I've ridden that highway through the Natl Forest quite a few times and I've never seen it so busy that it would make me avoid it. There were a few times I got caught behind rubbernecking cagers, but for the most part it's pretty manageable. Just avoid a Saturday or Sunday summer ride and you should be fine.

 

I rode through there a couple of weeks ago, it was a mess.

 

NC Pirate, check your pm's

 

We road up to Station's Sunday and hit the parkway to route 21 back home. There were a ton of nice bikes and live bands. It was my first visit but the guys I rode up with were regulars.

 

Now I know a lot of you guys have been riding for a long, long time, but I feel that I must put in my favorite touring route. I live in Shelby, and have about 100 different directions I can go. I like to hit 226 from up above the house and just cruise until I get to 64. I take 64 all the way up through to Rutherford county, then I am in familiar territory. I hit 221 north until I get to painters gap rd (across from a lumber yard, and a convenience store owned by some old friends of mine) You will have to watch out for one of the curves though on painters gap, it will sneak up on ya if you dont know its there. I make a left on Piney **** rd. then a right on Cove rd. You can take Cove Rd. just about all the way into Lake Lure. I cannot remember the specific road names after that, just imprinted memory. I go through Lake Lure, and take 64 to the left just after Chimney rock, where a few of my family members live. I go all the way into Hendersonville, to check on my Grandma, then I hit 74 south down the mountain until I get to Union Rd. I take a right on Union, then a left on whatever that rd is, and keep on going until I end up back in Rutherford county. I usually make a right back on 221 and head to SC where there is a little bitty hole in the wall bar on the right just across the state line with the best folks you could ever meet and water up a little (dont look the old dude with the Indiana Jones hat on in the eye trust me). I then head down 221 south a little more and make a left on #10 going toward Gaffney. I have been known to stop for a bite to eat at the Bantam Chef in Chesnee a time or two before continuing. I hit #10 to Gaffney and pick up 85 North until I get to the exit for Kings Mountain Battlegrounds (a very nice straight 10 min. ride)(When you come out of the Battleground Rd you will see a bar across from you called the Bears Den that has a sign saying welcome bikers, I have to say I did not feel welcome there but to each his own) When you are at that stop sign you have 2 ways to go. You go left, and go into SC and try to guess your way around, because I cannot for the life of me remember the names of the roads, or go right and head straight thru KM towards Bessemer City. When you hit 161 to Bessemer be sure to stop at this little Bike shop/bar on the right. Those are some freindly folks. It will be just before this funny looking tunnel to the left after a public swimming pool. I usually end up going back up 74 towards the house after this because the OL has gotten tired of riding, but if I am by myself, I could give you about 1 more hour of riding thru the country that is just awesome before I head home. Yup it makes for a pretty good day of riding if I do say so myself. There are a lot of different routes I take, it just depends on my mood that day. If any of you would like to join in I dont mind, it might make it more interesting.

 

I will be going for an all day run thru the country, and will be leaving around 10:00am from the Ingles on 74 and 226 in Shelby. I posted my usual route, but I have a few other roads I would like to ride on my agenda. I like to ride mostly country so dont expect a lot of highway. I will leave Ingles at 10:15 sharp. If any of you are interested in some pretty good country riding you can meet me there. Just follow 74 thru Shelby no matter which way you are coming you cant miss it. From the rutherford county side of Shelby look for 226 to go to the left, and from the Charlotte side if you miss that big store, you dont need to be riding anyway (seriously though, if you want to join and need directions, give me a shout). I have only 2 requests from anyone that wants to ride with me. One I get to stop and see my brother (he also rides, but is laid up with a hernia) and two I stop to see my grandma(dont worry, I wont spend a lot of time at either one, but it would be respectful of me to stop and say hi) There will be a few stops at some of my favorite watering holes, and one I have never been to before up around Lake Lure. I will have to head to my house around 5:30 to pick up my wife, and then will be heading to Lincolnton for the Hog Happenin event. Never been there and would like to go. Like I said, if you know the area, meet me at the Ingles on 74 and 226, if you dont, and didnt understand my beligerent directions, just let me know. I will check tomorrow for any messages and get back with you. By the way when you get to Ingles I will be on the fabulous (in my eyes anyway) red and black heritage softail classic. Everyone is welcome no matter what you ride.

Peace!

 

I live in Chatham county and ride up into Caswell a lot. Take Jones Ferry road north to Carboro and then old 86 north to Hillsborough into Caswell. Turn right onto 119 north to Semora and then left onto 5????(comes from Roxboro) to Milton and then left on 62 south to Yanceyville, into town and onto Three Sisters parkway a nice curvy little side trip and south to 62, returning to Haw River then south on 54 back to Chapel Hill and 15-501 back to home.

From Pittsboro north on 87, left on Gum Springs/Silk Hope road all the way to Liberty and then onto Old Liberty road all the way to Asheboro, turn around and repeat.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.219727&z=12

The area around Suthpin, Snow Camp, Eli Whitney and south of Graham is awesome for some back road easin along.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie...,0.439453&z=11

From Pittsboro take the Goldston/Pittsboro road south to Goldston, then Goldston/glendon road to 42 west, follow 42W to 902 north and follow this back to Pboro.

link to map...http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...3&ie=UTF8&z=11

Another vote for 66/311/8/89 to Mount Airy(stop at the Snappy Lunch and get a porkchop sammich) then south to Pilot Mt and 268 back to 89 and then 8 south toDanbury OR 8 north to Sandy Ridge and 704 back to Madison and BBQ at Fuzzys.


Tour of B Everret ****** Lake....from 15-501 take Jack Bennet road to Lystra road to fearrington road, turn south to US64, cross straight over and south to a right onto Pea Ridge road, south to old US 1 ,right to Moncure and right again on the Moncure Pittsboro road back to 15-501 or a right onto Gum Springs road to US64 and back to Pboro.





Bout time for a Central NC meet/greet/Ride???????

 

Just found this thread.... you've hit my favs pretty good, but I'd add the NC-8/Hanging rock park road/moores spring road/ NC-66 connection.
From NC/VA-8 I swing north east on Ayers Orchard Road, to US-58 great road, VA-40 from Woolwine VA (VA-8) towards Roanoke, is another great road.

Closer to Raleigh, Bike Route One, is a pretty good (set of roads) in fact, a good source of roads, is the various "bike routes" yeah, I know they're meant for bicyclists, but they are paved traffic roads, and generally pretty scenic. Bike route 6 from Snow camp to Seagrove, or Bike route 5 from ****** Lake towards Liberty

Heck, as long as I aim north from Raleigh.... I get good roads, when I head south, or east.... everything gets flat and straight

 

Did some of the 42 ride today out of Sanford. Went 42 to 902. Nice country roads.

 

I'm in Jefferson, NC and I had a great ride today. I took 16 to Mouth of Wilson, VA and then 93 to Sparta. I took 18 and 89 from Sparta to Mount Airy. Then Hwy 52 to Hillsville, VA. Picked up 58 from Hillsville, thru Galax and Independence back to Mouth of Wilson and home. Unbelievably beautiful with light traffic the entire ride. You could pick that route up in Mount Airy and make your lap starting on 52 N. I've got quite a few day rides from NW NC, many of which will venture into SW VA and eastern TN. Will see if I can post the maps on here.