How packed is Deal's Gap during the weekend of Canada Day?

[TwistedKestrel]

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the good thing is, the area is chock full of twisty roads. you do not have to limit yourself to the Dragon.

be advised, however: if you've never ridden down there before, it will absolutely ruin your riding enjoyment in southern ontario, as it makes the roads we have here seem so utterly boring in comparison.

In all seriousness though, the roads down there are beautiful and a joy to ride. Just be sure to be one your game and well rested. Many of the corners are tight and highly technical, even at speeds just slightly above the posted limit of 30 mph. It's shocking to think that the speed limit on the Dragon used to be 55mph until 1992

More free advice: It's important that you feel comfortable doing those corners while NOT CROSSING THE DOUBLE YELLOW. If you can't do that, slow down, because if you encounter another vehicle in their lane, neither of you are going to have many places to go.

Use your brain when making friends with the local constabulary! It's not exactly a secret that motorcyclists like the Dragon, and sometimes there will be a presence there. They really like camping out on the west end, where it completely straightens out.

And, of course, while the Dragon itself really is a good road, it is always worth exploring the area.

 

[fastar1]

^

....those roads look beautiful.

I've been reading lots about cornering and stuff from both Total Control and TOTW2. I went to the forks to practice some of those techniques (not at speed)...and found two worth while corners. It was so disappointing =(

Why wouldn't you practice techniques that are meant to improve your day-to-day riding, during your day-to-day riding?

 

[油井緋色]

Why wouldn't you practice techniques that are meant to improve your day-to-day riding, during your day-to-day riding?

I already do. I just want more corners. My daily commute consists of like...4 left turns and 50kms of straight lines.

 

[Katatonic]

I already do. I just want more corners. My daily commute consists of like...4 left turns and 50kms of straight lines.

Yeah, welcome to Ontario.....

 

[killerkeith]

you don't practice on the dragon.

lol

 

[BlueVFR]

There more great roads down there than just the dragon, unless the only road you want to ride is the dragon.

I'm asking cause I am trying to plan a trip with a few friends. I realized that Canada Day lands extremely close to independence day and it would suck if the place ended up being a cluster **** full of traffic jams

Would the civic holiday in August be better?

 

[fastar1]

I already do. I just want more corners. My daily commute consists of like...4 left turns and 50kms of straight lines.

Take the side roads.

 

[BusaBob]

^

....those roads look beautiful.

I've been reading lots about cornering and stuff from both Total Control and TOTW2. I went to the forks to practice some of those techniques (not at speed)...and found two worth while corners. It was so disappointing =(

I know it may be short notice for your Deals Gap trip, but I highly recommend taking a track course (FAST, ARC, etc.) if you want practice with the twisty stuff. A day at the track under professional instruction is like 3 or 4 years worth of street riding experience in mastery of your motorcycle.

The Tail of the Dragon is definitely NOT the place to learn cornering.

Having said that, It's still quite enjoyable at a slower pace. There are cruiser riders and cars puttering along it at 25-30 or so mph.

But as it has already been said: do NOT cross the yellow line in the corner, and be wary that an oncoming vehicle may (accidentally) cross the line in front of you. Many of the corners on the Tail of the Dragon are blind corners, and the road has a significant amount of banking built into it.

Also, the video's of the Tail of the Dragon do not do it justice. It must be a lens effect, but all the video I've seen make the road look wider and the curves less sharp than they do in person.

If you do go down there, be sure -- absolutely sure -- to explore the surrounding roads as they are not as technical and quite breathtaking in their own right (e.g. Hellbender 28, Cherohala, the "Devils Triangle", etc.)

 

[油井緋色]

I know it may be short notice for your Deals Gap trip, but I highly recommend taking a track course (FAST, ARC, etc.) if you want practice with the twisty stuff. A day at the track under professional instruction is like 3 or 4 years worth of street riding experience in mastery of your motorcycle.

The Tail of the Dragon is definitely NOT the place to learn cornering.

Having said that, It's still quite enjoyable at a slower pace. There are cruiser riders and cars puttering along it at 25-30 or so mph.

But as it has already been said: do NOT cross the yellow line in the corner, and be wary that an oncoming vehicle may (accidentally) cross the line in front of you. Many of the corners on the Tail of the Dragon are blind corners, and the road has a significant amount of banking built into it.

Also, the video's of the Tail of the Dragon do not do it justice. It must be a lens effect, but all the video I've seen make the road look wider and the curves less sharp than they do in person.

If you do go down there, be sure -- absolutely sure -- to explore the surrounding roads as they are not as technical and quite breathtaking in their own right (e.g. Hellbender 28, Cherohala, the "Devils Triangle", etc.)

I was planning to do Racer5 but I need to buy a track suit first. Plus, I missed the discounts from the January show. I'll be waiting until next year to sign up for that.

My main reason for going to Deals Gap isn't to practice cornering, I'm also not the type to cross a solid yellow line...even on a straight. I also don't intend to treat the streets like a race track =P

 

[BusaBob]

I was planning to do Racer5 but I need to buy a track suit first. Plus, I missed the discounts from the January show. I'll be waiting until next year to sign up for that.

My main reason for going to Deals Gap isn't to practice cornering, I'm also not the type to cross a solid yellow line...even on a straight. I also don't intend to treat the streets like a race track =P

Oh, i wasn't saying that you would, deliberately. sorry if I gave that impression.
It's just something that can easily happen by mistake on the tail of the dragon if you start going faster than you know how to corner (and something that can happen, even if you do, lol).

However, even if you're not comfortable "draggin' a knee" as the expression goes, the area is still a nice place to ride.

 

[meme]

Www​.madmaps.com

Order the smokey mountain one. Enjoy the ride

Have ice cream in Tellico. If the m/c outfitters is still there ask the owner for a fave local route.

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