Leaving the Expressway, city streets and even county roads behind appeals to certain adventurous spirts. The owners of all-terrain vehicles, Jeeps, dirt bikes and mountain bikes roam the wide open spaces that many people never get a chance to see and enjoy. In rain and shine, dirt and mud, they find camaraderie, challenges and good times when out communing with Mother Nature, far from the trappings of civilization.
Texas has the nation’s second highest percentage of off-road enthusiasts. The Valley certainly validates that statistic with plentiful opportunities to enjoy rugged rides on trails and through south Texas brushland. To help the riders spend enjoyable hours off-road while hunting, fishing, roughing it or even working, a variety of Valley businesses sell the equipment, clothing and accessories that let them ride the range with zest and style.
Workhorses
“We use our ATVs for so many things, like hunting and working around the lease,” said Chris Elliff. He is the Polaris manager at Elliff Motors, which has been selling the ATV brand since January 2012. Although both utility and recreational versions are available, Elliff fields more demands for the
utility versions. “They are hard to get stuck. They can haul brush, sprayers and deer. And they can still go out and play in the mud. You can work all day and at night go play.”
The image of a single rider straddling a four-wheel ATV may have kick-started the off-road excitement, but today those are mostly entry level machines or youth models. Side by side ATVs that can carry four or even six people are the most popular, since having family, friends and gear along is part of the fun of being outdoors.
“This year, as wet as it’s been, we’ve been getting a lot of good feedback from Polaris users. They go places you can’t take a truck,” Elliff said. One March week, he saw a surge in sales and sold all the ATVs in the showroom. “Usually the ones in the showroom have a lot of accessories on them and are ready to go.” And they went.
Accessories range from winches, windshields, roofs, light bars, sound systems and much more. Elliff knew one ATV rider who had his vehicle customized to the tune of $45,000. Elliff, which has been in business since 1944, sells the Gravely side by side ATV at its at Pharr store.
“Hunting sides by sides are taking off, but we’re seeing a lot of market increase, because people are using ATVs a lot more for different things,” said Kenny Cantu, co-owner of F&T Motor Sports. “We’ve sold quite a few to trail riders who get to a certain age and want an alternative ride. It’s much cheaper to keep than a horse.”
Cantu, who ran the Harley Davidson store in San Benito for seven years, joined Fred del Varrio in the business when Ted Carrington retired. He has observed that parents encourage their kids to ride ATVs so they can learn about gearing and be outside.
“We’ve noticed tremendous growth also because of different events that are put on. A lot of people who live in the city want to ride and don’t know where to ride. When they come to the dealership, they find a networking place. We’re more than just an off-road store.” Riders are referred to the Red Roost Motocross park, an off-road park north of Edinburg, and the flats area near the Brownsville ship channel. Individuals use canal levees for trail rides as well.
Cantu said the rainy spring has prompted a run on the snorkel kit accessory. “They can get into deep water and mud and still keep going.”
For those who prefer their off-road experience to be free of the rumbling of an engine, they often opt for pedal-powered mountain bikes and cyclocross bikes. “Entry level cyclists prefer to get in on a mountain bike,” said Terry Hall who owns J. T. Cyclo-Cross with Joe Aguilar. “They feel it’s more stable, because it has a bigger tire. It depends on what their friends have.”
The Brownsville store sells and rents mountain bikes, cyclocross bikes and road bikes. “Mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding.” Prices start around $360. “The sky’s the limit, depending on the materials for the frame and the different components you want.”
Monte Bella Trails Park, a 100-acre Brownsville city park city off Alton Gloor has seven miles of mountain bike trails and plenty of open areas, Hall said. “The city trail is wonderful when it is not raining. It’s just you and nature.”
A locally produced series of mountain bike races in Brownsville and Mission draw aficionados from both sides of the border, when the weather cooperates. Hall said that cyclocross bikes combine mountain and road bike elements, enabling enthusiasts to ride to off-road tracks instead of having to haul them to rugged sites.
Rugged looks
At Truxx Techz, an off-road and performance specialist, Raul Rodriguez estimated that 50% of the people who have their trucks fitted for off-road use actually take them off-road. The others just like the rugged look.
The standard conversion to off-road action includes the lift kit and bigger wheels and tires. “Bigger tires can go into deeper mud and give more clearance,” Rodriguez said. “Right now everybody is adding light bars so they can go mudding at night time.”
Converted Ford F-250s are a favorite off-road vehicle, and Rodriguez has taken some examples of his work to Las Vegas’ big SEMA show. He noted people like to put bumpers and winches on their Jeeps. “They are little workhorses. They just pull themselves out and keep going.”
Beyond the mud races held in Los Fresnos, Rodriquez said that outside that town, a mud pit for off-road vehicles has become popular with spectators and off-roaders. It’s simple: off-roaders just want to have fun.
For more information, see elliffmotors.com, ftvalleymotorsports or call J.T. Cyclocross Bike Shop at 545-0866 and Truxx Techz at 428-0221.
April 2015 cover story by Eileen Mattei