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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 09:29 pm: | 
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That's a great tale. We'll do our best to live up to your reputation.
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Whatever
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 09:45 pm: |
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I almost decided to not go tomorrow... I went and did a few laps on the dragon in 2003 after homecoming... at 8 AM on a Monday morning... by 930 AM there were crazy squids everywhere...
State Road 28 will get you to Deal's Gap... that is how I am coming and going up there... I probably won't ride the dragon all weekend... but I will hang out with some Buellers and that is good enough for me...
I think having one close friend die from a head injury was enough... I know it was enough to make me quit riding for a year and a half... I know it was a needless death... I also know he was stopped and the only real thing he did "wrong" was not wear a helmet...
That seems incomprehensible to me now... but I did do that now and again back then... in particular on the back of Victor's bike the weekend before... that day, my fate could have been the same as his was a week later...
I know I have made a poor judgement in a turn and had someone else come over the double yellow line at that exact same time and was just lucky I didn't go down...
It can happen to anyone... just arm yourself... good armor, proper working bike, NEVER drink and drive... even ONE IS TOO MANY... and for f*cks sake if you don't feel 100% just get off the road...
I had to get a hotel 90 miles away from "home" the other day... I was just ragged ass tired and knew that it was a bad idea to continue... it only takes a split second to have your life change forever...
I will be at the dragon... sitting at the resort, drinking sweet tea and looking and listening... and thanking god (if there is one) that I am not out there riding it...
Call me a sissy, I don't care, but I will take another day, any day, one more day to ride again...
(Message edited by Whatever on April 14, 2011) |
86129squids
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 10:24 pm: |
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Char- I don't recommend just sitting around at the hotel and watching peeps come and go on 129N- and the occasional motor home- and the occasional 18 wheeler- and...
For heaven's sake, just head down the Hellbender and relax...
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Cataract2
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 01:21 am: |
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Char, can't help but emphasize the no drinking and riding with 1 being to many. I call my bikes my sober machines. If I'm on them and I go to a party I don't drink even a drop. There's to much at stake on those machines and they require all you senses being 100%. |
Jb2
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 08:16 am: |
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Char, wise choice. I've been there many times but in the last few years haven't rode the Dragon because of all the traffic and mayhem. If you're taking 28 are you going through Franklin? If you're going that route about 10 miles west of Franklin is a place called Lost Bridge. It has become a pretty special place in the hearts of several who hang here. If you happen to find it stop, you'll see my pop's marker there. Ride Safe sister! |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 11:00 am: |
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US 129, aka the Dragon's Tail, is akin to a maze through the woods haunted by squids and pirates. The Cherohala Skyway is a nice open relaxing ride with nice overlooks. Maybe try that instead.
(Message edited by Blake on April 15, 2011) |
Sifo
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 12:23 pm: |
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I've heard that the law enforcement on the Cherohala can be quite severe. I can set a fun pace on the Dragon without a big risk of a ticket by simply keeping my speed down between the curves. To have an equal amount of "fun" on the Cherohala is going to put me square in the sights of the law.
143 heading to the Cherohala from Robbinsville is a choice piece of road though. Or is that considered part of the Cherohala?
The squid factor on the Dragon is always a concern though and I've never even been there on a weekend. |
Hybridmomentspass
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 12:40 pm: |
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Blake - thats crazy that a bunch of somalians are at the Gap these days. We really need to do something about those damn pirates.... |
Hybridmomentspass
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 12:41 pm: |
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ps - I was on the dragon on a Sunday morning, early spring, 9am ish.....It was four of us, saw two cars and one bike. It was great. |
86129squids
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 01:37 pm: |
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Blake- that was one of the best descriptions of the Dragon ever! LOL
IIRC, Char, you've not yet enjoyed the Cherohala, right? DO IT! From Deals Gap (Tapoco) you can either run 129S to Robbinsville (especially if food/gas is needed), or, you can take a cool shortcut to the beginning of the Cherohala through the Joyce Kilmer National Forest- one of the last standing old growth areas left in Appalachia. That's the way I like to go, but take it easy, the pavement is a little rough- not bad though.
If you make it over to Tellico Plains, don't forget about that delicious little bakery/pizzeria joint downtown...
Hate to say, but as of this writing I've been watching the radar and the rain will be moving into the area within a few hours- Saturday may be a washout- but Sunny on Sunday!!! |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 10:13 pm: |
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@Glitch
I know Buck Creek  |
Glitch
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 - 11:13 pm: |
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I know you know Buck Creek.
I'd bet there ain't nuthin I know you don't know.
Lost but not forgotten, Old Highway 10.
Sure makes ya feel old don't it.
Back before there was such a thing as "The Bypass" the "5 lane" or that thing cuttin across Old Fort Mountain, I-40.
You do realize Jerry's profile picture is from the Forbidden Land. |
Macbuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 12:59 pm: |
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Why does everyone need to go fast to have a nice ride? |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 01:26 pm: |
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Macbuell, my reply is only an opinion, and not the only "correct" answer to your question.
Speaking only for myself: I don't need to go fast to have a nice ride. If I did, I wouldn't be piloting an 800-pound motorcycle that makes maybe 80 horsepower. I do enjoy carving-up a twisty road on occasion, however, and the Road King does OK on this, depending on the conditions, i.e. "technicality" of the road, traffic conditions, weather conditions, my condition, etc.
