Dragon's tail is history

[misterbig]

 

For those riders who didn't know, speed dumps are being installed on the infamous Dragon's tail!!! Another American tradition down the drain. West Virginia and western PA. here I come!! Read on.

"...in Tennessee where according to "sources" station WBIR in Knoxville
reported that  "The Tennessee Department of Transportation today announced that will install 99 speed reducers (speed bumps) on US 129  (Known as "The Dragon" by local motorcycle enthusiasts in 2008, including 35 new reducers at "priority areas" identified as trouble spots."

[chornbe]

Goodbye tourism dollars.

[jschmidt]

Not verifiable on their website although there are a number of Dragon stories. Other sources seem to indicate that its a hoax.

[jeremy556]

Not many US Highways with speed bumps on them. This rumor has been going around for years, just with extra vigor lately because of the increased police presence.

If they do, I bet someone will make a run through the dragon with one of these late at night...  

[Boxerdawg]

Not easy getting approval for speed bumps on public roads, even in residential areas.  usually compelling evidence for the safety of pedestrians [esp. kids] is necessary.  129 being a US highway would prove a further hurdle yet.  IMHO this is pure hoax.  Yet one more reason to ride the Cherahola hwy and other equally grin-inducing roads.

[94gixxerod]

You know this will be true when 1,000 attorneys relocate to this area to reap the thousands of law suits that will be filed. Speeds bumps on public roads are a civil attorney's dream!

[Frantik1]

You know this will be true when 1,000 attorneys relocate to this area to reap the thousands of law suits that will be filed. Speeds bumps on public roads are a civil attorney's dream!

+1  Speed bumps would open the DOT to all kinds of liability.

[highside]

You know this will be true when 1,000 attorneys relocate to this area to reap the thousands of law suits that will be filed. Speeds bumps on public roads are a civil attorney's dream!

Considering the rate of accidents on that stretch of road they would be more likely to get sued for doing nothing to "fix" the "problem". There are people who actually use that road as a means of transportation you know, it isn't JUST a race track for motorcycles.

[gforce]

Making a piece of road less safe because of safety concerns is bad judgment and surely will precipitate lawsuits.

But just think of the other ways they could slow riders down less expensively: squirting oil or sand on the road at critical apexes, excavating small potholes in random locations, or just letting the roadway go to hell on its own.  All would accomplish the same thing: to make the roadway just as dangerous, or perhaps far more so, and at a lower speed!  And they'd do it w/o all that pesky and expensive extra asphalt.  What a concept!  

Who knows whether it's true but, if it is, it's just another idiot DOT suit who'll have to kill some innocent people before losing his job.

[highside]

Making a piece of road less safe because of safety concerns is bad judgment and surely will precipitate lawsuits.

Speed bumps are not unsafe at the actual speed limit of the places they will be putting them. They have no obligation whatsoever to make the road accommodating to people who wish to triple that limit.

[gforce]

Speed bumps are not unsafe at the actual speed limit of the places they will be putting them. They have no obligation whatsoever to make the road accommodating to people who wish to triple that limit.

I think it categorically can be said that speed bumps NEVER make a road safer.  They usually are used on very low speed, straight sections of roadway, where the suspension perturbances they create will be less likely to induce loss of control and potentially lethal consequences.  Difficult to imagine how they could have any beneficial effects on tight twisties.

[maddjack]

I'm betting this is a hoax,US129 isn't a local ,township owned road ,so i seriously doubt they would even ask to do that.They could get extra dollars for enforcement though and there is a rumor the road may have sections rebuilt with fewer curves to enhance safety,due to the somewhat heavy traffic on it.

[SWriverstone]

I've never ridden Deal's Gap, and from all I've heard, I have zero desire to. So they can rip up the pavement for all I care—I'll still be a happy rider. (Plenty of other awesome roads to ride!)

Scott

[jeremy556]

I've never ridden Deal's Gap, and from all I've heard, I have zero desire to. So they can rip up the pavement for all I care—I'll still be a happy rider. (Plenty of other awesome roads to ride!)

