Well I was going to the top of this observatory through the hills here in san jose, and man I didn't realize this road is this dangerous. Extremely narrow roads no bigger then parking lot spaces in some areas, uphill 10 mph hairpin turns and 50 foot imbankments on both sides. Plus extremely bumpy and cracked roads. Needless to say i went extremely slow, and when i got to a safe area parked and took a few pics, but not ideal motorcycle conditions :(, but a beautiful day no doubt
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Nice! My old stomping ground. Did you go down the other side? It's absolutely, wonderfully worth it! The fields are filled with California poppies and violets in spring. Just becareful around mile marker 19 through 22, the spring rains sometimes washes out the road. And later on after mile 22 start looking out for stray cows (only met one, it's rare).
Yea i stoped at a safe area i didn't go all the way up and over just because it wasn't much fun, there was also gravel all over the road, i figured the roads on the backside would have been just as bad
Gravel on the other side, yeah maybe, but the quality of the road is way better ;) .
Nice bike :thumb:
Oh, wait it looks just like mine :roll:
Just Remember...
(http://www.gstwins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12853/normal_Extreme.JPG) (http://www.gstwins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=4&pos=30)
Use Extreme Caution!
Nothing wrong with going slow, in conditions like that. There's a point where it gets to be "unfun".
When I was in the Black Hills I started up (in the car) the Mt Coolidge(?) fire tower road that lead to a fire watchtower. It ran along a ridge 1 lane wide, dirt, 200 foot drop on each side. I got halfway out on the ridge and chicked out, ended up slowly backing up until I got to a wider spot then did the worlds longest 3 pt turn (more like 100 pt ) to get it pointed the right way and then I headed back down again. Scariest road I've ever been on in my life.
I live in Vermont and some of our roads are nasty. Not as narrow or with steep embankments usually, but they're twisty , hilly, the pavement is terrible, and there's gravel all over every intersection. Plus cows in the road pretty often, as well as tractors and deer.
There's a lot of good fun well-maintained twisty roads too but some of them are really beat to hell.
LQ
Motards would be the bike of choice for those goat trails you describe.
MR_PINK,
Mount Hamilton/Mines Road is one of the Bay Areas premier motorcycle routes. The backside is very pastoral. You'll be back for more. My own technique when I encounter gravel is to loosen my grip on the bars to let the tire find its own way and also I aim for the cleanest way through. Just another challenge--like riding in the rain--that doesn't have to spoil your ride. YMMV.