Advice For the Dragon Virgins
04-11-2005 | 06:10 AM
#21
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 11,594
Likes: 7
From: Bumpass, VA
WSB...I respect what you've posted here (so don't beat me up when you get drunk WTD weekend and remember my post here 
).
I can agree that there is a "tradition" of waving bikes by. However, I would caution all drivers that there are *also* Virgin bikers on The Dragon. And quite frankly there is nothing "legal" about waving a bike around a car on a double-yellow. A fool will follow a fool (no offense to any of us)...and if we feel someone is "up on me"...I (speaking as a virgin) may feel pressured to force a wave-by situation in a less than ideal situation. I would rather advise that under such circumstances the *only* thing a virgin should consider doing is finding a suitable pull-off and allowing the biker to pass safely. Easier when the drop off is on your right side while travelling...much more difficult when the mountain rise is on your right. Anyway...my point only being that a double-yellow is a double-yellow. If we wave a person around us...we have to appreciate that we're assuming quite a large level of personal responsibility in the event of an accident.
Still, another point along your line of comments WSB, is that virgins should appreciate that some sport bikes will pass you even unexpectedly. If they see a hole, they'll sometimes take it (even foolishly). We have to remember to be smarter than that. Let them go by. Don't take it as an ego assault. Don't ride them in anger after a pass such as that. Just let them go do their thing. Such riders are usually possessed to pass again & again...and before 5 turns they'll be quite out of site. So remember to just have fun, and as the saying goes, "Don't sweat the little stuff...and...Its all little stuff."
- Dave
). I can agree that there is a "tradition" of waving bikes by. However, I would caution all drivers that there are *also* Virgin bikers on The Dragon. And quite frankly there is nothing "legal" about waving a bike around a car on a double-yellow. A fool will follow a fool (no offense to any of us)...and if we feel someone is "up on me"...I (speaking as a virgin) may feel pressured to force a wave-by situation in a less than ideal situation. I would rather advise that under such circumstances the *only* thing a virgin should consider doing is finding a suitable pull-off and allowing the biker to pass safely. Easier when the drop off is on your right side while travelling...much more difficult when the mountain rise is on your right. Anyway...my point only being that a double-yellow is a double-yellow. If we wave a person around us...we have to appreciate that we're assuming quite a large level of personal responsibility in the event of an accident.
Still, another point along your line of comments WSB, is that virgins should appreciate that some sport bikes will pass you even unexpectedly. If they see a hole, they'll sometimes take it (even foolishly). We have to remember to be smarter than that. Let them go by. Don't take it as an ego assault. Don't ride them in anger after a pass such as that. Just let them go do their thing. Such riders are usually possessed to pass again & again...and before 5 turns they'll be quite out of site. So remember to just have fun, and as the saying goes, "Don't sweat the little stuff...and...Its all little stuff."
- Dave
04-11-2005 | 06:26 AM
#22
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 93,291
Likes: 806
From: Nowhere
Dave, thanks for adding that. The reason I posted about the wave-by is that most of the riders who can actually catch an S2000 will also pass you at any opportunity. IMO, it's better to slow down and wave them by to make sure the rider(s) get past safely and quickly, especially when heading towards the head where there are so few pulloffs.
04-11-2005 | 08:06 AM
#23
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,760
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From: ghettoville, abq, nm
As a motorcyclist who has run the Gap since before it was known as the Dragon, I want to make a couple of minor edits to WSB's post on the wave-by. A wave-by is nice, greatly appreciated, but please, don't slow down. If I've caught you (and considering I've done low 10-minute runs repeatedly, I will catch you) I'm already thinking about where I'm going to pass you (yes, I've crossed the line on the bike to pass someone). If you slow down, that's going to take away some of my concentration. Rather than slow, just don't accelerate as hard as you'd like coming out of the corners. If you are going to pull off, indicate it with your blinkers well in advance, please. Thank you!
Oh, and someone mentioned 2 fingers in the air in a circular motion to indicate police presence - in the bike world, we've always just patted the top of our helmets. So if you're behind me in your S and you see me patting my head, look out for bubblegum machines
Oh, and someone mentioned 2 fingers in the air in a circular motion to indicate police presence - in the bike world, we've always just patted the top of our helmets. So if you're behind me in your S and you see me patting my head, look out for bubblegum machines
04-11-2005 | 10:43 AM
#25
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 11,594
Likes: 7
From: Bumpass, VA
Practicing what I preach...I just inspected my own tires 
. My rears are relative toast 
. Just ordered a new pair from tirerack.com. I'll have 'em on by first of next week with juuuuuuust enough time to scrub the 300 or so miles of "slickery-rubber" off before the drive out.
Also gotta put the car in next week for some general maintenance needs prior to the trip. Swap my brake pads, change the fluid out. Toss in a trusty oil change while its in for service. Biggest fear (but preventative nonetheless) is that I've asked my mechanic to inspect my valves / spring retainers for stress cracks -- 105,000 miles now on the odo
. I'll have them do a valve adjustment while they're at it.
. My rears are relative toast . Just ordered a new pair from tirerack.com. I'll have 'em on by first of next week with juuuuuuust enough time to scrub the 300 or so miles of "slickery-rubber" off before the drive out. Also gotta put the car in next week for some general maintenance needs prior to the trip. Swap my brake pads, change the fluid out. Toss in a trusty oil change while its in for service. Biggest fear (but preventative nonetheless) is that I've asked my mechanic to inspect my valves / spring retainers for stress cracks -- 105,000 miles now on the odo
. I'll have them do a valve adjustment while they're at it.
