Jonas Ridge Store has new ownership!

[bpg]

Our group of 9 made it there a bit after 1:00...  There were maybe 3 bikes there when we staggered in, and after about 10 minutes there were about 20, so a decent little crowd!

The store looked great, completely opposite of the plasticized/sanitized mega-gulp-n-goes we're so used to frequenting; I liked it!

Saw a State Trooper whilst headed down 181, then a sherrif when headed back up...  luckily we were "almost" behavig at both instances

Great time, great ride, great folks!!

[bpg]

I'm moving tomorrow.  No road trips for me.

Hickory Nut Gap Rd. is probably the curviest way to get from Newland to Banner Elk.  It's been years since I've been on it so I can't comment on the condition.

Ahh, I see it now, looks like a fun road!!  How's the pavement, any gravel, etc?  

thx for the tip, I'll have to check that out next time I'm up there.  

[Mr. Average]

Hickory Nut Gap is a good road and scenic, but very bumpy and broken up in places.  It is a high altitude road and parts of it do not get much sun in the winter so it takes a beating from the freeze thaw cycle every winter. It is hard to ride it in a "sporty" fashion because of this.  Just make sure your rebound setting is softened up before you ride it.  

[cultureslayer]

Hickory Nut Gap is a good road and scenic, but very bumpy and broken up in places.  It is a high altitude road and parts of it do not get much sun in the winter so it takes a beating from the freeze thaw cycle every winter. It is hard to ride it in a "sporty" fashion because of this.  Just make sure your rebound setting is softened up before you ride it.  

Thanks for the info!

Last time I was on it was in a car with my father driving and he drives so slow it's impossible to notice anything about the road other than WhyTF aren't we going faster?!  

[Mr. Average]

Thanks for the info!

Last time I was on it was in a car with my father driving and he drives so slow it's impossible to notice anything about the road other than WhyTF aren't we going faster?!  

I noticed you posted that your family formerly owned a home in Newland.  My wife and I have a house in Land Harbor which in a few months will be our full time location when we retire.  Did you grow up in the area?  I grew up in McDowell co. but lived in the Boone area for many years.

[cultureslayer]

I noticed you posted that your family formerly owned a home in Newland.  My wife and I have a house in Land Harbor which in a few months will be our full time location when we retire.  Did you grow up in the area?  I grew up in McDowell co. but lived in the Boone area for many years.

Nah, grew up in the Hilton Head area but the grandparents always owned a second home in the Newland/Linville area until recently.  Their last place was in Land Harbor.  Of course they sell it right as I am starting to put a lot of miles on the bike, not that it was much to begin with (a shack to pull a motorhome up next to, then the motorhome area was turned into a living room and bedroom).