DCMDVA - Skyline Drive Anyone?

[Finesse]

I know I don't have my ninjette anymore but @Sirref and I were talking about doing a Skyline Drive ride sometime soon. I've driven portions of it in a car but never been there on a bike. I don't want to lead, but it would be nice to have a small group ride doing the whole length of the drive and maybe chill afterwards, something relaxed. I definitely don't want it to be a knee-dragging 'let's see who can take these turns fastest' kind of ride. I like to ride mellow and enjoy the scenery and maybe stop and take a few pictures, plus I really haven't put any miles on my new bike so I want to see how it feels in the twisties, I'm not about pushing it yet. If anyone else thinks this sounds appealing, want to set something up? I'm free any Sunday or Monday after August 10th. Maybe August 17th, weather permitting? I live very close to Washington DC so depending on who else wants to join, we can pick a meetup spot that is equidistant from most of us and head over from there. Chime in, all will be welcome!

[Sirref]

Clearly I'm down! Once we have a solid date I'll hit up a few local riders (one who rides a 250 and another who used to and now rides a triumph)

[M42]

Tempting... what stretch of skyline are we doing? The whole thing? The pregen murders my butt after 2.5 hours, might have to make a few stops...

[Finesse]

Whole thing! We can certainly stop.

[tnr4]

Ooooh, I love Skyline! Well, I have an infant at home, so planning in advance isn't really in the cards these days; but I'll keep subscribed to this thread, and maybe I'll be able to join.

[Obey Reaper]

Don't even know where that is but I'm down haha. As long as it's not this next weekend coming up.

Can't miss Otakon.

[Finesse]

Super twisty slow road that goes through Shenandoah National Park. Oh, I'm sure there is an entry fee... I think it's like $10 per bike. That sucks...

[M42]

My only issue with skyline is that it is absolutely stuffed to the gills with squids, cops, minivans, and campers (the latter two going like 10 below). It's a lot less crowded during the weekday, but I doubt that's an option for everyone.

[Finesse]

^True. I can go on a Monday, but most people don't have Mondays off...

[allanoue]

Subscribed
Ben, video is required.

[M42]

I'm actually free mondays too

[Finesse]

Sweeeeeeet, do you work in a moto shop too?

[M42]

I wish, that means I'd have a place other than an apartment parking lot in the full sun to do all sorts of nifty tear-downs. And all those tools

Why, do you work at one? If so, that's awesome!

[Finesse]

What do you do that you have Mondays off? I work at Cycles of Silver Spring!

[M42]

I'm actually in between jobs right now, that's why.

[Finesse]

That was me 2 weeks ago... what kinda job are you looking for?

[jaesun]

Don't speed on this group ride!

Just passing along news from another group ride yesterday that one of the guys got nailed with a $800 ticket. He'll probably have to hire a lawyer and go through the Rappahannock courts to avoid getting a misdemeanor on his record.

Here's an additional link of interest:

Never Speed In Virginia: Lessons From My Three Days In Jail

Also, don't speed on Skyline Drive. You'll have to deal with FEDERAL courts if you're pulled over there.

[M42]

Holy crap, I JUST read the comment on the meetup page about that (are you a member of VSR too?)

That is insane. Only ticket of my life, I got in VA for 15 over on the beltway a month back. Like I literally have to do that to keep from getting creamed by cars coming up behind me. Screw this state.

[jaesun]

I've been on a few rides with them through meetup and off the site. Their larger rides are more Ninja 250 friendly as long as you stay out of the fast group. I usually hang out in the middle. No incidents whenever I've been out with them. I missed out on the Ducati jetski and this most recent one on Saturday.

I think I remember the guy with the $800 ticket. He's probably close to 60 and rides a BMW S1000RR.

[Finesse]

Damn it... I have to go to the MVA next Monday to get my permanent stickers, my tags expire soon.

Late August?

[scorch]

Is there a date and time for this ride?

[Finesse]

Idk. I don't like planning things, I just want to go to skyline drive and think it'd be more fun with other people. if anyone wants to take charge, go ahead... but I can only do Sunday/Monday.

[wardie]

Just did the SL Drive a month ago on the weekend and had no problem with squids, gwakers or cops? Stayed at Big Meadows for the evening. One of the worst rain storms came through that night sure glad I wasn't tenting.

$10 per bike on the SL drive. If you're 62 or older pay the same $10 but it's a lifetime pass

The biggest crowd came from peddle bikers. I couldn't believe they made it up the mountain Some looked like they were going to die wow long steep hills out of Front Royal!

Speeding one a sport bike frowned upon and can cause big heart ache not to mention wallet ache

Lots of fun at 45 mph

Enjoy

[scorch]

Anyone want to do this ride this saturday?

