Driving a quad is a discipline highly appreciated by off-road sports enthusiasts, although in Italy there is not yet a regulation that officializes its entry into the category of sports disciplines.

Activities such as quadcross and superquad require a lot of skill, endurance, physical strength, and preparation, all techniques that lead to the achievement of the necessary awareness to practice this sport full of adrenaline and dynamism.

The circuits used for training with the quad are those for karting, to which some modifications are made, such as filling part of the circuit with dirt and creating artificial bumps to allow jumps. But there are also asphalt circuits with varying degrees of difficulty, suitable even for beginners.

Sport Quad: features and advantages

The quad can also be called by the acronym ATV, which means all terrains vehicle, to indicate its driving adaptability to any type of terrain. That said, however, it is important to specify that sport quads have characteristics different from utility quads, especially in terms of traction, transmission, and gear shifting.

Sport quads are those with rear-wheel drive, chain transmission (which moves only the rear axle), and manual transmission (located to the left of the foot pedals, allowing for quicker gear changes with the foot) and their best performance is experienced on dirt terrains, but they also perform well on asphalt, with the appropriate type of tires mounted. Their aesthetic lines are more aggressive and angular, but also lighter than utility quads.

The frame of sport quads is welded with smaller tubes than those used for the utility model and also different in shape: therefore, they make cornering at high speeds easier and jumps are cushioned to make them feel less "bumpy".

Also the engine is different: that of sports quads is smaller but with a much more performing mechanics in sports competitions.

The utility quads, on the other hand, are 4x4 quads with all-wheel drive, with fast and low gears and, instead of a chain, they mount a cardan transmission. The gearbox is automatic with variator and the suspensions are independent on all wheels.

Driving a sports quad: how to prepare at best

A sport like quad driving sets off an expenditure of energies not only physical but also mental. Muscles are tense, blood pressure and heart rate increase and there is an emotional effort due to the concentration on speed and the hazards of the track. For this reason, it is necessary to train the body with the right athletic preparation, in order to help it practice this sport without excessive fatigue and apply the safest driving techniques to enjoy the challenge in a healthy way.

Just like any other sport, the foundation of proper physical preparation lies in a healthy diet, plenty of rest, and physical exercise, necessary to develop more endurance and concentration, to overcome off-road obstacles with more awareness.

Among the physical activities that improve quad performance, suitable for athletic preparation in all off-road sports, there are running, swimming, cycling, and rowing.

·       Running

Running is among the classic and most practiced sports, and therefore cannot be excluded to train the body for a quad outing. When driving this four-wheeler, in fact, the legs play a very important role, as their endurance is necessary to control the vehicle and maintain the center of gravity by regulating body weight. Running is also a complete sport for preparing for many sports, especially from a cardiovascular and respiratory point of view, as it improves efficiency. Furthermore, running frees the body from stress and this is certainly a significant advantage for driving the quad safely.

· Swimming

Swimming is one of the most complete sports to train both the upper and lower limbs, both fundamental to ensure good performance on a quad, improving the movements of their joints and controlling their intensity. In particular, however, this sport is able to strengthen the muscles that support the pelvis and the entire lower part of the back: even this lumbar area is stimulated when riding a quad, as it is engaged in keeping the pelvis and spine stable when the driver moves to position themselves on the center of gravity or lean to overcome slopes.

· Cycling

Thanks to cycling, athletes with a quad learn to improve control over heart rate and strength, preparing the body and heart to face the challenges of this sport without affecting the joints. It is clear that mountain biking on rough terrain, including steep climbs, is the closest way to train just like driving a quad, but even a less intense workout and cycling on asphalt are good as preparatory exercises.

· Rowing

But among the sports disciplines that are most successful in training the legs and working the whole body simultaneously, and not causing damage to the joints, there is rowing. In the same way as swimming, in fact, an athletic preparation based on rowing is a perfect way to improve quad driving techniques and performance. Just a few minutes of training are enough to achieve a satisfactory result and be ready to ride a quad on the road.

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