Looking For Some "Hidden Treasures" & Route Advice in N.C. & TN.

[sprint_st]

Bypassing WV, and Western VA to ride this so-called "Dragon", is like choosing a hotdog over a free steak dinner !

I'll never understand it.

 

Yep, and there are places in central PA, and lots of other places along the way that are as much fun but without having to endure the circus.

I totally concur with Sevicerifle on putting roads on the web but the Northerner/Southerner stuff is in my "opinion" BS.
This is my list of great cycle road killers:
1. Giving a road a name - Dragon, Snake, Devil's Triangle, Diamondback, etc.
2. Putting the road on the net - public GIS route site, Group Rider, etc.
3. Talking to much about the roads on forums with very wide distribution.

You can't hide the good roads and you should show them to your riding buddies.  Just don't advertise them to the planet.  Like Servicerifle alluded to, when you go to a new area try to contact someone in that area to show you the local routes.  

I've been riding from PA to N.Ga to include WV, VA, MD, SC, NC, and TN since about 1965.  IMO, two groups of riders have ruined the most roads for me.  One are the packs of cruisers that hold up even bicycle riders.  The other is moron crotch rocketers who piss off the locals with there antics and bring in the LEO's.

[OSJ]

I still don't believe in karma, guys, but since you do, don't you think your inner happiness in another's misfortune might bring some bad karma your way too?

Im getting no inner happiness from anyone misfortune...

[CJBurbank]

Fortunately or unfortunately....depending on your point of view (I know you'll be happy servicerifle), I won't be able to make the trip this year. My folks are taking my wife and I to Europe which I'm very excited for, but was also a bit disappointed because I was looking for to this trip (I know....I know I'm bitching over an awesome free vacation   ) The goal is to do it in 2012 which will give me more than enough time to plan out an epic trip. I do appreciate all the feedback from everyone sincerely.

As for karma servicerifle, I was pissed to hear that some prick took your bike, so I take no pleasure in hearing that. I'm not going to sit here and bash you about that, especially after you've served our country as a member of our armed forces. Maybe you don't like us "yankees" but I'm not going to get into a pissing contest and wish bad things upon someone who put their life on the line for this country (believe it or not, us "yankees" do have a heaaaaaart!)

Just remember, at some point we all ask for road advice at one time or another...........do you remember this? http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,5700.0.html  

[servicerifle]

Yes, I do, but I always have a stipulation, and the longer I ride the more I take it to heart...

I want a local to be a part of the experience, and/or keep it off the internet, like Sprint_ST said.

In fact, if your trip South (which now you unfortunately can't make) I'd be genuinelyhappy to show you around.  That goes for anyone as long as they're not a total asshat on a bike, but can keep up.  


Looked at another way, it kinda chafes me when someone walks into the room and says "Where all the hot womenz at?!"  Well.  Before you come into the neighborhood and start taking my time with my local "J-Lo look-alike" away, how about become my buddy so I don't get hot under the collar?  Similarly,why don't you show yourself friendly to a few locals and ride with them?  I did the same when I took that trip in '07, I met a lot of good folks and they took me riding on their roads.  




On karma, I'm probably one of the minority in this forum who has spent significant time in SE Asia.  If it weren't for the fact that I'm agnostic, I'd be Buddhist.  That's coming from a Christian upbringing.  I like the idea of it but still don't put stock in a mystical force that rewards good and bad.  Things are just what they are.  I'm saying this because I understand karma quite well, I just don't believe things are connected that way.

Lastly, I haven't been in the military since 1997.  Done a lot of work for them since, though.     The real credit goes to the men and women STILL signing up (and have been for the last 10 years now) knowing full well what they're getting into.

[freecatSV]

I'm starting to see servicerifle's point. I am the worst kind of Yankee (if being from Missouri makes me a Yankee... midwesterners don't see themselves that way, since they ALSO wear trucker hats and overalls without a hint of hipster "irony"); I moved to WNC. But now that I've been here a while I'd really like the chance to show you the roads I like, and even treat you to a good meal. But I would hate to see my favorite roads clogged with overpriced butt-jewelry just because they've been posted all over the internet. I used to think cars were a bummer, but most drivers around here will pull off and let motorcyclists by. Guess who doesn't let motorcycles go by?

[CJBurbank]

Yes, I do, but I always have a stipulation, and the longer I ride the more I take it to heart...

I want a local to be a part of the experience, and/or keep it off the internet, like Sprint_ST said.

In fact, if your trip South (which now you unfortunately can't make) I'd be genuinelyhappy to show you around.  That goes for anyone as long as they're not a total asshat on a bike, but can keep up.  


