Tips for successful off roading adventures with the CVA
Come prepared-
Arrive with a full tank of gas and enough in a safe, leak proof container to complete the trip. And please don’t store the gas can anywhere near your burring hot exhaust or motor.
Starting the ride with a clean air filter is a must as is cleaning it after the normal dusty ass Northern Nevada group ride.
Are your tires inflated to the proper PSI? Every size and vehicle are different, do your research. How about your spare? You do have a spare, right? (make sure it’s very securely bolted or strapped down, it’s bumpy out there..
Have a spare CVT belt on hand, always and have the tools and experience to do so. Practice at home, not on the trail.
Checked your engine oil and differential fluids recently? All three take a lot of abuse on these vehicles, keep plenty of extra at home and keep track of fluid changes.
Did you buy a used vehicle? No matter how clean it was or how many extra farkles he put on it, assume that prior owner was an idiot. Get the torque specs (full repair manuals are available online) and check EVERY bolt AND LUG NUT you can find and then some, many are hidden by plastic, and you’ll need to check those too. Do the same after 100 miles on a new vehicle too and again after 1000 miles.
We at CVA use GAIA GPS and will share the route with you. There is a free version that you can use with your phone which enables you to follow the route. The paid versions let you create routes and chose from many alternative map layers. Practice at home.
https://www.gaiagps.com/
Radios are a must if you want to continue to ride with us. Talk to Roger for a recommendation.
Remember that saying about if you don’t like the weather in Nevada, wait five minutes? Always have a warm jacket and gloves stashed. We frequently go out of our way to visit mountain
tops just for the fun of it. Even in August.
Helmets are never a bad thing but not mandatory in NV. If you’re new to the sport, please wear one.
Start a collection of spare nuts and bolts and zip tiles and hose clamps and fuses and Loctite and tools, lots of tools and patch kits and WD40 and an air pump that doesn’t take two weeks to inflate a tire to 14 psi and a real sturdy jack and spare lug nuts and Dude Wipes and bug bite kits and cheap sunglasses anear plugs and extra snacks for Mikey…
We are not moving to Beverly Hills, be smart and DO NOT carry all your spare stuff on the roof of your vehicle. With all our off-camber trails around here, you WILL TIP OVER.
Trail etiquette:
Uphills- Use low gear if going under 15 MPH.
Study the trail at least 100 ft out so your mind and body prepare and reacts when the rock, ravine, dip, branch, crevasse, or chipmunk are 1 ft out. Don’t focus on what’s right it front of you in other words, train yourself to learn to assimilate the trail way before it happens. Practice makes perfect, sometimes, some humans just can’t do this, unfortunately.
Keep a steady pace, have you ever heard the terms “wheelie for safety” or “when in doubt, throttle out”? When going uphill inn loose, rocky or sandy conditions, DON’T STOP! Use your 4-wheel drive and a steady (not a Rickie Bobby) pace. If you start to slip and wiggle don’t panic and stop, keep moving and keep calm. Practice makes perfect, and don’t burn up your CVT belt. If you get stuck, back up a bit and gently roll to a start…
Downhills- Use low gear if going under 15 MPH.
If your vehicle has a downhill assist mode, learn how to use it, and use it!
DON’T RIDE THE BRAKES! Use them as little as possible, brake fade is REAL, and deadly.
If you need help getting over an obstacle, ask for help.
We ride lots of trails where one wrong move can be the end. Hug the inside of the trail when in doubt.
If you haven’t bought a vehicle yet, 64” is the perfect width for Northern Nevada trails.
The Flats – We all like to go fast at times. But so do others coming at you in the opposite direction.
Slow down over rises and in blind turns. A plastic 1700 pound vehicle will not protect you in a head on.
5-point harnesses and full helmets are a must if you need to feel the speed.
Stay out of the dust so you can see the trail and other vehicles.
Our hobby is heavily scrutinized by those who like to use the great outdoors for other reasons so be a good steward and don’t drive like an idiot. Doughnuts only impress your mechanic.
200 HP is 100 too many for what we do.
Slow down for jeeps, horses, hikers, bunny rabbits and bicyclers.
Pack out your trash, don’t ride off trail to avoid mud or water, donate time to trail clean ups or building/maintenance and be a good human.
