Wrists/Hands tired on downhill
07-11-05, 10:29 AM
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Wrists/Hands tired on downhill
I usually just commute on my mountain bike. But I did a ride this weekend (Prairie View in Kananaskis). On the downhills my wrists and hands were getting fatigued and sore. Seeing as how I don't get out in the mountains very often, is there any exercises you can suggest to strengthen my wrists and hands?
07-11-05, 10:34 AM
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Ride more. There really isn't anything that is going to simulate the controlled downhill grip like downhill. You could get a regular barbell put on all the weight you can handle and open and close your hand well letting the bar hang.
Another trick is to use the brakes less
...the less you use brakes the less fatigue occurs. You might also want to concentrate on death gripping. Likely, if this is your first extended dh run, this is what was happening. To much braking and too much grabbing on for dear life 
...as you ride more dh you will get better and grip less
Another trick is to use the brakes less
...the less you use brakes the less fatigue occurs. You might also want to concentrate on death gripping. Likely, if this is your first extended dh run, this is what was happening. To much braking and too much grabbing on for dear life ...as you ride more dh you will get better and grip less
07-11-05, 11:29 AM
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What has worked for me is using gel grips on the handlebar and bar ends, then wrapping some basic foam/gel road tape over all. Softens the ride and makes the bar a little fatter.
07-11-05, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Wulfheir
I usually just commute on my mountain bike. But I did a ride this weekend (Prairie View in Kananaskis). On the downhills my wrists and hands were getting fatigued and sore. Seeing as how I don't get out in the mountains very often, is there any exercises you can suggest to strengthen my wrists and hands?
Sounds like what happened to me when I went out on what amounted to my first real XC ride with climbs and dh portions. As Maelstorm pointed out, it likely was Death Grip. I recognized this only afterwards when I stopped, I barely had the strength to turn the key in my ignition on my drive home. I probably had a death grip for over 2.5 hours of riding. This will cause you to cramp up.
When I raced karts this was something we pointed out to newbies all the time. There is a good chance of gripping the steering wheel/handlebar with a death grip. The remedy in karting was to simply alternate opening and closing the hands while on a straightaway. I suspect a similar procedure can be done. When on a flat section just open and close your hands. On the downhills I have to be less chicken and not grip the brake lever for dear life.
