Getting Ready to Ride Your Side by Side
Riding a side by side for the first time is a unique, adrenaline-pumping experience that you won’t soon forget! These rugged vehicles can take you through twisting, turning trails and over bumpy, muddy terrain with ease, so you can adventure in places you previously never thought possible. Before you embark upon your first side by side sojourn, however, you’ll want to make sure you’ve properly equipped and prepared yourself for the task! A side by side requires that you follow some specific safety protocols and wear appropriate gear. If you aren’t sure where to start, this guide to riding your side by side by Cycles of Jacksonville should help!
Acquire Side By Side Gear
Your first step when getting ready for your inaugural side by side ride is to properly equip yourself with safety gear. The most important piece of gear you’ll need is a well-fitting helmet that’s rated for high-impact extreme sports riding. The best helmets for this are either motocross or motorcycle helmets. The former is favored because it’s lighter in weight and allows the rider to wear a separate pair of goggles for eye protection, which can make it easier to see around you. A motorcycle helmet with a face mask will serve both purposes equally well, but it will feel heavy and warm by comparison.
Next, make sure your clothing is protective as well. Long sleeves, pants, sturdy ankle boots and riding gloves are all important to protect your skin from dust, debris and scrapes on the trail. They’ll also protect your skin from the sun so you won’t have to apply much sunscreen!
Equip Your Side By Side
Pack your side by side with everything you’ll need to have a safe trip. This means a well-stocked first aid kit with bandages, ointments, gauze, tweezers and medications like painkillers to treat minor illnesses or injuries. A repair kit with tire patches, pliers, wrenches and screwdrivers will come in handy if your side by side needs fixing on the trail. An air compressor to fill up tires and a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure will also come in handy. You should have sufficient water to stay hydrated, a flashlight, an emergency radio, signal flares and a fire extinguisher on hand, too.
Follow The Leader
As a new rider, it’s best if you follow a more experienced rider during your first ride. This person can guide you over the safest path, avoiding major obstacles, and also set a reasonable speed so you don’t go too fast or fall behind. Make sure you don’t go off the path they show you, since they’ll likely know the best way and could be steering you away from a dangerous area that you wouldn’t otherwise see.
Get To Know Your Side By Side
Each side by side is different from the rest, which means that you should spend time familiarizing yourself with how your particular model works. Take it out for a test ride in a flat field or empty parking lot to make sure you know how to accelerate, brake and turn properly. Certain models may be more likely to roll over, so use more care when riding these styles. Make sure you also know how wide your side by side is so that you don’t get it stuck somewhere it won’t fit through. You’ll also want to verse yourself on any side by side accessories you install aftermarket, like lights or sound equipment, so you know how they function before you head out.
Visit our dealership in Jacksonville, FL, to see our selection of new side by sides for sale. We can help any first-time rider find the perfect side by side to suit their needs! If you’re in need of side by side parts, we can help with that, too! Cycles of Jacksonville also serves the cities of Orlando and St. Augustine, Florida.