Where To Go When You Want to Get Dirty

After you’ve purchased your ATV, the next logical step is to get out and ride!

There’s nothing like bouncing over a trail, splashing through a stream or cruising through an open field with your friends. Even if you purchased your ATV as a work machine, you’ll still get a thrill when you start up your bike each morning.

If you’re lucky enough to own property, then you’ll be able to ride your ATV wherever you want, but before you make that first trip, take a walk. That’s right, taking a walk around your property allows you to see obstacles like small sinkholes, ditches and debris that could spoil a day of riding.

Don’t forget that if you’re scouting out a particularly hilly piece of land, take notice of how steep certain places are, sometimes when you’re sitting on an ATV, the perception of a hill or bank’s angle is different.
But what if you don’t own a large piece of property but your neighbor or friend does?

Before you ride, you have to ask permission! Remember that as an ATV owner, you’re representing an entire group of riders, and what you do – or don’t do – could make everyone look bad. Once you’ve gained permission, it’s always a good idea to let the owner know when you’re going to be on his land, and when you’re leaving.

There are plenty of places to ride in Maryland and the surrounding states, and we’ve provided links to them below. As always, it’s best to call before you go to make sure the trails are open and what the riding conditions are.

Finally - Don’t forget to wear the proper safety equipment!

Links to places to ride
Maryland

• http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/orv.asp

Pennsylvania

• http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/atv/atvindex.aspx

United States

• http://www.traillink.com/home.aspx

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Become a Master of Dirt

The lure of off road riding and racing attracts people of all ages and backgrounds – getting on an ATV and heading off into the wilderness is an excellent way to spend the day, or weekend. However, if you’re new to the world of off road riding, or it’s been awhile since you climbed onto an ATV, you might want to start with this blog entry.

Remember there are several factors that go into purchasing a new bike besides price and manufacturer – there’s also where you’ll be riding, and what you want to do once you get there.

The first major aspect to consider is where you’ll be riding – the local riding areas in this part of the country boast a variety of terrain. There are plenty of wooded trails you can explore, some hillier than others! Don’t forget that when the snow flies the fun you can have on an ATV is almost endless.

Terrain is one factor, but what you do is also going to influence your purchase. An all day long trail ride presents a variety of challenges – from navigating steep hills to cruising along quiet streams. If you’re riding your ATV to a favorite hunting or fishing spot, it’s good to have a machine that can haul extra equipment, and navigate uncharted terrain.

If speed is what you need, there are plenty of ATVs that can deliver. Area raceways feature tracks that are perfect for speed demons, and local ATV clubs are also excellent sources of information for racing events.
After you’ve decided where you want to ride, and what type of riding you want to do, you’ll find that most ATVs belong to one of two classes: utility or sport. Some manufacturers also offer hybrids which combine features from both classes – something to consider if you want to keep your options open.

Utility ATVs have stiff suspension for soaking up bumps, bigger motors for hauling equipment or tackling hilly terrain and storage for equipment. You’ll also notice they tend to weigh more and come outfitted with knobbier tires that help you get a grip on muddy, slippery terrain.

The sport ATV is a different breed – built for moving fast and sliding around dirt tracks. These ATVs feature cushy suspension and lighter bodies to make the ride quicker and smoother. In addition, the motors on these beasts are tuned for racing – which adds a learning curve for inexperienced riders.

As we said before, hybrid bikes are for the rider who wants to tackle a backwoods trail, but doesn’t mind opening up the throttle when the opportunity presents itself. These bikes are excellent choices for the rider who wants it all!

Choosing an ATV takes time and research – and our staff of ATV enthusiasts at Pete’s Cycles can answer almost any question! For a list of our locations and contact information, click here.

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Getting The Right Street Bike

After you’ve made the decision to purchase a street bike, there are several more options to consider!

Remember, a motorcycle is different from a car in many ways, chief among them is that on a motorcycle, how you sit, move and shift your weight directly impacts the bike’s performance. In a car, you can move the seat up or back and be comfortable, it’s different on a motorcycle.

First, you need to decide how the bike is going to be used – are you going to be making short commutes to work or taking long trips, like from Baltimore down to Ocean City? Do you want to have a degree of latitude and purchase a dual sport bike so you can go off road? Maybe you’re looking for the sheer thrill of speed, then it’s time to consider a superbike.

We’ve broken down street bikes among the following classes to help you out.

Standard – these bikes are perfect for commutes to work or play – and you can ride just about all day, thanks to the fact that the seat is perpendicular to the engine. You can add luggage to this bike and take it for an overnight trip.


Cruiser – this is the bike you think about when the movie “Easy Rider” is mentioned. These bikes sport throaty growls, plenty of chrome and attitude. A cruiser has a low seat height, perfect for those with a shorter stature. The cruiser is great for short trips around town or on long windy country roads.

Sportbike – The cheetah of the motorcycle world, sportbikes are designed to move fast and turn on a dime. Aerodynamically built, these hotrods also feature excellent suspension and top quality brakes. These bikes are built of high impact plastic and fiberglass with a “lean forward” design that encourages speed.

