Helpful ATV Riding Tips
Riding an ATV isn’t difficult, but it can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Here are a few tips to make your experience with ATVs a safe and fun one.
Show up in force: As much as possible, try to go riding in a group. This is especially important if you’re a novice ATV rider; it’s always good to have a more experienced rider to show you the ropes and the various ways to get past the obstacles you’ll find during your journey. Plus, having others around helps make the experience more enjoyable. Unless you’re riding alone for solitude, company makes even the dullest journey fun.
Know your limits: Don’t try to cross difficult terrain if you don’t have the right skills to tackle it. Odds are, you’ll make a mistake, which might lead to an injury, and then you’ll be in a pickle, because most ATV riding is done way out in the wilderness without easy access to medical facilities. When you encounter an obstacle that you’re not sure you can cross, pause to consider a few things: do you have the skills needed to cross the obstacle? Are you confident in your ability? Is there help nearby? Are there any terrain complications that might make the attempt difficult or hazardous? You should only proceed with your crossing after you’ve considered at least these few points. It might put a damper on your fun or ruin the tempo of your ride, but better safe than sorry.
Know the land: Even before setting out on a ride, you should always be aware of what kind of ground you’ll be riding into. ATVs are designed to handle rough conditions, but even the finest piece of machinery is junk in the hands of an uninformed user. Be aware of the conditions on the trail, the layout of the trail itself, the kind of weather you might expect to encounter, and prepare your gear accordingly.
Be prepared: Scout’s motto aside, ATV riding is usually done in the wilderness, far from civilization and its conveniences. One should always have enough fuel to travel to and from your intended destination, with a little extra in case of unforeseen circumstances. Safety gear is also a prime concern, because it’s always best to avoid injuries when there are no facilities nearby to properly treat them. And of course, one should always have copious amounts of water available, to replace the water lost through sweating and to ward off dehydration and heat stroke.
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