COFSTA

Ok. Great day! I stopped by Lee's abode and he led me on one of his secret roads to 268 to Hadley's in Wilksboro. There we met up with Bob B, Don, and Steve. Bob led us up to 58 which had lots of "Crap" all over it. Then over to the snake. We were the only bikes there?!?! WTF... Oh yea, the work thing [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND SMILING EYES]
The ride over the Snake was great! Then some great smaller roads... just the kind I love! Bob canard some detail. I'll just post the route, a jpg of it from my app Checkmytour. The straight part is impossible to ride but the app crashed in Wilksboro and I didn't realize that until we got to the Snake were I started another route.

And then this:

Great ride... Oh yea Lee and I split off at Todd, NC to head toward Lenior/Morganton.


I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

I hoped the past rains had washed all the crap off Hwy 58. Guess not. Great weather to ride today. I plan to get out Friday / Sat. Looking at your route it looks like you went to Wilkesboro and got on a plane !

Yeah, was a fun ride up 18 to US58, then over Whitetop Mtn. into Damascus, VA and Shady Valley. Then a run back up the sssssSnake and Big Laurel to 3-Top Rd and a final stop in Todd, before we all split up and went our merry ways. Home at 6:00 PM, 9.5 hours and 358 miles for me.

Here's a few pics from the Shady Valley Store.

Fun ride gents! A little more rain and traffic should finish clearing the roads.

It turns out my windshield isn't worth a crap as a camera mount so no joy without a bunch of post processing to stabilize the video. I'll try tomorrow and see if the computer can churn through it without melting.

Where is Brick?!

Those guys and their BMWs. Got home and pulled the rear wheel on the VFR. The gnarliest tire ever:

The imaginary girlfriend came out to greet me and we took the K12S up towards Hanging Rock for a sunset ride. Cruised into town, grabbed a bite at Jersey Mike's subs, and brought them home. Still don't know how oil and vinegar stayed in its cup in my saddle bag. Good day, guys!

What kind is a tire was that?


I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

Looks like you guys had a great ride. Sorry I missed it. Pulled my forks and intalled a new, heavier Traxxion spring and cartridge but did not have the good sense to install new bushings and seals. They are on order. Did manage a short ride today but the oil is still dripping from the old seal. My bad.

Brick wrote:What kind is a tire was that?


I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

Bridgestone T30. They are good tires under regular use, and even some hooligan stuff. I might use them on the BMW once I run through all the other tires.

Also of note, Bob is fast as a mountain goat over rough road surfaces. Thanks for the spirited pace.

And thanks to Brick for trying to wave me by on the Snake. I know better... Maybe with some new rubber and a clean road.

007 wrote:Also of note, Bob is fast as a mountain goat over rough road surfaces. Thanks for the spirited pace.

Hah. And as jeky as one too. You must have been too far back to see my ass puckering on 58. But the GS's shock travel does help on rough surfaces.

beemerbob wrote:

007 wrote:Also of note, Bob is fast as a mountain goat over rough road surfaces. Thanks for the spirited pace.

Hah. And as jeky as one too. You must have been too far back to see my ass puckering on 58. But the GS's shock travel does help on rough surfaces.

I guess that means all those radar detector citations collected in VA, still have not improved 58??? That road has been rapidly deteriorating since the heavy ice in 2008/2009, and all they do is cold patch it. I have not run 58 in a couple years, and back then it was more of a scenic pothole than scenic byway.

You guys have my envy for weekday rides this time of year. They are the best!

(Just remembered... Somewhere I have picture of Lee posing beside a big hillside of ice when I introduced him to VA-58 winter riding. Must dig it up!)

Jeff, the east end of 58 has relatively new asphalt and is in good condition, but as we headed west we started encountering potholes, I hit a couple head on--dayum. And it was also covered with snow-melt chems and sand/gravel.

Did you make a radar contribution to the repaving? I removed mine as soon as we crossed the state line.

I'm pretty sure I flew over a set of ruts/potholes doing about 85mph. VFR magic.

Here's some shaky VA-58 video from the ride. This is where Steve, Don and I get to put the hammer down a little after being picked off by the black pickup truck. It's fun for a while until the road surface deteriorates to the grit deposit down the middle of the lane and we have to run inside or outside line. By the time we catch up the road is not good.

https://vimeo.com/123979954

Nice video, not too shaky. I think I heard a pothole around 3:48.

I have cuts in my tire where the potholes and rocks tried to take out my rear slick. Need adventure tires next time.

beemerbob wrote:I think I heard a pothole around 3:48.

You did and the video doesn't do it justice. Oh, the sun was in front of us at Backbone Tunnel so it just looks like a black shadow in the video. Not a surprise - I have to get lucky for videos like that to work.

Nice video Lee. What was the order of March. Who's is in front of you. I like he sound of your bike. Thos is really making me anxious to get back out there. I'm done w PT but don't knwo if I would be up for a long day ride just yet. I will definitely get back on the road by mid April. We are taking a family vacation starting Tuesday. I will see you gentlemen soon.
Brozs

Broz wrote:Nice video Lee. What was the order of March. Who's is in front of you.

Thanks, from front to back it's Bob, Brick, Steve, Don, me. I look forward to seeing you ride sooner than later.