Forearm pump on throttle hand?

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

This might be a dumb question, but am I the only one that seems to get a massive Popeye-like forearm pump when sledding? Sometimes it gets so bad I have to come up with "creative" ways of opening up the throttle. After a full day, usually the first time or two, it can get painful towards the end of the day. Is this a function of my gloves? Throttle? I go to a gym every single day to avoid things like this, but there doesn't seem to be a way to prepare for the sled-throttle forearm pump. It's worse than a calf-burn ffs.

Assuming I'm not the only one... what do others do?

Pistonbroke · Nov 10, 2015

couple things....
1. Relax. You can ride your sled with very little hand and forearm input if done right. Try to steer the sled with weight through the floorboards off trail, and you will find skis and steering mean less and less.
2. Try a new position for the throttle - twist it up or down on the bars and see if it helps.

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

Pistonbroke said:
couple things....
1. Relax. You can ride your sled with very little hand and forearm input if done right. Try to steer the sled with weight through the floorboards off trail, and you will find skis and steering mean less and less.
2. Try a new position for the throttle - twist it up or down on the bars and see if it helps.

Steering isn't an issue... it's the constant throttle on/off with my thumb. I did not realize it would move or twist that easily. I may try that. I almost wish it was a two finger throttle lever instead of a thumb. Thanks for the tip.

Bnorth · Nov 10, 2015

Like pistonbroke said loosen off the throttle set screw so you can move the flipper up or down. I rotate mine constantly throughout the day depending if I'm standing or sitting or depending on the riding I'm doing. There are finger throttles available now too.

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

Bnorth said:
Like pistonbroke said loosen off the throttle set screw so you can move the flipper up or down. I rotate mine constantly throughout the day depending if I'm standing or sitting or depending on the riding I'm doing. There are finger throttles available now too.

Good call. Any experience with the finger throttles? Any "drawbacks" or cons I might be unaware of?

Popsiclestand · Nov 10, 2015

One of the biggest causes of arm pump is:

1. Not relaxing, you don't need to death grip the bars all the time.

2. Forgetting to breath, seems simple but is actually a pretty big problem and easy to do. This heavily contributes to arm pump.

3. Position of bars and controls.

4. Seat time is this best way to improve on reducing the amount of arm pump you get.

Grizzly4323 · Nov 10, 2015

My throttle is slightly loose also, I move it a lot throughout the day and I don't hang on very tight. Can be kinda tough but try and pay attention to the squeeze pressure your putting on that hand and relax bit.. I do notice I hang on way less on my T3 than I do on the T Nytro that's for fackin sure!!

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

I honestly don't believe I am "tense" or hanging on too tightly... The rest of my arms are just fine and I feel pretty relaxed (I think)..... I think I am just using enough force to speed up.... I wonder, is there lever extenders of some kind? Maybe a longer throttle would make it easier to pull?

I'll try to be more conscious and see if I am just gripping too tightly. To me though it seems more like doing 10000 reps of calf raises, only my forearm, from squeezing/relaxing all day long. I suppose I could just be defective or a pussy too... lol... I've never had the opportunity to live a day as anyone else.

Bnorth · Nov 10, 2015

When I raced dirtbikes I used to do a 20 minute pre-ride before a race to get the arm pump out. Seemed like once you got over it it didn't come back.

Bnorth · Nov 10, 2015

101110101101 said:
I honestly don't believe I am "tense" or hanging on too tightly... The rest of my arms are just fine and I feel pretty relaxed (I think)..... I think I am just using enough force to speed up.... I wonder, is there lever extenders of some kind? Maybe a longer throttle would make it easier to pull?

I'll try to be more conscious and see if I am just gripping too tightly. To me though it seems more like doing 10000 reps of calf raises, only my forearm, from squeezing/relaxing all day long. I suppose I could just be defective or a pussy too... lol... I've never had the opportunity to live a day as anyone else.

Keep in mind most of us are on EFI sleds and carbed sleds like your rev tend to have a lot more throttle pull. Try lubing the cables and cleaning the slides. You can also look at cutting a turn off the spring to make the pull easier.

