Sparta And the Snake

[Broz]

Well Jim, Lee, Scott and I owe Bob aka the mapping guru a big thumbs up for providing today's route. It was a fantastic ride up NC -18 to Sparta where we had some good Mexican chow. Then we worked our way over to 58 and the general theme today was SWEEPERS. DIDNT get any good photos, just some crappy ones. Trust me.... You missed out!!!

[Bob]

DIDNT get any good photos, just some crappy ones.

Hell post the crappy ones then. If theres a motosickle in the pic it can't be crappy.

[007]

Working today or would have been there. I regularly ride that route, minus 58, since there are better roads.

[LeeDavis]

Fine job leading, Broz! Totally enjoyed the day. We had a nice lunch at La Mexicana and mine was good but not great. JD's status remains secure.

[Bob]

I regularly ride that route, minus 58, since there are better roads.

Better than 58? Please share!

[yamadog]

What Broz said. Great route from Bob and Broz didn't get us lost; not once. It was a long day for us Charlotteans. Slept well last night! If possible, can someone send me the route from yesterday? It's a keeper.

Yamadog

[007]

I regularly ride that route, minus 58, since there are better roads.

Better than 58? Please share!

You will need to come up this way when I am not working to find them. They are secret for a reason...

[Brick]

I regularly ride that route, minus 58, since there are better roads.

Better than 58? Please share!

You will need to come up this way when I am not working to find them. They are secret for a reason...

Wait... Wait... So we show you all our roads but you won't share one road with us because it's a secret?!?! WTF!!!

[Bob]

I regularly ride that route, minus 58, since there are better roads.

Better than 58? Please share!

You will need to come up this way when I am not working to find them. They are secret for a reason...

You must be talking about US58 EAST of the stretch that starts at the NC16 intersection and goes to Damascus.

[007]

They are so secret I don't know their names - I just follow the line on the GPS when I go ride. I don't remember the ones I used to avoid straight sections of 58 or I would tell you. Even the twisty sections of 58 seem to be littered with traffic.

Squirrel Spur, Hatcher's Chapel, Flippin, 8 through Tuggles Gap are the ones that come to mind in NC/VA although you guys probably don't make it that far to the east when you ride. I can post the GPX files for your viewing pleasure when I have time to get around to it, but I need to sort through a number of rides I saved on my old phone that I use for navigation only.

I have noticed that Virginia seems to use less sand / salt garbage during foul weather so road conditions suffer less during the in between time of year over transition from winter. It will be good to avoid roads like the Snake and and Western NC highlands over the transition period, since they are regularly covered in grime even just last week.

[LeeDavis]

You guys are talking about 2 different sections of 58. When I lived in Chapel Hill we would occasionally ride 58 around Meadows of Dan. It has a twisty section towards Stuart but is always full of traffic and is basically slab west through Hillsville and Galax. Bob's 58 is between Mouth of Wilson to Damascus, one of the best twisty roads there is.

[Bob]

You guys are talking about 2 different sections of 58. When I lived in Chapel Hill we would occasionally ride 58 around Meadows of Dan. It has a twisty section towards Stuart but is always full of traffic and is basically slab north through Hillsville and Galax. Bob's 58 is between Mouth of Wilson to Damascus, one of the best twisty roads there is.

True dat!

Don' be dissin our 58, 007.

[007]

I seem to recall riding that section about a year ago in the late Winter or early Spring when there was still some crap on the road and later in May it was in better condition. I stand corrected.

[Brick]

The MSTA has an event every year called TriSTAR based out of Sparta, this year May 27th - 30th. And the organizers have some great routes over in that area including Squirrel Spur, Tuggles Gap, Indian Vally etc... So yea there are some Great roads over there for sure!
In VA the three numbered roads seem to be the best!

[LeeDavis]

I seem to recall riding that section about a year ago in the late Winter or early Spring when there was still some crap on the road and later in May it was in better condition. I stand corrected.

You, me and Don were split behind the group due to some traffic but when we got around we had a good pace through the east end twisties of 58. When we caught up to the rest lead by Bob the road had digressed to a heavy coat of salt and grit. It was so crappy I think we bailed out south on that secondary road next to the little abandoned store.

[Broz]

I'm sure you don't want to go near Damascus on a nice weekend due to the Creeper Trail. There would be too much traffic but we picked a great day.