Deals Gap

Shovelhead · Weekend Warrior Joined: Aug 13, 2003 Posts: 21

A friend of mine and I are thinking of going giving it a shot. Anyone that reads this forum been there? How was it? You know give us the skinny. Very Happy

s810 · Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:41 am Post subject: are you going to cherokee?

if you are what days will you be down their were thinking about going.

Shovelhead · Weekend Warrior Joined: Aug 13, 2003 Posts: 21

Right now we are looking at the end of July beginning of August. No real hard dates yet. That darn work thing is getting in the way. Mad

chainguard@bellsouth.net · Guest

The place will be covered up with sport bikes from now until cold weather returns - getting to be world famous - lots of tight, narrow turns
you could spend all summer riding the area - we're about an hour away
check the web sites for info

Shovelhead · Weekend Warrior Joined: Aug 13, 2003 Posts: 21

Rgr. I have been on the Deals Gap forum and have gotten some good info from the webmaster. It looks like it would be a fun weekend. It also looks like there are enough side roads to stay away from the younger riders. I would like to see some of the sights while I'm riding.....(more like stay out of the way. Us old farts like to take it slow at times.) Laughing

Thanks for the info.

Shovelhead · Weekend Warrior Joined: Aug 13, 2003 Posts: 21

The way the hills looked yesterday. Camera is down today.
Also this was a test at posting pics. Thanx HC for the help.

bdsbigzrx · Guest

check out www.killboy.com for some great pics

Shovelhead · Weekend Warrior Joined: Aug 13, 2003 Posts: 21

AWESOME Videos Very Happy

nidan · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:19 am Post subject:

I go there every year , it's a nice day trip to go up from where I live and back , I usually go through the Dragon and back , then either head over to the Cherhola or other surrounding areas. Plenty of great riding , just take it easy as many have added to the "Tree of Shame" .

Shovelhead · Weekend Warrior Joined: Aug 13, 2003 Posts: 21

I am looking forward to getting down there. And I will do my best at staying off the "tree" Laughing

Shovelhead · Weekend Warrior Joined: Aug 13, 2003 Posts: 21

Found this on another board. So all riding the Gap take care and remember we are being watched...or watched out for...however you want to say it.

Targeting the Dragon

Tennessee

May 11, 2006

Tennessee and North Carolina state troopers aren't looking to slay the Dragon, but they do want to keep its fire under control with Operation Dragon 2006.

The joint effort will combine the forces of Tennessee and North Carolina highway patrols to make the Dragon and nearby roadways safer.

Troopers from both agencies will provide a highly visible presence in the areas frequented by motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts. The first coordinated operation is scheduled Saturday and others are planned during the summer and fall.

Troopers in both states will conduct their own intensive enforcement efforts at other times during the season.

THP Sgt. Danny Thomas, who oversees highway patrol activities in Blount and Monroe counties, said the enforcement activities are all focused on safety.

``We welcome everyone who visits the Dragon and the areas around it, as long as they obey the law,'' Thomas said. ``We're doing intensive enforcement in an effort to make the roadways safe for everyone on two, four or even 18 wheels.''

The Dragon sports 318 curves on an 11.1-mile stretch of U.S. 129, running from Deal's Gap at the North Carolina line to Tabcat Bridge alongside Chilhowee Lake -- a 1,085-foot change in elevation. It is one of the nation's favorite rides for motorcycles and sports cars. The run has been touted in several national magazines as well as on several Internet sites. The often heavy traffic on the narrow highway includes riders and drivers from across the country, some from other continents.

Unfortunately, the festive atmosphere is too often clouded by accidents, some of them fatal.

In 2005, there were three deaths on the Dragon -- all of them motorcyclists. Thomas said that in 2005 troopers investigated 47 accidents on the Dragon, 41 of them involving motorcycles. He said the number of accidents on the Dragon was down from 57 investigated by THP in 2004 -- 51 of those involved motorcycles and two were fatalities.

So far in 2006, Tennessee troopers have investigated only nine wrecks on the Dragon. Eight were motorcycle accidents. However, troopers have responded to reports of accidents on the Dragon 27 times in 2006. Eighteen times so far this year, the troopers and often Rural/Metro Ambulance Service have rushed to the area only to find a motorcyclist's friends have picked up the rider and bike and the reported accident has vanished.

``It's hard to estimate the manpower and expense involved in responding to these disappearing accidents,'' Thomas said.

Statistics were not available regarding the number of accidents in North Carolina related to the area near the Dragon. However, the five counties in Western North Carolina in the area near the Dragon have had a 56 percent increase in motorcycle accidents from 2004.

North Carolina troopers will be assigned to the Deals Gap area near the top of the Dragon and to the Cherohala Skyway, where some say the probability of motorcycle accidents is even greater than on the Dragon. The Cherohala Skyway linking Robbinsville, N.C., to Tellico Plains includes 15 miles in North Carolina and 21 in Tennessee.

Tennessee troopers will focus on the Dragon, but others will be active on the Tennessee end of the Cherohala.

Marked and unmarked cars, motorcycles and aircraft will be used on both sides of the state line in the effort to curb accidents and, according to Thomas, ``improve driving habits.''

``We're not anti-motorcycle. I've got one of my own and take it up and over the Cherohala into Tellico Plains whenever I get a chance. That's a really beautiful ride.

``But, I can't enjoy it as much as I'd like when I have somebody on a sports bike or sports car zipping around me on a curve and making me think I'm going to find them smashed up around the next curve.

``Speeding and reckless driving are what we're trying to stop,'' Thomas said. ``That way, everybody can enjoy themselves without getting hurt."

Ride Safe

Guest · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject:

was just down there on the weekend of april 20/21. when/if you go, try to hit the cherohola skyway to the west and smokey mountains/maggie valley to the southeast.
phenomenal area to ride. took my first trip down there and will definitely return. the dragon? honestly no big deal. i've been on blue ridge parkway feeder roads that were alot worse than that road. lotta hype.

MIALMA · Weekend Warrior Joined: Feb 14, 2006 Posts: 32

was just down there on the weekend of april 20/21. when/if you go, try to hit the cherohola skyway to the west and smokey mountains/maggie valley to the southeast.
phenomenal area to ride. took my first trip down there and will definitely return. the dragon? honestly no big deal. i've been on blue ridge parkway feeder roads that were alot worse than that road. lotta hype.

sorry! that was me. didn't realize i needed to sign in. dumb biker, i guess.