It seems to be a common term used for any change in direction ...we call them nice sweepers. Had lot's of folks warning us of the dangerous "switchbacks" on Beartooth Pass...we got to Red Lodge and she was giving me theOriginally Posted by pffog
Helen says if you can see dirt or grass in between the lanes...it's not a switchback. Some of the turns we found in W Virginia/NC required first or second to make the uphill/downhill swing.Arkansas has a few in this class as well.
Steve Henson
EX-Prez SABMWRA MOA Club#62/ current forum moderator
It's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away-D.Dillon/G. Strait
Done 16 several times, and like I said, hairpins yes, switchbacks no. Never saw a1st gear corner on it, unless I was following a cruiser at the time.
According to who?
"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges"!
1983 R100RT (and broke my leg)
1996 K1100RS-SE
It depends on the direction you are going. If you're going the direction where the sharpest curves are on the downhill side, you don't need first gear. It also depends on how the bike is geared. One of mine is geared so that I need first where I can use second with the other one.
'You can say what you want about the South, but I almost never hear of anyone wanting to retire to the North.
Black 86 R80RT Brown 03 R1200CLC
The only one that matters ..........................me
And like all opinions mine is not wrong, because it is mine, yours may be different than mine, but just as correct because it is yours.
If they can claim 318 "turns" on the GAP, and make it stick, I can have my rating system. (hard to count 250 actual corners on the GAP)
BTW this is my definition of a WIDE switchback, so it is almost a hairpin.
I found my first switchback in the US in WV last summer. I was on a small road passing through Lost River State Park. There are plenty of hairpins throughout the Smokies, e.g. NC, VA, WV... You can't compare the Alps with the Smoky Mountains. Comparing switchbacks in the Alps to the sweeper/hairpins of the Smoky's is like comparing Trial riding with motocross... And if you haven't RIDDEN switchbacks, you DON'T get it... waste of time trying to explain it... I've been lucky enough to have ridden both. Thankfully I live in northern Va and get to experience the Smoky's on a regular basis. Let's see, weekend in WV, $200. Two weeks in the Alps, $9000... You be the judge of the value!
But endless roads like that pic you post is why we keep returning to the Alps. Horse meat is cheaper than steak, but I still like steak as often as I can get one.
BTW is that looking back at Arabba?
But most of us are worn out after four or five days of curves and are ready to go home and recharge. We have very few straight stretches on the western end of West Virginia like gunnert's picture shows on his end of the state. He is on the level end.
'You can say what you want about the South, but I almost never hear of anyone wanting to retire to the North.
Black 86 R80RT Brown 03 R1200CLC
Thanks, yes, we are camping, and don't want/need to pay for hook ups and whatever, not to mention listen to someone's A/C running in their motor home while we tent it the next space over. Our goal is from the Lancaster, PA area to burn down 81 then west into some fun roads on day one, camp, then hit Deals Gap, 16 and whatever else looks good, as we head north on day two. Spend the night at a second campground up near VA/WV, (depeding on route) and day 3 take the back roads home as long as we have time for, then cut back over to 81 and get home before dark as we all have to work Monday. Not nearly enough time for this trip but with the National and family time, I don't get many ride vacation days.
john1691
2006 K1200GT
And for me, it's only a day driving!Next year I come to the US and check out the famous Dragon.
What I see in the picture reminds me of the Alpe D'Huez, which is quite steep and there are a few tricky turns. Last year, I was an escort for a group of people who did a charity run up and down the Alpe, so I did 100km up and down that day. Wonderful! I'm still smiling...
-=- if you always see the road ahead of you, it's not worth the trip -=-
Yep, good eyes. Took the photo from a ski lift. We spent 13 days in the Alps last year, plan on going back in 2012 for at LEAST two weeks...
Mike the Dragon is like Stelvio... you have to do it but... the surrounding roads are a hoot. For my money I'd go to West Virginia. The back roads are as good as they get on the east coast and traffic is non-existent.And for me, it's only a day driving!
What I see in the picture reminds me of the Alpe D'Huez, which is quite steep and there are a few tricky turns. Last year, I was an escort for a group of people who did a charity run up and down the Alpe, so I did 100km up and down that day. Wonderful! I'm still smiling...
The best way to WV from the Dragon is across 16 and the Back of the Dragon. You end up one little ridge from the WV line.
'You can say what you want about the South, but I almost never hear of anyone wanting to retire to the North.
Black 86 R80RT Brown 03 R1200CLC
Been '07 since I spent most the summer there. In '09 wife and I did the Schwarzwald/Alsace/Vosges regions. Last fall did Tuscany, Avruzzo, Lazio, and Umbria regions of Italy. Talk of getting tired of corners, try that region of Italy! Wife almost fainted when a week and a half in I mentioned I was almost getting tired of corners, a nice dinner and bottle of wine fixed that though
Yea, Mike, the GAP is destination road, but compared to what you have in your back yard, I am afraid you might be disappointed. Not near the elevation of an Alps pass, and much more like the Ballon d'Alsace, or Schwarzwald areas. Lots of entertaining roads BESIDE the GAP to ride down there.
Well, I've planned a 3 month tour of the US, and I've decided to spend some time in the area surrounding the Dragon. I start in New York en go down to Key West first, so I pass the Dragon. I'll take my time and try to do the best motorcycle roads in the US, as long as they're on my route (which is flexible).
I'll also try to educate the people over here a bit more about traveling by bike in the US. I bring my own bike since the shipping and insurance is even cheaper than renting a bike for a month. Also, when Dutch people think of the US by bike, the only thing they think of is Route 66. While it's not at all bad, it's not the best route you can take in the US. By spreading the word about how nice it is to drive around in the US and how easy it is (I hope) to bring you own ride), you might see more crazy Dutchmen on their own bikes.
-=- if you always see the road ahead of you, it's not worth the trip -=-
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