Making your hands last longer for long range racing

[Motosportz]

On top of all the good ideas written here, you gotta learn to relax and rest at times and not give the race away while doing this ...

I have been riding pretty much non stop since 6th grade and I'm almost 49 so I have learned piles of stuff and ride pretty relaxed. I have also done this very race and many other long ones and completely understand not using myself all up in the first 20 miles of a 120 mile race. It cracks me up seeing guys light up there bike and tear off the starting line of a 100 plus mile race. The pros look like they are not even in a race as they know your not going to win a 120 mile race in the first 500 feet

 

[Tinken]

I have been riding pretty much non stop since 6th grade and I'm almost 49

Gett'n up there...

Pillow top grips, anti-vibration bar inserts, upgraded suspension (shameless plug) and Fasst Flexx bars. Don't forget peg extensions for your feet.

 

[jmetteer]

I love the fly lite gloves with no seams or padding across the palms. I also trim off the callouses at the base of my fingers with a razor blade, the old dead skin rubbing the new skin underneath is what causes blisters. I don't recommend trying that right before the race, it may not work for you. That is a trick that Dick taught me, I have not gotten a blister there sense I started doing that.

Later,

 

[Motosportz]

I don't blister at all and have nice calis' but my hands are sore form 70 hard miles. Where did you get those gloves?

 

[Xcuvator]

Gett'n up there...

Pillow top grips, anti-vibration bar inserts, upgraded suspension (shameless plug) and Fasst Flexx bars. Don't forget peg extensions for your feet.

Flexx bars relieve the stress on every thing connected to them. Hands,arms,elbows etc etc.

 

[Boogie]

tapes between his fingers with thin strips of sports tape and then across the pads on his palms with duct tape.

+1 on taping
That plus those palm savers + pillow tops + tight moto gloves.

I've used cheapo electrical insulation tape with good results even with wet gloves. A good waterproof sports tape would be ideal.

 

[Boogie]

What about a bicycle style handlebar tape http://store.cinelli-usa.com/k/search?q=tape&t=product&cf=20400.1013067.0.0.0

Let me know if you figure a way to get a pair of pillow tops over wrapped bars and throttle tube. That'd be nice and cushy.

Someone really should make big fat supersize grips

 

[Norman Foley]

I have been riding pretty much non stop since 6th grade and I'm almost 49 so I have learned piles of stuff and ride pretty relaxed. I have also done this very race and many other long ones and completely understand not using myself all up in the first 20 miles of a 120 mile race. It cracks me up seeing guys light up there bike and tear off the starting line of a 100 plus mile race. The pros look like they are not even in a race as they know your not going to win a 120 mile race in the first 500 feet

Dick Burleson would say something along this line... You can't win a race in the first mile, but you can lose it there!

 

[Motosportz]

Dick Burleson would say something along this line... You can't win a race in the first mile, but you can lose it there!

Second time I did the Idaho City ISDE in like 03 I think there was a dude from the shop (I worked at Fastway at the time) who came. Novice. We told him all about it. First day he got off track about 2 miles in, no idea how, and ended up spending all day finding Idaho City again. We laughed at him. Second day he made it less than a mile before crashing hard. He had been to the hospital in Boise, 45 minutes away, stitched up and back at Idaho City before we finished. He rode almost three miles of a 240 mile race. He is a big wig at Ducati now. Was a real good MTB rider, moto no so much.

 

[WR Chris]

A buddy of mine actually chalked his hands before a race and it worked like a charm for him. He used to get nickel + sized blisters every race, then nothing after chalking. Check a local sports store they should have it.

 

[MotoMarc36]

Lots of great advice. If blisters aren't the problem, your skin/tissue is already tough enough. Sounds like your hands need a few more 70-mile jordan creek runs for conditioning! Nothing prepares the body for extreme fatigue, like fatigue does. So choose whatever setup you're comfortable and confident with, and go run that jordan creek every 3rd day, if you can. And bring ibuprofen. Sore anything needs ibuprofen!

 

[Tinken]

BRP doesn't make these for us yet, but I sure wish they would.

 

[jmetteer]

Where did you get those gloves?

Bent Lever...

Later,

 

[Boogie]

I actually put another set of grips over the grips on my bike. That was the only way to keep my hand from cramping up. No blister problems when I ride that bike - but do have blister problems when riding bikes with normal grips.

Coffee, how did you install grips over grips... simple brute force or some secret trick?

 

[Motosportz]

Lots of great advice. If blisters aren't the problem, your skin/tissue is already tough enough. Sounds like your hands need a few more 70-mile jordan creek runs for conditioning! Nothing prepares the body for extreme fatigue, like fatigue does. So choose whatever setup you're comfortable and confident with, and go run that jordan creek every 3rd day, if you can. And bring ibuprofen. Sore anything needs ibuprofen!

Exactly what I have been doing. My main problem is getting my ride buddies to stop the long breaks at every intersection and keep the hammer down. Its like they are out to enjoy a trail ride or something

 

[Motosportz]

I wear Mechanix Fast Fit gloves for riding.

If it is good enough for Norm it is good enough for me I could not pass up trying some and bought some yesterday for $14!!! They actually seem very nice and moto like with smooth palms and fit real nice. I will try this and the palm savers I bought. Again I do not have blisters but my hands did hurt some and i am trying to mitigate that as much as I can. I pussed out and signed up for the B class and only Saturday (lame I know but my elbow was killing me on sign up day) but now feel like I'll probably sign up for sunday too. Also have pillow tops I bought months ago I will install.

 

[steadydirt]

Hand dig a few post holes for your favorite rancher, or ride bare hand once a week.

 

[Motosportz]

Hand dig a few post holes for your favorite rancher, or ride bare hand once a week.

Uh, no. Then I would have to deal with my back some more.

 

[Mike-AK]

Exactly what I have been doing. My main problem is getting my ride buddies to stop the long breaks at every intersection and keep the hammer down. Its like they are out to enjoy a trail ride or something

Stop by GNC and pick up some Turmeric capsules. My joints used to hurt like heck all of the time until I started taking it daily. The stuff kills inflammation. Start out taking a couple in the morning and a couple in the evening. Once you start feeling it working, you can cut back to one or two per day.

 

[ray_ray]

Lots of great advice. If blisters aren't the problem, your skin/tissue is already tough enough. Sounds like your hands need a few more 70-mile jordan creek runs for conditioning! Nothing prepares the body for extreme fatigue, like fatigue does. So choose whatever setup you're comfortable and confident with, and go run that jordan creek every 3rd day, if you can. And bring ibuprofen. Sore anything needs ibuprofen!

Once, I was a runner and on almost any length run, going out too fast would fill your blood up with lactic acid and that was the kiss of death ... Keep the pace under control at the beginning and your body should adjust to the stress and allow you to be strong at the finish ... Look at some world class marathoner last few miles times in a race ... They'll be fast!

Early in most any ride, I can feel about the same thing happen as if I was running if we have go out hard or have to work hard in the first few minutes of a ride ... When possible, after an easy 10-15 minute ride, I like to stop and let my heart rate come down and then do that 2 hr ride .. This short stop also lets the stiff joints loosen up some also and I can take more pain reliever ..