5 Mistakes Beginner ATV Rider Make
For professional ATV riders, the sounds of a roaring engine, no roof or roll-cage, a mouthful of dust, and the horsepower lifting you off the seat — are the reasons ATV racing appeals to them.
ATV riders compete on tracks — dirt, sand, mud, or circuit. Depending on how many participants there are, racers compete in a series of races, or heats. As you progress through the heats, the goal is to make it to the platform at the end of the day.
Sound fun? Sound easy-going? While ATVs offer beginner riders more manageability to get acquainted with outdoor riding, beginner mistakes can put you in a precarious situation. To ensure your safety and the safety of others on your ATV, don’t make these beginner mistakes.
Mistakes Beginner ATV Rider Make
If you’re new to ATVs, there’s a lot to discover before you start your new adventure. GFG (Go Fast Girls) put together a guide for beginners for ATV riders to be safe.
- Not Using Nerf Bars and Heel Guards
In essence, nerf bars are massive foot pegs. Traditional foot pegs cause beginner riders to have a much easier time for their foot to fall off the pegs either in front or in back of the peg. That’s why nerf bars are recommended and give you more added protection. Allowing them to prevent your boot from hitting the ground. If nerf bars aren’t in the budget heel guards are the next best thing. They allow for extra control by being able to rest your heel on the guard as well as keeping your boot getting sucked in by the tire. Which some of know is a painful ordeal.
- Going Full Throttle Roll Over
Beginner riders beware — it is easy to have an ATV rollover. Not only is this dangerous, but it can hinder your confidence to get back on your ride. Why is it easy to rollover? Beginner ATV riders tend to hit the gas too hard — too fast which causes the front end to wheelie — and then roll over backwards. Ease into your speed and get to know the terrain before you go full throttle.
- Having Bad ATV Posture
Did you know the right posture or position can help you to feel balanced and in control? This is important for all riders, but especially beginner riders. Simply keeping your feet planted and your hands firmly gripping the handles can prevent injury. If you hit a rock or a rut and jerked the handles out of you hands, you can easily be thrown from the quad. Keeping your body in the right position helps distribute weight evenly. If you’re going downhill at slow pace, lean back and do a careful decent of the decline. If you’re tackling bumpy terrain or moving fast, you need to stand up and keep your body flexible. Move with the terrain and not against. Let the suspension on the quad do majority of the work for you.
- Not Wearing Protective Gear
Wearing protective gear is crucial to staying safe. Yes, it’s easy to underestimate the power of a quad, especially if you’re new to the game so protective gear is your ultimate protection. Don’t overlook the safety gear.
Every beginner rider should have:
- A helmet that follows the regulations in your state
- Goggles to protect your eyes
- Gloves to keep your grip on the handlebar
- Sturdy, off-road boots
- Protective, long sleeve clothing
- Attempting Tricks
Of course, every beginner ATV rider wants to attempt advanced tricks, like wheelies or jumps. But it’s important to forget about complex tricks and focus on basic handling and control of your quad. Tricks are NOT for beginners.
The excitement of ATV racing has an allure — speed, moments of danger, and glory for the winners. Go Fast. Go ATV.
