Stay Away From Deal's Gap

My son and I plan to be at the Dragon on Sunday afternoon, the 19th of July, heading back towards Wisconsin. I have never been on this highway but this thread has me excited.

Crazy driving, crazy people, wrecks, high speeds, traction defying turns...people pay big money to watch this stuff at Bristol twice a year and at the Dragon it is free. We will try to drive safely to say we were there and watch the excitement.

Myth and reality.

SPOKESMAN said:

Not to be a wet blanket, but from looking at photos, Deals Gap looks little different from any of hundreds of long and twisty mountain/hill/canyon roads that exist in the west and no doubt in many other parts of the country, yet every m/c site I visit talks of the Dragon while other twisty roads get little mention.

What's the big deal? (Apologies in advance re. the lowest form of humor.) Is it the quality of pavement? I can't imagine it's the atmosphere, which to me would be a huge detriment. Not knocking it, 'cause I've never been. Just wondering.

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I have not been either. It is probably like the old west gunslinger with the big rep. Part myth and part reality.

Certain ski area runs get the same kind of reputation; Al's Run at Taos Ski Valley, Corbett's Couloir at Jackson to name a couple . Though challenging and "mean", they're not necessarily the "meanest". Still, they are the runs with the reputation. "I Skied Al's Run reads a bumper sticker.

There is probably a sticker for the Dragon as well. " I survived the Dragon" or some such....

SPOKESMAN said:

Not to be a wet blanket, but from looking at photos, Deals Gap looks little different from any of hundreds of long and twisty mountain/hill/canyon roads that exist in the west and no doubt in many other parts of the country, yet every m/c site I visit talks of the Dragon while other twisty roads get little mention.

What's the big deal? (Apologies in advance re. the lowest form of humor.) Is it the quality of pavement? I can't imagine it's the atmosphere, which to me would be a huge detriment. Not knocking it, 'cause I've never been. Just wondering.

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The only difference between the Dragon and hundreds of other roads that are as good or better is publicity and promotion. You go there, get the T-shirt and get to tell people you've done the Dragon. It's famous for being famous. It's a little like Hollywood. The most famous actors are not necessarily the best actors.

I'd say, if you are in the area, go, and make your own conclusion.

If you go on Saturday at noon, go for the scene.

If you go on a week day, go early and go for the ride. That 11 miles gets a lot longer when you go back and forth a few times. It gets a lot faster as you become more familiar with it.

I've been a couple of times. I'm no knee dragger, but it was a lot of fun and I had never seen anything like it.

osbornk said:

. The most famous actors are not necessarily the best actors.

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Thank you.

...and I'm going this weekend and try as much of the area; snake, dragon, 421, Cheohala etc as time allows

The only time that I was there was at about 5pm in the middle of the week. I literally saw 2 other cars on the road and maybe 4-5 motorcycles on the side of the road. I went through twice free and clear of other vehicles. I did it in my car and boy was it a work out! Great fun too!!

We were coming from the Tenns side and this is what I saw on our way there just next to the dam



There was no one around and no cell phone service. I didn't know what to do.

I rode the Dragon this past Sunday, got there about 12:30. No LEO'S on the way over, not much traffic, had a great ride. After hangin' out for a while, I started seeing people wandering around with plastic cups of beer. Seems that Ben has started selling beer at the store, supposedly with a two beer limit. Now, don't get me wrong, I like my beer, but I really wish he hadn't done that. With all the motorcycle carnage that goes on at Deal's Gap, I just don't see this as being a good idea. Just my.02

My experience was during the week as well, and during the week it seems like any other road. Did one run in the rain, which was pretty enjoyable too.

Also on weekdays you're more likely to see local commercial traffic. I managed to get behind one of those heavy-duty stake-bed trucks (four-wheel, not semi) that deliver lumber. He had a big stack of drywall and some other stuff aboard and I was about to curse him for tying up the road but then I started to be amazed. This guy must drive lumber through there all the time, because watching him pilot that big ol' truck through the twisties was possibly more fun than watching a bike because he kept up a decent speed and knew exactly where to put his line. The truck seemed to defy it's own limits. Hats off to that driver!

toddlamp said:

The only time that I was there was at about 5pm in the middle of the week. I literally saw 2 other cars on the road and maybe 4-5 motorcycles on the side of the road. I went through twice free and clear of other vehicles. I did it in my car and boy was it a work out! Great fun too!!

We were coming from the Tenns side and this is what I saw on our way there just next to the dam

There was no one around and no cell phone service. I didn't know what to do.

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This shot looks like the lower portion of the 60+ mile Cache La Poudre Canyon West of Fort Collins...

<a href="http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa30/redclfco/?action=view&current=July07BMW005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa30/redclfco/July07BMW005.jpg" border="0" alt="Heading up the Cache La Poudre River"></a>

sort of

AHHHHH
Now this sounds like a road I must visit.

Tire companies put tread on the side walls of tires for a reason.
If you are replacing tires with full tread life on the side walls then your missing something.

I for one will put this area in my book off "been their hit that" places.

Now I just need to find out how to hit that on a weekday being from Idaho coming down for the rally????????

I for one feel its worth a ticket if the road is like what everyone says its like.

Everyone should run the Dragon once. You don't have to do it twice. I normally go on the weekends to see the circus. Squids in color matched leathers with files for their "soap pads". Now they have started selling beer. Let the carnage begin!