Beautiful Day in E.Tenn.

[ridgerunner]

Today was my 1st 200mi. ride since buying my '01 Sprint ST........Hwy. 360, Tellico Plains, the Cherohala Skyway, and the Dragon. It was a little chilly above 5000ft. on the skyway. There were quite a few bikes at the store at Deal's Gap. Killboy was taking pictures on the Dragon...........and only ONE LEO, an unmarked Blount Co. Deputy (NO Troopers on the Tennessee side).

My Sprint ran like a champ. I will be changing out the stock Bridgestones soon for some better rubber. It was a beautiful day in E.Tenn/N.C.

Mike O'Keefe

[demp43]

RIDGERUNNER
sounds like a nice ride
I was up in the area on monday and tuesday doing some exploring
rained and cold almost the whole time glad i was in the car
sure are some great roads up there
can't wait utill i get the sprint on some of them

[oldndumb]

Sounds like a great ride.
You will fall in love with the bike all over again when you swap out those Bridgestones.
I also rode about 150 miles today and was blessed to find 10 miles of rain. Why is it that putting on a rain suit when you need to is never as easy as it was in the store?

[ridgerunner]

yeah, I'm looking forward to changing out the tires. I've ordered GenMar risers. I'm going to add some extra fork oil when I install the risers and maybe adjust the pre-load a little. If I have to use front brake after choosing the line in a curve, it's a little unsettling when I let off the brake. It changes the line and the bike shifts outside in the curve. I rarely use back brakes, but, it seems more predictable in a curve with the ST. I know you're not supposed to need brakes after you pick your line, but sometimes you need to if you find the curve has a decreasing radius after you've commited.........the ST is a great ride. Nothing looked like it among all the bikes at the Gap. It's nice being a little unique in the crowd. Just like being on a Bonneville.

Mike

[upNorth]

Originally Posted by ridgerunner

It was a beautiful day in E.Tenn/N.C.

Mike O'Keefe

Oh, stop! I'm stuck in Pittsburgh with an inch of snow last night. Dorothy was right - there's no place like home...

Seriously, good for you. Those roads are beautiful.

[ridgerunner]

Come back downSouth upNorth and enjoy the weather. I've managed to put about 700mi. on the ST in the month since I bought it..........you'll have good riding up your way when the weather gets nice. I've ridden some of the twisties in W.Virginia and Pennsylvania........very nice

Mike

[BlewBayou]

OK OK Rub it in..............
I ride those roads every spring and you're killing me over here ridgerunner.

Hey, you ever checked out the Cherohala Motorcycle Resort just outside of Tellico Plains on 31 (Reliance Road)?
You live out that way? I'm in Owensboro Kentucky. 6 hours away from Tellico Plains.

[ridgerunner]

Hello BB,
I live about 60mi. from Tellico. I haven't been to the Cherohala Resort but I've been to Reliance many times to paddle the Hiwassee River and further south to the Ocoee River..........Have you ridden much in Eastern Kentucky? I'd like to check out Daniel Boone Nat. Forest. I may try to ride up to the Mid-Ohio ralley this summer. Triumph is the featured mfg. this year.
Mike

[BlewBayou]

I used to live in Cleveland Tenn.
Wifey poo and I go to reliance on our anniversary in October every year and stay in the Mountain Stream cabin rentals. We turn off of 411 and hit that little twistie on 30 then take a left at the old country store on 315 and cross the river then make an immediate right after crossing the rr tracks and then another right at Reliance bait and tackle. If you go straight, you'll go to the power house of course, but that last turn to the left you'll see that sign that points to the cabin rental place. It's just before you get to that little fishing cabin that guy has before you begin the ascent to the top of the mountain.

And yes, the D.B. national forest is nice, but I definately prefer Eastern Tn/Western N.C. because of the awesone roads and magnificent scenery. When I'm riding into N.C. I usually stay in Bryson City and fool around on the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Just love it out there. Oh yeah...Bryson city has an awesome Italian restaurant called Pasqualino's and the food is unreal. http://www.greatsmokies.com/pasqualinos/

If you're 60 miles away from Tellico I'm guessing you live in Cleveland, Athens, Madisonville, Maryville?
Anywayz man you are one lucky dude to live so close to the best roads east of the Mississippi.
You wanna hook up and ride shoot me an e-mail.
roywesley2003@yahoo.com

I'm going to look into the mid-ohio rally thing you're talking about and see if it jives with my work schedule.
Roy

[upNorth]

Originally Posted by ridgerunner

Come back downSouth upNorth and enjoy the weather. I've managed to put about 700mi. on the ST in the month since I bought it..........you'll have good riding up your way when the weather gets nice. I've ridden some of the twisties in W.Virginia and Pennsylvania........very nice

Mike

I will be back down that way in the next month or two to revisit some of those roads and the warm temperatures. Gotta get the snow tires switched over...

There are some good roads up this way but it was 19 degrees F when I got up this morning and that's just not fun, for me. Like you and BlewBayou, I am planning on making the mid-Ohio meet so drop me a PM beforehand and maybe we can ride some of those roads.