Helpful Tips for ATV Trail Riding
Riding your ATV on a trail instead of off-roading can give you the chance to really test out how fast your quad can go. You’ll find you have more freedom to maneuver when you’re on an established trail because the road is predictable and you shouldn’t encounter any obstacles.
If you’re an ATV novice or new to trail riding, we’ve got some tips to help you become accustomed to it. As your Big Bend ATV dealer, Road Track & Trail is more than happy to help increase the enjoyment you get from ATV riding however we can. This means that if you have any parts or service needs, you should give us a call so we can get our talented mechanics on the case. We can fix up your ATV for your upcoming trip to the trail, saving you time and frustration.
Respect The Riding Area
While your ATV might be capable of handling almost any terrain you try it on, that doesn’t mean you can disregard the bounds of the trail you’re using. Going off the trail can damage the surrounding ecosystem and harm both plants and wildlife native to the area. Plowing your ATV over delicate plants will severely damage the landscape and make for a less pleasant and less scenic riding area.
Practice leave-no-trace ethics when you’re trail riding. Don’t litter or leave anything behind when you stop to have a snack or fix up your ATV. Clean up any spilled fluids and take all trash with you.
Share The Path
You won’t be the only user of the trail in most situations, unless you’re very lucky. So you’ll have to be patient with other people riding their own motorcycles and quads. Being considerate can have its advantages, because you never know when you’ll be in a bind with a broken-down or ditched ATV that needs towing, and maybe one of those other trail users will be happy to help you out if you’ve been kind to them.
Safety is the other reason you should be respectful and share the path. Every rider needs sufficient space to turn, brake and operate their vehicle. Pass others at a reasonable speed and signal your approach when you can. If you give others their space and are considerate, you’ll have a much easier and less stressful time on the trail.
Read The Landscape
When you’re riding a very long trail, it’s easy to become complacent and assume that you’re following a loop or that you won’t get lost. Some trails are winding and have many spurs, though, and you could easily take a wrong turn that leaves you confused. Bring a map of the area and a compass to help you navigate. Your phone or GPS could be useful, too, but these might not get a signal in very remote areas. Be mindful of what direction you’re going so you can always backtrack if you get lost.
Check The Weather
The weather will drastically affect how good your ride is on the trail. Check in advance of your trip to make sure that no storms, heavy rains, lightning or triple-digit temperatures are in the forecast. You don’t want to have to rush back to your trailer when it begins to rain, only to cause an accident in your haste. You also don’t want to suffer heat stroke from being out in too-hot temperatures under the scalding sun. Rearrange your trip if the weather looks bad.
To see a great selection of new and used ATVs, visit our Big Bend showroom today! If you still have questions about ATV trail riding or need some recommendations for places to go, talk to our staff. Road Track & Trail serves the greater Milwaukee metro area, as well as the cities of Waukesha and Kenosha, Wisconsin.