Getting Better on the Dirt

Who doesn't want to get better at riding on the dirt? John Stein of Cycle World has recently provided a nice cheat sheet for improving your skills. He also says that riding on the dirt can be extremely helpful to street riders, since the main fear of street riders is losing traction. Well, for dirt riders, losing traction and loosening up the back wheel is the fun part. It goes without saying that not only do you need to have good skills, you need to have the right equipment. Pete’s Cycles can take care of that.

But in terms of improving, Stein offers the following advice:

Choosing your line: Unlike the road, when you ride on the dirt you have to choose the best line. It is like skiing in the trees. If you only look directly before you, you are going to hit a tree eventually. Finding the right line means you are not only aware of what is in front of you but also aware of what is coming. The art of glancing ahead can be tricky, but expert riders do it without thinking. The best is to do it when the immediate trail does not need your whole attention.

Practice: Get a bunch of stuff lying around the house—cans, buckets, etc—and throw them into an empty parking lot. Set yourself a course and ride through them sitting down and standing up. Perceive how comfortable you feel when making turns standing up and sitting down.

Play around: Of course, we all do this, but Stein wants us to take it seriously. Find a patch of open trail and give it some throttle, and then hit the breaks. Feel out the bike. Learn to test the limits without going past them. The more you feel comfortable when the bike is at its limit the better you will be.

Stay alert: Epstein says it best when he writes, “While it’s easy to zone out while tooling down the highway, in the dirt, even a few moments of inattention can send you to ground.” It is easy for your brain to wander when you are at work, but when you are riding at 30 mph down a trail this can have serious consequences. This is a hard skill to master, and the best way is to be mindful of when you are getting tired from a long day of riding and slow down if needed.

And, of course, stop by one of Pete's Cycles three convenient locations--Bel Air, Severna Park, Baltimore--for all your riding needs.

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Up and Coming Motorcycle Events in Maryland

Looking for some Motorcycle themed events going on in Maryland? Petes Cycle has two great upcoming events to share.

Come out to the Maryland State Fairgrounds July 18th & 25th and August 1st & 8th, to enjoy and/or participate in the Short Track Motorcycle Races! 

Good food, FREE parking and all benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies!

The second event is Sunday, July 27th. This is the Iron Meets Iron Motorcycle night, presented by Corey Homes, which will help sponsor the fight against childhood abuse. This event will include a parade lap of the hottest machines, a speed demo by Doug Horne's Nitro Harley, among other exciting events. Learn more about the event and how to sign up here. http://www.raace.org/ironmeetsironbirds.html

And, of course, stop by one of Pete's Cycles three convenient locations--Bel Air, Severna Park, Baltimore--for all your riding needs.

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One Tough Machine—The Polaris Ranger 570 EFI

As many of you probably already know, Polaris has pretty much cornered the ATV utility SxS market with their Ranger Series. These machines produce an excellent ride, can seat the entire family, and can climb any hill you put in front of it. Even more, they can do all of these things at the same time. At Pete’s Cycles we sell a big range of the Polaris Rangers, in all colors, strengths and sizes.

The Rangers are excellent for hunting and camping as well, since they have plenty of space to haul your gear into the woods and plenty of ability to carry your trophy buck out of the woods.

One of our most popular is the Polaris 2014 Ranger 570. This machine comes with 40 hp (this is 25% more than previous 500cc models) and an automatic transmission 4-stroke engine placed behind the seat for a quiet ride. Moreover, one of its most practical features is that it has what they call “On Demand True All-Wheel Drive,” which means that it intelligently transfers power to where it is needed. And with 1225 lb of towing capacity, it is hard to find something in the woods that it can’t tow.

Other features of the Ranger 570 include:

•             Larger stator delivers 29 percent more electrical power; enabling more electrical accessory operation

•             Lock&Ride® Cargo System

•             500 lb./22.68 kg box, 1000 lb./453.6 kg total payload

One reviewer said it best when he wrote: “All in all, the 2014 Polaris Ranger 570 EFI is a great demonstration of how Polaris can maintain its stellar track record of delivering the highest-quality utility vehicles around. If you’re looking for a great SxS that gets the job done without breaking the bank, you will look long and hard before finding a better value than the Ranger.” Read their review here.

Currently, Pete’s Cycles is running some special sales and financing deals on these Rangers. Click here for our virtual showroom.

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Stay Safe: Waverunner Rules to Live By

As thousands of cars and trucks head down to the coast this weekend, so too will thousands of waverunners trailing behind them. What does this mean? A greater likelihood of accidents. Here’s a staggering statistic that brings everything into perspective—90% of all waverunner accidents are caused by inexperience, carelessness, and excessive speed. Since Pete's Cycles is a major retailer of waverunners in Maryland, which has excellent riding, we are committed to keeping the waterways safe for boaters and riders alike.

Here are five main safety tips, thanks to the US Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. If you observe these tips, there is a much greater chance that you will ride without accident.

Know your machine: This means know how your machine handles at high speeds and sharp turns. Experiment a bit and get a sense for its capabilities. If it is a new waverunner, perhaps your friend’s, then test it out for a bit before you open it up on the water. Every machine is different.

Learn How to Swim Well: This may be obvious, but you would be surprised how many people ride a waverrunner with a life jacket and think they will be fine. There are a lot of situations where you need to know how to swim.

Wear a Life Jacket / Personal Flotation Device (PFD): This goes without saying. Remember that statistic that 90% of all waverunner accidents are caused by inexperience, carelessness, and excessive speed. Well, since these accidents are never going to go away, you need to protect yourself not if, but when, you get thrown off your machine and take a swim.

Don’t Go Alone—Avoid riding a PWC alone: If not for the reason that riding with friends is more fun, never ride alone. For safety reasons, riding with a friend ensures you will have help when you need it.

Avoid Consuming Alcohol: Alcohol and most watersports do not go together. Though it is always tempting, for safety reasons you need to avoid alcohol when riding on the water. Alcohol impairs your ability to make quick decisions, and numerous drowning deaths have been attributed to alcohol.

Obey the Area Rules: Take note of speed limits, water skiers and high traffic zones. It is extremely easy to be riding quickly into a slow area, and then not be able to correct yourself in time.

And of course, if you don’t have a waverunner or any of the gear, remember that we sell everything at Pete’s Cycles, from the newest Yamaha models to life vests and helmets.

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