Safety Riding Checklist

 

If you are heading out off road for an adventurous ride, don’t head out too quickly without planning your trip properly. Below is a list of pointers to help ensure that your trip is safer.

 

Here's a look at what to do, wear and bring when going on a riding trip.

 

What to Do

 

This is what we recommend to people to make sure that they have a safe journey. You can probably come up with a few more, feel free to e-mail me with your suggestions.

1. Avoid riding alone.

2. Tell people where you will be going and when you will be back.

3. Don't ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs, prescription meds count.

4. Try and be well rested with no physical limitations.

5. Do a pre-ride inspection trip before setting off.

6. Use SIPDE (Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute) during your ride.

7. Ride within your capabilities and experience.

What to Wear

 

This is what you "should" wear, the helmet is an "always" wear.

1. Full Personal Protective Equipment

• Helmet
• Eye protection
• Gloves
• Long-sleeve shirt
• Long pants
• Over-the-ankle footwear

2. Weather appropriate clothing. Remember, the temperature where you wind up may not be the same as where you started out.

 

What to Bring

 

Here are some tips on what to bring along on your rides. Everything can fit into 2 small bags (on the front rack), two fender bags and a compartmented rear rack bag.

 

1. Map or Trail Plan.

2. Survival gear.

• Extra water
• Non-perishable food like MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), other items include jerky, trail mix, etc.
• Space blanket(s)
• Fire starting kit
• Signaling mirror and whistle
• Knife
• Chemical glo-sticks

 

3. First Aid (At a minimum, something to stop bleeding and to make an improvised sling and splint.)

• Snake bite kit
• Bandages and band aides
• Splints
• Roller bandage (Ace wrap)
• Hand sanitizer
• Topical antihistamine ( I carry Benadryl Itch Relief Stick )
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Pen light
• Aspirin/Tylenol
• Tape
• Cold packs (2)
• CPR micro shield
• Gloves

4. Food and water.

5. Communication device.

• Mobile phone (usually you can catch a signal site at the top of a ridge line or hill)
• Satellite navigation

 

6. Repair Kit.

• Tire repair - not just a patch kit but a really good plug kit.
• Some means to re-inflate your tire. Like a 12V air compressor but there are lots of other options.
• Electrical zip ties. Good for attaching/reattaching things to your quad bike.
• Duct tape. A million and one uses, never leave home without a roll.
• Spare spark plug(s)
• Tools. Some quad bikes come with a rudimentary tool kit. You may want to  supplemented your tool kit with vice-grips and a tire lug nut size socket.
• A multi-tool.
• Flash light.

 

7. Tow strap.

8. Extra bungees or ratcheting straps.

9. Folding camp shovel. This is required in Idaho during fire season.

10. Baby wipes.