PREPARE TO RIDE
Use tinted fac e shields or goggl es in
the daytime only; do not use them at
night or in poor illumination. Do not
use them if they im pa ir your ability to
discern color.
Other Riding Gear
Footwear
Always w ear closed toe footwe ar.
Sturdy ove r-the-ankle boots w ith
non-slip soles offer more protection
and allow you to plant your foot prop-
erly on footrest.
Avoid long shoelaces that ca n be tan-
gled in the accelerator or brake pedals.
For winter riding conditions, rubber
soled boots with ei ther a nylon or
leather uppers, with removable felt
liners are best suited.
Avoid rubber bo ots. Rub ber boots may
get trapped behind or betwe en pedals,
impairing the prop er operation of brake
and accelerator pe dals.
Gloves
Full-fingered gloves protect hands
from the w ind, sun, he at, co ld and fly-
ing objects. Gloves that fit snugl y w il l
improve grip on the steering wheel and
help reduc e hand fatigue. Sturdy, rein-
forced motorcycle or ATV g loves help
protect hands better in the event of an
accident or a rollover. If gloves ar e too
bulky, it may be difficult to operate the
controls.
For winter riding cond itions, ha nds
should be protected by a pair of s now-
mobile gloves which have sufficient
insul ation and allow use of thumbs and
fingers for ope ration of controls.
Jackets, Pants and Riding Suits
Wear a jacket or a long sleeved shirt
and long pa nts , or a full riding suit.
Quality ATV-type protective g ear will
provide comfort, a nd it ca n help you
avoid being distracted by adverse en-
vironmen tal elements. In case of a
crash, good quality protective gear
made of sturdy ma terial m ay prevent
or reduce in jury.
In c ool-weather riding, protect y our-
self against hypothermia. H ypother-
mia, a condition of low bo dy tempera-
ture, can cause loss of concentration,
slowed rea c tions and loss of smooth,
precise mus c le movement. In c ool
conditions, p ro per protective gear like
a windproof jacket and insulated lay ers
of clothing are essenti al. Even while
riding at moderate temperatures, you
can feel very cold due to the wind.
Protective g ear that i s appropriate for
cold-wea ther riding may be too hot
when stopped. Dress in la yers so that
clothing c a n be removed as desired.
Topping the protective gear wi th a
windproo f o uter layer c a n prev ent cold
air from reaching the skin.
Rain Gear
If you must ride in wet weather, a rain
suit or a w aterp roof rid ing s uit is rec-
ommended. On long rides, it is a good
idea to carry rain gear. A dry rider w ill
be much more comfortable and alert.
Hearing Protection
Long-term exposure to wind and en-
gine noise when riding ca n cause per-
manent he aring loss. Properly worn
hearing pro tective de vic es such as
earplugs can help prev ent hearing loss.
Check local la ws before using any hear-
ing protective devices.
18
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SAFETY IN FORM ATION
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