What to Expect???

[tgmgogo]

I am planning a trip this coming August. I have always heard that every biker must go. I have also heard how dangerous it may be for the first timer. I have been riding since June. I've done a little over 4000 miles so far. What advice can you give me?
Thank You.

[mark2wheeler]

Thats what's important.If you keep your speed down to what you are comfortable with you'll be O.K.Maybe I should say comfortable plus a margin for error.

[brad@dealsgap]

If you ride with in your limits you will be fine. May want to come before 10 am or after 5 pm, those are the slowest times of the day.

[748L052]

"What advice can you give me?"

Work on silky smooth every inch of every mile you ride - especially that right wrist... Probably optional at home but mandatory here.

The place is dangerous only for first timers who arrive ready to spank everyone already here.

[Inten_Z]

Brad as always has great advice. I would like to add to always stay in the proper lane, its very tempting to cut corners, but very dangerous there as well. Be curteous to everyone on the road (even if you think they don't deserve it). Have fun.

[Tank]

First off, let me say that I am no expert when it comes to motorcycle riding.

That being said - many beginning riders and experienced riders from up here in the flatlands have ridden to the Gap with me for the first time and here are the things that I have said to them that helped them out quite a bit.

Enter each turn slowly and gently accelerate out of them.

If you are approaching a left hand turn enter it from the right hand side of your lane. If you are approaching a right hand turn enter it from the left hand side of your lane. This will usually give you the greatest amount of road to work with through the turn.

Resist the urge to start turning too soon.

Look as far ahead as possible. Many beginners look at the ground 10 feet ahead of the bike. The further ahead you are looking, the more time you have to set the correct speed and lane position for the next turn.

Look where you want the bike to go. If you stare at that pickup truck coming toward you in the other lane you will hit it. Same thing goes for trees, gravel, turkeys, or other motorcycles. If you are following another motorcycle do not watch the other motorcycle. Watch the road. Use peripheral vision to watch the motorcycle in front of you. If you watch him and he does something stupid you are likely to do the same stupid thing.

It is going to seem like a lot further that 11 miles the first few times you ride it. It can be tricky for a beginning rider but it still is just a road. If you are using a lot of brakes and getting all stressed this is a sign that you are going too fast.

Anyway - I'm no expert and there are many who are much better riders than I am, but I think if you keep these things in mind you will not only have a safe ride but you will also have a lot of fun.

[748L052]

please, ;-), one small variation on Tank's otherwise excellent points.

Mentally divide your lane in half and strive to ride the right half of your lane always. The point is multifaceted.

Visibility in Eastern mountains is not what it is elsewhere. It is not that hard here to override your vision if you are looking well down your line (a must) as Tank suggests.

If into a blind right you meet a CL crosser & you are well left in your lane you will not have time/space to move back to your right out of the CL crossers way. Actually, if you are both SLOW you will have time. If you are both fast you will be toast. If the other is a cage then he's somewhat inconvenienced and you will be lucky to live. So, if you normally simply use the right half only of your lane you are almost always prepared & safe from CL crossers.

Yes, there are big deal folks who say you need to be way out left so you can see around the corner better to the right. This is not a track & this is not open sweeper Southwestern geography All you're gonna see here on these roads is have a half second longer look at what hits/kills you.

Plus, the whole point here is these are particularly twisty roads. At least that's what I've been thinking since the mid '70s. So, if it's fun using a 14' wide lane imagine how much better is will be if I am able run a 7' wide lane! My biggest tour bike is only 3' wide.

Two very first person singular observations. Not on the Gap Road, but very nearby, I can point to the exact turn, probably 15 years ago I lived a bit longer because of this rule. Burned in image. I was very tight right parallel to white line easing into throttle I met a young blonde woman, black thunderbird, her RIGHT front tire on the CL. I am sure had my bike been standing up more my mirror or knee would have touched her mirror. Had I been left in my lane I would have been birdfood - simple.

A Gap Road rule that has held up for me for 30 years when I am tempted to do certain things:I say to my self, OK, motodude,that's probably possible here, but what if you meet yourself coming the other way???

[Tank]

That is an interesting point about using just one half of your lane, and seems like pretty good advise to me.

One thing I left out that I always like to tell beginning riders is to just have confidence that if you tell your motorcycle to do something it will do it. I have seen many beginning riders enter a turn going faster than they feel comfortable but still well within the capabilities of their machine. Because they have never attempted to lean their bikes so far they feel it is impossible and do not even try to make the turn and they crash. I tell people that if you are in this situation and you are going to crash anyway, have confidence, look where you want to go, and let that sucker lean! I say never give up.

I tend to think there are more people who cross the centerline on the inside of their turn than swing wide and cross on the outside of their turn. Still, I would think that those who drift wide across the line are a greater threat because they are actually unable to hold their line and are actually drifting somewhat out of control into your lane.

I also feel that the idea of entering wide so you can see further is kind of silly.

[748L052]

[QUOTE=Tank] Still, I would think that those who drift wide across the line are a greater threat because they are actually unable to hold their line and are actually drifting somewhat out of control into your lane.

100%

Last spring I was resting, side of road, bike parked at Calderwood turn off & an Audi driver, headed downhill, way idiot hot, way to early to apex, lost it & it looked to me for about 3 seconds he was going to collect me & my bike & we were completely across, off the road on the grass! I don't rest there any more...

[Tank]

One of the things I enjoy doing the most when I am there is sitting at a pulloff and watching the bikes go by.

That said, I always like to view from a pulloff that is on the inside of the turn. I just get too scared viewing from the outside of turns.

I am actually not very fast on my motorcycle, but I am even slower on my feet!

[748L052]

Again, 100% agreement. Just that old habits die hard. & I'm slow to adjust. I've been sitting in the shade to rest right there since the days when one could count a morning's bikes on two hands and My wife's would be the only sports car all day long - on a saturday.

It's different now.

[LIGHTNINGFAST]

"What advice can you give me?"

Work on silky smooth every inch of every mile you ride - especially that right wrist... Probably optional at home but mandatory here.

The place is dangerous only for first timers who arrive ready to spank everyone already here.



+1 Play nice, some guys live, eat, and sleep here.

[buellridersww]

I was the firt timer at the Deal's Gap last year, I can say one thing - Take your time on the road. Trying to "race" on that road for the first time is not the best enjoyment. You will enjoy a lot more crusing on the road than racing against time.

Yea 11 miles road seems short but it isnt that short! It is long curvy road. I have always worry about other driver coming in the corner on wrong side of the path. Almost happen to me but good thing there is enough room to avoid that. Mainly it is the drivers (both cars and motorcycle) either make stupid mistakes or smart to stay in lanes.

Again just take your time and enjoy the road! You will love it! I still cant get enough of that area for riding (not just Deal's Gap) and will go back next year.

[ZeeFoto]

Though there is a LOT of very good advice already here...........I'll add one more thought.

If you have a long travel day, take the time to rest and recharge before hitting the hill. I'll never forget the guy who literally drove 8 hours, unloaded and suited up within minutes, raced up wheelie hill and never made the first turn. Less than an hour after arriving on a 5 day trip he had a busted bike and busted collarbone.

Don't underestimate the mental fatigue that can be caused by this road......especially in summer traffic and especially for newer riders.

Be safe and have fun!

And remember that no one cares how fast you are if you don't make it back!