They can rip up all of your favorite roads for all I care  

[wvrider]

Deal's Gap is way over-rated, not because it isnt a great stretch of twisty road but because it is a "destination"; a tourist site; a "hang" place. I currently choose not to ride down to it for the same reason I dont ride up and down the aisle's at the local mall for twisty fun. Once everyone goes away (OK, 90%) it will be fun again. I doubt speed bumps are being installed since, as others have said, they are only installed on straight sections of roadway...They could get creative and groove the road surface for traction (yeah, thats why we did it). I have seen roads where they are doing that in the curves...makes interesting moments as your tires seek a path they want to follow.

Phil

[photomd]

I've never ridden Deal's Gap, and from all I've heard, I have zero desire to. So they can rip up the pavement for all I care—I'll still be a happy rider. (Plenty of other awesome roads to ride!)

Scott

Scott, your not missing anything. There are plenty of other fun roads, lots of 'em closer to you, IMHO.

I generally only hit it as a cut through on my way to see my parents in KY.

[TuffguyF4i]

This is just a rumor.  

[jerome_oneil]

Oh Noez! Where will you get your t-shirts and stickers now?

[UFO]

You can thank all the Ricky Racers who decided to go there instead of a track day.  Cheap asses.

Sucks for the average rider.

[L8RGYZ67]

Ride your own ride. But don't endanger others.

Everybody has their own definition of too fast... but most of us break the rules some of the time... then whine when someone else breaks a rule that's beyond the rules we allow ourselves to break.

[RenegadeVT]

I've never ridden Deal's Gap, and from all I've heard, I have zero desire to. So they can rip up the pavement for all I care—I'll still be a happy rider. (Plenty of other awesome roads to ride!)

Scott

Could not agree with you more.  Why deal with the aggravation of the traffic, the big truck and the Leos!!

I'll take Route 66 in WV or almost any other road in that state, thank you very much.

[L8RGYZ67]

I'll take Route 66 in WV or almost any other road in that state, thank you very much.

Oh cool! Let's make 66 the "new" Deals Gap!

j/k

[L8RGYZ67]

I've never ridden Deal's Gap, and from all I've heard, I have zero desire to. So they can rip up the pavement for all I care—I'll still be a happy rider. (Plenty of other awesome roads to ride!)
Scott

Scott, Scott, Scott... @ least give it a try... otherwise it's just prejudice.

Despite some somewhat negative opinions voiced here, Deals Gap is quite a unique road. If some people don't like the squidly types, then try it during the week and/or the off-season. But at least try it. And for heaven's sake don't rip up any road!

But this kind of road is not for everybody. I have a friend who has tried it & doesn't like it because he feels it's too technical. I respect his opinion, because he's been there & he's a really talented rider.

[olegrumpy]

Oh cool! Let's make 66 the "new" Deals Gap!

j/k

I just checked my map and there is a "Route 66" WV! It is on my "To Do" list before the snow flies! There are lots of roads that I think out do the Dragon. Route 250 from Churchville, Virginia to McDowell, Virginia or Route 33 from Harrisonburg, Va to Elkins WV. These routes may not have 318 turns in 11 miles but they do give you the opportunity to test your skills.

Ride on

[NJFJR]

Route 250 from Churchville, Virginia to McDowell, Virginia or Route 33 from Harrisonburg, Va to Elkins WV. These routes may not have 318 turns in 11 miles but they do give you the opportunity to test your skills.

Amen! I was lucky enough between last year and this year to ride both those roads, and although not tight they sure are fun! They definitely keep you awake.

[Windblown]

You can thank all the Ricky Racers who decided to go there instead of a track day.  Cheap asses.

Sucks for the average rider.

Sucks for the average rider? The two fatiities listed below occured in a two day period (a thrus & Friday, not a weekend) and they sound like pretty aveage riders to me. Certainly not the stereo typical "Ricky Racers" you seem to think are the problem.

by Anna C. Irwin of The Daily Times Staff

Two people died in motorcycle accidents that happened a few miles and several hours apart on the Dragon, the winding 11-mile section of U.S. 129 between Tab Cat Creek and the North Carolina line.

