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Deal's Gap ride / NC praise

TacomaJD

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Man, what an awesome 2 days it has been on the NC. 475 miles of pure enjoyment.

Left yesterday around noon and headed to Murphy NC from North AL, Chattanooga traffic was total garbage. Cost me an extra hour sitting in stop and go traffic on I24. Checked in hotel and proceeded to the Harrah's casino down the road for some roulette and blackjack fun. Back to hotel for some shut eye. Awoke this morning around 9am, went back to casino for brunch, played 3 spins of roulette and won $75, for an overall win of $125 between the two casino visits. Doesn't sound like something to be excited over until compared to the usual $500+ I tend to lose LOL. Anyways, left casino with a full belly en route to Deal's Gap. Rode up 129, stopped at the resort, which looked like a ghost town, proceeded to ride the gap down and back. Met a few guys at the overlook, chatted, went on my way. Took the Cherohala Skyway on the way back home....what a great decision, I forgot how fun that road was. What a blast! Hardly any traffic, clean roads, partly cloudy (less shadows).

I am tickled pink with the NC. Seat Concepts seat is phenomenal. Done around 300 of the 475 miles today, could have done it all over again, wasn't tired of riding at all. Also, I bought some cheap spandex leggings at Walmart to wear under my race suit at the track, started wearing them under my jeans in cold weather street riding. I believe the slight compression they provide helps with the hind end comfort, quite significantly. If you struggle with seat comfort, grab a $10 pair of leggings at wally world!

I've about settled into the idea of not needing anything faster than the NC. Not one time did it fail to do anything I needed it to do. I have nothing but good things to say about it after putting it through its paces on this trip, even for an adrenaline junky. I very well may pick up a 2020 nc750x some time this year, I really dig that black on black! The new one would be dedicated street bike and the 2013 would be dedicated track bike.

Anyways, here's some pics. Tried to take more than usual this time since I was riding solo and could stop whenever I wanted. Lol
 
And the icing on the cake is plum ridiculous. About 3 miles from my house, I was mid curve on a bumpy, wet back road, saw something in my lane that looked like mud or gravel, going around 45mph, didn't seem like a high level threat.......well, front tire almost washed out in it, whole bike got squirrelly, can't believe it didn't lay down (thank sweet baby Jeezus for Dunlop Q3+ rubbers). Shook it off, got home, put bike in shop, noticed the smell of dog poo. Figured our lab might have dropped a surprise in the driveway. Looked on shoes, tires, nothing.....then I saw it. 45mph poo splatter all over....PISSED! Smelled like straight up dog crap, but may have been horse poo, as it's uncommon for dogs to poo in the road. The head pipe was cooking that poo like bacon in a Sunday morning skillet. Wheeled it back out of the shop and sprayed her down, still smells like poo, but I imagine it will go away in a few days. Burns me up, but just glad I didn't crash out! Be a shame to ride 475 aggressive miles and crash out 3 miles from home doing the speed limit. Lol

20191227_211834.jpg
 
And the icing on the cake is plum ridiculous. About 3 miles from my house, I was mid curve on a bumpy, wet back road, saw something in my lane that looked like mud or gravel, going around 45mph, didn't seem like a high level threat.......well, front tire almost washed out in it, whole bike got squirrelly, can't believe it didn't lay down (thank sweet baby Jeezus for Dunlop Q3+ rubbers). Shook it off, got home, put bike in shop, noticed the smell of dog poo. Figured our lab might have dropped a surprise in the driveway. Looked on shoes, tires, nothing.....then I saw it. 45mph poo splatter all over....PISSED! Smelled like straight up dog crap, but may have been horse poo, as it's uncommon for dogs to poo in the road. The head pipe was cooking that poo like bacon in a Sunday morning skillet. Wheeled it back out of the shop and sprayed her down, still smells like poo, but I imagine it will go away in a few days. Burns me up, but just glad I didn't crash out! Be a shame to ride 475 aggressive miles and crash out 3 miles from home doing the speed limit. Lol

View attachment 41494
"Crappy" way to end the ride, glad you had a good time.
 
Can't wait to get down that way again in May. It's just under 300 miles for me. 315 to the camp in Murphy, MC where we have been the last couple years. Ever since I did both the Dragon and Cherohala, the Cherohala has been my favorite of the two. The Dragon is so technical (for me, at least) I dont get to see much more than 100' max in front of me. Cherohala allows for some photo stops, glances over the side at the vistas, and greater than 35 mph. Granted, 35 mph on the Dragon is plenty fast for me.

Last year, after riding the dragon up out of the Gap, I rode the Cherohala 3 times in a row - first time there was no traffic in front of me, so didnt stop. Second was to come back and get some photos where I would have stopped had there been traffic. Third was to head back down to 19 to head out to Murphy.
 
There are actually a lot of fire roads that are great on the NC. Unless its raining, you can do most of it on street tires.
 
Great write-up...Remember, we have a get together each year (weekend before Memorial Day weekend) at the Kickstand Lodge in Stecoah (down Hwy 28 from Deals Gap).

I'm gonna keep an eye on that event for sure. I plan to ride a lot this spring, both street and track. Getting divorced, she's moving out, so free time will be more ample than usual. And before anyone sheds any sympathy, it's been a long time coming, we shouldn't have ever gotten married to begin with. Sucks for her 11 yo son though, as he and I are/were pretty close. Been a rocky few years, looking forward to less drama and bullshit, and more riding.
 
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