Winter ATV Riding Tips

Submitted by Linda Melnick

 

Invest in warmers and wind protection!

You may think you can do without these, but unless you’re a direct descendant of Jack Frost, I assure you, you won’t last long. Windshields, handguards, and gauntlets are wise investments when you’re riding in snow because they create an additional layer of warmth and protect your face and hands from chilling winds and snow. Additionally, heated grips and seat warmers on sport ATVs create comfortable riding conditions for your hands and hindquarters.  

 

  Layer up!

In freezing temperatures, you must dress warmly. Typically, sport and utility ATV riders who play around in the winter months will wear three layers: the first layer is tight and moisture-absorbent; the second layer is looser, thicker, and moisture-wicking; and the third is usually a waterproof jacket-pant set. You should also wear gloves, boots, and wooly socks to protect your extremities, a helmet (of course), and dual-pane goggles to prevent fogging. 

 

Check the coolant before starting your ATV

If you check the coolant and it’s frozen, don’t start the engine. Instead, thaw and replace it, because frozen coolant can either ruin parts of the engine entirely or cause it to overheat. If you want to prevent freezing entirely, add an anti-freeze after summer riding; if you’re set on winterizing ATVs instead of riding in the cold, then MotorSport.com suggests you replace the old coolant with fresh anti-freeze before storing it. 

 

Be wary of rock-hard tires

Eventually, your tires will warm up and start riding normally again, but until then, proceed with caution. According to MotorSport.com, “Tire pressure changes about 1 psi for every 10 degrees in temperature change so keep an eye on the tire pressure, add air as needed but recheck after some time riding to ensure you're not over-pressured since a 3 psi gain is possible.”

 

Winterize your ATV before you head out

 

Let the engine’s oil heat up before revving

For the first few minutes after you start your ATV, keep the rpms low. This will allow the engine oil (which is likely ice-cold at this point) to heat up, as well as prevent engine seizing. Just as you would for your car or truck after periods of inactivity, give your four-wheeler time to liven up!

 

Keep to the trails. Respect posted signage

It’s easy to lose sight of yourself and whereabouts when you’re shredding powder, but one of the biggest ATV trail riding tips I could offer is being cognizant of the marked trail and any posted signage (especially if that signage restricts ATV riding). 

 

Unless you’re an experienced rider and know what to look out for off the trail, you risk running into large debris (boulders, fallen trees, etc.) that can’t be easily seen beneath the snow. Additionally, riding over any body of water that isn’t frozen over with at least six inches of solid ice, poses safety risks.

 

  Ride with a buddy and pack the winter essentials 

Anything goes on the trails, even when weather conditions are pleasant. Let’s say your battery dies—which you can avoid by either recharging or replacing it—the last thing you want when it’s freezing outside, and snow is blowing in from every direction, is to be by yourself. So, ride in pairs at the bare minimum; this way, you’ll have a reliable out when things get sticky. And, just in case you get separated from the pack, it would behoove you greatly to pack a few essentials: water, snacks, extra socks and gloves, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and maybe even a few HotHands®, just to name a few!

The history of the ATV ( All-Terrain-Vehicle )

 submitted by Linda Melnick

The history of the ATV ( All-Terrain-Vehicle ) as we know it today is closely tied with the history of Honda. Honda has been the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959. During the gas shortage in WWII, Soichiro Honda (Honda’s founder) was unable to use his car so he had the novel idea of attaching a small engine to his bicycle.

 

His idea gained widespread popularity and he established the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, Japan, to develop and produce small 2-cycle motorbike engines. Over 18,000 bicycle shop owners across Japan took part in the research, an initiative that helped bring together a nation torn apart by war. Thanks to this research institute Honda would pave the way for the modern ATV.

Here is how ATVs have evolved through time.

