Taping hands

Micahdogg
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Micahdogg
Edited Date/Time 8/31/2017 8:48am
I'm going to race a hare scramble next weekend and have considered taping my hands to avoid blisters. I've never done this though, so if anyone has tips on what tape to use, how to do it, etc... that would be great! Thanks.
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Forty
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Forty 6/13/2017 7:06am
6/13/2017 7:06am
Don't do anything for the first time on a race day. If you have the time try it in advance of race day. Taping isn't just a matter of wrapping your hands. There is a technique involved that will protect your hands from wear and also allow them to flex and not fatigue.
Bramlett321
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Bramlett321 6/13/2017 7:27am
6/13/2017 7:27am
Once you get some time under your belt one of the tricks we use. Well it's not a trick, but we will get the tuxedo gloves(the really soft white velvet) and run them under our normal riding gloves. This has always worked very well for blisters for me. You'll just need a large set of gloves.
TripleFive 6/13/2017 7:29am
6/13/2017 7:29am
I've done it a few times, don't let Forty discourage you.

KirkChandler
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KirkChandler 6/13/2017 7:30am
6/13/2017 7:30am
I always used electrical tape on my thumbs. Athletic tape always bunched up.

Then I started wearing Deft gloves and stopped getting blisters.

The Shop

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Louie112
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Louie112 6/13/2017 7:51am
6/13/2017 7:51am


Micahdogg
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Micahdogg 6/13/2017 7:54am
6/13/2017 7:54am
Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm trying to picture athletic tape and I figure it will either be too tight, or too loose and bunch up. I can't see that working at all. Honestly I only get a blisters on two places on my hands so I wonder if a dab of vaseline on those spots before putting on my gloves would help? My knee guards usually chafe behind my knees and vaseline works wonders there.
USMCMXer
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USMCMXer 6/13/2017 8:12am
6/13/2017 8:12am
This may sound weird, but the only tape I ever had any luck with is duct tape, seriously! Experiment first though before a long race
TripleFive 6/13/2017 8:32am
6/13/2017 8:32am
USMCMXer wrote:
This may sound weird, but the only tape I ever had any luck with is duct tape, seriously! Experiment first though before a long race
Duct tape, EXACTLY! Just like the picture I included above ^
Brett Smith - We Went Fast 6/13/2017 8:39am
6/13/2017 8:39am
Micahdogg wrote:
I'm going to race a hare scramble next weekend and have considered taping my hands to avoid blisters. I've never done this though, so if anyone...
I'm going to race a hare scramble next weekend and have considered taping my hands to avoid blisters. I've never done this though, so if anyone has tips on what tape to use, how to do it, etc... that would be great! Thanks.
For an article I wrote recently I spoke with one top rider who actually sprays a sticky substance on his hands and then immediately puts on his gloves. I think it's Mueller's spray. His gloves are basically glued on. But he gets new gloves every single moto. I'm sure this method greatly decreases the lifespan of the gloves but it really helps with blisters
Turbojez
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Turbojez 6/13/2017 9:37am
6/13/2017 9:37am
Palm savers. But you'll need a bit looser fitting gloves.
Taping has a huge disadvantage, you sweat like a pig under the tape, and moist makes your skin extremely vulnerable. See how your fingers look like after sitting in a bathtub for too long? That's exactly what you're going to find under the tape after a while.
Mx286
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Mx286 6/13/2017 9:42am
6/13/2017 9:42am
Micahdogg wrote:
Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm trying to picture athletic tape and I figure it will either be too tight, or too loose and bunch up. I can't...
Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm trying to picture athletic tape and I figure it will either be too tight, or too loose and bunch up. I can't see that working at all. Honestly I only get a blisters on two places on my hands so I wonder if a dab of vaseline on those spots before putting on my gloves would help? My knee guards usually chafe behind my knees and vaseline works wonders there.
Do you grip the bike too tight? Maybe try loosening up a little? I know of few guys that ride with a death grip and they always have blisters. The Vaseline trick may work. For the knee guards get you a pair of long socks or sleeves that go over your knees.
Bruneval
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Bruneval 6/13/2017 9:53am
6/13/2017 9:53am
I wouldn't bother taping your hands, it will only come off with sweat and cause more damage when the adhesive adds friction. Taping does have some uses though; it is used extensively by military medics in the field to minimise further skin damage and to support lower limb injuries.

Just prepare your hands if you're worried about it. Wash your hands in rubbing alcohol a couple of times a day to toughen the skin up. You can also use Witch Hazel. Alternately, grab a shovel and dig holes in the back garden for a bit.
crusty_xx 6/13/2017 10:04am
6/13/2017 10:04am
Just get the right gloves for your hands. They have to FIT.
In like 90% of the cases where riders have problems with blisters it's because they ride the wrong gloves.

Also blisters might have something to do with your riding technique
CG118
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CG118 6/13/2017 6:14pm
6/13/2017 6:14pm
I used a pattern described by Mike Alessi a looong time ago. It was in a magazine article. Sorry, can't remember the exact mag. Google Randy Hawkins hand taping. Its pretty simple.

