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Author Topic: Practical lesson on riding twisty roads  (Read 931 times)
Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« on: June 24, 2020, 07:52:06 AM »

Kali has been apprehensive about riding to Asheville, since our route will inevitably include a jaunt over US-129.

Coincidentally work sent out an e-mail last week saying that due to Covid-19, people haven't been taking enough vacation days, and it's messing up their accounting stuff, so please take some vacation days as soon as you can.

Looked at the calendar, popped in a request for Monday and Tuesday of this week, and told Kali we're gonna do a Talimena run.

While the Talimena is no US-129, for being able to leave the Dallas Metromess in the morning and have lunch in the mountains, it's about the best we've got that close.

Monday morning got up early, and the weather had rolled in. Looking at the radar it looked bad the whole way to Mena, AR, but I looked at the hourly forecasts and everything seemed to say if we just wait an hour or two it'll be okay. So an hour or two were waited, and off we went. We had a few light sprinkles the first half hour and then textbook wonderful riding weather the entire rest of the day.

The ride to Mena was mostly uneventful, about half superslab then the rest progressively less-straight 2 lane rural highways, helping to ease her into turning the bike.

Made it to our lunch destination in Mena (If you're in the area, be sure to check out the Branding Iron BBQ & Steak House in Mena, AR! Good food, fair prices, and friendly staff, and it's about a block over from the start of the Talimena Scenic Parkway.)

Had a wonderful lunch, gave her her final pre-ride pep talk (The whole "Ride your own ride, I won't leave you, enjoy, have fun, look where you want to go, practice delayed apex cornering, etc.) and off we went...

We decided we'd do the 54 miles west bound without stopping, then stop at some of the overlooks on the ride back. So the first pics I have are from the western terminus after she'd just successfully done the ride the first time.







And then we turned around to do the Talimena east bound. It's kinda funny, all the times I've done this ride over the last 20ish years, I've never driven it east bound, I've always one it west bound and then went straight home, but since we had a hotel in Mena, we got to slow down and enjoy it a little more.

The first overlook I planned to stop at doesn't have a sign on the west bound side, so I didn't notice it until I'd passed the entrance. If I don't tell this part of the story, Kali will probably come on here and do so, so..... I told her to go ahead and turn into the overlook, I'd do a u-turn and meet here there. Went up a steep hill, two cars passed, and I slowed to a near stop and started my u-turn in the highway.

Almost completed the turn, noticed there was no shoulder and a steep drop off on the edge of the road that my front tire was just about to go off of, so I grabbed some brake, and..... tunk, over she went, laying down hill in the middle of the road 50 yards from the peak of a blind hill.

Lovely. Anyway, with a little huffing and puffing (That Interstate is heavy, and even heavier when she's laying downhill on a steep hill!) I got the bike upright, and made it back to the scenic overlook I was trying to get to in the first place....

.....and the views were worth it.....









After that, we stopped at a few other scenic overlooks, but not many, mostly just enjoyed the ride. I noted that the ride back went much faster than the ride out, I think she was starting to get the hang of this cornering thing...



We made it back to the hotel, she went solo to the Mall of Warts to pick up some snacks and pick up dinner, and she did fine.....



The next morning, we had planned on riding the Talimena one final time and heading home from there, but the weather had other plans. We decided that twisty mountain roads are not nearly as enjoyable with low visibility torrential downpours with frequent thunder and lightning, so we elected to take the more direct route home.



Barely thirty minutes after rolling out the skies opened up so hard visibility went nearly to zero, we found the roof of an abandoned gas station, pulled up under it to ride out the worst of the storm.



After that we had occasional rain but not bad enough to stop us again, eventually it mostly dried out and made for a pleasant ride home.

We stopped for lunch in Broken Bow, OK. Evidently they don't do Covid-19 there. NO ONE was wearing a mask, no distancing, the seating in the restaurant was normal, they had real menus, salt and pepper shakers on the table, everything was just like it as in The Before Times.

Honestly, it kinda freaked me out a little bit.

(She's not as grumpy as she looks in this pic, just caught her in an odd moment.)



This trip kinda completes a loop for me. I've done the Talimena ride many times before and after, but I specifically did it many years ago on her due date, 9/15/2002. Kali was born 8 days later. And now here I was riding that same ride with the daughter that wasn't even born yet riding the same bike I'd ridden all those years before.....







She's still a little apprehensive about riding to Asheville, but I think she's at least a little better prepared to do it now.
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Willow
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Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP

Olathe, KS


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« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2020, 08:22:50 AM »

 cooldude  Good ride.  Thank you so much for sharing.  I'm looking forward to seeing you both in Asheville.   cooldude
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scooperhsd
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Kansas City KS


« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2020, 08:36:52 AM »

That's not too far to consider for some "curvy roads" ... 6 hours  or so from home to Mena.
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Serk
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Rowlett, TX


« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2020, 08:41:41 AM »

That's not too far to consider for some "curvy roads" ... 6 hours  or so from home to Mena.

