Expert Tuesday (Riding Quads) by Kevin Rader
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HAVE YOU EVER GONE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS, AND SUDDENLY YOU GET TIRED OF WALKING AND WISH YOU HAD A MOTORIZED VEHICLE…OF COURSE YOU HAVE YOUR HUMAN.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT URGE WOULD ENJOY AN ATV,
BUT REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE OPERATING YOUR RIDING MOWER ON LEVEL GROUND IT’S PROBABLY NOT FOR YOU.
THIS SPORT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. SO I’LL PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME RIDING TIPS THAT WILL MAKE YOU A SAFER RIDER.
I ENJOY RIDING A SPORT ATV COMMONLY USED FOR RACING. THESE (QUADS) AS WE CALL THEM. THEY SIT LOW TO THE GROUND AND ARE USUALLY PRETTY WIDE SO YOU CAN TAKE CORNERS VERY FAST, THEY ALSO HAVE AROUND 10 – 12” OF SUSPENSION TRAVEL FOR TAKING LARGE JUMPS.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW IS YOUR RIDING TERRAIN. IF YOUR ON A MOTO CROSS TRACK. YOU SHOULD START OUT SLOW AND GET FAMILIAR WITH THE COURSE. NOBODY WANTS TO HIT A JUMP JUST TO FIND OUT YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET YOU TO THE DOWN SIDE OF THE NEXT MOUND OF DIRT. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THIS CASE YOU ASK? WELL JUST DRIVE INTO A BRICK WALL AT ABOUT 35 OR 40 MPH. THAT PROBABLY EXPLAINS IT BEST.
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NOW IF YOU LIKE THE WOODS YOU WILL PROBABLY LIKE CROSS COUNTRY RIDING. THIS IS WHAT I DO MOST OF. JUST LIKE THE TRACK YOU NEED TO KNOW THE TERRAIN. IF YOU DON’T? USE CAUTION. EVEN IF YOU HAVE RIDDEN THE TRAIL BEFORE THINGS CHANGE AND MAY TAKE YOU BY SURPRISE. ONCE I WAS RIDING IN COOKEVILLE ON A TRAIL I HAVE RIDDEN A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW IT RAINED VERY HARD A WEEK OR TWO EARLIER. I CAME AROUND A CURVE PRETTY FAST, JUST TO FIND THAT A LARGE GULLY HAD BEN WASHED OUT IN THE TRAIL. I HIT IT, LOST CONTROL AND HIT A LARGE TREE. WHICH WAS A LOT LIKE HITTING A BRICK WALL AT 20-25 MPH. THEN I HAD TO RIDE SIX MILES OUT OF THE WOODS WITH A FRACTURED WRIST ON MY LEFT HAND AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A BROKEN COLLER BONE ON MY RIGHT. YES IT WAS VERY PAINFUL BUT A LESSON WELL LEARNED.
I THINK THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE MADE IS CLIMBING HILLS.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT GOES THROUGH SOME PEOPLES MINDS. SOME THINK JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A UTILITY QUAD WITH 4X4 THEY CAN CLIMB ANYTHING. THE KEY TO CLIMBING A HILL IS NOT HOW MANY WHEELS YOU HAVE PULLING BUT HOW FAST YOU APPROACH IT. REMEMBER MOMENTUM IS YOUR FRIEND. AND YOU BETTER BE PRETTY CONFIDENT YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THE TOP. IT’S NOT A GOOD FEELING WHEN YOU GET NEAR THE TOP AND YOU HAVE TO STOP. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SEE WHAT YOU HAVE TO RIDE DOWN. AND IF POSSIBLE YOU SHOULD TURN THE BIKE AROUND AND RIDE IT OFF FORWARD. THIS MAY SAVE YOU A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW HELPFUL HINTS INCASE YOU FEEL YOU WANT TO TRY THIS WONDERFUL SPORT. IN THE FREESTYLE SECTION OF THE PICTURES YOU WILL NOTICE SOMEONE HAS ABANDON THERE QUAD AND IS PREPARED FOR A ROUGH LANDING. I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW, BUT DON’T TRY THESE STUNTS AT HOME THESE MEN ARE PROFESSIONALS.
Comments
While exciting Kevin, I never thought that someone could post a more grammatically incorrect blog entry on Miscontrued than Jeremy...but here it is.
You have some catching up to do, Jerm.
Dee. Eh.
Posted by: D.A. | November 2, 2004 09:24 AM
Hey His expert tuesday is not on grammer. So as long as the message is carried... The key is grammer is not cool because you cant get thrown against a tree at 30 MPH because of bad grammer. See how much important understanding how to properly ride a quad is?!
