Highlands 4/23

[LeeDavis]

Thanks Bob for putting the ride together and what a gorgeous day - a little spring nip in the air to savor because it'll be hot soon enough. We had me, Bob, Steve, Broz, Kevin, Scott and Jim - a full COF quorum.

The cop wrote me up for passing him on double yellow and it was inevitable. That's a 35mph zone for miles west of Blowing Rock on 221 and no legal place to pass. I'd have never guessed it was a cop in that shitbox SUV so it was only a matter of time before I passed him. I'm glad it was a short space and nobody else came around.

Here's video and I just dumped everything with no editing. It starts at triple digits on the base of 181 until we all get back together at the road work. Next, up on the parkway then the run down 221. The video is too long but you can skip forward through it. Places where the audio cuts out are because I have GMRS audio prioritized over video audio. In the future I suppose it would be better to turn off GMRS while videoing.

https://vimeo.com/125853853

[007]

I will buy you lunch on our next ride, Lee. We have all been there, thanks for taking one for the team. Great weather, will need to find roads with less gravel. Never been that close to the [SNAKE] and went the other way. Also of note, the bmw passed 66,666 miles somewhere around the time Bob dumped his bike.

[007]

According to my ride tracker, my max speed was 97 mph. Lee thought I hit triple digits ruining up 181...

[LeeDavis]

According to my ride tracker, my max speed was 97 mph. Lee thought I hit triple digits ruining up 181...

I sure did but the further back in line, the faster it is to catch up.

[yamadog]

Thanks for the post vidio and sorry for your "additional expense". You took one for the team! I think we all need to buy you a lunch or maybe two! It sure was a great weather day and thanks to Bob for some new and interesting roads. Great fun riding with a great bunch!!

[007]

According to my ride tracker, my max speed was 97 mph. Lee thought I hit triple digits ruining up 181...

I sure did but the further back in line, the faster it is to catch up.

What happened to the part of 181 after the construction? I had my knee down a couple times on that run, one where I stuffed Bob up the inside. Hope that was a clean pass, Bob.

[Bob]

Nice video Lee, the audio is perfect, almost zero wind noise.

My apologies for stringing together one too many unimproved goat paths. I wasn't aware of the surface on Buckeye Rd leading up to Beech Mtn RD, or of Dark Ridge Rd. after that. It was starting to beat me up, even with the GS's long legs. And the road crud had not yet washed away either. Next time, I'd really like to head over to Big Laurel valley west of Burnsville, Revere Rd, and a few others over that way. And NO goat paths.

Steve, I thought about the snake as we neared Mtn. City, and if you had your B2B working would have offered you and anyone else the option to head that way, instead of the way we went. Wudda been better for me, fer sure! Shudda/wudda/cudda.

Great company and geat weather, although a little nipply.

[Yarbi]

Sorry I missed the ride but our internet has been out and I didn't get the notice for the ride yesterday. Oh well next time.

[LeeDavis]

What happened to the part of 181 after the construction?

The camera is turned off from the road crew to the BRP. Max video time is TBD and there's a lot going on with this setup to run on tiny batteries.

[LeeDavis]

My apologies for stringing together one too many unimproved goat paths.

Well, I like 'em! Not necessarily goat paths but roads such a Shulls Mill and George's Gap are my favorites. They're mostly good but narrow and you can never take for granted what trap awaits unseen in a blind curve. That's FUN!!

[Gixxer Kevin]

Great ride guys and thanks for the video Lee!

[Gixxer Kevin]

[Gixxer Kevin]

[Broz]

Good seeing all you guys. Lee I hate you got a ticket. Video is nice Was that mounted to your helmet?

[Brick]

My apologies for stringing together one too many unimproved goat paths.

Well, I like 'em! Not necessarily goat paths but roads such a Shulls Mill and George's Gap are my favorites. They're mostly good but narrow and you can never take for granted what trap awaits unseen in a blind curve. That's FUN!!

Yea sorry I couldn't make the ride too. Sounds like you had a ball!
Wait, wait... Is that Scott I see in that picture?!?! Glad to see you back out riding!

Like Lee I REALLY like what Bob calls goat paths! My favorites. I rode Buckeye and Beach Mtn down last Monday and thought it was pretty good considering how early in the year and the big rains last week end.


I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

[Bob]

Like Lee I REALLY like what Bob calls goat paths! My favorites. I rode Buckeye and Beach Mtn down last Monday and thought it was pretty good considering how early in the year and the big rains last week end.

Brick, actually we veered off Buckeye at the first right onto Russell Norris Rd. which climbs approx. 800' in 2.4 miles and comes out a short distance from where Buckeye comes out on Bch. Mtn. Rd., and the surface was almost non-existent. If we had stayed on Buckeye all the way, it would climb the same in 3.4 miles, not nearly as steep, and maybe a better surface. I took Norris beause it looked twistier on Google Earth. But much of the surface had become gravelly instead of pavement-y.

[Brick]

Ok... I'll have to try that.


I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

[LeeDavis]

Video is nice Was that mounted to your helmet?

Yes, sticky mount on top of the helmet.

[Gixxer Kevin]

Lee what kind of camera are you using?

[LeeDavis]

Lee what kind of camera are you using?

The setup is a GoPro Hero3 Black camera, GoPro WiFi remote and a Sena bluetooth audio pack. When the view pans down I'm usually messing with the remote control on my wrist.