30 minutes or so. I could not be riding without AXS shifters.
My #1 piece of advice is NEVER, EVER, EVER IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE USE MATCHMAKER MOUNTS!!!! Always, ALWAYS use separate mounts and you'll be able to achieve a MUCH more ergonomic position for your controls. Matchmaker crap is a compromise, and an unnecessary one at that.

 

[RustyIron]

Always, ALWAYS use separate mounts and you'll be able to achieve a MUCH more ergonomic position for your controls. Matchmaker crap is a compromise, and an unnecessary one at that.

Matchmaker controls are like asking the hobo in the parking lot to help you pick out an off-the-rack suit at Walmart.

 

[RickBullotta]

Matchmaker controls are like asking the hobo in the parking lot to help you pick out an off-the-rack suit at Walmart.

TRUTH!

 

[Chicane]

Mine is the exact opposite situation - with mechanical shifters and the arthritis in my thumbs from many, many crashes and hard hits, shifting became very painful after 30 minutes or so. I could not be riding without AXS shifters.
My #1 piece of advice is NEVER, EVER, EVER IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE USE MATCHMAKER MOUNTS!!!! Always, ALWAYS use separate mounts and you'll be able to achieve a MUCH more ergonomic position for your controls. Matchmaker crap is a compromise, and an unnecessary one at that.

My bike yoke matchmaker paired to my Shimano brake lever is in the perfect position for me.

 

[p3eps]

My bike yoke matchmaker paired to my Shimano brake lever is in the perfect position for me.

My Bike Yoke adapters paired with the Magura matchmakers give me the perfect POD placement.

Something I could not get with the ‘infinity clamp’ that comes with the POD.

 

[RickBullotta]

My Bike Yoke adapters paired with the Magura matchmakers give me the perfect POD placement.

Something I could not get with the ‘infinity clamp’ that comes with the POD.

Consider yourself blessed by the randomness of an infinite multiverse.