Ducati Monster Forum

Ruined a perfectly good ride by making ridiculous stops to take pictures.  I still missed the good portions but this are the only ones I good get for about 30 miles in places where I could stop.  The other were too dangerous to stop (endanger me or other in traffic) and nowhere to really park safely.
Oh well, I hope I am not ruining this route but you know I only came to know about this road because someone shared it.

pics are in flickr and grouped as a set.  hope this link works.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374145@N02/sets/72157627549385140/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374145@N02/sets/72157627549385140/)

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I guess it must not be a twisty rural/country road riding crowd up here.    :'(

 [evil]

nice pics, looks like a great road!

there was much talk on here about SR555 in ohio a year or so ago, i take it this is the same road?


dolph should be out there riding somewhere  [Dolph]  ;)

These roads are what I'm all about, baby.

This was the trip I took with 3 friends last Sunday - LOTS of nice twisty roads :)

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=7500+Greenmeadow+Drive,+Tobaccoville,+NC&daddr=36.3014312,-80.4556663+to:36.31273,-80.50004+to:900+N+Carolina+268,+Pilot+Mountain,+NC+27041+to:36.44488,-80.47325+to:U.S.+52+N%2FFancy+Gap+Hwy+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:N+Carolina+89+S%2FW+Pine+St+to:36.48432,-80.75293+to:36.3952569,-80.7874376+to:Unknown+road+to:36.16994,-80.45507+to:36.19983,-80.38417+to:36.1212518,-80.2815444+to:Silas+Creek+Pkwy&hl=en&ll=36.145361,-80.333061&spn=0.224011,0.528374&sll=36.157558,-80.323792&sspn=0.223976,0.528374&geocode=FTMmKQIdDFM1-yk_npujE0tSiDEOBeVDjde0gQ%3BFXfqKQIdDlg0-ylf2YY29jVSiDGs3ndEXZIpEQ%3BFZoWKgIduKoz-ylH9XizLDRSiDEAZUR7MUyugg%3BFU4HKwIdGM4z-ylhrMB8pjdSiDH2NLuJmyAWHw%3BFdAaLAIdXhM0-ymd_vHXYThSiDHST1Q_BXWdtg%3BFXp3LwIdWrsw-w%3BFdYILgIdZYst-w%3BFca0LAIdcdUv-w%3BFeC0LAId3s4v-yk3b__86CZSiDF2NHO2EHOxEQ%3BFfhYKwIdE0gv-ynTh2jEQShSiDGyedIoKO2bDw%3BFQBBKwIdaIUw-w%3BFdToJwIdYlo0-ykl2TfPibVTiDHyg70tC4PPxw%3BFZZdKAIdVm81-yl3n2qOlbRTiDHyDuTEgYTpow%3BFaMqJwIdOAA3-ylDnVsG_LFTiDFvgJ4LhkV2AQ%3BFa9ZJgIduqY3-w&vpsrc=6&mra=dpe&mrsp=11&sz=12&via=1,2,4,8,9,11,12,13&z=12 (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=7500+Greenmeadow+Drive,+Tobaccoville,+NC&daddr=36.3014312,-80.4556663+to:36.31273,-80.50004+to:900+N+Carolina+268,+Pilot+Mountain,+NC+27041+to:36.44488,-80.47325+to:U.S.+52+N%2FFancy+Gap+Hwy+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:N+Carolina+89+S%2FW+Pine+St+to:36.48432,-80.75293+to:36.3952569,-80.7874376+to:Unknown+road+to:36.16994,-80.45507+to:36.19983,-80.38417+to:36.1212518,-80.2815444+to:Silas+Creek+Pkwy&hl=en&ll=36.145361,-80.333061&spn=0.224011,0.528374&sll=36.157558,-80.323792&sspn=0.223976,0.528374&geocode=FTMmKQIdDFM1-yk_npujE0tSiDEOBeVDjde0gQ%3BFXfqKQIdDlg0-ylf2YY29jVSiDGs3ndEXZIpEQ%3BFZoWKgIduKoz-ylH9XizLDRSiDEAZUR7MUyugg%3BFU4HKwIdGM4z-ylhrMB8pjdSiDH2NLuJmyAWHw%3BFdAaLAIdXhM0-ymd_vHXYThSiDHST1Q_BXWdtg%3BFXp3LwIdWrsw-w%3BFdYILgIdZYst-w%3BFca0LAIdcdUv-w%3BFeC0LAId3s4v-yk3b__86CZSiDF2NHO2EHOxEQ%3BFfhYKwIdE0gv-ynTh2jEQShSiDGyedIoKO2bDw%3BFQBBKwIdaIUw-w%3BFdToJwIdYlo0-ykl2TfPibVTiDHyg70tC4PPxw%3BFZZdKAIdVm81-yl3n2qOlbRTiDHyDuTEgYTpow%3BFaMqJwIdOAA3-ylDnVsG_LFTiDFvgJ4LhkV2AQ%3BFa9ZJgIduqY3-w&vpsrc=6&mra=dpe&mrsp=11&sz=12&via=1,2,4,8,9,11,12,13&z=12)

Also, my favorite local weekend road - "The Gap"

lets try this with a shorter URL...

http://g.co/maps/62as (http://g.co/maps/62as)

 [Dolph]

ha ha - i knew i would get a response if I say that...   ;D


Yes, the very same.  

