arm pump!

davidmerritt625
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 4:00am
hey guys. I used to casually ride sometimes back when i was 13 and rode a kx100 for a little bit. im bout to be 18 now and i decided to get back into the sport and be a little more serious about it. i was looking for a cheap used 125 (ill always be loyal to the old pingers) but we found a deal that we couldnt resist today. we found a 1996 honda cr250 for $900 and it has been recently rebuilt and is in great condition and it came with 2 new front tires and a case of 2 cycle oil and a case of air filter cleaner. i toook it out to the local track today and it felt awesome to be back! that bike has way more power than i had ever experienced and thats whats causing my problem about hand cramps and arm pump. i guess im still scared of the bike so im white knuckling it and its causing some problems for me. what are some ways that i could reduce the hand cramps and arm pump? it was worse today than ive ever experienced in the past and im willing to try anything to resolve this!
|
mxb2
Profile picture for user mxb2
Posts
22437
Joined
6/15/2010
Location
Bowie, MD, USA
mxb2 3/4/2011 4:08pm
3/4/2011 4:08pm
Try gripping more with your legs, rubber bar mounts, try to ride relaxed and smooth, slow down and get your form down! Get the suspension setup for your weight, skill level! Nothing replaces seat time, it will get better Good Luck!
supah-gnarr
Profile picture for user supah-gnarr
Posts
31
Joined
2/27/2011
Location
Midlothian, VA, USA
supah-gnarr 3/6/2011 11:06am
3/6/2011 11:06am
look ahead at the line. when i look down right in front of my front tire i tense up. looking to ahead to where your going lets the bike do what it does and you stay more relaxed.
johnnyg
Profile picture for user johnnyg
Posts
73
Joined
3/1/2011
Location
USA
johnnyg 3/8/2011 9:02am
3/8/2011 9:02am
Just as above relax and tool around till you get a feel for the bike.
jndmx
Profile picture for user jndmx
Posts
9691
Joined
1/20/2008
Location
South Kingston, RI, USA
jndmx 3/8/2011 11:02am
3/8/2011 11:02am
mxb2 wrote:
Try gripping more with your legs, rubber bar mounts, try to ride relaxed and smooth, slow down and get your form down! Get the suspension setup...
Try gripping more with your legs, rubber bar mounts, try to ride relaxed and smooth, slow down and get your form down! Get the suspension setup for your weight, skill level! Nothing replaces seat time, it will get better Good Luck!
This is all good advise.

Also don't forget the physical reason why you get cramps and arm pump, good hydration will help as well as eating the right foods.

Plenty of water in the days before you ride or as a general rule and fresh fruits and high protein foods will all help.

The Shop

See All »
careyn
Profile picture for user careyn
Posts
222
Joined
12/6/2009
Location
USA
careyn 3/18/2011 9:28pm
3/18/2011 9:28pm
Since you've been off the bike for a while, your forearms might not be as strong as when you were used to the abuse of the bike. Grip with your legs more, get used to the bike before you go balls out, look ahead, and most importantly Breathe.
davidmerritt625 3/22/2011 5:54pm
3/22/2011 5:54pm
been to the track a few times since my first post. my cramps have gotten alot less intense and i can ride longer now. ive learned to be more comfortable on the bike and my muscles have gotten stronger as well. i think my main problem was that i my arms were not as accustomed to riding as they used to be.. but i was going out there and riding harder than ever.. so im just weak now. but its getting better and i appreciate all the help!
Mr. Ted
Profile picture for user Mr. Ted
Posts
1679
Joined
5/7/2010
Location
Atoka, TN, USA
Fantasy
887th
Mr. Ted 4/8/2011 7:24am
4/8/2011 7:24am
Potassium and hydration, in addition to exercise, strectching and gripping with your legs.
Cygnus
Profile picture for user Cygnus
Posts
14845
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Hanover, CO, USA
Cygnus 4/11/2011 2:21pm
4/11/2011 2:21pm
Fasstco flex bars.
pie8man
Profile picture for user pie8man
Posts
634
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Loveland, CO, USA
pie8man 4/11/2011 4:17pm
4/11/2011 4:17pm
Welcome back to riding!! I find that if I take the time and do a warm up ride before I pound laps my hands and arms do way better for the whole day. Try your first ride of the day nice and easy, just go out and jump stuff and roll around, I always make sure on my warm up ride that I concentrate on my riding position and just get comfortable riding around. There are a lot of great tips on here. Squeeze with your legs is a good one but also make sure you are standing on the bike with your legs and not just hanging on with your hands. The only way to do this is to use your head and shoulders as a counterweight, if you are accelerating hard it is better to be leaning forward with your weight on the pegs than it is to be hanging back off the bars. Make sure that when you are riding you take every moment you can to loosen your grip with your hands, in the air, coming into corners even accelerating on smooth surfaces, if you are constantly hanging on you will never get rid of arm pump.
Dirtjunkie85 4/14/2011 10:41am
4/14/2011 10:41am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2011 10:58am
There are lots of great tips on here. What I do before I get to the track I drink lots of water and eat a banana before. I also got the pro taper pillow top grips to cut down on the vibration of the bike. That helps a lot. MX grips
Mr. Ted
Profile picture for user Mr. Ted
Posts
1679
Joined
5/7/2010
Location
Atoka, TN, USA
Fantasy
887th
Mr. Ted 4/15/2011 12:05pm
4/15/2011 12:05pm
BTW fasstco flexx bars are awesome...

Post a reply to: arm pump!