 

Though Honda would become the most popular ATV brand later on, the very first ATV was actually developed in 1961 in Toronto, Canada and called the Jiger. The Jiger was a 5 1/2 horsepower, 200 pound, 6-wheeled amphibious ATV, meaning the vehicle could travel on land and water. The first Jigers built for sale were all built to order. Prospects for the product included sportsmen and the military. The Jiger was marketed as a “Go Anywhere Vehicle” and began being mass produced in 1965. Despite its popularity, the company’s financial troubles caused production to end in 1968.

 

Osamu Takeuchi: Father of the Modern ATV

In 1967, American Honda asked one of its engineers, Osamu Takeuchi, for a new product that dealers could sell when motorcycle sales cooled off in the winter. Takeuchi drafted many design ideas, vehicles with 2 wheels, 3, 4, 5, and even 6-wheeled models like the Jiger. Out of all the designs, the 3-wheeled concept far outweighed two wheelers in snowy, slippery or muddy conditions and also provided better maneuverability.

 

The challenge was finding tires that would actually get a grip on soft terrain like snow.

Honda then sent Takeuchi an invention called the Amphi-Cat, with six, 20-inch, low-pressure, high-flotation balloon tires . (The Amphi-Cat was actually the Moon Buggy in the British television series Space: 1999

 

Honda brought the world’s first ever three-wheeled ATV or rather ATC (All-Terrain-Cycle) to the United States in 1970 and it was a hit. It was marketed and sold as a recreational vehicle and was famously portrayed in the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever, as well as popular TV shows like Magnum P.I and Hart to Hart. The three-wheeled US90 had a seven horsepower engine and sold for $595.

 

ATVs were originally targeted towards sportsmen until the 70s gas crunch when customers began purchasing them as utility vehicles for agriculture and farming purposes. This was because ATVs cost exponentially less than a tractor, and guzzled only 8 percent of the fuel needed to feed a tractor.

By the 1980s, ATV demand was at an all-time high and they became multi-purpose machines serving both recreational and utility purposes.

 

Honda’s first official ATC racing participation came in the 1981 Parker 400 race held in the Arizona desert where it came in first.

 

With the widespread popularity of ATVs also came an increase in accidents and injuries, particularly among adolescents and children. This prompted an investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1984. By 1986, their statistics suggested that most ATV accidents were due to improper rider behaviour rather than actual vehicle design.

Nevertheless, on April 28, 1988, U.S. ATV distributors signed a 10-year agreement with the CPSC called the Final Consent Decree upon which the ATV industry made a $100 million commitment to expand existing ATV safety courses and programs. Among the many components of this agreement, ATV distributors had to offer free training and training incentives to owners and purchasers of new ATVs.

This agreement also marked the end of three-wheelers on the ATV market.

 

Enter the 4-wheeler

In 1982, Suzuki introduced the first 4-wheeled ATV called the QuadRunner 125 (pictured below). It came equipped with an odometer, five forward speeds and reverse! This quad paved the way for the 4-wheel ATV revolution.

 

In 1985, Suzuki took the ATV world by storm when it introduced the first high-performance 4-wheel ATV, the Suzuki LT250R QuadRace

Meanwhile, Honda was working on its own 4-wheeled concept. After scrutinizing research, testing the prototypes with riders wearing 50-pound instrument packs that recorded information on every aspect of the machine’s operation, they unleashed their beast in 1984 known as the FourTrax TRX250R

To this day, the FourTrax 250R continues to win awards for its performance.

1984 was Honda’s biggest sales year for ATVs. 370,000 units were delivered, making up 69 percent of total ATV sales in the U.S. that year.

 

Enter 4-Wheel Drive

In 1986, Honda unveiled the first four-wheel-drive ATV, the FourTrax 350 4×4. For its grand unveiling it was lowered from a helicopter to show all four wheels moving under their own power.

This model would ultimately become the most versatile and popular ATV in history.

 

ATVs have become more than recreational vehicles and have stood the test of time as vital tools in a wide range of industries from farming, agriculture, hunting, industry, ranching but also an important means of mobility for people with disabilities.

Interestingly, many of the uses and application for ATVs have sprung from their owners, who have helped shape their growth and design along the way.