Touring – These are the bikes you take on a long journey across the state or across the country. Built for comfort, a touring bike is sturdy and has room for two, plus built in compartments that let riders store a decent amount of luggage. Not necessarily built for speed or cornering, a touring bike makes any trip an adventure.

Dual Purpose – if you want a bike that you can take from the highway to the trail, a dual purpose bike is the answer. Built for both worlds, these bikes feature comfortable seats and suspension so you won’t notice the bumps, whether they’re on the road or the trail.

Hopefully this primer has answered a few of your questions, but like the saying goes, “Seeing is believing!”

To find out more information, and try out a bike, visit us at Pete’s Cycles! You can find locations and contact information here.

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Head Out On the Highway!

Have you ever been driving down an open road and a motorcycle appeared as a tiny dot in your rearview mirror, only to grow in size until it went screaming past you?

How many times have you said to yourself, “One day, I’m going to get a motorcycle and be that guy!”
Well, it’s time to stop waiting around, and get on a bike!

There are thousands of advantages to owning and riding a motorcycle, and today’s models have been designed to provide maximum comfort and safety – even while they retain the cool factor that’s always been a part of their image!

Motorcycles cost less than even the most inexpensively priced cars, and they’ll also save you  money at the gas pump, thanks to their smaller engines and frames – some models get up to 60-70 miles per gallon. Besides saving you green, motorcycles help you go green – they emit a lower amount of emissions that harm the environment.
While you’re cruising from point A to point B in style, it’s even better when you arrive. Pulling up on a growling, shining motorcycle is definitely one way to turn heads – and don’t forget that parking a street cruiser is much easier than parallel parking an SUV!

Motorcycles also put you in touch with the space around you – there aren’t any windows, DVD players or other distractions you find in a car. When you’re out on the open road, you experience everything the world has to offer.

Like Robert Pirsig writes in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: "You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.”

When you own a motorcycle, you’re part of a community that acknowledges each other with “the wave,” a quick salute that fellow cyclists give each other as they pass on the street. You don’t see many salutes between motorists behind the wheel of their cars.

So are you ready?

You’ll never know until you try – which is what we’re all about at Pete’s Cycles, come on over and check out our selection! You can find locations and contact information here.

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Get Out and Ride!

If you want to get outside and see what the world has to offer – it’s about time you consider an ATV or trail bike.

ATV stands for all terrain vehicle and sports four knobby tires, a comfortable seat, plenty of cushy suspension and an overall design that can take you up dirt trails, over grassy fields or across shifting sand dunes.

Riding an ATV is a great way to unwind and get away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life – you’re also going to be visiting places that you normally don’t get to see. When  you’re on an ATV, you’ll meet people who have the same kind of interests as you – and riding with friends is one of the best things in the world.

Another vehicle to consider is the trail bike, which has two wheels and is built to go anywhere an ATV can go! Today’s bikes are designed so that even a novice can quickly learn how to shift, brake and steer within a short period of time. As for balance – if you can balance a bicycle, you can ride a trail bike!

Riding ATVs and trail bikes is an excellent way to enjoy the great outdoors – and you don’t need to be living out in the country to ride. There are plenty of places to ride in Maryland, and surrounding areas like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. All you have to do is put the bikes on a trailer, hitch to your vehicle and you’re off!

At Pete’s Cycles, we’ve been outfitting novice and experienced riders for years. Our staff is fully trained and experienced, many of them ride the ATVs and trail bikes that we sell. For a list of our locations and contact information, click here.

Come on down and let’s ride!

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Why Should I Ride?

Regardless of what you do for a living, there are days when you wish you could just get away from everything – turn off the computer, shut off the cell phone and clear your head for a few hours.

So how can you spend your free time? You could read a book, play a round of golf, or climb aboard a motorcycle!

Whether you’re booming down a highway with the wind in your face – or exploring hidden trails deep inside the forest, seeing the world from the seat of a motorcycle is an excellent way to spend your free time.

Riding a motorcycle is a great way to save money, time and the environment! Motorcycles use less fuel, which means saving money. Parking a bike is easier in a crowded city than finding a place to put an SUV. Don’t forget that riding also reduces emissions, which is an important step towards helping to preserve our environment.

Street bike or ATV, maintenance is much easier thanks to the location, and overall design, of a motorcycle engine. When you’re comfortable with how your bike works, taking care of it ceases to be a chore, and becomes a hobby.

Riding a motorcycle makes the journey as interesting as your destination.  When you’re out on your bike, you connect much more with your surroundings, and it’s easier to enjoy the road and everything it has to offer.

One more idea to consider – if you’ve never been on a bike before, you’re going to discover an entire new world. Meeting new people, learning how to ride, and observing the landscape from a new vantage point – it’s all possible on a motorcycle.

If you’re interested in learning more about riding, Pete’s Cycles is here to help. You can find locations and contact information here.

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