From: "Mike Sayers" <miksayrs@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: Vmax Define "Gap Riding"

On 6 Apr 99, at 17:18, Kelly Cash wrote:

> > > I can point you to many other spectacular roads all over the U.S.
> > > that equal Deal's Gap.  I've ridden a lot of 'em.
> > Comon Kelly, don't keep it a secret. Where are the other roads
> > that equal Deal's Gap, I want to go!
> > Ross...
> 
> Well, I can put something together if you'd like.  Maybe we should
> come up with a "Recommended Roads FAQ."
> 
> I can even take the lead on this one.

Go for it dude!

I can say with near certainty that Deals Gap is the best sportbike road 
east of the Rockies. It has all of the requirements:

1. Extreme twistiness. There isn't anywhere on it you can go straight 
for more than about 100 yards. The curves are sharp & close together.

2. Good pavement. It is very smooth, well paved, high traction, no 
cracks, potholes, tar strips etc, very little debris or gravel... all 
the sportbike tires constantly running over it have created an 
extremely sticky surface like a good racetrack, and they keep it 
cleaned up too.

3. Light traffic. All you ever see on it are a few dozen bikes and the 
occasional car or truck, and maybe a cop or two trying to crack down on 
the bikes.

Side note: The cops gave up chasing the bikes a couple of years ago and 
went to roadblock/sting type operations after a cop flipped his car 
into a ravine chasing a bike. I'm glad to hear this, it means the cops 
aren't up there endangering the bikers & other traffic any more.

4. Low hazard/surprise factor: There are NO intersections, houses, 
buildings, or anything besides rocks & trees anywhere on the Gap.

5. Long: 11 miles, no more need be said. Most twisty roads only stay 
really twisty for a couple of miles.

I haven't found any other road that meets all 5 criteria, and I've been 
all over the East. The nearby Cherohala Skyway has 2, 3, 5 and mostly 4 
but not 1. No road north of the Virginia panhandle has that great  
pavement. West Virginia doesn't maintain their roads that well, and 
further north the winters buckle & crack all the roads.