Honda UTV Summer Riding
Honda utility vehicles have been a leader in the industry for years with their quality construction and dependability. When you’re riding your UTV, you want to follow some best practices, particularly when it comes to summer riding. The heat can be unbearable and quickly become overwhelming if you’re not equipped to deal with it. In order to make sure you’re staying safe and riding within your limits, your local Honda UTV dealership, Abernathy Cycles in Union City, Tennessee, has prepared this guide to UTV summer riding.
Dress Appropriately
Despite the temptation to dress in a tank top and shorts and flip-flops when it’s hot, you should wear the same protective gear you do when you’re riding in cooler weather. Stick to natural fabrics that breathe well and you shouldn’t overheat even when wearing pants, long sleeves and boots. Always wear a helmet when riding your UTV, with either a full face mask or a pair of goggles for eye protection. Sturdy gloves will protect your hands as you ride and help you if you need to grip ropes or cables. Wearing protective clothing over most of your body has the added benefit of keeping your skin from getting sunburnt, although you should apply sunscreen to any exposed skin at the back of your neck, on your face or at your wrists.
Stay In The Shade
Common sense dictates that riding in the shade is preferable to spending hours out in direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Vary your route so that you’re not riding through an empty field or prairie without any shielding from the sun. Look for forested trails or even indoor riding tracks on a hot day. If you’re able to divert your work from the mid-afternoon to earlier in the day or the evening, you’ll be able to avoid the hottest temperatures even if you do have to ride in the sun.
Drink Plenty Of Water
You’ll lose water as you sweat while you ride and if you don’t replenish it, you’ll quickly become dehydrated, which will not only break your focus and tire you, but it will slow your reaction time and put you in danger of heatstroke. Either wear a portable hydration system with a straw you can sip from as you ride, or stop every so often to swig from your water bottle. Carry plenty of water with you. You should also replenish the electrolytes lost through sweat by having a sports drink or a snack. Your riding will be much easier if you keep yourself in good health.
Take Frequent Breaks
No matter how short your ride is, when the heat approaches triple digits, you should take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors wherever you can. You’ll be able to give your body some respite from the heat and rest your eyes and mind. Take a short stroll in a scenic area, splash in a creek, sit and drink water or have a snack. Whatever you do, don’t overtax yourself and try to ride for hours with the sun beating down on your back. Riding a side-by-side takes a lot of focus and you’ll only maintain that by giving yourself a chance to relax and regroup.
Now that you’re equipped to ride in the heat, you might be in the market for a new Honda utility vehicle to do some riding in. Come down to our Union City dealership location to see our great selection of new and used utility vehicles, including Honda side-by-sides. Abernathy Cycles proudly serves the greater Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee metro areas.