Looked at another way, it kinda chafes me when someone walks into the room and says "Where all the hot womenz at?!"  Well.  Before you come into the neighborhood and start taking my time with my local "J-Lo look-alike" away, how about become my buddy so I don't get hot under the collar?  Similarly,why don't you show yourself friendly to a few locals and ride with them?  I did the same when I took that trip in '07, I met a lot of good folks and they took me riding on their roads.  




On karma, I'm probably one of the minority in this forum who has spent significant time in SE Asia.  If it weren't for the fact that I'm agnostic, I'd be Buddhist.  That's coming from a Christian upbringing.  I like the idea of it but still don't put stock in a mystical force that rewards good and bad.  Things are just what they are.  I'm saying this because I understand karma quite well, I just don't believe things are connected that way.

Lastly, I haven't been in the military since 1997.  Done a lot of work for them since, though.     The real credit goes to the men and women STILL signing up (and have been for the last 10 years now) knowing full well what they're getting into.

I can kind of understand where you're coming from on this. However, I'm not going to bother someone by asking them to take time out of their day to lead me around. I'm not saying that to be a dick either, I'm saying that as a person who doesn't want to be a bother to anyone. I know people have their lives to lead and I don't want to be "that guy" who asks people to take him around. That being said, motorcyclist's are a unique breed and will talk with anyone that rides a bike (except for some of those H-D guys......you know who they are   )!!! I guess it wouldn't be far fetched to ask someone I guess. I suppose that many friendships or whatever you want to call it, have been created because of the communication from this forum.

[CJBurbank]

I'm starting to see servicerifle's point. I am the worst kind of Yankee (if being from Missouri makes me a Yankee... midwesterners don't see themselves that way, since they ALSO wear trucker hats and overalls without a hint of hipster "irony"); I moved to WNC. But now that I've been here a while I'd really like the chance to show you the roads I like, and even treat you to a good meal. But I would hate to see my favorite roads clogged with overpriced butt-jewelry just because they've been posted all over the internet. I used to think cars were a bummer, but most drivers around here will pull off and let motorcyclists by. Guess who doesn't let motorcycles go by?

That's very kind of you to offer that. As for those "overpriced butt jewelry" riders, they NEVER think to themselves, "I'm riding a bit slower than these guys, I'll just let them by as a courtesy". Unfortunately these select few have given some of the good H-D guys a bad name.

[servicerifle]

 I guess it wouldn't be far fetched to ask someone I guess.

Far fetched?!  Ha!  Any excuse whatsoever will get most people on this forum out on a bike and riding.  I was surprised that there was no "Kate Middleton Wedding Celebratory Ride" lol.  

A "Can someone show me around and lead me on some great roads?" would be quite refreshing, and welcomed.

I'm not always in the area, unfortunately, but when I am, I'm always up to show off some roads.

[freecatSV]

"Overpriced butt jewelry" does not only refer to H-Ds, or even cruisers necessarily.

[nantahala]

"Overpriced butt jewelry" does not only refer to H-Ds, or even cruisers necessarily.

I thought that referred to Ducatis...

[freecatSV]

I thought that referred to Ducatis...

 

[DXTL]

I would say order a madmaps of the region and go have fun with that.

www.madmaps.com

 
+1 for MadMaps. helps you to find the most scenic routes.

[sprint_st]

 
+1 for MadMaps. helps you to find the most scenic routes.

I guess if you don't have anything else, like a friend in the area they are OK, but they are just that OK.  They use liberal use of cartegraphic abstraction.  That means what you see on the map isn't always what you get on the ground.  Additionally what they choose for the routes often leaves a lot to be desired.  IMO, and I would think servicerifle too, that isn't always a bad thing for the locals.

Actually, I prefer a good Rand McNally gas station type road map because it just has more roads than MadMaps. MadMaps leaves a LOT of secondary road off.  Then again, I have the advantage of making my own maps.  That means I do my own research and that is the major flaw with using MadMaps, you have to depend on someone elses research.

[25knots]

didn't see if it was mentioned already, but nc 89 between MT airy and danbury has some great, tight banked curves.  north of that is squirrel spur rd., which runs right up to the blue ridge

[Hunter]

Honestly,there are no bad roads in the area. Got a compass? Pick a direction and go and you'll be more than satisfied, really no reason to hunt for "hidden" gems as their all good.

If you really want to get your heart rate up and have some sphincter tightening moments, stay in your back yard and ride 95 into Boston. Jeebus, I've never mined so much seat foam before or since and I was in an E-350.   You guy's are crazy.