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ATV Riding
Tips - Andy Lagzdins Tackles Rock Riding
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The easiest way to conquer rocks is not to hit them
in the first place. Try to look for a line around
a questionable rock section; it may be a little
longer than going straight through the rocks, but
you might be able to carry more speed through it
without taking a chance of damaging your quad or
getting stuck. If you have the chance to walk the
race course ahead of time, make it a top priority
to check out the rock sections. When you have to
hit the rocks, it’s worth taking an extra
nano-second to assess the situation before you commit
to a line. During a race, most rock sections have
a single line approach, which lets you consider
your options without the threat of being passed.
When picking a line, look as far ahead as possible
and visualize a path completely through the rocks.
Look to avoid dropping a tire in the deeper holes,
and avoid tall rocks that could make your quad
high-center on the swingarm skidplate. The most
feared rock formation grabs both front tires and
tries to move them in different directions from
one another, usually bending a tie rod or even
worse breaking a spindle at the tie rod end attachment
point.
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The speed at which you attack the rock section
depends on many factors. If you are running Tireballs,
the only limitation on speed is how hard you can
hold on without being thrown off. Without Tireballs,
hitting the rocks with reckless abandon will surely
result in a puncture. I usually stay back on the
quad, keeping the front end light to avoid having
the front tires drop into any holes. Once you
have gone through the rock section the first lap
and established a safe line, you can generally
hit the section faster because you know what to
expect. Trying to make up time through rocks is
risky, and unless you can make a pass it is almost
not worth taking the risk of damaging the quad.
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Rainy or wet conditions make rocks even more
treacherous, and throttle control is of utmost
importance when traction is an issue. Keep a finger
on the clutch lever at all times just in case
the wheels start to spin up. Try to pick a line
on the edge of the trail where you might be able
to get a wheel in the dirt or the foliage to get
a little more bite to keep your momentum up.
When it’s all said and done, if you made
it through the rocks without getting stuck, damaging
your quad, or being passed by your riding buddies,
then you have reason to celebrate. One thing you
can count on for sure is that those same rocks
will be there the next time you head down that
trail, so be prepared!
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