The body of David Workman, 48, of Alva, Fla., was found Friday morning after his 14-year-old son Sergio, despite several broken bones, climbed 25 to 30 feet up an embankment to the roadside where a motorist saw the boy and called for help just after 11 a.m.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Phil Little said Workman was riding his 2005 BMW motorcycle up the mountain with his son as a passenger Thursday afternoon or evening. Little said it appeared he missed a curve and went off the road near the 10-mile marker. The motorcycle traveled about 30 feet down a steep embankment and struck a tree.

Workman and his son were vacationing with other family members in Western North Carolina and left Thursday afternoon to ride the Dragon. They were to have returned by 7 p.m. Thursday and were reported missing late Thursday.

The injured teenager was flown to University of Tennessee Medical Center by Lifestar and was listed in stable condition although suffering from the emotional trauma of his father's death and the night spent on the mountainside. Little said the youth had not been interviewed to determine what time the accident occurred.

Rural/Metro Ambulance Service and Blount County Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel used a system of ropes to retrieve Workman's body, which was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital.

At 1:15 p.m. Friday as the emergency responders completed the technical rescue/recovery, another motorcycle accident was reported near Mile Marker 8.

Little said a 2004 Buell motorcycle ridden by Jack Wolfe of Hagerstown, Md., went off the road on a curve, traveled about 100 feet down a steep embankment and landed against a tree.

Rescuers rushed the two miles from the recovery site of the first crash to the scene of the second, then launched another technical rescue effort using a system of ropes to lower paramedics to the critically injured man. It took almost an hour to bring the victim secured in a Stokes basket back to the roadside.

Friends said Wolfe had come to ride the Dragon to celebrate his birthday. He was 62 on Friday.

[jschmidt]

This is just a rumor.  

Actually, its just a hoax. But it does indicate the popularity of the destination, don't it?

[RenegadeVT]

I just checked my map and there is a "Route 66" WV! It is on my "To Do" list before the snow flies! There are lots of roads that I think out do the Dragon. Route 250 from Churchville, Virginia to McDowell, Virginia or Route 33 from Harrisonburg, Va to Elkins WV. These routes may not have 318 turns in 11 miles but they do give you the opportunity to test your skills.

Ride on

You doubted me!!  

Whatever you do, don't tell anyone where it is!!

But you are right about Rt 33 to Elkins!  Can't wait to do that road again either.

[AV8OR]

need to keep the good roads off the internet!!! Dont spoil WV!!

[olegrumpy]

need to keep the good roads off the internet!!! Dont spoil WV!!

It was my plan to take a nice ride in WV this weekend. But when I got there all the roads were straight and flat, speed limit was posted at 10 mph everywhere and the LEO were posted every 1/4 mile. Sorry fellows, stratch WV off your list.

 

Ride on.

[Snowbird]

You doubted me!!  

Whatever you do, don't tell anyone where it is!!

But you are right about Rt 33 to Elkins!  Can't wait to do that road again either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia_Route_66

Too late. If it's Wik'ed, everyone knows.

FWIW, I've ridden it and it sux.  

[hig4s]

I just got back from the area. There are tons of great roads up there. I took the road sofa, did 129 from Athens GA through Blood Mountain on the way up, cut over hwy 64, to TN68 and stayed in Tellico Plains two nights, did a day trip Saturday starting and ending with the Cherohala skyway over to Cherokee and Maggie Valley NC and back. Including part of the Blue ridge parkway. Then took 68 South to GA5 and mostly super slabed it back home Sunday. Did not do the dragon, but did it last year on the ZR-7S.  I don't think I would have enjoyed the dragon on the Venture that much anyway. There were lots of LEOs all over. Had a great time, and it has not stopped raining here since I got back.

[jwhite518]

Y'know...I've never ridden the Dragon. I'm not sure I ever want to. It seems like it's jammed with a bunch of posers all day. Why bother? 318 curves in 11 miles doesn't sound very fun if you're constrained by too much traffic and cops all over the place. Go ahead, add the speed bumps. It won't make any difference to me.

 

[garry]

I just checked my map and there is a "Route 66" WV! It is on my "To Do" list before the snow flies!

