Calluses on palms/Pressure on hands - what to do? I've been cycling for several years, but recently I developed calluses on the pads of my palms. I'm referring to small raised lines, similar to those you would get from weightlifting. And, by the location I mean: the start of the raised part of the palm which controls the thumb, near the middle of the palm.

These calluses appeared "overnight", and although I'm not sure why, I had spent some time caring for my bike (handling oils and lubricants) and then cycled quite a lot in grim, wet weather. They appeared as a result of that.

Since these have developed, they are irritated by the pressure I put on my hands through cycling on a road bike (I usually cycle 20km each day) - and so, they are not getting any better and may be getting worse over time.

I'm interested to know any strategies for relieving the pressure on this part of my hands.

For example, will changing my bike setup change where I put pressure on my hands? How can I set that up?

I use drop handlebars, so where should I grip the handlebars to minimise pressure on my hands?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Use a tighter glove that can't slide against your palm. Use the hoods more than the bar tops. A bicycle fitting or perhaps just a stem with some rise could help reduce pressure on hands.