Back of the Dragon

[Guest]

Who here has done this ride? It looks like a bunch of fun and much closer to me than Deals Gap. Is there a bunch of traffic? Is it monitored much by the local law enforcement? Are there many decent places to stay that don't cost a fortune?

[marvinsc]

A link to the location would be good. Where is it?

[Redman]

THis...?

http://backofthedragon.com/about

VA Route 16, the two lane ribbon over the three mountains between Tazewell and Marion, Virginia

http://motorcycle-maps.us/va-rt-16-back-of-the-dragon.html

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[Chuck78]

I have read lots of awesome things about that place, even 16 far north of it well into WV. It looks AWESOME on the map, the crossings literally are the tails of 2 or 3 mountain ranges. I linked a few videos of it I belive, check my wintertime blues videos post in the off topic forum. Looks like an absolute blast on the maps & vids. The Mighty Python (us58?) & 421 The Snake are both near it, as well as Mt Rogers just across the GA border. WV/VA16 have been on my TO DO list for a while, or rather "MUST RIDE!"

[Chuck78]

Doug, I see you are in PA, hit me up later & I will link you to some amazing northeast wv roads that are much closer.orread my posts on the2014 wv rally thread

[SqDancerLynn1]

Any place like that will have a police presents, less so during the weekday

[bwringer]

Yep, it's a lot of fun. I've been there at least twice.

It's also just one incredible country road among thousands in a vast area, so no, there's little to no police presence unless you happen to arrive just after a pack of squids have splattered themselves against the scenery, or if you're making yourself annoying in some way.

Even on the actual world-famous Dragon on a nice weekend, you'll find cops haunt the place only during the prime idiot hours of about 10-3. Morons like to sleep in, and they like to congregate in large noisy herds (maybe so they can smell each other or something -- I have no idea). So they're easy to avoid. You can actually get out of bed, enjoy yourself on a nearly deserted Dragon for a few hours in the morning, then wander off and ride somewhere else the rest of the day.

However, you WILL find police and speed traps all over Appalachia in the small towns and on the boring four lane straight roads that follow the wrinkles from southwest to northeast -- watch the speed limit signs carefully whenever there's more than one house in view, and NEVER EVER crank it up on any bit of straight road immediately after a choice stretch of twistage.

Besides being a great way to supplement the local police retirement and doughnut fund, blasting the straights is just plain dumb wherever you are -- any idiot can yank a throttle wide open.

[Redman]

Who here has done this ride? It looks like a bunch of fun and much closer to me than Deals Gap.
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Yep, it's a lot of fun. I've been there at least twice.
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Brian,
Maybe you know.....
I looked at this on map briefly, and was wondering its proximity to the area where the GSR WV ralley is (Fayetteville..?).
Looks like the "Back Of Dragon" road/area is not too far south of there, such that Doug G (the OP) could work both of them into one trip.

Dave

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[Chuck78]

It's several hours away actually. I was looking into it for our WV trip last May, but we nrver made it that far due to time & distance.