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