[ST] Ride Report Maryland/Virginia/West Virginia

[Jean Doublet <tigre20815@xxxxxxxxx>]

That's my first try at a ride report on this list but
they are what makes it so enjoyable to read... So here
it is. And, as the mayor of Brussels used to say when
welcoming American guests, "American is not the tongue
of my mother", so please ignore the mistakes...

The original plan was to go on a two days, 1K trip to
the heart of West Virginia from the outskirts of DC
where I live (and explore possibilities for a Eastern
rally there at some point). But Mr. Tire Engineer
(alias trusted wrench) at my local shop (Myers Cycles
in Kensington MD is not a certified Triumph dealer but
he's been maintaining Triumph and Norton for the last
25 years and does a good job on mine which is well
past its warranty days anyway)...) assured me on
Friday that I would be lucky to get another 500 miles
out of my Metzeler MEZ4. With 6,5K miles on it, I was
pushing my luck.  Oh well, the order for a new MEZ6
will take a week to proceed, so it will be a one day
ride and 500 miles instead.

Let it be an "Interstate free" day. I leave Washington
by River road and go up the Potomac through the
Chesapeake and Ohio Scenic road all the way to
Harper's Ferry, then Virginia and Routes 340 and 7 to
Charles Town and Winchester. From there and for the
next 150 miles or so, I'll follow route 50 West into
West Virginia. Traffic is light and soon the road
starts going up into the Alleghenies. Long sweepers
follow tight uphills and on downhill stretches I
marvel at the additional power and feel of the Skyking
Master Cylinder kit installed last month (new pads
certainly help as well). Near Hartmanville, a Guzzi Le
Mans leaves a parking area just on my tail. For the
next 20 miles, we doing the road together, his big
round light in my (Skyking extended) mirrors. That's
the battle of torque but the ST is definitively more
agile in the twisties. Some day, I'll buy one of these
new V 11. They're big, beautiful and sound like a
cathedral organ. 

It's gas time and the Guzzi rider goes his own way.
Soon, two locals on Hoyazukis stop by. They look at
the Triumph as it were a creature from outer space...
"didn't know they were building them anymore, any good
?", they go as countless others before them (as many
in the U.S. as in Europe where I was riding a 750
Trident and then a 900 Trident ten years ago). "Where
are you from ?" asks one. "Maryland" I say, pointing
at the tag. To reveal out there in West Virginia your
Frenchness is tantamount to dance in red rags in the
Arena of Sevilla on Corrida Day. While putting my
helmet back, I hear him telling his friend: "That's no
Maryland accent".
 
An another 20 miles and here is a guy by the side of
the road, inspecting his bike. I slow down and he
gives me the thumb up... It's a Thruxton !!! A brand
new one, in cherry color. Boy, the bike is gorgeous
and the rider looks like he's stepping out of a
Classic Motorcycles cover page. Open face, small white
goatee and brown leather jacket. There, in the middle
of nowhere WV, there's a guy breaking in his new
Thruxton. There is some good in this world after all.

Then, it is road 219 South through the Monongahela
Forest. Huge windmill turbines on the ridge are
visible from twenty miles away and the village of
Thomas is the closest thing I've seen to the gold rush
town in "McCabe and Mrs Miller", less the snow.

It's a Sunday in Summer and Harley riders are out.
Hundreds of them... and they're slow. One ignores me
while I am right on his tail for a good three miles,
making my overtaking intentions very clear (I never
break double yellows, a promise I made my mother a
long time ago). There he stands in the middle of the
road, stereo blaring and the back of his wife slowly
melting under the summer sun.
He's soon a thing of the past and I get to Elkins and
hook on Route 33 East. I've learned from previous
experiences in the area that it's better to stick to
the "old" road 33 than the new one. The "Robert C.
Byrd Highway" cuts across the mountains like knife in
butter and a truck driver's dream come true.
But the stretch of Route 33 between Judy Gap and
Rawley Spring is still the most amazing road in the
area. It reminds me of some dual carriageways in the
German Black Forest where billboard signs ask cars to
leave the left lane to motorcycles while reminding the
latter to be "prudent". Yeah, right.

I get on route 42 North at Harrisonburg but I get lost
on back roads around Orkney Springs and my plan to
come back through back roads in Virginia and crossing
the Potomac back to Maryland at White's Ferry (still a
real ferry, mind you) has to change. It's already 7:30
pm and the crossing stops after sunset. Oh well, I get
on I-66 at Front Royal for the last 70 miles. It will
be an Interstate day after all.

I get home at 9:00 pm after 12 hours on the road of
which 11 on the saddle. My butt is not even sore
thanks to Mr. Corbin and cyclist underpants but the
arms ache from too much heavy braking.
The ST has performed faultlessly (as usual). It is
still the best long legged sport-tourer I've ever
ridden (I still have to try one of these new Le
Mans....) and it's not going anytime soon.

One last thing: Somebody on the list once recommended
Cool-Max underwear. The garment is (supposedly) used
by NASA to keep temperature even under astronauts'
suits. I concur. I wore perforated leathers all day,
in temperatures ranging from 70 to 90 Fahrenheit and
never felt any difference. I am not associated with
them (usual disclaimers, blah, blah, blah). It's a
good tip, that's all. 

As for the Eastern rally, the aera is certainly
adequate when it comes to lodging and roads and should
be further investigated. 

Oh, I forgot. The trip was 498 miles. I have 2 miles
left on the MEZ4 and I still have to ride to work
until Saturday. It will make it, the cord is not
showing yet...  
 




=====
Jean "Chase Dawg" Doublet
Sprint ST 99


		
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