I also enjoy opening a jaundiced eye now and then, which the RK has done several times over the years. It's no sportbike, but most of the folks who bemoan a Harley's inability to ___________ (please fill in the blank) have never, ever ridden one.
My favorite type of riding of all - and I'm probably showing my age here - is what you might call "adventure putting," just tooling down a lazy country road on a warm summer afternoon that I've perhaps never ridden before, simply for the joy of wondering what's around the next bend, and the ability to find out on such a pleasant, good-looking chunk of throbbing American iron.
I probably haven't answered your question, and everyone else is gonna have a different take, but hey, I gave it a shot.
Take care,
FB |
86129squids
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 01:45 pm: |
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Jerry- I'm with ya, buddy- did just that on my old '77 Shovel yesterday. With straight pipes, GOTTA wear good earplugs, and given the range of the 4speed, it CAN "kinda" haul A if need be, but puttin' is the order of the day.
Plus it's fun pulling up to my old place of work on the Shovel, with a white fullface and my Buell jacket on...
I enjoy a hot lap in the mountains on my XB from time to time, but as I age I DO know I'm slowing down in general. |
Reindog
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 01:51 pm: |
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You should have seen FB "adventure putting" at Torquefest II, through the Spars and the subsequent banzai run into Showlow with civilians on the road.
I guess we were going fast to make it to beer-thirty. Or watch Al make the claimed swan dive off the third floor railing onto the puffy pool roof.
"Adventure putting", indeed. |
Sifo
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 01:56 pm: |
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Why does everyone need to go fast to have a nice ride?
Last summer at the Dragon we stopped at a nice sitting rock to just watch the world go by. We struck up a conversation with another couple that turned to this topic. We started critiquing riders as they went by. Some slow with poor technique. Some fast with good technique. Scary ones riding way faster than their technique was good for. For the most part the best were those at a moderate pace that also showed good technique. Those riders make it look effortless and smooth. It's my favorite sort of riding personally. It's also easy on the equipment and tickets. I do wonder how often the LEOs really manage to catch the real knee draggers though. |
Sayitaintso
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 02:02 pm: |
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I do wonder how often the LEOs really manage to catch the real knee draggers though.
A couple of times a friend of mine thats a recently retired LEO has made comments that sometimes he thought...naw it aint worth the risk/cost of going after them.....Darwin will sort things out.
And you know, I kinda agree with him. They may not kill themselves but a couple pins and plates here and there and there will slow them down for good. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 02:06 pm: |
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Jerry- I'm with ya, buddy- did just that on my old '77 Shovel yesterday.
Hey Getridofsquidsonthedragon, my first H-D was a '76 Shovel, so I'm gettin' your vibe.
Me 'n Alex did some adventure "muddin'" Sunday. Turns out (for not the first time) that the Road King does OK in the dirt, too: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/681 7/627612.html?1303233098
"Adventure putting", indeed.
Hey Reindawg, I didn't say it was my only type of riding, just my favorite. Besides, me 'n D were on the FJR, and "putting" on that bike is a waste of perfectly good horsepower. |
Sifo
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 02:20 pm: |
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A couple of times a friend of mine thats a recently retired LEO has made comments that sometimes he thought...naw it aint worth the risk/cost of going after them.....Darwin will sort things out.
That part kind of gets me. I'll get a ticket for being 15 over the limit every time, but some guy running at +double the limit stands a good chance of getting away with it. I understand the reasoning, and even mostly agree, but it does make me question how fast do I have to go to not get chased. I think that's the wrong question to be asking myself though. |
Sayitaintso
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 02:31 pm: |
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Tom, I'm in the same boat as you. |
Buellerandy
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 02:48 pm: |
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Sifo,
I'd like to elaborate on that topic.
Apparently 90-110 is just fast enough to be in a high speed pursuit and not know it.( obviously I found out) 
So I would assume 111+ will increase your chance of the Leo waiting for the next guy. |
Macbuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 03:38 pm: |
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There were a lot of comments in this thread about the Cherohala Skyway and how they felt they needed to ride fast to enjoy it. And, as a result, thought it was more dangerous than the Dragon. I really don't get that. I rode the Skyway at a nice pace and loved every mile of it. That's where my comment came from. |
Rainman
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 03:54 pm: |
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Char, considering the trip you took, ain't no one questioning your street cred.
Jerry: Your description of your motorcycle makes me think you know it just a little too well, if you get my drift.  |
Drkside79
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 04:06 pm: |
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Sifo,
As you are from the same area as I am. I believe the rule of thumb around here is if you are at the century mark and pass a cop open it up as you are losing your license anyway. Plus @ 100 on a Chicagoland highway you will be away and off at the next exit before they even get out.
On the flip side your also suicidal in my opinion as i would hate to hit a Chicago pot hole at that speed. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 04:06 pm: |
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I rode the Skyway at a nice pace and loved every mile of it.
Macbuell, I've ridden the Skyway three (maybe four?) times over the years, dating back to the late 90's. I've ridden it at several different paces, and enjoyed it each time. There's no question there are dramatically more motorcycles there on a weekend during the season than what I remember from last century. Too bad they can't close it down to bikes only once or twice a month?
Jerry: Your description of your motorcycle makes me think you know it just a little too well, if you get my drift.
Rainman, point taken, but Denise knows it even better than I do..............
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Kenm123t
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 07:57 pm: |
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Marvin the Martian Rides Who Knew! |
86129squids
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 10:37 pm: |
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Whazzup, Vince? |
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