Be careful on it. Yes it's twisty, but it has some bumpy pavement and more than a little gravel in the corners.

[L8RGYZ67]

Y'know...I've never ridden the Dragon. I'm not sure I ever want to. It seems like it's jammed with a bunch of posers all day. Why bother? 318 curves in 11 miles doesn't sound very fun if you're constrained by too much traffic and cops all over the place. Go ahead, add the speed bumps. It won't make any difference to me.

Whew... another person who wants to mess up a road he/she has never been on. Gotta love it!
Ride during the week & there's not much traffic at all. Posers... there may be some, but this is a serious road that's loads of fun if you love to ride a challenging road. Now if you're just into long distance touring, iron butt, etc. you might not like it.

[jeremy556]

Whew... another person who wants to mess up a road he/she has never been on. Gotta love it!

A large part of what is wrong with society is everyones' self centered attitudes. They don't care about anything unless it affects them. They are always the ones to cry the loudest when something happens to them though.

[natronazx6r]

You can thank all the Ricky Racers who decided to go there instead of a track day.  Cheap asses.

Sucks for the average rider.

i've seen plenty of crash pics of cruisers, tourers and other types of bikes. instead of singling out one type of rider that you have a personal problem with, be honest and say you can thank any asshat that has gone there by riding over their limit. sucks for the riders that know how to keep their bikes on two instead of plastic and chrome.

[highside]

i've seen plenty of crash pics of cruisers, tourers and other types of bikes. instead of singling out one type of rider that you have a personal problem with, be honest and say you can thank any asshat that has gone there by riding over their limit. sucks for the riders that know how to keep their bikes on two instead of plastic and chrome.

You say that like only crappy riders crash. If we were to hold to the old sentiment that there are those who have and those that will, we can pretty easily conclude that we all get a little piece of the blame pie for this. Everyone rides beyond their limits sometimes, each and every one of us did it when we first twisted the left grip on a bike, thats how you learn. Crashes happen, yes there are ample asshats out there that are just begging to have one sooner rather than later, but the rest of us crash often enough that it makes very little difference in the end. The average person cannot even look at a bike without having little "danger" alarms go off in their head, that has nothing to do with what they have seen or heard, its just the nature of the beast.

[jeremy556]

You say that like only crappy riders crash. If we were to hold to the old sentiment that there are those who have and those that will, we can pretty easily conclude that we all get a little piece of the blame pie for this. Everyone rides beyond their limits sometimes, each and every one of us did it when we first twisted the left grip on a bike, thats how you learn. Crashes happen, yes there are ample asshats out there that are just begging to have one sooner rather than later, but the rest of us crash often enough that it makes very little difference in the end. The average person cannot even look at a bike without having little "danger" alarms go off in their head, that has nothing to do with what they have seen or heard, its just the nature of the beast.

I think what he is saying is that riders of all type crash there. It is not just the vilified and hated "ricky racers."

[henri915]

There was a local Lobby in Woods Hole MA that got some speed bumps put in on Sippewisset Rd in '05. I wasn't expecting one and nearly dropped my bike on one.

I retaliated by riding the speed limit on that road in first gear. Man did that Yoshimura pipe make some noise....

The speed bumps have since been cleared out.

[GerryPetrecca]

There was a local Lobby in Woods Hole MA that got some speed bumps put in on Sippewisset Rd in '05. I wasn't expecting one and nearly dropped my bike on one.

I retaliated by riding the speed limit on that road in first gear. Man did that Yoshimura pipe make some noise....

The speed bumps have since been cleared out.

HIJACK!!!!!!!!

Henri,

How the hell are you.  Been wondering if you were still out there.  haven't "seen" you post since the 'accident' in CT on the group ride.

I remember Sippewisset Rd when my sister use to live in Woods Hole.  That was a great road to ride on (bicycle at that time)   Ahhhh, the good old days before it became a subburb of Boston.

What are you riding???  Did you get a new bike or fix the Bandit.

ok to pm me if you want to reply os as not to hijack the thread.

Gerry

[jackinthebox4]

"Nobody goes there anymore;  it's too crowded."  Yogi Berra