2010 ST.N National Routes and Places to See Thread

[R Doug]

EDIT:  In summary, here are the various routes posted in this thread:

Luvtoride’s routes.

Her route file is right here:
http://chornbe.com/motorcycles/rides/

Lewisburg Clover Leaf Routes

And here are Doug's route files, too.

http://chornbe.com/motorcycles/rides/STN_National_2010_Clover.gdb

http://chornbe.com/motorcycles/rides/STN_National_2010_Clover.gpx

WV/VA Ultimate Twisty Route

And as if on cue...

(right click, "save link as...")
http://chornbe.com/motorcycles/rides/stn_2010_ultimate_wv_twisties.gdb

http://chornbe.com/motorcycles/rides/

[R Doug]

As follows are places of interest along the Clover Leaf Route above:

NE loop –

*  Skyline Drive

*  Blue Ridge Parkway

*  The Homestead Resort  http://www.thehomestead.com

*  Jefferson Hot Pools  http://www.virginiawind.com/virginia_travel/warm_springs.asp

*  Natural Chimneys and Grand Caverns   http://www.uvrpa.org/


SE loop –

*  Natural Bridge, Virginia  http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/

SW loop -

*  Indian Creek Covered Bridge  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Creek_Covered_Bridge

*  Hungry Mother State Park  http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/hun.shtml  

*  Virginia and WV Route 16 – the main reason to do this loop.  If you’ve never ridden this road, BE CAREFUL!  It’s tight and technical.  

NW loop –

*  Gauley Bridge, WV

*  New River Bridge   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_River_Gorge_Bridge

*  Hawk’s Nest State Park  http://www.hawksnestsp.com/


Around the Lewisburg area:

*  Lost World Caverns  http://www.lostworldcaverns.com/

*  Greenbrier Resort Congressional Bunker  http://www.greenbrier.com/site/bunker.aspx

[Scratch33]

Smoke Hole Road?

[R Doug]

Smoke Hole Road?

SHR is not included in the routes above, but one could certainly work SHR into a nice day ride.

Using a fairly direct route to and from, the shortest loop to include SHR would be ~260 miles.

FYI, Smoke Hole Road is between via points "B" and "C" in the interactive map below...


View Larger Map

[Oilhed]

Smoke Hole Road?

Dolly Sods?

[R Doug]

Dolly Sods?

Dolly Sods isn't included in the routes above either.  That area is slightly north east of Smoke Hole Road.  And, FWIW, a dual sport bike would be better for it's all gravel up there.  

Both Dolly Sods and Smoke Hole Road are wonderful places.  I'm didn't include them in my proposed routes mostly because these areas are usually more associated with rides from the Canaan Valley Resort area and since we picked Lewisburg over CVR, I left them out.  

But, that's not to say they are not worth including in a proposed day ride loop.  If there's enough interest, I would be happy to propose a ride covering those areas.  And, I'm sure you and a few other members here know the area very well too.  

[sprint_st]

Doug, ya know I may be a bit biased ---- well no, I AM biased , but maybe a list of bad roads in WV would be easier to deal with .  There are going to be so many old hand WV riders at this event, I'm sure no one is going to be lacking for tour guides.

[Oilhed]

That hot spring looks good!

[R Doug]

I hope others will post up routes with details.  Selfishly, these four routes are the ones I plan on taking and I posted them up as options.  

I plan on offering maps and GPS files that people can use if they want to use any of these suggested routes.  My only hope is if other suggested routes are posted, the author provides details sufficient that anyone can get the information and ride the route w/o problems.  I'm hoping SWRiverstone shares some of the hidden gems he's found in this area with us.

[Grove Rat]

Thanks for posting the routes.  

[hillbilly]

I am going to throw out a route that I know but don't have it mapped out yet. It's south out of the Brier to Ronceverte WV. Then west to Hinton WV. Route 3 is some really good riding as far west as you want to go. Check out the Bluestone Dam for one of the stops. Anyone wanting more info give me a shout.

[R Doug]

I am going to throw out a route that I know but don't have it mapped out yet. It's south out of the Brier to Ronceverte WV. Then west to Hinton WV. Route 3 is some really good riding as far west as you want to go. Check out the Bluestone Dam for one of the stops. Anyone wanting more info give me a shout.

