FAQ – ATV Rental

1)What kind of equipment do I need to bring to ride an ATV in addition to the safety equipment provided w/ the rental? ( you can opt to furnish you own helmet & goggles to avoid being charged a deposit if you wish)

• Long pants & a long sleeve shirt are recommended, the wearing of shorts is discouraged because they offer no protection for your legs. ATV/Motocross pants & jersey are recommended but not required, they offer added protection from the elements (think wet jeans, not very pleasant to ride in all day). They provide added protection & comfort in the event of an accident by way of padding in select areas & moisture wicking materials. If desired these items can be ordered by Mike’s Motorsports in your size when you reserve your ATV @ a reasonable cost. Like most things in life you get what you pay for & there are varying price levels for this equipment.
  

• Boots, it is not recommended that tennis shoes or general street shoes be worn. They do not offer any protection or ankle support; any quality boot will fit the bill.  Riding boots can also be ordered for you in your size if desired @ time of ATV rental reservation for a reasonable price.
  

• Gloves, any glove will work to avoid rubbing your paws raw; but we recommended a riding glove or a mechanics type glove. They offer superior ventilation & comfort as opposed to standard work/gardening gloves. These can also be ordered for you if desired, for a reasonable price.
  

2)Where can I ride the ATV rented from Mike’s Motorsports?

• Clark, Jackson, Wood, Eau Claire & Buffalo counties offer nearly endless ATV trail systems. Though you can go beyond these areas if desired; we do however reserve the right to limit or charge an add’l fee for service callouts beyond these counties. So basically if you’d like to take one of our ATV’s to Minnesota, Iowa or Michigan you can, so long as the ATV is returned @ the agreed upon time. But…you will be 100% responsible for any all issues with the machine & any required out of state permits if you chose to do so.
  

3)Do I need to carry addition fuel with me on the trail?

• We would never discourage any one from doing so, ounce of prevention vs. a pound of cure thing. But…it is not necessary, all local trail systems have adequate fuel stops & all are clearly marked on the county maps. All machines have a reserve fuel setting that should get you out of the woods if needed; ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FUEL LEVEL.
  

4)Are there food & beverage stops along the trail?

• Yes, there are & they are also clearly listed on all the trail maps, they would all enjoy your patronage. We do recommend that you take some snack items with you & of course a bottle, canteen or Camelback of water is strongly recommended. Remember consumption of alcohol is a violation of your rental contract, save the adult beverages for when the ride is over.
  

5)Will I have cell phone service on the trail?

• The answer, in most areas yes but it is possible you will run across a few areas where service is limited @ best.
  

6)Do I need prior ATV experience to rent?

• Experience or at least common knowledge of safe operation is strongly encouraged. If you are completely new to the sport; it is recommended that you attended an ATV safety course prior to your ride. Check with your local Department of Natural Resources for available courses in your area. The staff @ Mike’s Motorsports will go over all controls & operational tips with you prior to check out of the ATV for your ride.
  

7)What is the proper trail etiquette?

• When you meet up w/ another rider or group of riders SLOW DOWN!!!
  

• Follow all posted speed limit signs ( use your best judgment on units not equipped with speedometers)
  

• When you meet up w/ another rider or group it is proper etiquette to use hand signals indicating the number of riders behind you in your group. Five fingers for five, four for four, three for three, etc.; a closed fist if you are riding by yourself ( not recommended) or if you are the last in your group.
  

• Cornering #1 – STAY RIGHT IN YOUR “LANE” OF TRAVEL @ ALL TIMES, while its fun to cut deep into a corner & blast through it. It could make for a short ride with life altering consequences for you &/or the rider coming from the other direction.
  

• Cornering #2 – Your ATV will corner better if you lean, if your going through a left hand corner/curve shift your weight & lean left into the corner. If your going through a right hand corner/curve shift your weight & lean right into the corner
  

• Cornering #3 – Go in slow & out fast (within reason) vs. in fast & out injured or worse. Basically meaning slow down when you are going into a corner & start accelerating when you reach the apex (center) of the curve. You will experience better corning performance & traction if you employ this tactic.
  

• Stop signs – WATCH FOR THEM, your buddy isn’t going to appreciate you parking your ATV on his/her back rack or worse because you’re not paying attention. Your wallet won’t appreciate it much either as you will be paying to repair your rental ATV. The trails generally have “stop ahead” warning signs, so there isn’t really an excuse for it ever occurring.
  

• Hill climbing – ATV’s are heavy & humans break pretty easily, if you think a hill is to steep for you its best to assume it is & find another route. But if you are confident in you skills & must climb, lean forward on uphill climbs this will or will help keep the front of the machine on the ground. On steep down hill descents lean back & use only the rear brake or a linked brake system to control your speed. DO NOT GRAB A HANDFULL OF FRONT BRAKE on a downhill decent unless you’re looking for that final little thing to convince you that you need that nose job you’ve been thinking about.
  

• DO NOT RIDE BEYOND YOUR SKILL LEVEL; there are several intensive use areas along the trail for your enjoyment. If you don’t think you’re cut out for the aggressive riding style these areas generally inspire. Just sit back & enjoy the show if there is crowd; If you’d like to try it but without  all the traffic return when there are less people to get a feel for the area @ your own pace.
  

• STAY ON MARKED TRAILS; the use of public & private lands for our sport is a privilege not a right. Not only will our local trail patrol be happy to issue you a ticket, you will be giving all ATV’ers a black eye. In most situations it is the few that ruin things for the many when it comes to public perception. This directly affects us when we try to maintain & expand the trail systems.