I've not ridden this one, but you might want to check out The Pig Trail, it's even closer to you:

https://www.arkansas.com/ozark/tours-experiences/pig-trail-scenic-byway

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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...



IBA# 22107 
VRCC# 7976
VRCCDS# 226

1998 Valkyrie Standard
2008 Gold Wing

Taxation is theft.

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Willow
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Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP

Olathe, KS


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« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2020, 08:47:43 AM »

That's not too far to consider for some "curvy roads" ... 6 hours  or so from home to Mena.

I've not ridden this one, but you might want to check out The Pig Trail, it's even closer to you:

https://www.arkansas.com/ozark/tours-experiences/pig-trail-scenic-byway 

Actually if you're just looking for tight twists you can find them in Oklahoma near the Texas line (Turner Falls  and surrounding hills.).

I do greatly enjoy the ride across Talimena.
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Valkorado
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VRCC DS 0242

Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.


« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2020, 09:16:01 AM »

We decided that twisty mountain roads are not nearly as enjoyable with low visibility torrential downpours with frequent thunder and lightning

But those memories are just priceless! Like being caught in a flash hailstorm outside Saguache where over an inch built up on the highway in under a minute.  Or sheets of rain and lightning bolts flashing unnervingly close up near timberline.  Or reaching the summit of the great divide and rounding a corner to find a several inches of fresh wet snow.  They say a day riding beats a day without.  I tend to agree, but there have been moments I've questioned the premise.
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2020, 09:16:05 AM »

Great post!  cooldude   All practice is good for her confidence (and skill).

I did one of those exact.... missed the turnout I wanted, quick decision, real narrow and real high crowned road, slow Uturns into a dump in the road on the Skyline Drive/BRP some years ago.

It wasn't breaking, it was hoping to maintain just enough slow rolling forward progress through a tight Uturn, but the tall crown slowed me into no more forward progress, and a dump.  DOH.  Like Artie Johnson on his Laugh In tricycle.

Right on a big blind curve some truck would haul ass around and run me over.  So I did the Schwarzenegger (medium hernia) power lift and scooted into the turnout for a breather (and to relieve humiliation).

No one came, no one saw, so it didn't really happen, did it?   Grin
« Last Edit: June 24, 2020, 09:18:20 AM by Jess from VA » Logged
mbramley
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Painesville Ohio


« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2020, 09:31:04 AM »

 Good post. In my opinion this is what we need, more posts of good times. You can tell Kali truly enjoys both the ride and spending time with her Dad. Also good job building both skill level and confidence.
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scooperhsd
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Kansas City KS


« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2020, 09:33:54 AM »

Serk - I've said it before - you're a lucky man with your family.
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bill-jr
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VRCC # 35094

murfreesboro


« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2020, 09:35:18 AM »

If it were me i would find a route that took me across the cherohala skyway and not 129 . .
129 really not bad if you take it slow. . .
I really enjoy the skyway and all the pull offs . . .
And they Usually have picture takers on the skyway as well . . .
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3fan4life
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Any day that you ride is a good day!

Moneta, VA


« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2020, 12:50:05 PM »

Great post!  I'm glad that she's enjoying riding.

I would suggest that you try to avoid The Dragon (US 129) on the weekend.
It's very crowded and she might feel like she is being pushed.

Midweek usually isn't too crowded.
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Leathel
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New Zealand


« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2020, 02:58:57 PM »

Awesome father daughter time, Love the smiles and scenic pics


 I for one miss riding with my daughter........She is in Eddington UK ATM
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ridingron
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Posts: 1187


Orlando


« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2020, 06:50:03 PM »

Serk-From the pictures, I would say you're close to losing that blue/white Tourer.  cooldude
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Farside
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Let's get going!

Milton,FL


« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2020, 07:16:19 PM »

 cooldude Terrfic post with your daughter. I bet she'll do great at InZane. Practice and spending this time is Priceless. Looking forward to see you again at an InZane.  coolsmiley
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Farside
Oss
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The lower Hudson Valley

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« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2020, 07:45:13 PM »

Treasure those moments  She is a great kid

Tell her being apprehensive is ok

I can not sleep before a big ride to Inzane, ever

Could not sleep before riding from Montrose to do the Telluride to Delores to Durango to Montrose
Million Dollar Highway loop. Or Beartooth or many other rides  Just excited !

The dragon is just technical, but I never broke the speed limit by much so I enjoyed it  except for people crossing the double yellow onto my side of the road
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Ice
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Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.

On a road less traveled.


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« Reply #15 on: June 25, 2020, 07:48:00 AM »

Serk, thanks for sharing your adventures with Kali, I can relate somewhat, our youngest (not as young as Kali) 21, just made her MC license and bought Mommy's older V-Star 650 as Mom upgraded to the 950 V-Star.
We have been working with her getting her ready for the road and the adventures that come with being the pilot of a two wheeled beast, and not the passenger.
We have told her about your adventures with Kali and she has the utmost respect for her and is in awe how she is on the road to becoming the youngest Valk rider known.
Thanks for sharing and the inspiration you have given our daughter as well.
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