Our Favorite Rides

[onefastvega]

I deem this topic a place to share your favorite rides.  They may be short little quips through town, a nice relaxing countryside run, state to state hauls, or insane knee-smoking rides through the mountains.  Whether they are solo adventures or group ridealongs, post 'em here!  

Here is my Fav. ride...   (Warning: Long)

Well tonight I was feeling a little sick, sore throat and whatnot so I decide a little cool Tucson air would fix me up... and boy was I right :mrgreen:  

I take off down Speedway Blvd. towards Gate's Pass.  Five minutes later, i am making my way down the front stretch of what is to be the greeeatest 45 minutes EVER!!!  

THe ride starts off with some blastin through a rich desert area where a few $$$$ homes stand against the mountain side.  The lane begins to smooth and widen as I make my way left, right, up, and down the hills.  Posted speed varies from 30-15 mph.  I am going 60 through it all.  The first slowdown comes at the peak of the ride.  The highest point suddenly drops, twisting down the narrow mountain road.  Mountain wall to the left of me, steep drop off filled with rocks and the unfriendly cactus.  

Once the road levels off, I feel the need for speed.  Goin' 'bout 70-80 on the two-lane blacktop leaves little for geussing.  Luckily I know this path well.  Eventually, I must stop come to a T in the road.  I go left, as it is my favorite.  This short 3-mile section of the ride is awesome.  The superwide road lets me practice my weaving as I laugh at the speed limit.  This road soon narrows and begins to test your stomach.  'Watch for Dips' the sign reads.  I laugh :lol:   Up and down, down and up,  
i think the front wheel came up is what i thought as the GS buzzes under me.

After the dips is the first time I get to relax and relfect.  A small town (Mcdonalds and a Circle K) is cut through with a 4-lane highway.  A few miles later, i proceed on the second to last leg of my journey.  

Ton-up Ton-up is all i can think about.  It is easiest here to go ton-up than any other part of the ride.  Think, 4-lane highway + no traffic + 2% downhill grade + my 125 lbs + chin on gas tank = 113 mph.  My lucky number.  

Finally, the trip is almost over, Take the on-ramp onto I-19 and then to I-10 for a little practice with the moving pylons everyone else calls cars.  Back on to Speedway and grab some grub.  My dorm is in sight and I think to myself wow that was fun

I LOVE MY GS, babee

Go on SHARE

[yamahonkawazuki]

has to be one of these two,
1. a county rd here in clinton, about 5 mi long. narrow, a few sweepers, and up-&downers, near the end three whoops. 1st 2 are a warning. (which i ignore) :mrgreen:   , third will launch a car but it is a straightaway.i combine this with the second..., after the "ramp", i come to a tee, turn right. few seepers later turn right again. (dont go left police firing range :guns:  :guns:  :guns:  :guns:   ), 3 miles of rolling hills and gradual curves, turn left onto a mt. road. 1/10th mi. later 90 deg right hander, to 180 left, 180 right, 180 left,90 right, then repeat down other side, mi. later,left, go to fork, left along river, over (minor) ramp :mrgreen:  :dunno: , gradual curve r. along river, 'bout 70,  would go faster but close to housing,follow thru subdivision, to right split of fork back to hwy, to my road, 3 180's which intersect with my driveway :mrgreen: almost as good as sex :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:

[pantablo]

My absolute favorite ride is Angeles Crest Hwy:
http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/AngelsCrest.htm

From my house it takes me about 20 minutes by freeway to get to the base but is totally worth it. From the base Angeles Crest rises up to Wrightwood ski area, 66 miles later. That would be 66 uninterupted, non-stop miles later.

You can take a break about 27 miles up the road at Newcombs Ranch for some food and drink or keep going and after you get to Mile High Ski area, just a mile south of wrightwood turn and head 8 miles west to Mile High Cafe...

Angeles is all fast sweepers and some tighter corners. It can be taken at 65 mph+ the entire length at my moderately hard pace. Other's I've ridde with have exceeded that pace considerably.

Good clean pavement, most curves aren't blind, varying topography/temperature/vistas.

Spending an hour flipping the bike from left ear to right ear is about as ZEN as it gets.

[vtlion]

In my young riding career, the best ride is a little road between Taneytown, MD and Gettysburg, PA called Harney Road.

From Taneytown to Gettysburg:

Starts with a 1/4 mile straightaway as you head north out of town.  To your left is the first real ridge of the appalachian mountains separating you from Carol Valley PA.  At night, you can even see the illuminated slopes of SkiLiberty in the distance.  A quick dip over a narrow creek and you dart through the last of some beautiful homes built on the outskirts of town... and then the ride is on...

Four tight S turns on a descent to another tree-lined creek (this is the part I look forward to the most).  Get hard on the throttle coming out of the fourth turn and crossing the bridge to tackle the steep hill that waits on the other side.  Just at the apex of the hill a smooth left turn, down to the next straightaway before the road begins to take on a more lazy, meandering character.   It's awesome... like something out of a magazine add.

About half way through, after a tight 90 degree right that is enough to slow even the most aggressive rider, the road directs you through Harney, MD: a little PennMar border town that isn't much of a town.  The only vestage of an economy is an old, closed up general store and the Harney Fire department.  It's a tired little town, but quaint none the less.  Homes and old shop-fronts crowd the road so closely that even after the rush of the last 5 miles one can't help but observe the 25mph speed limit.

On the way out of town you pass beautiful (if small), modern fire station.  It seems very out of place, juxtaposed against the 'historic' and aged buildings of Harney.  A moderately lazy s-weave past a hilltop cemetery with another stunning view of the mountains and you cross the Mason-Dixon line.  5 more miles of paradise to Gettysburg  :mrgreen:

Runner Up:  311 through the mountain empire of Southwest Virginia... any section, any direction, any sideroad... it is God's country.  Tore up every road from Roanoke to Blacksburg in my Camaro back in my undergrad days... can't wait to get back this spring!