Arm-Pump You know that burning...
Arm-Pump
You know that burning sensation in your arms while out riding or racing? That's lactic acid building up in your blood. If it's slowing you down, pop a few Tums about 30 minutes before you ride or race. Start with three tabs and work your way up as needed, making sure to drink lots of water. The calcium carbonate helps level out your blood pH and reduces that harsh burn.
Stupid Hurts We've not only...
Stupid Hurts
We've not only heard that phrase, we've felt it. When loading a quad into a truck's bed, it's a great idea to properly secure the ramp to the back of the truck with a tiedown. It's best to attach the tiedown from a higher portion of the ramp to the truck's tow hitch or bumper. I've had them fall, and yes, it hurts.
Blast-On Grips Don't like...
Blast-On Grips
Don't like the mess of using glue or adhesives for your grips? Grab the spray nozzle on your air compressor, blast a jet of air under the edge of the grip while pushing it on, and it will slide on with ease. Caution: Make sure to poke a hole in the end of the grip; otherwise, the opposite grip will shoot off from the air pressure.
Lost Plastic Rivets If the...
Lost Plastic Rivets
If the rivets fall out of your plastic during a ride, there's no need to flip out. Pull out a trusty ol' zip-tie and secure the stuff so that you can finish your ride without any plastic flopping around. To be totally honest, the zip-ties probably hold better than the original rivets that fell out. But you can replace them if you want to.
Get It Super Clean When the...
Get It Super Clean
When the rubber hoses on your ATV begin to get that stained dirt look and lose their luster, here is one way to make them look brand-new again. Spray a liberal amount of Super Clean, which can be purchased at a local hardware store, onto the rubber hoses and let sit for 10 or 15 minutes, then rinse. If the stain doesn't completely clear, do it again and this time wipe the hoses with a cloth. They should look as good as new.
Bloody Blisters If the insides...
Bloody Blisters
If the insides of your hands get torn up when you ride or race, you may want to consider some extra padding. Use a set of BMX or MX grip donuts to keep your hands from getting shredded. Trust us, this really works and keeps the inside of your hands pain-free.
ATV Rider Reader's Remedy...
ATV Rider Reader's Remedy Of The Month Furniture Dolly
Using an ATV or dirt bike stand for working on your ATV is great, but it does make the unit basically immobile in your shop. Screw or bolt your ATV stand to a furniture dolly so you can move it around freely. You can usually find the dolly at hardware or home improvement stores, or make your own!
Sparkling Header If you're...
Sparkling Header
If you're like us, you probably get tired of your headpipes looking like they were salvaged from the Titanic. Saturate your pipe with WD-40 and use a scour pad (such as 3M or Brillo) to scrub it clean. Wipe up the mess with a rag and repeat as needed. That thing should sparkle once again.
Coffee Can Putting your loose...
Coffee Can
Putting your loose air filters in a coffee can will keep them protected and clean when in storage or transit. If you're not a coffee drinker, Tupperware bins work well, too. Either way, it's a good idea to clean and prep them for your next ride.
When it comes down to becoming creative or calling it quits, we ATV enthusiasts seem to have a unique ability of becoming resourceful and getting back on the trail. Reveal your ride-saving remedies, and we'll be sure to give you credit here in the pages of ATV Rider Magazine. So get them to us! E-mail us at atvrider@sourceinterlink.com or visit our MySpace at
www.myspace.com/atvridermag. Or send snail mail to:
ATV Rider Magazine
Attn: Pro Remedies
2570 E. Cerritos Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92806