Indeed   [Dolph]


g0aIeB  - maybe i will make it out there one day.  But as mention before a rider that i know witnessed the accident recently that involved the big-rig and bike.  That is some crazy road and not sure if I got the balls for that road.

If you can ride 555, Deal's Gap isn't much worse...I went down last summer on my GT1000 and had a great time.  Important thing is to keep your speed manageable, not only for the curves, but so you don't run into someone ahead wobbling on their 700 pound cruiser.
Deals Gap Short (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvjzSqMJbo8#)

Oh555 looks [Dolph]

velocipede - sorry but you really ought to fix your lines mate, you're not using half the road on left handers and you're hitting the inside of your lane way too early. I'm sure you weren't looking for feedback here but this is the internets and you posted a vid.

I assume that part of that is defensive. LOTS of blind turns on that road, and cutting the right handers early keeps you a bit out of harm's way.

Here's my Gap vid since another was posted. You'll notice I cheat the inside a outside a little too.

Tail of the Dragon 2011 (http://www.vimeo.com/27792285)

I haven't been to Ohio in years but I think I might make a pilgrimage up that way early next year.

Point was that he was on the center line in left handers way too soon with nowhere to go. That kind of line won't help anyone.

Yeah, I figured I'd get some feedback on that video....hell, I look at it and think "Man, that's not so good!" Eh, it was hot and I was tired, and, hey, I'm still learning, and always will be.   [Dolph]

Aren't we all mate.  [thumbsup]

some of the youngsters - fast and furious type of car dudes took 555 recently.  I hear one went off the road and had to change his tire.  

artful - looks like you hitting it hard.  curious what is avg speeds ? if you ever visit 555, do let me know if want to ride with handful.

velocipede - thx sharing vids.  i will hopefully go out there next year if all variables are good.  Is the gap have lots of gravel on top of being extremely technical ?  btw, I am sure will see you out on 555 sometime  [Dolph]

i have been going to 555 by myself lately and practice being in front as opposed to hitting it harder when there is a lead bike.  it's a whole different story being in front.  but better to ride with at-least 2 people in case of emergency.  there are places there where no one will find you if ...

like many, I am still practising.  sometimes my balls hang, sometimes I can't find them.  It's weird.

I tell you what, do not go r536.  they patched it up and there is tons of the tar strip across and on a hot day our back tires were just spinning the whole way.  we swore we will never set foot on that road again.  we even wondered if it was done on purpose to discourage bikes.

ps.  feed backs are always a good thing.  its only way to learn and improve.  i rarely find any feedbacks sadly rather too much thrash talking from ppl which i really hate.  got 555 vid on my signature which will give an idea of the road but am on triumph s3 in front of camera (wow shameful solicitation for feedbacks   :P).

I can't wait to get back out to r555 next month.  Anxiously waiting.....  

1st ride will be slow and kind of like mission to investigate the road conditions after winter.

Those roads remind me a lot of Lancaster County, PA

Only the pavement is in much better condition

 [Dolph]

Hahaha bet you make the Amish quite jealous.

And I'm jealous of all you guys with nice roads. I have to ride over an hr just to find some nice twistys.

Ain't that the truth. When I go up to PA the back ways (aka not to Philly) you can see the state border from a way off due to the pavement change.

Amusing anecdote about taking the Monster up to Lancaster. Was stopped for gas n grub at a Wawa when a PA state trooper strolls up and asks me if I'd been pulled over that day. I hadn't and responded as such. "Oh, one of the other troopers in the area radioed that they had pulled over a nice looking Ducati earlier. Haven't seen a duc up here in a couple weeks so I figured it was you. Nice bike and ride safe."

Didn't really think about it too much - but yeah in that area I only really ever say cruisers and the occasional BWM

SP:

This wasn't in say November was it? It was an unusually nice day for this time of year and I definitely got  [leo] somewhere around that time. He let me off with a verbal warning so all was good.

And I know what you mean by the roads. If I don't head north into the mountains, I ride south into Maryland. Even on the shittiest back country roads, there is a solid line between crappy PA pavement and nice Maryland pavement. Amazes me every time.

Yes, certain sections of the road condition really suck.  gravel and the patch as you an see in the video is just horrible.  but that road is addicting and am glad have access to it.


Takes me an hour to get to this twisty too.  But it is so well worth it.  It is a fun and technical road for me.

one of our ride video

2010-09-19 - Route 555 - Ride (Part 1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xrcIqE3ubo#)

Dang Artful, watching your vid you were my hero till those 2 cats blew by you.    ;D

 [thumbsup]   [Dolph]  then  [drink]