Shady Valley Sunday

[Chillidog]

LEOs were watching 421 pretty close east and west of Shady Valley last Sunday.  It was a beautiful day and as far as I know they weren't spoiling anyone's fun, but they were there.  As long as the weather stays nice they'll probably not be too far away.

[falcofred]

Last weekend a friend of mine and I camped at the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground in Cruso NC. We rode close to 600 miles of twisty roads all over East TN, and Western NC. On the way home after coming over Roan Mt. we decided to take in 421 on the way home so we headed from Hampton to Mountain City and took 421 west. I had heard that the law was patrolling 421 so I took it easy, and even got a heads up from cycle riders going the other way. Sure enough we saw 3 patrol cars in between Mountain City and Shady Valley.
We stopped at the store, and there was the usuall gang of squids complaining about the law, and each sharing their stories of encounters with the law on 421. I actually think they enjoy it. Rather than ride, they can hang out at the store and bench race and talk about how fast they are, rather than ride. It gives them an excuse to pose rather than ride. Sure the law is cracking down on them for using 421 as a race track, but none of them are smart enough to find other roads to ride. They would rather hang out at the store, there is safety in numbers. I rode hundreds of miles of great twisty mountain roads all weekend and didn't see any law until we got on 421. I won't tell where we road for fear of the squids ruining those riding areas also .

[lws66]

We'll be heading up that way in a couple of weeks, probably do an easy putt through 421 (sounds like another Deals Crap to me ), and then hit all the other outstanding roads in that area. Any (other than the usual known gems: 226,58,16,197,194, etc, etc) hidden gems you want to share) pm please would be greatly appreciated! ....otherwise we'll be whipping out the old trusty local county maps to scout out something...

[Chillidog]

Any of the roads throughout SW Va., E Tn., or W NC are great riding roads.  Traffic can get to be an issue on some of the more infamous roads such as the BRP, Cherohala Pkwy, or the Tail of the Dragon, but there's no end to fine alternatives.  

[vatrader01]

Howdy. My name is Pat. I'm twisty dependant.  I have not ridden on 421 or any other road in that area. I want to bug out of here on Wednesday night and run some roads in the area around the Shady Valley Store. Sounds like the Squids are chumming for Cops on the main roads. Can ya lay out a nice twisty predominately PAVED series of roads I can push the limit on?  Hoping the Cops will be elsewhere on Thursday and Friday. Riding a Concours, old school model. Any advise would be appreciated. Any cheap motels in the area? Where I would not be suprised to find my bike still there, with all it's farkles? Won't ya help a guy who just wants to sate this demented monkey on my back by feeding it a few twisty roads...
I live at the Gateway to Skyline Drive, and have not set rubber on it in 10 years. I go to great lengths to see to it my tires go from fresh new mounting to wore out old trash without EVER touching an interstate. Most of my riding is west of I-81 from Southern PA to southern WV.

[Russellr.1]

Pat, its a crap shoot on the LEO's. Shady Valley is in my back yard and I to was up there last weekend, this weekend and saw all the so called law enforcement. If you are down here ride it during the weekdays and take a couple of passes at slow speed to get to know the stretch of 421 that they call the Playground. That would be the section between the store and Mt. City. From the store you can go in four directions and they are all fun. Stop at the store for a ham sandwich and talk to the other riders, they can tell you if the LEO'S are out and about. I also ride the old school Concours. You can stay in Mt. City or Bristol off of any of the exits of I-81, I would be very suprised if anybody messed with your bike. Drop us an email, my best friend also rides the old Concours and we will probably be around. We however do not put it on these big pigs, getting to old for that, I used to and understand why others want to.

[vatrader01]

Thanks for the input, Russellr.1.  I plan on running down there Wednesday night and getting an early start
Thursday morning, run around 'till Fri afternoon. I have to be back at work Sat. A.M. I rode down to Deals Gap once this year and twice last year during the week, and ran as hard as I wanted. No traffic, no cops, no squids.  I need to figure out what there is for secondary roads that don't dead end or turn into dirt paths. I'm as interested in the adventure as I am the speed. I, too, am getting long enoiugh in the tooth to know better, but I get that urge to run the new, uncharted twisty... Hope to run up on you and your friend, cause as you well know, a string of Concourses is a awesome sight.