[Sirref]

I'll have to double check my work schedule next time I head into work but I'm down if I'm free

[Finesse]

I can't ever do Saturdays...

[scorch]

Alright, i can do sunday too.

How about we hit the skyline drive this sunday? meet at the sheetz in haymarket at 11am. and then head to skyline ia backroads.

should be good. what do you guys think?

[scorch]

When: Sunday Aug 31
Time: 11:00am
Where: Haymarket, va. Intersection of route 55 and route 15.
Where we are going: Backroads to Sperryville, VA


Lets meet at the haymarket sheetz this sunday at 11am for a nice backroads ride around the area. We can hit skyline drive or just ride the great backroads leading to it. Who is up for it.

So far i am in and a friend of mine both on ninja 250's.

[squirrelystar]

I'll be starting the skyline tomorrow morning from Front Royal if anyone cares to join. (:

[Finesse]

I'm down as long as I can get back home within 4-5 hours.

@Sirref if you're going, want to meet me around where I live and we can ride to Sheetz together? My place is on the way from your place to Sheetz.

[Sirref]

hmm if the ride starts at 11am I wonder if I can make it to work at 4:30pm

I'll see if I can give the shift away to ride I should know fri

[scorch]

Well, so far we have 3 riders and on 250's . Pretty nice.

1.Scorch
2.Rob
3. Finesse
4. Sirref?

[Hero Danny]

I was completely for it until I saw that it was 9 hours away... ****... that's a no go for me.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by scorch

Well, so far we have 3 riders and on 250's . Pretty nice.

1.Scorch
2.Rob
3. Finesse
4. Sirref? 300

3 sv650 but likes a 250 pace
4? 300 but likes a 650 pace JK

[scorch]

anyone else coming?

[Finesse]

3 sv650 but likes a 250 pace
4? 300 but likes a 650 pace JK

pshsshhhh @Sirref can't pass me

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by allanoue

3 sv650 but likes a 250 pace
4? 300 but likes a 650 pace JK

3. is dead on, though her pace is noticeably quicker with the sv than the 250, but that's largely because of more confidence in the bike and not any change in mentality
4. I like a 600 pace but I understand that there is a time and place for everything and in that case it is neither everywhere nor all the time

Originally Posted by Finesse

pshsshhhh @Sirref can't pass me

shenny isn't too far away if you wanna get a set of leathers
actually that'd be tricky to pass you on the "straightaway" on a 250 (vs your 650) as N group requires gotta get you up to an I group pace first

[Finesse]

Originally Posted by Sirref

3. is dead on, though her pace is noticeably quicker with the sv than the 250, but that's largely because of more confidence in the bike and not any change in mentality

I feel like on the last ride we did a couple weeks ago if I had been going any faster it would have just been stupid. A deer or a stopped car in the road and we both would have been toast. I'm constantly thinking about stuff like that when I'm riding...

Originally Posted by Sirref

pshsshhhh @Sirref can't pass me
shenny isn't too far away if you wanna get a set of leathers
actually that'd be tricky to pass you on the "straightaway" on a 250 (vs your 650) as N group requires gotta get you up to an I group pace first

Nawww, I lost my short-lived desire for the track. I don't feel like investing in a track bike and a bunch of gear and waking up inside the butt crack of dawn... Maybe when I'm rich and have tons of leisure time.

Also as a disclaimer I don't care about who's faster... but you already knew that I just want to have fun and come home with all my pieces intact.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Finesse

I feel like on the last ride we did a couple weeks ago if I had been going any faster it would have just been stupid. A deer or a stopped car in the road and we both would have been toast. I'm constantly thinking about stuff like that when I'm riding...



Nawww, I lost my short-lived desire for the track. I don't feel like investing in a track bike and a bunch of gear and waking up inside the butt crack of dawn... Maybe when I'm rich and have tons of leisure time.

Also as a disclaimer I don't care about who's faster... but you already knew that I just want to have fun and come home with all my pieces intact.

well I guess you were edging your comfort zone then, personally I'd have been fine dealing with anything in the road but I get it easier since I'm behind you and I hadn't crossed over to my "go fast" mentality so I had a full safety margin intact as did you so long as your mind and eyes would allow you to use it.

I don't blame you for seeing the downsides of track, if you look at it logically you can't justify the amount of $ you spend on it but then you're riding and it's the greatest feeling you can have while riding. To me the track is my haven and I can't wait to go a ton more times next season

and I did already know that that said you're not slow I ride with a kid from time to time that talks so much **** about being fast and out of the 3 of us in that riding group he is by far the slowest in a corner and fastest in a straight line smh. You would leave that kid in the dust and never realize it

[Finesse]

I was being slow because I knew you were looking at my ass and wouldn't be paying attention to anything else in the road....lawl... I kid, I kid