Arm pump and numbing

[Tom#91_crf250]

well i know this has been discussed many of a time but i just need some advice.

i have been suffering from arm pump ever since i moved from a 125 to the 250 and its been getting worse and worse.
i have read various articles on it and i have possibly tried everything.i can go out on a track and with in 4 laps my arms are as solid as hell, and they burn really bad, about another 3 laps my hands just go numb and its horrible as i cant feel how much i pull my front break lever in and how much i'm holding on sometimes it has caused my hand just to fall of the bars as i cant feel them.

i have tried riding through it and its just causes me to spend more time on the floor.

i've tried different handle bar positions, bends.

i've tried different grips of all sorts, waffles or not, soft or hard, kevlar ones and the waffled ones seem to make it worse as well as harder ones, but if i go to soft its just as bad.

i've had my suspension set up now to see if it was that but no.

i changed my riding style and still no.

and since i've been going to the gym and doing a few weights, not silly weights but 10 kg only it seems to have got worse, but the only reason i'm doing weights is because my left arm is so much weaker.

dose anyone have any more idea on what to do as i stretch and warm up everyntime i ride and its get to a point where i'm getting so frustrated as i'm spending so much time on the floor cause of it.

[BigD]

I would highly recommend a stabilizer. Should help with the arm pump.

[jt1872001]

dont lift any weights. last year i started kickboxing instead of weightlifting and it helped me alot with cardio and reduction of arm pump.if you did not get pumped on the 125 and now you do on the 250 it is probably mental...relax!

[turbo]

[Trogdor]

Even the Pros have trouble with arm pump. Relax & grip more with your knees. I know Pros that have to replace their seat covers once a month due to wear/cutting on the sides from gripping so tight.

If you want to work on the strength in the gym that's fine, but do low weights and high reps. Set down, put your arms on your knees, and do 2 sets of 100 reps wrist curls with a bar then turn your wrists over and repeat. As you strengthen you can add weight to the bar. The other good one is to tie weight to one end of a length of rope and a pipe on the other end. Twist the pipe holding your arms straight out coiling the rope & the weight up on the pipe. Repeat up & down until you cry like a little girl.

[dobent4@yahoo.com]

[fdexter]

Try holding on with the knees more often even my self have a problem with that. Ill catch myself often not holding on with my knees, and thats when i get armpump. Also before you ride get your arms pumped up(arm pump) sounds stupid but I've tried it and it works.I got that from a pro rider that dirt rider interviewed one time.

[mxer51]

Definitely agree with everyone. I also noticed a little reduction in arm pump after switching to Fasst Flex bars. Expensive though.

[petermark1234]

Once I got going and started passing people, I found it hard to really go hard and hang onto the bar with my right hand in the choppy stuff or on big hits. About halfway through the first lap I turned my steering damper up a lot, and that helped, but of course made the bike feel sluggish and slow steering in the tight stuff. I put up with that to keep my right hand on the bar.

I felt OK through the 12 mile course, so I kept a pretty good pace and passed most everyone in the 3 laps we had, finishing sixth overall, third in class. I missed second by 16 seconds, first by 57 seconds. Not too bad for less than 4 weeks after surgery.