A friend of mine who lived in Bluefield, WV just recommended this road too.  Thanks  

I'm going to modify my NE loop to this which includes Rt. 3 and the ever-so-popular New River Bridge.

[chornbe]

I hope others will post up routes with details.  Selfishly, these four routes are the ones I plan on taking and I posted them up as options.  

I plan on offering maps and GPS files that people can use if they want to use any of these suggested routes.  My only hope is if other suggested routes are posted, the author provides details sufficient that anyone can get the information and ride the route w/o problems.  I'm hoping SWRiverstone shares some of the hidden gems he's found in this area with us.

Doug, I'd love to steal your route files. I've been on all those roads but never as a ride leader, so I'd rather follow someone else's established route than to try to blunder my way through making some routes and end up missing a class-a gem.  


I'm taking a slightly different approach to riding this year... I'm going. If people wanna come along, that's fine. I'm not officially leading any rides and I'm not following in any groups. If we see folks on the road, great. If not, that's fine too. I had a lot of fun leading the ride in Lake Placid, but I felt like I had to always check my six to make sure I had the whole group together and there were no issues. I'm happy to do that locally, but in an area I don't know that well, I found it very stressful.

[bungie4]

A friend of mine who used to live in Bluefield, WV just recommended this road too.  Thanks  

I rolled video on Route 3 (Creamery Road) during the FJR Forums EOM08. Great road and at the time, it had just been repaved.

Enjoy!  http://bungie4.blip.tv/file/1310652/

[falconati]

Those look awesome.  Here's a dumb question: will any GPS understand the same file formats, or are they brand specific (e.g. TomTom files cannot be read with a Garmin device, vice versa)?

I plan on putting Garmin GPS' on both my bikes this Spring, but am just trying to learn more about them before I actually go out and make a purchase.

PS - DonkeyBallz (maybe I'll call you DBz...) - are you planning on bringing the Uly, or still up in the air?

[chornbe]

Those look awesome.  Here's a dumb question: will any GPS understand the same file formats, or are they brand specific (e.g. TomTom files cannot be read with a Garmin device, vice versa)?

I plan on putting Garmin GPS' on both my bikes this Spring, but am just trying to learn more about them before I actually go out and make a purchase.

PS - DonkeyBallz (maybe I'll call you DBz...) - are you planning on bringing the Uly, or still up in the air?

I'm definitely bringing the Ulie, and you're certainly welcome to take it for a ride. My bikes are always available for test rides if someone doesn't prove themselves a complete tool. I *might* bring both. That's the only point I'm up in the air about.

As for the GPS, the GPX file format is considered the universal interchange format. Most GPSes, or at least their PC-side software and import and export GPX format.  

[falconati]

Awesome - thank you!  I think I'm going to make a GPS thread now..

[R Doug]

I am going to throw out a route that I know but don't have it mapped out yet. It's south out of the Brier to Ronceverte WV. Then west to Hinton WV. Route 3 is some really good riding as far west as you want to go. Check out the Bluestone Dam for one of the stops. Anyone wanting more info give me a shout.

I rolled video on Route 3 (Creamery Road) during the FJR Forums EOM08. Great road and at the time, it had just been repaved.

Enjoy!  http://bungie4.blip.tv/file/1310652/

I revised my NW loop to include Rt. 3 now.  Thanks!

[R Doug]

For those of you traveling to the National in from the west (especially through the eastern parts of Kentucky and Tennessee), I have worked out some roads for my return trip home from Lewisburg which includes some insane twisties!

(of course, I plan on taking several days to get home to Morgantown, WV from Lewisburg, WV   )

Here are some Google Earth shots of some excellent sections of road I plan to travel on Day 6 of my return trip home.  The thumbnails are clickable for the larger image.



Various shots of Rt. 160 (yes, it's two lane double yellow road).  





Various Roads in eastern KY



KY 1679 - reportedly a lane to lane and 1/2 of twisty goodness (10 mile section below)

[Dark Knight]

Hey guys...I'm new to this forum so i'll apologize for any mishaps or misques up front.  I own an '09 FJR and I just found your site and registered. Is this a rally for anyone on this forum and is Lewis... VA the site for this year? I like to join ya'll.