NEW road I found in VA

[rando]

You guys might like this road. State Hwy 40 in VA. We picked it up off 220 in Rocky Mount VA and rode it til it ended on VA hwy 8 up abouve Stuart VA. Plenty of diamond S curve signs with 15 - 30 mph speeds on them. FOr miles.

Approx lat 36°47'32.07"N. Approx long. 80°16'38.09"W from Google Earth.

Unfortunately this was my first ride in rain on the LT and I was scared of the MEtzes from all youguys have said. I took it easy and felt no slipping. (The DRY tar snake the day before is a whole other butt-clencher, though). The good news is how dry we stayed, of course you guys knew this already.

I did get to ride on the range at the college for a few minutes after we got back home to dry asphalt. Got a better feel for leaning the beast and turning. Still at about 24' - 28' uturn. NEed some work on that stuff.

Holiday Inn at Starkey RDF in Roanoke is nice place to stay with rest. and lounge on site and very nice view of mountains. Closest HI to BRP. recommended.

Rando

[tarheel_rider]

Thanks for the road note.

On the ME880's I keep them aired at 42 / 48 when on the super slab or normal riding. When in the mountains, I lower them to 32 / 36. I had the rear kick out one time on a slick corner with the ME880, but as a point of reference, I was following a VFR all day who had Avons on the bike and he kicked out the rear 3 times that day - kind of gave me confidence in the tires as I had less struggles than he did on that particular road / surface / speed. Obviously I can't possibly keep up with him on dry surfaces and tight corners, but on wet roads the friction coefficient seemed to be better on the LT with ME880s than the VFR with Avons. I understand the friction may be even better with BTs or other tires, but I can't get too worked up about the ME880s. Have confidence in your tires, and if you can't with ME880s then swap them out. My $.02 YMMV.

[rando]

Thanks for the encouragement. Being my first time in tight stuff AND wet, I thought I should take it easy and did. We're home safely and that beats the alternative, even if waw slow and tedious. The protection from the elements was surprisingly good.

I am still not really comofrtable at times on the LT, but it gets better. High speed roads and sweepers are awesome on the bike and once you see the exit, the bike is great - twist and go. I'll get there.

Rando

[slugbug]

Hey Rando,

I will second your opinion for HWY 40 in Va! It is a must ride rode. I've ridden it several times. I like to get on it at Stuart and then ride it to Hwy 122 (I think)and go up to Smith Mountain Lake and then back. If you ever want to ride it together sometime give me a shout.

Later,
Brian

[rando]

Will do. I did get to ride NC 89 from Mount Airy to Danbury on Saturday. I've done it many times in the past. Another "must ride", but much easier than 40 in VA. Or maybe that's just familiarity speaking.

Have you ridden any of these? Squirrel Spur; Orchard Gap, Pipers Gap, all around Mount Airy?

Randy

[slugbug]

Hey Randy,

Yea, 89 is a nice road to ride on and I agree easier than Hwy 40 in VA, I usually come for the opposite direction headed towards Mt Airy and then turn south on Hwy 66 and ride towards King. Another great road. Very, very curvy road as it winds around Hanging Rock. IMO it is comparative to Deals Gap, just nowhere as long a stretch.

I'm not familar with the names (Squirrel Spur; Orchard Gap, Pipers Gap). I may have been on them just not knowing it.

Later,
Brian

[tarheel_rider]

Randy, Been on those a couple of times, can't wait to do them again. Let me know when you're out riding and with a little notice, I'll be there. Great roads all of them.

[jeffklt]

And when you get to Stuart keep on going following Rte 8 up to Floyd. Back when I played in a Bluegrass band in those parts we used to travel in a converted school bus and there were two curves that were three point for the bus, so steeply banked we would have to be careful about scraping the back of the bus. I was usually the designated driver, at night on the way home I would make the guys walk to the next turn with a flashlight to warn on coming traffic. Pipers Gap is another great riding area. Been at the beach for twenty some years and still miss those roads.

[BamaLT]

Thanks folks, I am that area tonight, just off I 81 near Marion VA, headed north up 49, then 220 into PA..... there are some great road here in Virginia for sure...

[pkpr1998]

Thanks folks, I am that area tonight, just off I 81 near Marion VA, headed north up 49, then 220 into PA..... there are some great road here in Virginia for sure...


Are you on our bike or the cage?

If you are coming back 81-S on Friday I will be coming back from Johnson City aboout mid-morning.

[BamaLT]

Are you on our bike or the cage?

If you are coming back 81-S on Friday I will be coming back from Johnson City aboout mid-morning.


Hey Brett, I'm on the LT... but will be Sunday or Monday before I back in that area... going to Flight 93 site, several other places in PA, and on Friday to Ground Zero, then head back via BRP and other scenic roads....

[rando]

Randy, Been on those a couple of times, can't wait to do them again. Let me know when you're out riding and with a little notice, I'll be there. Great roads all of them.

Let me know when you're in the area. WE'll find some roads somewhere. They are all so close, I can occasioinally get out and ride with someone for a littel while, like you said, with a little notice. Our weekends are prety full of little league and gymnastics competitions til t-giving though.

Hwy NC66 is a good one also. As is US 58 in VA. 58 gets REAL twisty after independence, headed towards Damascus. Haven't done 8 to Floyd, but 58 between Stuart and Hillsville, I think is a place called Lovers Leap that is pretty twisty too.

So many roads, so little time.

Bama LT: If you got time, let me know - I can give you some roads off the BRP that go down and across and back up to the BRP and are quite twisty. I'm around BRP mile marker 200. Give a shout - maybe do lunch or something if you have time.

Rando

[Powerman]

The north side of I-81 has some great roads because they are in the mountains. Try Rt 16 from Marion, Va Lat 36°50'41.77"N Long 81°30'3.37"W
up through Hungry Mother State Park, up to Rt42 36°58'5.29"N,
81°31'49.39"W. Then take Rt 42 East toward Bland, VA 37° 6'10.53"N,
81° 6'58.08"W. Stay on Rt42 when it connects to Rt100 turn left (North) toward Pearisburg go about 5 miles and take state road 730 (RT 42) right through the town to Eggleston on over to Rt 460. Turn right (east) on Rt 460 go about 3 miles and turn left on state route 783. Follow that to the top of the mountain. There you will find Mountain Lake, Virginia 37°21'21.06"N, 80°32'14.98"W. Thats where they filmed part of the movie Dirty Dancing. From there come back down the mountain. You have a choice or two to make from here. At the bottom of the mountain you can turn left on Zells Mill Road and then right on Clover Hollow Rd which takes you back toward Rt42. Turn left on Rt 42 and that takes you to New Castle VA then right Rt 311 back to I-81 in Roanoke or at the bottom of the mountain you can continue back to Rt 460 turn left and go East toward Blacksburg and hit I-81. The food is great at the hotel resturant but if you plan on spending the night make reservations in advance, it's a bit on the expensive side for a room.

[jeffklt]

You've got to be a Hokie to know all those roads :)

[Powerman]

Laffs! Nope was born and raised in the area. Worked at Mountain Lake hotel back in the early 60's as a high school kid summer job. Long before Dirty Dancing came along.. back then we called it Rock-en-Roll.