Arm Pump.

[madcow393]

I was just wondering what everyone did to combat arm pump.

[twoofeach]

I started riding the pee wee tracks...

Nah, I just rode more and now I rarely get it...oh yeah, don't forget to clean and lube that clutch cable.

[AaronRider]

Well...I notice I get arm pump easy when im not riding consistantly. Another thing I do is to make sure to give my forearms a nice stretch for 15 secs each before riding. I do this by holding my arm straight up above my head and with my other hand pull backwards on my fingers. It seems to help a bit...

[Michael Parker]

i fight arm pump by pinching the seat with my knees and then you can lighten the grip on your hands thus reducing the amount of work that the muscle does and your legs wont get tired cause there a bigger muscle

[schwen_108]

I eat banana's and drink lots of gatorade. it seems to help me so far

[DPW]

Water, hold on with your legs, and ride and ride....most arm pump comes from the death grip you have your bike...like when you go to a new track or have not rode for a long time.

Also remember to breath when your ride....yeah I know sounds like a duh..

[Keetoman393]

Like DPW sais, it comes from your arms pumping up from griping so hard. This is what body builders do to make themselves look larger. They will go and pump some heavy weights so that they get the "pump" to look good. It is the same thing that is happening to you as you ride. One good cure, other than griping harder with your knees is to just ride more. When you start to get leaner (endurance) muscle fibers in your arms, you will see the pump go away.

[Deano249f]

Originally Posted by madcow393

I was just wondering what everyone did to combat arm pump.

I am not like most riders, I hardly suffer with arm pump anymore, I used to, but not so much these days. I suffer from hand pump .
My hands and fingers tend to ake (in corners mainly) while riding MX.
But if I stretch my fingers back, it sometimes goes away...

I also eat a few bananas before a ride as I hear potassium is a good solution for arm pump, so maybe this is why I don't suffer as much as I used to .

I also drink lots of water throughout the week, and I use my arms every day at work, shovelling, wheel-barrowing, lifting, using a sledge hammer, Ect...
I workout aswell, so all that I mentioned probably help also.

Another great tip is (allready been suggested) to try to control your bike with your legs. Gripping the bike with your knees takes stress away from your arms and upper body, so this helps.

[madcow393]

Hmm.. mabye I should have been more specific. Deano's "hand pump" sounds more like what I get that anything, but thanks for all the tips guys.

[kickindirt114]

what about that pump x suff for hand and arm pump

[madcow393]

Huh??? Pump X? Never heard of it. (And by the way, you don't pay me enough to be your mechanic )

[chris99]

i dont get arm pump but i do get a lot of pain in my hand. sometimes i feel like my middle finger is broke for a couple of days.

[Deano249f]

Hey I'm not the only one who gets "hand pump"... I'm not a freak!