Works great with athletic tape, and I haven't had any issues in enduros and hare scrambles. And I have "Book Hands."

loftyair
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loftyair 6/13/2017 6:18pm
6/13/2017 6:18pm
Superglue the parts that get rubbed.
fins227
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fins227 6/13/2017 6:35pm
6/13/2017 6:35pm
Vaseline, rub a thin layer on your palms right before you put your gloves on. Works for me.
RonSkj
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RonSkj 6/13/2017 6:40pm
6/13/2017 6:40pm Edited Date/Time 6/13/2017 6:41pm
I don't know about taping the hands but ya gotta tape the nips

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FTB
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FTB 6/13/2017 6:42pm
6/13/2017 6:42pm
Pro Tip. Put some baby powder in your gloves..
r.sal923
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r.sal923 6/13/2017 7:44pm
6/13/2017 7:44pm
Me and my wife just had baby. I don't get blisters any more riding. But I use to use baby powder in my gloves.
Badd127
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Badd127 6/13/2017 9:50pm
6/13/2017 9:50pm Edited Date/Time 6/13/2017 9:51pm
FTB wrote:
Pro Tip. Put some baby powder in your gloves..
This is the hot tip, put baby powder in your gloves, on your hands, down your pants! Just put it everywhere. If you're not racing for the win, I would consider changing gloves during the race. When your hands sweat and become soft, they will blister. The baby powder absorbes moisture, so the drier you can keep your hands the better off you will be.

I've raced a few 4-5hr desert races and the powder helps, but I still had a few blisters. But it was a lot better than some other guys that finished with blood soaked gloves.
mx216
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mx216 6/13/2017 10:37pm
6/13/2017 10:37pm
FTB wrote:
Pro Tip. Put some baby powder in your gloves..
Badd127 wrote:
This is the hot tip, put baby powder in your gloves, on your hands, down your pants! Just put it everywhere. If you're not racing for...
This is the hot tip, put baby powder in your gloves, on your hands, down your pants! Just put it everywhere. If you're not racing for the win, I would consider changing gloves during the race. When your hands sweat and become soft, they will blister. The baby powder absorbes moisture, so the drier you can keep your hands the better off you will be.

I've raced a few 4-5hr desert races and the powder helps, but I still had a few blisters. But it was a lot better than some other guys that finished with blood soaked gloves.
This is whats up. Exactly dead on. Baby powder will make a noticeable difference in the condition of your hands at the end of a long day of riding. Also have second pair of gloves with you or try to dry your gloves in the sun between motos or during breaks.
TripleFive 6/13/2017 11:02pm
6/13/2017 11:02pm
FTB wrote:
Pro Tip. Put some baby powder in your gloves..
Badd127 wrote:
This is the hot tip, put baby powder in your gloves, on your hands, down your pants! Just put it everywhere. If you're not racing for...
This is the hot tip, put baby powder in your gloves, on your hands, down your pants! Just put it everywhere. If you're not racing for the win, I would consider changing gloves during the race. When your hands sweat and become soft, they will blister. The baby powder absorbes moisture, so the drier you can keep your hands the better off you will be.

I've raced a few 4-5hr desert races and the powder helps, but I still had a few blisters. But it was a lot better than some other guys that finished with blood soaked gloves.
"If you're not racing for the win, I would consider changing gloves during the race."


Absolutely fantastic advice. It's only a dirt bike race.
tempura
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tempura 6/14/2017 1:16am
6/14/2017 1:16am
I don't suffer from hand problems while riding, but I have a buddie that does.
He tried a few things, and settled on taping his thumbs and using those risk racing hand protectors.
Micahdogg
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Micahdogg 6/14/2017 7:23am
6/14/2017 7:23am
This is really getting interesting.

So a blister occurs from friction. And the drier the skin, the more resilient it will become to friction. Thus, a carpenters hands with thick gnarled calluses can resist damn near anything. But a librarians soft hands will get get brutalized.

The powder trick will keep your hands in a dry (resilient) state. The vaseline will keep friction from occurring in the first place (which is why a boxer will have grease put on his face). Taping or superglue on the hands will physically offer a barrier in front of your skin. And really tight fitting gloves operate on a similar principal.

My problem with blisters isn't severe, but I do plan on doing a few more hare scrambles this year. And as they say, an ounce of prevention... Maybe I'll try out a few of these recommendations along the way and see how they compare.
Steadman
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Steadman 6/14/2017 7:51am
6/14/2017 7:51am
Micahdogg wrote:
I'm going to race a hare scramble next weekend and have considered taping my hands to avoid blisters. I've never done this though, so if anyone...
I'm going to race a hare scramble next weekend and have considered taping my hands to avoid blisters. I've never done this though, so if anyone has tips on what tape to use, how to do it, etc... that would be great! Thanks.
I race cross country as well. One word ChafeZone. I have Nancy hands. I've struggled with blisters and hand skin tearing for years. Tried this product after reading a review (possibly Motocross Action) IT WORKS! Slather it on good. I haven't had any problems since I started using it about 6 years ago.
Micahdogg
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Micahdogg 6/14/2017 8:33am
6/14/2017 8:33am
I wonder if you can buy Chafezone in stores or if its online only?
JBlain619
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JBlain619 6/14/2017 8:39am
6/14/2017 8:39am
As stated above, baby powder works for me.
PFitzG38
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PFitzG38 6/14/2017 9:30pm
6/14/2017 9:30pm
Before I discoved Chafe Zone I did the following. I don't have to tape anymore - stuff works

1 pc. Johnson & Johnson .75"x1.5" Althetic Tape
Clean Hands
A little bit of spray adhesive on callouses
Let it dry and apply tape with no wrinkles
press it down real good
One more strip all around hand knucles and callouses.
That should last for the day

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