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Vika
14th December 2005, 18:52
:yes: Hello everyone.
I am still learning to ride, but I find it hard for my hands and arms muscles. Does anyone know the exercises I can do to increase the strength of my fingers, wrists, and underarms muscles. Thanks

Grizz
14th December 2005, 19:12
Could try :tugger: a bit more works for me :p

Sniper
14th December 2005, 19:16
MASTURBATION ALERT!!!!!! Buggy, MDU, Biff, she is female too. I think we need to get the commity together and help this lass out

BTW: Welcome, do push ups and join a gym if you want some major strength

Mumbles
14th December 2005, 19:17
The more you ride the better you’ll body should respond, try to do basic exercise to help.
Also relax when your on the bike, as this will make a big difference.
There are all sort of other factors like type of bike you are riding/weight on forearms etc.
Try small rides to start then move onto longer ones. :blink:

Grizz
14th December 2005, 19:19
MASTURBATION ALERT!!!!!! Buggy, MDU, Biff, she is female too. I think we need to get the comity together and help this lass out

BTW: Welcome, do push ups and join a gym if you want some major strength

Like this?

Sniper
14th December 2005, 19:27
You sick ..................

Grizz
14th December 2005, 19:28
Post edited.

James Deuce
14th December 2005, 19:31
Think about this for two seconds guys.

What kind of welcome is this for a newbie?

Ixion
14th December 2005, 19:35
Uh, fairly normal, for here, I'd say. And Mr Biff hasn't seen the thread yet. Or Mr ManDownUnder.

Grizz
14th December 2005, 19:37
Think about this for two seconds guys.

What kind of welcome is this for a newbie?

Jim2, you are so right, apologies (sincerly) to Vika.

I guess that a lot has to do with rider fitness, and how frequently you ride and the distances you travel. I find if I haven't ridden for a while I get aches in the wrists and forearms. Frequently I get cramp in my throttle hand, so bad that my hand goes numb, normally this happens when I commute in heavy traffic, when there isn't traffic it gives me a chance to shake it off. It also depends on the bike, I didn't get cramp nealry so bad on the GSX1200, as I do on the VTR coz I am over the bars more.

BTW Welcome to the site, hope the earlier posts don't put you off, just in a weird mood tonight.

crashe
14th December 2005, 19:43
:yes: Hello everyone.
I am still learning to ride, but I find it hard for my hands and arms muscles. Does anyone know the exercises I can do to increase the strength of my fingers, wrists, and underarms muscles. Thanks

Vika- Welcome to KB.
Please ignore these young silly children that hang about in here..:bash:
They all havent learnt the art of being a adult yet...:bash:
Ok a few have like Jim2 for one.:2thumbsup

Ok what type of bike are you riding?
Just relax on the bike and dont grip the handlebars to hard.
Go out on short rides for a while to build up being on the bike (bike fitness)
Maybe the handlebars are not set quite right for your sitting postition on the bike.
When you stop give your hands a shake to help them from going numb.

When you feel up to it, check out the "Meeting and events" section and go on a few of the rides to meet some other KBers in your area.

Ask any sorts of questions about your bike or riding the bike and the nice KBers on here will help you out.

Sniper
14th December 2005, 19:54
They all havent learnt the art of being a adult yet...:bash:
Ok a few have like Jim2 for one.:2thumbsup


Lol, I can be an adult when I want to.

Thanks for pointing that out though Jim and sorry Vika. Be aware that once Buggy, MDU or Biff see this................... well

Highlander
14th December 2005, 20:10
I saw this post and wondered wh o would be the first smart alec and how long it would take for some one to TTP. 20 minutes.

Any how, a Big Welcome to the site, and don't let the initial responses put you off asking questions, if you don't ask you won't learn.

Just about any upper body exercise regimen will help, especially free weights, as will getting out there and riding.

Vika
14th December 2005, 20:15
Thanks :)
I have kawasaki zzr250cc. It feels heavy for me. I am not on the road yet, just cruising around local streets

bugjuice
15th December 2005, 08:34
welcome. :)

Sniper
15th December 2005, 08:44
welcome. :)

Hmmm, you getting attached to someone? No comments about anything? :blip:

bugjuice
15th December 2005, 09:02
i'm like a panther..
stealthy and sexy, just waiting in the wings..

Rashika
15th December 2005, 09:02
Hi Vika and welcome to KB :2thumbsup
I reckon this is a normal issue esp with females, i certainly had it when i first started riding, but it does tend to improve as you gain experience and practice. Of course you often then have to start again when you get a new bike. :yes: Probably the only thing that will really help is to ride your bike, you will use muscles not really used in anything else.
Maybe one other thing that might help a little is to make sure the bike is set up for you: you might be able to adjust the clutch/brake to fit you better, sometimes they can be hard to reach and can be adjusted to bring in closer to the bars. I have adjusted mine at times. The other thing is that round town stuff will usually be harder on your hands as you are usually constantly changing gears and braking, higher speeds/open road stuff is not nearly so bad.
But yeah, practice will help.... maybe get yourself some small handweights too to build up a little more strength.
Maybe some kind Kbr in wgtn can help you set it up if you need help?
Welcome and enjoy your ride! :2thumbsup

Sniper
15th December 2005, 09:33
i'm like a panther..
stealthy and sexy, just waiting in the wings..

