Help needed re garden tool

Um...with mine, I usually grip the cord at least halfway up, wind it around gloved hand a couple of times and no problem. I've never used the wooden handle affair at the end of the cord because, as you say, you'd need arms like an ape I suppose the manufacturers have to allow a long cord for use when the lopper is extended to it's maximum.
Un-telescoping it, now, that's a whole other kettle of poisson. I've lost count of the number of times it's been laid on the floor of the shed because I couldn't shorten it to it's 'normal' length

 

My arms are still not long enough for this one, its got the pullies to give you the advantage, so it cuts really easily but, it just involves so much cord length to close the cutter.
Mine hasn't got a wooden handle but it did come with a silly plastic thing to wind the cord round.