04-11-2005 | 12:32 PM
#26
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 2
From: Greer, SC
Something else that is VERY IMPORTANT -- even though WE have FRS radios, the bikes most likely do not. When pulling off to let one pass, USE YOUR TURN SIGNALS. Put the signal on as soon as the faster vehicle catches up to you so that he knows you see him and he knows you are going to pull off.
Last trip up, I made the mistake of radioing to the S behind me that we were pulling off, instead of putting on my signal. When we pulled off, the bike started to follow us, then locked up his brakes and did a couple of dramatic fishtails before rightfully cursing us and taking off.
Last trip up, I made the mistake of radioing to the S behind me that we were pulling off, instead of putting on my signal. When we pulled off, the bike started to follow us, then locked up his brakes and did a couple of dramatic fishtails before rightfully cursing us and taking off.
J/K
04-13-2005 | 06:22 AM
#29
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
(If having done the 2 previous Dragon events qualifies me as a "veteran"...)
Just to drive the point home, the 2 basic rules on The Dragon are:
1. Don't cross the double-yellow line
- and -
2. Don't cross the double-yellow line
Seriously. It's that important.
A couple of other things I've learned:
- If a slower vehicle pulls off for you, acknowledge your appreciation with a friendly wave and a quick tap on horn.
- Be extremely carefully if you are the one pulling off. Most of the pull-offs are not paved, so watch out for any dropoff from the road and watch how much speed you're carrying. They are usually gravel and you won't stop as quickly as you think you might.
- Always be on the lookout for debris on the road -- leaves, rocks, stones, whatever. Just because it wasn't there on a run down doesn't mean it won't be there on a run back up.
- Watch for moisture on the road surface, especially in the morning before the sun's had a chance to burn it off.
- Don't try to drive beyond your abilities.
- Be safe, be careful, have fun!
sf
Just to drive the point home, the 2 basic rules on The Dragon are:
1. Don't cross the double-yellow line
- and -
2. Don't cross the double-yellow line
Seriously. It's that important.
A couple of other things I've learned:
- If a slower vehicle pulls off for you, acknowledge your appreciation with a friendly wave and a quick tap on horn.
- Be extremely carefully if you are the one pulling off. Most of the pull-offs are not paved, so watch out for any dropoff from the road and watch how much speed you're carrying. They are usually gravel and you won't stop as quickly as you think you might.
- Always be on the lookout for debris on the road -- leaves, rocks, stones, whatever. Just because it wasn't there on a run down doesn't mean it won't be there on a run back up.
- Watch for moisture on the road surface, especially in the morning before the sun's had a chance to burn it off.
- Don't try to drive beyond your abilities.
- Be safe, be careful, have fun!
sf
04-13-2005 | 07:29 AM
#30
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 11,594
Likes: 7
From: Bumpass, VA
I'm glad to see some of sf's additional points here. A couple I'd like to expand on:
- When a motorcycle is pulling off...give extra room. They not only have to navigate at a very slow and attempted-balanced pace on 2 wheels from pavement-to-gravel, but they have to typically deal with a crest or grade-drop from the pavement to the pull-off. Any such conditions can potentially cause a biker to "soft dump" his bike. You need to allow the respectable amount of room for that biker to 1) not feel pressured to drive off faster than he was comfortable with, and 2) not run the poor rider down if they soft dump.
- On the other side of that horn thought... You're following someone on The Dragon and they're S-L-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-W (I mean speed limit...or worse
). You know what? All the horn-blowing in the world is not going to get you anywhere. More than likely, you're going to piss them off and they'll shave a few extra mph off their speedo just as a 
you . So be patient. The Dragon is only 11 miles long. Some drivers on it are there with family...didn't *know* they were getting on this road...aren't familiar with taking the family Buick around such corners...follow posted speed limits...or heck, are just perhaps absolute assholes for the glorious sake of wanting to be.
Whatever their reasons might be that they're driving slower than you...don't
freak out and be an ass 
. Re-direct your thoughts to the beauty of The Dragon (that you otherwise don't get to see when you're white-knuckled-left-right-left zippin' through the twisties). Take the time to imprint the curves in your mind...this road is technical. You learn from practice...and practice starts with getting the method down, then getting the performance/speed down.
Just some additional .02 cents on those topics.
- Dave
- When a motorcycle is pulling off...give extra room. They not only have to navigate at a very slow and attempted-balanced pace on 2 wheels from pavement-to-gravel, but they have to typically deal with a crest or grade-drop from the pavement to the pull-off. Any such conditions can potentially cause a biker to "soft dump" his bike. You need to allow the respectable amount of room for that biker to 1) not feel pressured to drive off faster than he was comfortable with, and 2) not run the poor rider down if they soft dump.
- On the other side of that horn thought... You're following someone on The Dragon and they're S-L-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-W (I mean speed limit...or worse
). You know what? All the horn-blowing in the world is not going to get you anywhere. More than likely, you're going to piss them off and they'll shave a few extra mph off their speedo just as a you . So be patient. The Dragon is only 11 miles long. Some drivers on it are there with family...didn't *know* they were getting on this road...aren't familiar with taking the family Buick around such corners...follow posted speed limits...or heck, are just perhaps absolute assholes for the glorious sake of wanting to be. Whatever their reasons might be that they're driving slower than you...don't
freak out and be an ass . Re-direct your thoughts to the beauty of The Dragon (that you otherwise don't get to see when you're white-knuckled-left-right-left zippin' through the twisties). Take the time to imprint the curves in your mind...this road is technical. You learn from practice...and practice starts with getting the method down, then getting the performance/speed down.Just some additional .02 cents on those topics.
- Dave