So not the flaps? Just the wings....... :whistle:

The Stranger
15th December 2005, 09:49
There can be a number of reasons for this.
As others have said practice, with time it will tend to disappear.

On some bikes you can adjust the reach to the brake and clutch levers, if you bike has this type of lever you should set that to be comfortable.

On virtually all bikes you can adjust the levers by rotating them around the bar, ususlly by just loosening the retaining bolts or nuts. See if you can adjust them so as when in your riding position if you extend your hand flat from the top of the grips to the top of the brake and clutch handle your forearm, wrist and fingers form a straight line.

You should be clamping onto the tank with your knees and using the muscles in your torso to hold the weight of your upper body. It is not good practise to have your body weight on your arms. You loose dexterity for throttle control and steering inputs as well as the problems you are experiencing now.

There are other things too which can contribute, such as vibration through the bars etc, but that should get you started.

Welcome to the site.

James Deuce
15th December 2005, 11:01
Give me a yell if you want a hand setting up your controls Vika.

Test Pilot
15th December 2005, 11:14
:yes: Hello everyone.
I am still learning to ride, but I find it hard for my hands and arms muscles. Does anyone know the exercises I can do to increase the strength of my fingers, wrists, and underarms muscles. Thanks


use a scott oiler wrist saver, its a piece of plastic that slides over your throttle and allows you to use the palm of your hand to accelerate and stops your wrist from getting stiff, it also allows you to take weight of that arm, and you can use the brakes easier while on the gas, i use it for commuting cause you constantly go one speed and it gets sore on your wrist. I wouldnt use it on the open road though

WRT
15th December 2005, 11:22
i'm like a panther..

LOL - ya Big Pussy ;)

Welcome to the site Vika, and as others have said, just make sure you are relaxed while riding. Alert, but relaxed. Tensing up on the bars will wear you out, and will also decrease your control over the bike, believe it or not. Relax a bit, and you will last longer, have more fun, and ride safer.

JWALKER
15th December 2005, 11:29
Welcome vika.

it's always good to get more riders.it's also good to see more
girl riders.
:Playnice:

phoenixgtr
15th December 2005, 11:36
Welcome

Hope to see you around sometime ;)

DemonWolf
15th December 2005, 11:39
Welcome to KB.. =)

Jabez
15th December 2005, 11:45
Welcome...I find that time on bike is the best exercise..:)

Test Pilot
15th December 2005, 11:48
ohh yeah, didnt welcome you, so welcome

CPB
15th December 2005, 14:26
:yes: Hello everyone.
I am still learning to ride, but I find it hard for my hands and arms muscles. Does anyone know the exercises I can do to increase the strength of my fingers, wrists, and underarms muscles. Thanks

Hi Vika, welcome to the madness :headbang:

As the crew have said, ride, ride and then ride some more...
I know of some people that use a basic wrist exercise to build up stamina and strength other than the technique previously offered by a few of the guys...hahaha...dodgy buggers...Basically involves a handle (cut off a broom or anything else around) and rope or cable joined to a weight. The length of cable/rope should allow the weight to rest on the ground with your arms outstretched in front of you roughly at shoulder height. The handle should be tubular, piece of steel tube, broom handle or similar...the cable is wrapped around the centre of the tube and you use your hands (at either end of the handle) to twist the handle which "winches the weight up off the ground, then reverse the twist to lower the weight again". This gives the wrists and forearms a great wee workout. Start light, as this is a great way to trash your tendons, or get RSI if you go too heavy too soon, and don't overdo the reps...If you've got free weights lying around, use a dumbell with the weights removed, and tie a rope around the middle and to the weights you just removed...if not anything that offers resistance will do...good luck with your riding

Storm
15th December 2005, 15:38
Welcome aboard:D
Dont think anyone else has suggested using a stress ball (a squeezy jelly type one) at work to help get the tendons and suchlike more used to it.
Hope that helps

The Stranger
15th December 2005, 16:48
Oh, forgot one more option.

At about 120kmh the wind pressure should take a lot of your upper body weight so try not to go below this speed.

Vika
17th December 2005, 17:10
Hello there.
Thanks for all replies :)
Recently I have got this little, but very effective tool called "Power Ball". It feels great. I believe many people can find it helpful.
You can have a look at the web site www.powerballsnz.com.
Thanks

James Deuce
17th December 2005, 18:00
Most wrist pain and resulting referred hand and finger pain is caused by incorrectly setup controls.

Vika
17th December 2005, 18:08
Most wrist pain and resulting referred hand and finger pain is caused by incorrectly setup controls.
Yes, It does feel like this. I will ask someone to have a look at it for me.
I have got my WOF and reg. today :), will ride tomorrow on the street, yey:sunny:

flash
17th December 2005, 20:50
hello vika, welcome to the site. hope your wrists start feeling better ;)

Indiana_Jones
20th December 2005, 18:35
heh heh, Oooooooh riiiiiight
:D

-Indy

Fishy
22nd December 2005, 14:56
Hi Vika,

You could try skipping if you dont like to use or dont have access to weights. Skipping is a great exercise for wrists and forearms.

Like the others have said, just try to relax. The bike you have has a very relaxed riding position so your body should get used to it fairly quickly.

Josh