Beginners Guide
Student Booklet Sample
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Riding Through Water and Mud
Your ATV is
designed to ride in water and mud, but there are some precautions that must be
taken. When riding through water you should keep your feet firmly on the
footrests. Never cross any stream with deep water because your tires may float,
making it difficult to maintain control. Smaller ATV's can be submerged up to
about eight inches, larger ATV's up to twelve inches. Always check your owner's
manual to find out the maximum depth your ATV can travel in.
Choose a course through a stream where both banks have a gradual
incline. Try to cross at a known fork or where you personally know it is safe.
Safely determine the depth of the water or mud before riding through it. A clue
to look for is the grass height or rocks emerging from the surface. Use a stick
to help determine depth. Be careful of swift moving water.
Proceed at
a slow steady speed to avoid submerged obstacles and slippery rocks. Dry the
brakes after crossing by applying light pressure to them while riding until they
return to normal power.
Avoid water
crossings where you may cause damage to stream beds, fish spawning grounds or
erosion to the banks of the stream. By this precaution you are not only ensuring
your own personal safety, but are preserving the environment for others to enjoy
as well.
Don't ride
through too fast. Water and mud slow the vehicle very quickly and could cause
you to lose control if you approach too fast. Try a moderate speed with higher
than usual RPMs.
After running in the water, be sure to drain the trapped water by
removing the drain screw. Please refer to your owner's manual for the exact
position of the drain screw.
Body positioning is very important. At times you
may need to
take weight off the rear by leaning far forward, while other times you may need
to sit right over the rear to gain traction. You may also need to rock the
vehicle side to side to work the ATV out of a hole. By scanning ahead, you will
rarely need to look directly in front of your front wheels.
When traction is low as in mud or snow, allow the tires to rotate
at a speed that allows them to "bite." Don't rev the engine up thinking you'll
go faster, you won't. Watch for mud build-up.
Riding in Snow
ATVs are
fun in the snow. Riding in snow requires that you learn to correctly interpret
snow conditions to pick the best riding areas. There is less traction than in
dirt, so start slowly and progress gradually until you know the limits.
On firm snow you can have a great time and cause no problems. In soft snow,
under the wrong conditions, your ride can be a disaster. ATV's don't work
well in slushy snow. Be aware that a frozen trail may be nice at
the start of a ride In the morning, but that by early afternoon when you may be
many miles out, the trail could warm from the sun and become nearly unusable by
ATVs.
Know the
weather conditions and the weather forecast. Having to cart your ATV through
snowdrifts is no fun. Careless winter riding can spoil things for you and
everyone else. Snowmobilers can get pretty upset and rightfully so when ATV's
run in slushy snow, and ruin their carefully groomed trails. Landowners get
upset when they have given permission for snowmobile trails and find others on
them.
You can
prevent these problems however. Choose the snow conditions carefully: Know who
owns the land you ride on. Get to know your local snowmobilers. If there are
snowmobile clubs In your area, get to know them, too. By working together you
can help to preserve riding opportunities for you and fellow outdoorsmen.
You will
also need to change your transmission oil to a lighter weight when you ride In
the snow. If your ATV is water cooled, keep anti-freeze in it. Again please
refer to your owner's manual for manufacturer's recommendations.
When night riding, be certain your tail lamp and headlight are operating. Never
stop just before or after a turn on the trail. Give yourself plenty of
visibility to other riders. Leave a light on if you stop in the trail. If you
want to ride across lakes that are frozen, be
sure to check the ice thickness. There should be a minimum of 8"
of ice present to support the weight of you and your ATV.
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