I wanna be a dragonslayer...some day...

http://www.whytheyride.com/flash.html

Actually looks like a pretty good documentary

What the hell is a Dargonslayer?

I have no idea what ur talkin about 

I won't claim to have slayed it this weekend but I can now say I'm a Dragon Rider.  If you are within a 10 hour radius you need to get there at least once.  Absolutely amazing ride.

Quote from: COWBOY on June 02, 2008, 07:18:01 AM
I won't claim to have slayed it this weekend but I can now say I'm a Dragon Rider.  If you are within a 10 hour radius you need to get there at least once.  Absolutely amazing ride.

5-0 getting pretty serious around there though....

Quote from: CDawg on June 02, 2008, 07:27:37 AM
5-0 getting pretty serious around there thought....

That's what I've heard. Been an increasing number of fatalities or something. Last time I was driving there in my cage, I saw a guy on a Harley full dresser with his wife on the back run wide on a turn, and lose it on an uncharacteristally shallow edge for the area. Both were fine, and the bike was ridable, but scuffed pretty bad.

BTW dragonslayer is a term given to riders who ride the tail of the dragon, a section of highway US 129 in smokey mountain national park, an 11 mile section of road with a claimed 318 curves.

Quote from: CDawg on June 02, 2008, 07:27:37 AM
5-0 getting pretty serious around there thought....

There were 7 there in 4 spots (2 at beginning, 2 at overlook and 3 near the end) when we first arrived.  After lunch there were only 4 there for the rest of our time on it.  Traffic was also very light this weekend -- good for us!    Rt 28 and the other area Parkways are also good rides.

Quick story,  By the end of the 2nd trip up and back traffic was light enough and I had scouted it enough that I decided to push a little more - think 80% v 70%.  I upped my corner speeds to 45 and enjoyed the greater lean angles.  As the lap was winding down I passed mm3 and entered an S I heard a "boom" and nearly shit myself as 2 locals on liter bikes flew by me knee down at around 65-70 mph (I had been keeping an eye on the mirrors all day these guys came from nowhere).  I then noticed one more light back there but thought it was my riding buddy only to get passed mid corner again like I was standing still.   The resort owner asked me what they looked like and then told me the 3 guys that had passed me have been known to do the full 11 mile 300 plus turn Dragon in just over 9 minutes.  It's crazy the risk they take but witnessing their ability first hand was incredible.  One of them in particular needs sliders on his elbows as well.

I always though dragonslayers were dudes who nail ugly chicks. 

I hear the 5-0 isn't that bad on the TN side.

Quote from: Ducatiloo on June 02, 2008, 08:54:41 AM
I hear the 5-0 isn't that bad on the TN side.

8 or 9 miles of the dragon are in TN.  We had no issues this weekend wtih either the Tenn ST and County Sheriffs we saw, including after 2 guys binned it (minor injuries only) during the afternoon.

From all accounts we got lucky though (forecast was rain and it turned out to be sunny all afternoon) so maybe the LEO presence was down accordingly.

this guy  www.tailofthedragon.com  feels they are. 
this guy www.dealsgap.com feels differently.

If the 5-0 is there in force no one slays anything, the bikers become the Dragon parade 15 mph.

The Dragon is 95% on the Tenn side & yes, the cops are just as bad. My son went there this w/e & said there wasn't any real police presence, but if/when you go, you need to get a police report at the store/gas station. It varies dramatically. Personally, I'd be afraid to ride too slow, getting passed at 80mph in a curve will unerve most people.

Horse's mouth:
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_SHUTDOWN.html



also, if anyone's heading down that way I've hear that Cherohala Skyway is almost as good, but longer and less 5 0

yeah he's the one I linked above and is tits up for the increased presence.  His competition (resort, marketing, tshirts, etc) is much less up tight about it.  truth probably lies in the middle somewhere.

the video where he gets pulled over is funny though.  Cop handled that better than I would have.