There are as many styles of riding as there are people but I have found that it boils down to just a few categories of which I place them as follows: 1) The Fearless (Large amount of airspace in the skull) 2) The Pro (Air Space has been limited by numerous head bashings) 3) The Adventurer (Does not like jumping due to danger but climbs vertical rock faces as well as descends them) 4) The Leader Of The Pack (Thinks they want to Jump and Climb but usually gets in trouble doing both ..... ME!) 5) The Follower (This is the person that always gets in trouble as they tend to follow the leader) 6) The Novice (The smartest one of us all to be explained later)

STYLES OF RIDERS - PART 2 By: Ben McCune/Old Goat Below quoted from: Mitch Johnson “Nearly anyone who knows what ATVing is also knows that the sport appeals largely to the young population but the older crowd like myself find it interesting as well. The fact that it is mostly a younger activity makes it the root of much controversy. Many people protest the use of ATVs by children under 12 and others even believe teenagers under the legal driving age should be banned from driving ATVs. Though there are rules in place they appear to be not strictly enforced in most places but not all.”

Onward with my story It is not my intention to undermine or enhance anyone or any riding style. The rider must always wear the protective gear required when riding any off road vehicle. These thoughts are mine and mine alone. There are as many styles of riding as there are people but I have found that it boils down to just a few categories of which I place them as follows: 1) The Fearless (Large amount of airspace in the skull) 2) The Pro (Air Space has been limited by numerous head bashings) 3) The Adventurer (Does not like jumping due to danger but climbs vertical rock faces as well as descends them) 4) The Leader Of The Pack (Thinks they want to Jump and Climb but usually gets in trouble doing both ..... ME!) 5) The Follower (This is the person that always gets in trouble as they tend to follow the leader) 6) The Novice (The smartest one of us all to be explained later)

The Fearless: We all have seen this person, they are the one’s that ride with no protection and/or very little of it. The one's you set back and watch while holding your hands over your face going "Oh My God, did you see that"? We watch in udder amazement as they fly through the sky legs out, hands free from the bar and wonder not if but when they will bash their heads in. We hide our kids from watching them so they do not try to mock them. Our own mind wander’s as inside we say “I can do that” but know we cannot. These are the people that will someday if they live will become us hiding there kids faces from watching The Fearless one‘s.

The Pro: This is the Fearless that have had numerous head bashings, body fractures that now are getting a bit older and wiser. They no longer heal as fast as they did before and now find that each and every crash hurts where it did not before. They still have a huge amount of talent but have refined it down to what they know they can and cannot do. Usually you can find these people on the side somewhere telling the fearless to “Go Ahead, it is easy” while they tell the person next to them that person is crazy. They now where helmets and protective gear.

The Adventurer: Now this could be re-classified as The Lost Soul. They are the combined effort of the Fearless and the Pro. No longer do they desire to make those long table top jumps or really desire to go flat out all the time but have focused their sites more towards conquering what God himself has made. You have seen these people as well while riding through the trails. As you ride the trails you always come across that huge vertical hill with rock out cropping or tree roots right in the middle of the accent or decent that you have no idea how to get around so you bypass the trail. Later you watch in fear as the Adventurer continues onward. Be it a mud pit that is so deep one could find himself and there ATV buried to China. A mountain side steep enough that you could reach top speed coasting or a water hole that requires a floatation device to go through it the Adventure will be found there.

The Leader Of The Pack: I classify myself in this category. When out and about I am usually right in front blazing the trail. I like the jumps in smaller versions, love the mud runs, will climb and descend moderate hills and do water willies through low level bodies of water. As I am a person that does it all to a milder degree I am usually the one that gets into trouble 1st. Not usually hurting myself but my ride instead, putting it into places it was not designed to be. For this reason I think that this type of rider needs to be avoided at times and/or followed with great care as they tend to get all with them in trouble. I share this leader role with the people I generally ride with (Jimmie, Vicki as well as my wife) with Jimmie. I would venture to say both of our wife’s agree with the above as one of them are usually the one’s getting hurt. By the way our last trip to Finger Lakes I had said Vicki was hurt and awaiting the Doctors recommendations well torn ligaments of her knee, muscles bruised, nothing broken. Has to wear a leg brace for 3 months… See what I mean, I was the leader at that time.

The Follower: Oh how a pity this group, not to make light of them nor down them in anyway as they are the sweeter of us all. They put their trust into the Leader, allow them to guide and do not generally question when they maybe should. There riding skills may or may not be up to the leader but they move on the same, the fear level is moderate but it does not matter as they trust the leader’s take of the situation. May we all lower our heads for a short prayer for the Follower…

The Novice: This is the group I firmly believe has the most brain power of us all, more knowledge than all of us combined. They ride to see the land along old farm roads, fire trails, desert flat lands, dried river/creek bottoms or just use the atv for working around the homestead. No desire to jump, water wheelie, mud run, rock climb or anything the likes. You will not find them on the hard trails or riding the jumps or whoops. They will go with you but usually stay close to camp. They may have the most brain power, less scares and broken bones but do not threat they are also needed as they tend to cook the meals and buy the BEER! ALL praise the Novice, they are great people!

In closing no matter what group you belong to Off-Road riding by ATV, Truck, Dune Buggy whatever it maybe can be more fun than you could ever imagine. It is a great way to met new friends, bring a family together or to relax, yes relax after a hard week of working. There is one more group that was not added in this would be The Smart One’s. A small group as very few fit into this category but all of us should. To be in this group takes a lot of effort on your part but the rewards are astronomical. Try it the path is easy, THINK at all times when riding. Think Of yourself, your equipment and the others with you. Just Think, Think Safe, Think Ride Safe and Think Of Others… Well time to go for now, finished my new table top in the back going to go try it out. Afterwards I do believe I will go down to the creek and see if I can get a water wheelie longer than 50 feet just about had one last weekend before I dumped the bike sideways in the creek…