Deals Gap ( tail of the dragon )

[The raven]

good road but can be full of cops, tourists and big logging trucks,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

[GAScubaBum]

This little stretch of road may be the US equivalent of Stelvio. Ask 50 riders about the Dragon and you'll get 50 different opinions; half will be wonderful and half will be negative. I'm fortunate to live a mere 140 mile ride from Deals Gap, and I've ridden this little slice of heaven dozens of times over the last 10 years, and have never run into any problems. This is not to say they don't exist...they do. But chances are if you visit, you'll have an enjoyable ride. Sunny weekend days during the summer are the worst time to visit. If you ride there mid week you will enjoy it much more. I have some video's I made back in 2004 on a Sunday afternoon that I can post up to youtube if anyone is interested. Pretty boring stuff actually...15 minute single camera shots of a sedate ride from one end to the other, with no peg scraping or crashes along the way. But the second trip that day (around 4:30PM) was remarkably traffic free, and even the first trip was mostly unencumbered by slower riders. For me, getting there and back is most of the fun. All of the roads in that are are great to ride on; the Dragon just has the added joy of being free from side streets, driveways, etc.

[Michael J]

Ask 50 riders about the Dragon and you'll get 50 different opinions...

+1

It's VERY technical. While I wouldn't make a pilgrimage to ride it, I certainly wouldn't pass up the opportunity for a "lap" or two if I were in the vicinity. As GAScubaBum said, the roads in that area are littered with motorcycle-perfect roads - almost no bad choices.

But visit mid-week.

It's also an easy half-days ride down to Leeds, Alabama from there and the Barber Motorsports Park/Museum - which is worth a day (or two) by itself.

http://www.fratellibrothers.com/Motorcycles/Barber-Motorsports-Museum/546908_rjhkmH

http://www.fratellibrothers.com/Motorcycles/Barber-Motorsports-Museum-20/10066014_XJcxPz

He also has a nice collection of Lotuses (Loti?).

I hope that Santa was good to all of you - among other things I received copies of "Jupiter's Travels" and "Dreaming of Jupiter" - both of which have been on my list of books to read for far too long.

That's about to be rectified

[iomrob]

got to say, those guys can handle the wings

[GAScubaBum]

New footage from the US cable channel of The Dragon. Overly sensationalized IMHO, but all of it is real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16YnmJN0fc

Much of this was shot just a few weeks ago (except the accident video footage, which was stock footage provided for the show). I was aware of the filming, but was unable to break away to get there. Just as well...I fear this clip will scare away the more sedate riders and draw in more of the squids who think they are a bigger badass than the road is.

[Michael J]

Thanks for the heads up - I'll need to set my Tivo up to record it when it plays.

[GAScubaBum]

Michael it's already aired on Discovery, but they tend to rerun things often so perhaps you can record it then.

[pingvin]

good road but can be full of cops, tourists and big logging trucks,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

Seen it before...impressing and confirm the 10% bike, 90% rider theory

Not equally impressive...especially the guy fiming, don't think he likes left hand corners http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18-uoqJo ... r_embedded

[GAScubaBum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZUdtzKSloQ

Finally got around to re-editing and uploading the footage I shot there back in 2004. I was on a BMW K75RT then...all you can see of my bike is the lower right side of the windshield. The camera was mounted to the right handlebar. We rode pretty much at or slightly above the speed limit the whole way, definitely not pushing it. It was late on a Sunday afternoon and by then the traffic (idiots on sport bikes with more bike than skill) had pretty much died down. The only scary moment comes at about 12:35 when 2 guys towing jeeps come a little bit too close for comfort to the lead bike and he slowed way down for a bit. Less than stellar video quality compared to what you can shoot today...shot with a non HD camcorder using DAT tape. The Lumix LX-3 still shot camera does a much better job on video. See my other YouTube videos for proof.

[BourneToRide]

The GS rider did really well not using his brakes at all
Until 10 minutes in when he puts the hammer down until scared by that truck towing a trailer
Your lines were pretty sharp though

[GAScubaBum]

Your lines were pretty sharp though

Thanks! I try to carve a crisp line without straying out of my lane. Not always successful but I did okay this time.

[gunnert]

I usually ride the Dragon with my wife 2-up. I favorite thing to do is take along a six pack, ride half way through, pull over, and watch the idiots that can't ride go by... It's a HOOT! The hard part about riding the Dragon is it's almost all blind corners. And when you can't see through a corner it's pretty difficult to pick a good line. This is one road you don't site see on. Our favorite east coast roads are in West Virginia, a bikers paradise, great roads, plenty of twisties (no hairpins , well, I know of one), and almost no traffic.

[Michael J]

Our favorite east coast roads are in West Virginia, a bikers paradise, great roads, plenty of twisties (no hairpins , well, I know of one), and almost no traffic.

What traffic there is tends to be logging trucks*, though


*articulated lorries

[gunnert]

Never had any issues with logging trucks in WV. Very few vehicles anywhere on the secondary roads.

If you guys get to Deals Gap don't pass up a chance to ride "The Snake" on 421. This stretch of road has the best sweepers I've ever ridden. And 58 east, through Cherokee National Forest is no slouch either! Sure, there are bikes but nothing like you see in the Dolomites in the summer.