| Author | Message | ||
     Fbolt |
Well, I left on Wednesday around 11am, luckily I only live 2hrs. by major interstate away from where the event was located at in LaVale, MD. I decided to take backroads all the way there and lo and behold, I find a new twisty road (45E to Siler Rd./SR600 to 522, not too far from the house!)-an awesome road I discovered on accident (isn't that the way they are all found?). I arrived in LaVale around 3:30-4pm and decided to check in and see what was going on... Thursday-I watched the Buell presentations re: their quality control process, the Uly, and suspension seminar. All was good, but I came to ride! Eventually around noon, a large group took off on a long, quasi-BRAG approved route that had us riding some fabulous roads. I talked to a few folks who said that they've never seen roads like these before (cut-backs, elevation changes, etc.)-All I can say is I'M SORRY! We roll back into town about 7pm and many of the roads were wet!! WTF! To make matters worse, it started to drizzle around 10pm... Wake up Friday and it has clearly been raining for many hours. Not drizzling, but pouring rain. I DO NOT LIKE RAIN!! I've ridden in it when I need to but never for sh!ts and giggles. I also realize that it's going to continue to rain like this for the next three days straight. No sense in waiting for a break, because it's not going to happen. I head to the dealership and purchase my first rain suit, pack the bike, and fuel up. I'm going to head on home. I met up with another Bueller who wanted to take the interstate--I was unsure because of the amount of rain and all but I agreed to follow him until I came to a secondary highway and then I'd break off. My thought is that I want to feel comfortable and go only as fast as I want to.... We head out onto I-68 and after 15-20 minutes, I can't take it anymore and I pull off. The semis blasting by me throwing water all over me, the limited visibility, my shaking knees and people passing and pulling right in front of me (hell, I was going 55-60 in a 65) was entirely too much! My mate keeps traveling - hope all went well! I decide to take backroads. I don't care if their twisty (all the better in my book) and soaked with rain-I figure they'll be less traveled and I can go at my pace. I was correct. Found another great road (sr144E to scenic 40E) Twisty, wet, pouring down rain, over the mountains, but most importantly-no traffic!! I eventually make it home (at 4pm(did I win the bet?)). The rain was terrible. Eventually i did hit traffic but I love elderly folks who drive very slow. They're a nice buffer when people want to pass. All in all a very good trip. "Hi" to all the Buellers I met and to all the DCBRAGgers that I've seen at a few of the meetings. On the way there:  Which way do we go?  Left (the way we came):  Behind:  Right (the way we went-not dissapointed at all in the choice!):  The Thursday crew:  Scenery at a stop:  The road we took from the stop. A great road that wound around a stream in a gorgeous valley-notice that it's looking wet which slowed the pace:  Friday rain-it only got worse:  | ||
| Cataract2 |
Never found a road up in those areas I didn't like. | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
i wanted to go very bad but wrecked my bike and that cost me 1000 bucks. ......at about 50 mph off into a soybean ditch. This trip needs to be repeated by Brag but maybe a bit earlier in year, a bit warmer and hopefully note raining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Blake |
Thanks for sharing. Kin I move this to the "Tale Section"? It is worthy.  | ||
| José_quiñones |
Excellent report! You missed the Train ride Friday!!!! But it was all great, glad you enjoyed it. (Message edited by josé_quiñones on October 09, 2005) | ||
| Bumblebuell |
Well, this year's adventure was almost a washout. Jose led us on a nice ride Wednesday up to the Flight 93 crash site in Pennsylvania. I've been before but I still managed to get choked up. Thursday we rode from 11:00 to 5:00 and had a "blast". Friday was a train trip to Frostburg and back. Good to see Jose and Linda, Glenn, Todd, Jim, Jeff, James, et al and hope you all made it home safe! Robin | ||
| Fbolt |
move away | ||
| Saintly |
A few pre-dampened buells from MD.   | ||
| 2hogs |
Fbolt, Ah yes Rt 144 and Scenic 40. I was on them last Tuesday only running the opposite direction. Picked Rt 144 up at Hancock MD and headed West. Lots of great roads around there and a little farther north in PA. Cheers | ||
| Kuuud |
Great time in spite of the rain. Great roads (esp if you left the 'suggested' route)...we even found some gravel and dirt! Fantastic fellowship as always! Jose saved the (rainy) day on Friday by finding the steam train ride. Can't wait 'til the next one!!! | ||
| Anonymouss |
Id like to give another big thanks to Jose for a great job leading the Thursday ride. After looking over the route that was provided, Jose quickly re-plotted a new and "improved" route and we were off. (Note to self, always find a local rider to tag along with when in an unfamiliar area.) Routes 42 and 50 need to be transplanted to central NJ so I can shred them every day after work. The friday rain ride was also a blast, even though it was only four of us. Maybe next time some more of you can dawn your duck feathers...ChooChoo riding(sissies)just kidding. I got some great pics and video of the trip and the two days I spent at Summit Point Raceway in WV. Ill post the pics and links in a day or two. Cant wait for the next trip. Oh and buy the way.....The Ulysses absolutely kicks •••. I think I may have had more fun than one person should on a bike. Those of you who were with me know what i'm talking about. Pics coming soon. Seth | ||
| Arkane |
well there is this one of Seth looking for a good road  Bob | ||
| José_quiñones |
My favorite memory of the rally happened on that Thursday Ride. Seth had been right behind me for most of the first part of the ride, so I got used to seeing his 12X's headlight in my mirrors as we powered out of the turns while leading the 20 bike group ride. I knew he could go faster. But I knew where we were going, and I was worried about setting too fast a pace for the group and the things that could happen when you do that. As we began the descent down the twisties on US50 eastbound. I looked in my mirror and I saw a Firebolt behind me instead of Seth on the Ulysses. Huh, where's Seth? I then decided to look over my left shoulder. There was Seth, riding down the mountain on the opposite, westbound lane, just itching to go faster than I was willing to go down these awesome turns. I nodded my head and waved him by. He passed me and that's the last time we saw him until the group reached the bottom of the hill and there he was, at the intersection with Rt 93, video camera in hand getting us riding by. Priceless. | ||
| José_quiñones |
btw we should probably move all this stuff to the other thread over HERE |
