Spring 2014 - Romney, West Virginia - May 2-4

[Checkswrecks]

How is the area in general? My experience in most parts of the country is that any time the speed limit DROPS you better slow the heck down. Then, once you clear "town" and the speed limits near 50 things are "ok".

ac

While I totally agree with your experience, in WV enforcement's actually not bad. Especially for where you and I are coming from. And as much as I jumped on Dallara in another thread about radar detectors in the MD/DC/VA area, detectors are legal in WV and WV uses a lot of rolling radar, where the things are at their best.


Watch for enforcement most on the numbered routes (50/55/28), as opposed to the local-ish roads that D_D and I generally steer toward. Most of your issues will be cruisers en route somewhere along these number roads, and their radar will just happen to be on. In addition to near Capon Bridge, there was a VA(iirc) trooper who lived right on 33, west of Harrisonburg. He'd set up in the heart of the curves as the road climbed into the forest. I haven't been on that road since last year.


Another place that needs to be watched is on Route 93/42, for about the 3 miles east of Mt. Storm Lake. It is a fantastic set of twisties on good pavement and you can roll to the limits of the tires and crank the throttle. The sport bike squids love this little stretch and I darned near ran into an officer who fortunately already had a paying customer. (btw - 93 west of Mt. Storm Lake sucks for about many miles till reaching Thomas.)



I heard one of the SMIBs mention radar regularly being in the GW National Forest (north Dolly Sods) and it makes sense especially for the long straight stretch, but I haven't seen it personally. Anybody else seen it?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Being from Virginia, I am hard wired to try to stay under 20 MPH over (in VA 20 over is treated with the same seriousness as a DWI). That doesn't always work on the back roads, but I do try.

I agree with everything Checkswrecks said. Your likely hood of a roadside conversation are much higher in the towns, or approaching/departing towns. There's a spot just outside of Romney on the east side (near the high school) on Rt 50 where I've seen them looking for people coming up the hill. It's a challenging spot. 2 lanes up, slows to 40 MPH (I think) you feel like you far away from everything riding through the trees, then bang...smile.

In my many thousands of of WV miles, it has been extraordinarily rare to see an officer on the truly back roads. To be honest, I never give them a thought when I'm in the fun stuff. On the numbered roads that that CW mentioned, once I'm few miles outside of town I've never had a problem staying at 8 or 9 over. Again, not that common to me to see people pulled over anywhere away from towns. It does happen, but I'd call it unusual. Not the case in VA, by the way.

The wonderful section of road that CW mentioned near Mt. Storm is one of the two "out and backs" I have on my Saturday route. Like him, I have also seen police on this fun road. I love that road, but I do tend to stay just under 10 over on that road. It takes discipline in the straight aways, but is a fun speed on the twisties of the road.

Speaking of the out and backs on my Saturday route - if you are considering riding this route on your own, you should be aware that the second out and back (just south of Rt 72) is the most challenging dirt road section of that route. I've encountered small 4-door sedans on that road, so it is passable for most everyone, but you are really getting off the beaten path on that road, and it is somewhat steep in some places and rougher than your average dirt road. I will not be taking my group on that road until I have a chance to be sure everyone is up for it.

 

[avc8130]

My thought for tomorrow is to ride to Breezewood, PA via slab to save some time (anything short of that I can explore on any given day anyways). Then from there I will grab either the East or West portion of the "Breezewood Loop" posted earlier. Is one particularly better than the other?

I'll be looking for a loop/group on Friday with some easy dirt roads to get into the groove. Anyone around Friday for some exploring?

ac

 

[Checkswrecks]

My thought for tomorrow is to ride to Breezewood, PA via slab to save some time (anything short of that I can explore on any given day anyways). Then from there I will grab either the East or West portion of the "Breezewood Loop" posted earlier. Is one particularly better than the other?

I'll be looking for a loop/group on Friday with some easy dirt roads to get into the groove. Anyone around Friday for some exploring?

ac

I'd drop down PA26, just west of Breezewood. Look for the old iron industry ruins before getting to MD. Then thru the MD state forest is a really small bridge.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

My thought for tomorrow is to ride to Breezewood, PA via slab to save some time (anything short of that I can explore on any given day anyways). Then from there I will grab either the East or West portion of the "Breezewood Loop" posted earlier. Is one particularly better than the other?

I'll be looking for a loop/group on Friday with some easy dirt roads to get into the groove. Anyone around Friday for some exploring?

ac

Been a while since I've done that one. The major points that stick in my head - good twisties on the west side of the loop, cool elevation changes with excellent scenery and twists on the east side. Pick your poison.




I spoke with Romney yesterday, they feel like they are ready to go and sounded excited make this a great weekend. This is a big deal to them.

I'm thinking I'll probably get there around noon on Friday. Check what's going on, see if I can get my name on the list to go play on the 2014 DL1000, and if any one is interested maybe take a short ride up to the wooden bridge.
http://youtu.be/59i0hhkdXH0
Depending on time and interest, maybe come back through Pawpaw and have some twisty fun.


I know the Canadians are already rolling. I'm sure there are some others on the road this afternoon and a good number leaving tomorrow. Ride safe everyone. Looking forward to the weekend.

 

[NittanyXT]

I'm out, hot water coil in the boiler took a dump Cha-ching, there goes the budget. Have a good one and hoist a few around the fire for me!

