Discovery Chanels "Hell Roads" featuring the Tail of the Dragon

[alph]

alright, it's NOT the best quality, but if you didn't see it, here it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1qzF8ZY7M4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VIa-cSzOY0

rode this road last year, can't wait to do it again!!  some of you guys have the ability to ride it at will, DON'T GO RUBBING IT IN!!

[NITRO]

Is that a valk doing the wheelie at the end of the second clip?

[alph]

Is that a valk doing the wheelie at the end of the second clip?

it looks like it to me also, others have comented on it being a Valk. 

[El Borrego]

I'm one of those that ride the Dragon as I live near it.  I also hate to ride it with Rail Buggies, sport cars and Crotch Rockets trying to set the Land Speed Record.  It can be safely ridden as many of you know and for those that come from the flat lands to ride it, it is different riding than across the rolling hills of Mid-America.  It's different from riding the Rockies.  These East Tenn. mountains are beautiful but can be the death of you rather quickly.

I have just sent my state rep. a letter requesting that U.S. Hwy. 129 be restricted to vehicles pulling trailers of no more than 20 ft. in length.  This means no Semi rigs and no RV trailers longer than 20 ft.  It should apply to anything longer than 20 ft.  And that those that do so receive a very heavy fine, including speeders.  These and riders with minimum skills are the reasons for so many deaths on this stretch of road.

Sounds like I'm preaching.  Just like folks to enjoy themselves but not die in doing so.

And yes, that bike doing a wheelie does look like a Val.

[cookiedough]

Sending letter to state rep. probably won't do any good.  Politicians tell you one thing and rarely follow up on it.  I know first hand I don't trust anything they say to me.

Unfortunately, outlawing 20+ foot vehicles/trailers won't happen same reason as no bicyclists on rural, twisty country roads won't pass.  The roads are supposed to be shared by everyone even though it would make sense some limits be enacted, but will likely not happen.

[alph]

i remember seeing a sign that strongly discouraged semi-trucks from taking US-129 at the bottom of the hill.  if i remember correctly it was before the foothills parkway.

[ohblackwater]

One additional point.  Anyone driving a semi rig down 129 is an idiot.  Even though it is an entertaining road to drive, I can't imagine anyone WANTING to do it in a big rig.  I know it happens, but there SHOULD be a law against it.  It's a major safety concern just as major as not allowing trucks over a certain weight limit to cross some small bridges.  If the state rep doesn't act, invite him to take a ride down the road with you and point out that a semi has to take up 75' of BOTH lanes to make passage at some points.  Does your Valkyrie have the "right" to consume both lanes of road?  No, and neither should a big rig or anything that can't safely go down the road occupying ONLY it's own lane.

[ohblackwater]

After I wrote my message, I saw where GPS's are telling truckers to take that route.  Don't know what the solution to that is, but there ought to at least be BIG SIGNS at the ends of the dragon that say BIG RIGS DO NOT PROCEED DOWN THIS ROAD! 

[alph]

i would think that it wouldn't be that hard to insert a route warning on the GPS unit, the same way some trucking maps list low bridge heights.

[El Borrego]

Enjoyed the comments by all.  State Rep. forwarded it to the TN DOT and they responded today, as per usual, the road has been studied, they did put up some signs but the road is for everyone.  Ha.  I replied to him letting him know that my dad, who was a professional trucker for over 38 years, had to go around some entire states due to weight restriction roads, etc.  The Feds changed the law that all hwys were to be 55 mph, they also restrict some bridges, and they can restrict the Dragon if they want to.  You can add messages to GPS and if you look at some roads the GPS tells you it's restricted in winter, has tolls, etc.  That can be accomplished without great ordeal.  So, I guess I'll have to rent a large front end loader and travel the stretch one day right down the middle since it's apparently not illegal to cross the dividing line between the lanes.  I'll let you all know when I do this.  I may need some bail money.

[Challenger]

El Borrego: We will need pictures of this event.LOL.  When we were out there in 07, we got behind a semi that got hung up on one of the off camber 180° curves. Had to shut the road down to get him out of there. But the spookiest ride was in the fall one year when the wet leaves were all over the curves. kind of like riding on ICE.

[MP]

Enjoyed the comments by all.  State Rep. forwarded it to the TN DOT and they responded today, as per usual, the road has been studied, they did put up some signs but the road is for everyone.  Ha.  I replied to him letting him know that my dad, who was a professional trucker for over 38 years, had to go around some entire states due to weight restriction roads, etc.  The Feds changed the law that all hwys were to be 55 mph, they also restrict some bridges, and they can restrict the Dragon if they want to.  You can add messages to GPS and if you look at some roads the GPS tells you it's restricted in winter, has tolls, etc.  That can be accomplished without great ordeal.  So, I guess I'll have to rent a large front end loader and travel the stretch one day right down the middle since it's apparently not illegal to cross the dividing line between the lanes.  I'll let you all know when I do this.  I may need some bail money.

 

we will pass the hat for you in keystone, tohelp spring you!  LOL

MP

[El Borrego]

Thanks on passing the hat.  I have a better idea, just contribute the beer money, I'll probably have more money.

Yes on the leaves.  Rode the Blue Ridge Nov. 2010 and it rained.  Only part of lane that wasn't covered with leaves was the car track areas.  Gave you very little asphalt that was leaf free.  Sure slowed me down.