Randakk's 2006 Customer Appreciation International GL1000 Rally

Recommended Rides

General Comments on Riding in the Mt. Airy, NC area

It's really difficult to find any "bad" roads for motorcycle riding around Mt. Airy. Below are three of my favorites. I've ridden all of these rides recently. Feel free to plot your own course, but I think you are sure to enjoy each of these rides.

Be aware that the speed limit on the Blue Ridge Parkway is 45 mph and strictly enforced. It would not be good if any of the Rally participants received a "performance award" from the friendly LEOs who patrol this road.

The mainly rural routes detailed below are generally free of heavy traffic, but watch for slow moving agricultural equipment and especially bicycles on these routes.

Randakk's Rides: Hanging Rock Tour

This ride is not as difficult as a ride down Deal's Gap, but it's a darned good substitute! Lots of sharp S-curves and flat sweepers to hold your attention. There are some significant elevation changes...especially if you extend the ride to the top of Hanging Rock State Park. Be especially careful when the route crosses NC 66. It would be easy to miss the desired path and end up on the wrong road. Remember to look for great views of Moore's Wall, one of the features of Hanging Rock State Park, as you travel out NC 268.

Turns	Directions	Approximate Cumulative Mileage
1	Turn left out of the Quality Inn onto US 601. Ride to US 52 South at stoplight and turn right.	0.5 miles
2	Travel south out of Mt. Airy on US 52. take the first exit into Pilot Mountain. This will be a left lane exit.	11.0 miles
3	Turn left onto NC 268 East. Be careful to stay on NC 268 when NC 66 crosses (tricky intersection!) Travel to NC 89 (at "T"-intersection).	24.0 miles
4	At NC 89, turn right (East) to travel to the entrance of Hanging Rock State Park Visitor Center. For Hanging Rock, go 4.0 miles on NC 89 East and turn right onto the State Park access road. The access road is opposite a small hospital on the left. This 4 mile stretch is the best section of the ride...very twisty! (You may omit the out-and-back to Hanging Rock by turning left onto NC 89 West to return to Mt. Airy. This will reduce the ride mileage by 15 miles.)	28.0 miles
5	Travel to Visitors Center at top of Hanging Rock.	31.5 miles
6	Travel back down access road to NC 89. Turn left onto NC 89 West	35.0 miles
7	Follow NC 89 West back into Mt. Airy to US 52 Bypass South.	65.5 miles
8	Follow US 52 Bypass South to US 601 South. Turn Right.	66.5 miles
9	Follow US 601 South back to Hotel which will be on the right.	67.0 miles (or 52.0 miles if trip to Hanging Rock is omitted.)

Randakk's Rides: Wine Country Tour

North Carolina is home to a growing wine industry and this loop ride will take you through some of the prettiest, rolling countryside the state has to offer. Not Napa Valley, but quite impressive.

Turns	Directions	Approximate Cumulative Mileage
1	Turn right out of the Quality Inn onto US 601 South and ride to Dobson exit. Stay on By-Pass...don't take opportunity for US 601 Business exit. Exit into Dobson. Turn Right at end of ramp onto Atkins Street.	10.0 miles
2	Pass through Dobson and by the courthouse on Atkins Street (aka Bike Route 4). Ride out of town. When the road T-bones at Twin Oaks Road, turn left.	14.5. miles
3	When Twin Oaks Road T-bones NC 268, turn left onto NC 268 East.	18.5 miles
4	Continue on NC 268 East past the intersection with US 601. Look for Copeland School road to cross. This will be the third road past US 601. Turn left.	22.5 miles
5	Copeland School Road eventually becomes Simpson Mill Road. When Simpson Mill road intersects Turkey Ford Road, turn left.	27.5 miles
6	Stick with Turkey Ford Road until you reach US 601. Do not turn off Turkey Ford Road onto Turkey Ford Church Road!	31.0 miles
7	Turkey Ford Road will T-bone with US 601. Turn right onto US 601 North to return to Mt. Airy. The Quality Inn will be on the left.	36.0 miles

Randakk's Rides: Parkway Tour

It's a cruise along the Blue Ridge Parkway! Need I say more?

Turns	Directions	Approximate Cumulative Mileage
1	Turn left out of the Quality Inn onto US 601 and ride to US 52 North. Turn left and head north. Stay on 52 North out of town, past the state line into Virginia. Travel through Cana, VA then climb up the mountain ridge to the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway.	14.0 miles
2	Exit onto the Parkway, heading south. Continue down the Parkway for 18 miles to the NC 89 exit. (If you want to add more miles to your ride, you can continue on the Parkway South as far as you wish. The Cumberland Knob Visitor Center is 2 miles further south of the NC 89 exit. Good for bio break.)	32.0 miles
3	Turn left at the end of the ramp onto NC 89 East. Travel approximately 20 miles back to Mt. Airy. There is a short, steep descent off the ridge with some great curves! Exit onto US 52 South Bypass.	52.0 miles
4	Follow US 52 Bypass South to US 601 South. Turn Right.	53.0 miles
5	Follow US 601 South back to Hotel which will be on the right.	53.5 miles

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