Posted by: itzjerm | November 2, 2004 09:33 AM
And yes, I messed up "Misconstrued".
Posted by: D.A. | November 2, 2004 09:55 AM
It doesn't inspire me to ride a quad when I get the impression my brain will be rattled around so much that I have to peck with one finger on CAPS LOCK!!!
DA
Posted by: D.A. | November 2, 2004 10:07 AM
ah and that is the beauty of humanity... the diversity.... From Crotcheting to food to dog grooming to ratteling your brains in your skull... ya get it all here...
Posted by: itzjerm | November 2, 2004 10:51 AM
Okay, you talked about knowing the terrain... what about knowing the bike? You said this weekend you weren't comfortable on your bike because you haven't rode in a month and kept laying it down. You even messed up your fingers on your left hand.
So lets see in all you have broken your collarbone once... almost a second time, fractured your right hand, messed up your fingers numerous times, burned your self from laying down a dirt bike.
Then when I would double with you I would almost have a heart attack from the wheelies that you like to do and my tush would hurt from all the bumps (I know you have complained plenty of that too).
When you hit mud puddles and get it all over you you stink for the rest of the day (YUCK, smells worse then MacKenzie's diapers).
Doesn't sound so fun does it?
Posted by: Amber | November 2, 2004 11:24 AM
Can I submit an expert blog about being grammatically incorrect? Everyone needs to know. Oh and caps lock rules.
Posted by: Captian Jonathan!!! | November 2, 2004 02:22 PM
yes it shall be urs... that was Javann's original assignment... but he went a new way... but i will give you ownership.. .now run collect the oracle and return...
Posted by: itzjerm | November 2, 2004 03:08 PM
It's hard to describe the joy/fear/adrenaline rush you get riding 4-wheelers. Knee deep mud, steep hill climbs, uncertain water crossing, and incredible views from mountain tops are just a few of the fun things you get to experience.
I remember watching a Bro ride his quad wide-open in ditch of mud 2 feet deep, until there wasn't a single spot on his bike or body that wasn't totally covered in thick mud.....good times! While not everybody would call these activities fun, that probably means they haven't tried it!
Ride-on Kevin, you're one of the best on the trail!
Posted by: Tom | November 2, 2004 05:34 PM
thanks tom I was just thinking about our trip to tellico yesterday. and you should know that we are planing to ride this weekend at wind rock.
which is near oak ridge. Email amber your phone
number and i'll call you.
NoW To Da. YoU ArE VeRy LuKy To GeT WhAt YoU DiD.
my english teacher in high school was named Cooter, and after every homework assignement. he said GIT ER DUN.
Posted by: kevin | November 2, 2004 09:23 PM
HALF OF THE PICTURES I WANTED TO SEND DIDENT GET THROUGH. THE PICTURE ON THE LINK WHERE I SAID THE MAN WAS ABANDONING HIS QUAD IS THE WRONG ONE.
ALTHOUGH ONE WOULD THINK THATS WHAT HE IS DOING. I THINK THIS MAN IS DOING A NO FOOTED CAN CAN. BUT IM NOT SURE. JUST THOUGHT I WOULS ADD THAT IN CASE SOME ON WHO COULD DISTINGUISH THE DIFFERANDCE WAS LOOKING.
Posted by: KEVIN | November 2, 2004 09:35 PM
yeah... i couldnt find the picture of the guy falling... so i found the closest ... i figured to the very untrained eye... they would except it as a mistake
ah well
oh ... git er dun... classic South Greene... good stuff!
Posted by: itzjerm | November 2, 2004 09:55 PM
Haaaaa...thanks for giving 'er the old college try Kev. And for the record, I have tried quading (can I call it that?) before. I liked it a lot...then I made the mistake of slamming on the gas instead of the brake and hurled myself off of the side of the mountain, flipping the four wheeler onto myself and burning my legs on the muffler.
It was my first shot at manhood in my chubby boy days.
Good times.
D.A.
Posted by: D.A. | November 3, 2004 09:27 AM
I just wanted to say rader is one of the best riders especially with hill climbs 40, 50 60 feet. A person couldn't even climb up the first 10 feet without ropes. and theres nothing like getting right to the top and the front end is in your face wanting to come back over on you. anyway just wanted to give kev the respect he has earned on quads and is earning on his bike. And going back to the brain rattling if your brain don't rattle a little bit your doing something wrong. ohh and D.A. i went to the same school as kev, so please refrain from any grammar comments. toot a lou
Posted by: notorious G.I.B. | November 3, 2004 07:55 PM