 

1983 Suzuki LT125 Quadrunner

Prime Rib Roast

This Prime Rib Roast is cooked to a perfect medium rare, and smothered in a compound butter spiced with chili powder, cumin, fresh herbs, and garlic. This feast is fit for any holiday or special occasion. 

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time1 hr 30 mins

Resting Time20 mins

Total Time1 hr 40 mins

Ingredients

Compound Butter

Prime Rib Roast

Gravy

Instructions

1.                 Remove your roast from all its packaging and let it sit out at room temperature for one to two hours. Also make sure your roast is fully thawed, you do not want to cook a roast from frozen. Using paper towels, pat the roast completely dry.

2.                 Preheat your oven to 450 F degrees for at least 30 minutes, while the prime rib comes to room temperature.

3.                 In a bowl mix the butter with the chili powder, cumin, thyme, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.

4.                 With either a spatula or your hands, spread the compound butter mixture over the entire roast.

5.                 Place the onions, garlic, thyme and rosemary in a large skillet that will fit your roast. If you don't have a large enough skillet, use a roasting pan.

6.                 Place the roast over the onions in the skillet.

7.                 Cook the roast for 15 minutes at 450 F degrees, then reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees. Continue to cook the roast until your meat thermometer reads 120 degrees. Estimate about 15 minutes of cooking time per pound of prime rib.

8.                 Once the thermometer hits 120 F degrees, remove the roast from the oven and transfer it to a cutting board. Cover it with aluminum foil and let it rest for 20 minutes. The roast will continue to cook as the juices inside settle, raising the internal temperature to 130 degrees for a perfect medium-rare prime rib.

9.                 Slice and serve with gravy over mashed potatoes.

Gravy

1.                 While to roast is resting, place the skillet with the onions, garlic and herbs over medium high heat.

2.                 Add the red wine and beef broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. The sauce should reduce a bit.

3.                 Mix the 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and to the skillet. Whisk it and continue to cook for a few more minutes. The sauce should thicken. Use more cornstarch if wanting a thicker gravy. 

4.                 Strain into a bowl, then pour it into a gravy boat .

The 2-day Wilderness First Aid course

https://www.nols.edu/en/courses/courses/wilderness-first-aid-WFA/

 

To Apply: Send email to: [email protected]

                 Or call: ( 406) 585-5356

 

 

Prepare for the unexpected with this fun, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, taught over two or two and a half days. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, work at wilderness camps, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this course is for you.

This course is great for people of all experience levels and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner (fewer than eight hours). You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions.

You'll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments!

 

 

Bozeman, MT :  Feb 08-09     $260.00     Crossing Latitudes (Sponsor)

                          May 23 – 24  $260.00     Crossing Latitudes (Sponsor)

 

 

Wilderness First Aid Course Schedule

DAY 1

Morning

Patient Assessment System

Afternoon

Emergency and Evacuation Plans

Spine Injury

Head Injury

Shock

Wilderness Wound Management

DAY 2

Morning

Wilderness Wound Management

Musculoskeletal Injury

Heat Illness

Afternoon

Cold Injury

Lightning

Altitude Illness

Chest Pain, Abdominal Pain

Shortness of Breath, Altered Mental Status

Anaphylaxis

ATV Deck Hauler for Pickup bed for sale

We have an ATV hauler that will fit in the back of a pickup allowing you to haul two atv's at the same time. This is a solid frame that ties down in the back of your truck and allows you to haul two atv's above the bed rails allowing tons of storage underneath for your camping gear, fuel tanks, coolers and other stuff you might want to take out with you when you are hitting the trails. This was designed to haul A standard size atv and a two up or two standard machines. It does come with extra long fold-able ramps with an extra support leg in the middle so it does not sag in the middle. Perfect for those who want to take two machines and their camper out for the weekend. The deck does come with two stops so you do not drive your machine off the other side. You can contact Chet Groves 694-5064 or Sammi Forrester 670-2194 1500 or best offer neg.