 

[Brick]

Dirt Dad... How far from Romney is http://www.bridgemeister.com/pic.php?pid=1657 ? I ran into that two years ago and thought it was so cool. The last privately owned toll bridge in the US... so they say. I think it was $.50 toll and the lady sat in the booth and extended a wooden poll with a wooden bowel on the end for you to put your money into.


Brick

 

[avc8130]

Dirt Dad... How far from Romney is http://www.bridgemeister.com/pic.php?pid=1657 ? I ran into that two years ago and thought it was so cool. The last privately owned toll bridge in the US... so they say. I think it was $.50 toll and the lady sat in the booth and extended a wooden poll with a wooden bowel on the end for you to put your money into.


Brick

Pretty neat, but I think this is still privately owned by me:

http://dcdbc.com/history.php

$1 and the guy stands in the middle of the road putting dollars in a bucket.

The bridge surface is still wood.

On a RELATED note:

My Garmin Nuvi 760 refuses to accept the .gpx files from "ridewithgps" so I think I might be flying blind.

Anyone around tomorrow (Friday) to show me around?

ac

 

[dcstrom]

Sounds like you a in for a great weekend guys, sorry to miss it. Enjoy, and have a moonshine or two for me!

 

[MojoToot]

Dirt Dad... How far from Romney is http://www.bridgemeister.com/pic.php?pid=1657 ? I ran into that two years ago and thought it was so cool. The last privately owned toll bridge in the US... so they say. I think it was $.50 toll and the lady sat in the booth and extended a wooden poll with a wooden bowel on the end for you to put your money into.


Brick

last time that I crossed it, I think it was $.25 for a motorcycle...AND I used a credit card.

Hey Y'all....I'll be ridin south tomorrow...stayin @ Koolwink motel.

Will be wandering around @ Romney Cycle..sayin HI & lookin for a group to ride with on the Dirt Dad loop for Saturday.

 

[avc8130]

See you guys there! Hopefully someone else arrives tonight or early tomorrow morning so we can ride together!





ac

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Dirt Dad... How far from Romney is http://www.bridgemeister.com/pic.php?pid=1657 ? I ran into that two years ago and thought it was so cool. The last privately owned toll bridge in the US... so they say. I think it was $.50 toll and the lady sat in the booth and extended a wooden poll with a wooden bowel on the end for you to put your money into.

18 miles away.

See you guys there! Hopefully someone else arrives tonight or early tomorrow morning so we can ride together!

I saw a photo on ADV, someone is already there and posted a photo at the front door.

Sounds like you a in for a great weekend guys, sorry to miss it. Enjoy, and have a moonshine or two for me!

Will do, Trevor. Wish you could be here.

In just two days your former shirt will have a new owner.

Thanks for starting this event. Looks like your idea has taken root and really grown.

 

[dcstrom]

Thanks for starting this event. Looks like your idea has taken root and really grown.

Thank Larry and Kev - they were the horsepower behind the idea! All I did was round up a few guys on Teneres (6, IIRC!). Really, not surprised Romney Cycles are successful. They have a simple strategy of giving the customer what they want... and they are smart enough to know that word-of-mouth advertising is worth far more than some clicks on a Google ad. So this weekend, you guys will be enjoying their hospitality while helping them spend a nice chunk of their marketing budget. They will sell some bikes, either directly or indirectly, customers will get a good price and be treated well... everybody wins! And they spend more money on the event next year

 

[Yamasaki]

I'll be looking for a loop/group on Friday with some easy dirt roads to get into the groove. Anyone around Friday for some exploring?

ac

Looking forward to meeting you, and others. I should be pulling in up there by mid afternoon ::022::.

 

[Yamasaki]

I want to echo a caution that Checkswrecks has said before, Capon Bridge, a town is about 15 miles east of Romney on Rt 50 is a notorious speed trap town. Do not speed there.

Coming in on 50 from the east, Romney is a "speed trap town"...big time! I know from experience. :-[

 

[Checkswrecks]

Coming in on 50 from the east, Romney is a "speed trap town"...big time! I know from experience. :-[

Duuhhhh - How could I have missed that one!


D_D wrote about coming up the hill toward the school several miles to the east, and I've seen that one in operation. I've seen them also on 50 near the Indian Mound cemetery on the west side. But the one that has almost gotten me a couple of times is north of town, both just before Romney Cycle and north of the dealer. If you are coming into town from the dealer south into town, the speed steps down to 25-30 as the road comes up and rounds a curve, so the speed reduction is easy to miss.


For all of you heading out tomorrow, WATCH the creek crossings. With all the rain we've had, the bottoms will have changed and the water is liable to be fast.

 

[duranged2001]

For what it's worth, I'm coming up tomorrow with a group of VStrommers. ::26::

Ride safe. See y'all there
Dave

 

[Dirt_Dad]

For what it's worth, I'm coming up tomorrow with a group of VStrommers. ::26::

Ride safe. See y'all there
Dave

VStrom and Teneres will be well represented this weekend.


It's finally here. The weather is looking great, and Romney tells me they are ready to go.

Have a safe ride in everyone. Watch your speed in towns, and let the festivities begin.

 

[avc8130]

Woke up to a beautiful wv morning. Met larry and got a tour of the dealership. Very impressive. Eating breakfast at shirleys then riding the vstrom 1k.

Then time to go freelance exploring!

ac

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[hANNAbONE]

...excellent.!

pictures with names please.!!