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

Bnorth said:
Keep in mind most of us are on EFI sleds and carbed sleds like your rev tend to have a lot more throttle pull. Try lubing the cables and cleaning the slides. You can also look at cutting a turn off the spring to make the pull easier.

I'm envious of some people's knowledge here. How do you know what my ride is? Pictures, I'm assuming? I couldn't tell one from another by looking. Unless you meant "your rev" as a general statement? I'll look in to lubing the cables, and possibly the spring too... good tips. This is more the suggestion I was hoping for.. as I don't think there is too much I can do about my grip (but I'll pay more attention).

It does tend to go away... typically it's the second or third ride/day for me. Like golf.... first time or two every year kills me.... and it's f'n GOLF!

handyandy · Nov 10, 2015

101110101101 said:
Good call. Any experience with the finger throttles? Any "drawbacks" or cons I might be unaware of?

I know some riders that swear by them. You will want to run barkbuster handguards then though. Otherwise if you hit branches it will pin your throttle wide open and you will lose control haha.

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

handyandy said:
I know some riders that swear by them. You will want to run barkbuster handguards then though. Otherwise if you hit branches it will pin your throttle wide open and you will lose control haha.

hehehe I have had a "similar" experience..... I was showing the kid a few things (he was on the other sled)... and I put my sled in reverse. For some reason the reverse "beep" did not work on that sled. I walked over to explain something to the kid.... got him underway and went back to my sled. I totally forgot it was in reverse, and there was no "beep". so I climbed on and gunned it....... backwards. lol. The more it went backwards, the more I accidentally pressed the throttle. The handle bars smoked me in the gut lol. No harm no foul.... but my pride sure took a hit hahaahah

sick1 · Nov 10, 2015

Sometimes the bar themselves cause it. If the rake of the bars isn't comfy you will fell it forsure. Stock xm bars are brutal.

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

sick1 said:
Sometimes the bar themselves cause it. If the rake of the bars isn't comfy you will fell it forsure. Stock xm bars are brutal.

Sorry.. not sure if mine are stock or otherwise....

Bnorth · Nov 10, 2015

101110101101 said:
I'm envious of some people's knowledge here. How do you know what my ride is? Pictures, I'm assuming? I couldn't tell one from another by looking. Unless you meant "your rev" as a general statement? I'll look in to lubing the cables, and possibly the spring too... good tips. This is more the suggestion I was hoping for.. as I don't think there is too much I can do about my grip (but I'll pay more attention).

It does tend to go away... typically it's the second or third ride/day for me. Like golf.... first time or two every year kills me.... and it's f'n GOLF!

You made a paint thread but now that I think about it you have an XP. Either way it's still carbed.

slededjr · Nov 10, 2015

Are your bars pointed up at all? Some bars if you roll too far forward, the bend that comes back toward you points up and puts that slight twist in the wrist that will cause unreal arm pump.

101110101101 · Nov 10, 2015

slededjr said:
Are your bars pointed up at all? Some bars if you roll too far forward, the bend that comes back toward you points up and puts that slight twist in the wrist that will cause unreal arm pump.

I would describe them as "straight up" yes.... here is a picture that shows them best. It is the far one in the picture.

neilsleder · Nov 10, 2015

Please don't put the finger throttle on! They just are another place to freeze and cause the throttle to stick. Very dangerous IMO. I always put my throttle so I push with the top edge of my thumb close to the hand. And go buy one of those spring hand work out things. You can get them at Wallmart and stuff, you just squeeze them. I put on in my truck and sit there and sweet it while I drive and never had issues after that.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

cdnredneck_t3 · Nov 10, 2015

If you are riding aggressive I find to wear as thin a glove as possible. Too thick and they will tire your arms out in no time. After going to a Pro I have really come to dislike the fat grips with cork like on your XP. To me they are just big enough that you have to hang on rather than curl you fingers back if you know what I mean. But the handle bar warmers sure work better if they are corked that is for sure.

Another thing you could do is the forward steering relocate so you can lay your riser back a bit. This takes the arc out of the steering swing making it easier on a guy. Took a wile to get used to vertical steering when I switched from an XP but I will never go back.

Forearm pump on throttle hand?

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