That is a a catch 22 situation because it goes up going in on both ends and down in the center so you will have both up and down either way. I do prefer to take it from east to west so the sharpest turns are done up hill.
Correct gearing????? First is to high for some of it and a lot it second and low rpm. If you are going down hill on the steep stuff it is idle with the clutch full in and on both brakes at the same time. Going up it is very easy to stall and you may need to be slipping the clutch and watching out for a low side fall in.
The road is not to be feared so much as respected. it is not a high speed road.
That is a a catch 22 situation because it goes up going in on both ends and down in the center so you will have both up and down either way. I do prefer to take it from east to west so the sharpest turns are done up hill.
I live on the east side so I usually run it counter clockwise. This is a road that can be run both ways on the same trip if you want that much intense riding. It is a remote mountainous area and rarely crowded at all, with mostly local traffic.
Funny tale. My wife and were riding the road moving right along when I noticed a car making head way on us. That is not normal, so I picked up the pace till we were nearly sport riding. I was totally shocked to see the car pull out and pass us BOTH on one of the few straight areas. She flew by and about a mile up the road I saw a person getting out of the car in a driveway. It was a grey haired old lady in her 70's. I haver never been so surprised to see such an elderly lady be so fast and aggressive and to only make a two minute difference.
By the way, cannot have 200 proof under normal conditions (i.e., outside a laboratory) as ethanol forms an azeotrope with water at 95% ethanol, and cannot be further distilled. So Everclear (legal in Maryland but not in Virginia -- unless of course one distilled it oneself -- go figure) is 190 proof.
Correct gearing????? First is to high for some of it and a lot it second and low rpm. If you are going down hill on the steep stuff it is idle with the clutch full in and on both brakes at the same time. Going up it is very easy to stall and you may need to be slipping the clutch and watching out for a low side fall in.
The road is not to be feared so much as respected. it is not a high speed road.