Attack of the dreaded arm pump! - Letter of the Week - Dirt Rider Magazine

I have recently started racing the last couple of years. I am a little late to the racing game (I'm 44). Better late than never. I am truly having a blast racing the OT novice class, but my biggest problem is arm pump. It really frustrates me because I know that I am faster than a lot of the guys but the damn arm pump makes me start slowing down by the fourth lap (five lap motos). It does get better by the third or fourth round of racing, but still plagues me. The rest of my body is all good to go more, but not my forearms. And what really gets me are these guys that don't know what I am talking about! Really?! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!**Adam Shimmer

Oakhurst, CA**

You're not alone in your arm pump frustration, Adam. This is probably the single most common ailment among racers, and it never comes on at a good time. I've heard both sides of the arm pump debate, from the guys who say that you should never touch weights to the racers who claim that arm pump is 100% mental. In my opinion, it can be both a training and mental issue, but I think that what it really comes down to is technique. If you are properly pinching the bike with your legs, correctly weighting the pegs and have good upper body positioning, then there is no need for you to have a "beer can crush" on the grip. In other words, if you're riding right, you will likely never get arm pump. Similarly, if you're riding tight with poor knee contact and you're hanging on for dear life with your hands, you're probably only going to last a lap or two before the old forearms give out. I would definitely recommend proper upper-body conditioning and a strong mental game, but I'll bet that focusing on solid technique (which includes breathing!) will help you shake this annoying issue. Good luck! -Chris Denison