ATV Trail Riding

For many ATV owners, trail riding is a big part of their riding experience. Whether it’s a means of getting out to your secret hunting grounds, or the main attraction itself, trail riding can be a fun, fast, interesting ride. If you’re just gearing up for your first trail riding trip, there are a few things you should consider before hitting the trails. From being considerate to the people and environment around you to getting equipped with the proper gear, it’s worth putting a little extra thought into your first trail riding experience. This brief guide is brought to you by America’s Motorsports Dickson, located in Dickson, Tennessee. We want to help you be as prepared as possible for your first trail riding experience.

Stay on Trail

With those big, knobby tires and powerful engine, you certainly could go off trail and ride where you please. But when you’re in an area with specifically designed trails, it’s important to stick to them. For one thing, you could do some serious damage to the landscape. Hard riding by multiple riders in a natural area can quickly turn up lots of dirt, which will cause soil erosion. You’ll also destroy plant life and ruin animal habitat, meaning future riders won’t have access to the same experience you do.

You’ll also be putting yourself in more danger. Who knows when you’ll turn a corner to find a sudden drop-off, or when unexpected uneven terrain will launch you from your bike. Trails offer more predictability, meaning more safety.

Get Equipped

As with all types of ATV riding, things can go wrong fast during a trail ride, and just because you’re on a trail doesn’t mean help is going to find you immediately. Pack a set of essentials that you’ll need to get your ATV in order should it break down. A spark plug and wrench, a screwdriver, some electrical tape, and other tools can be helpful. You should also make sure you have a GPS in case you get lost. Remember, your phone may lose reception if you venture too far afield, so purpose-built GPS devices are going to be a more reliable option. And obviously, don’t forget your helmet, gloves, boots, and other riding apparel that will keep you safe.

Take Care of Your Riding Area

When you’re riding on a publically-owned trail, it becomes your responsibility to not leave it worse off than you found it. As was mentioned above, that means staying on the trail and not destroying the environment. It also means that you should avoid leaving litter behind if you stop to take a lunch break. No one likes packing garbage back to their vehicle or camp, but the truth is it’s a crucial step for keeping an environment clean and in good shape in the long term. Areas that are being abused by riders can be shut down if the caretakers feel harm is being done to the environment.

Share the Trail

When the weather gets nice, it’s easy for a lot of people to have the same idea: let’s hit the trails! On ATV trails, this can present a problem, as ATVs are fast and agile enough to be hard to predict. To avoid crashes, make sure you give other riders sufficient space to do their thing. It might be tempting to fly past a slow rider but only do this under the best conditions. The rider might be inexperienced, and the surprise of being past might cause them to drive erratically. If a group of riders comes towards you, signal how much more are in your group so that they don’t slam into the rider who’s lagging behind. You can also choose off hours to ride instead of showing up in the afternoon when everyone is out. Morning rides can be fun and refreshing!

Trail riding is lots of fun, but staying safe and being respectful of the environment you’re riding in should be top priorities. Here at America’s Motorsports Dickson, we want to help people learn to ride the right way. Stop by our dealership and showroom in Dickson, Tennessee, near Jackson, and Columbia, as well as Huntsville, Alabama. We’ll get you set up with all the gear you need and we’ll answer any questions you might have about trail riding.