Well, I went to the mtns...

[speedminded]

Richard Russell is a great road for bikes. one of my favorites in North GA. There is loose gravel in the winter when it gets cold enough to snow. and you will get ice at the top and some crazy fuckers climbing the ice wall but gravel is nothing to worry about in the summer. Ive ridden it hundreds of times and never had an issue. Never seen anyone crash there due to gravel. awesome road, eats your tires too. not many roads that can make your tires ball up like a track.
the only roads that I worry about gravel is 60 north from dales(two or three corners that almost always has gravel) and 180.

and yes, stay on the Loop. do not stray from the Loop. There are no other good roads up there. Only the Loop. Dont even think about going anywhere else.

Unless they repaved Richard B. Russell with a new mix I'm 100% positive there is gravel on it in places year round. That's why that road eats up tires so because of the mixture is eroding itself, too much gravel mix and not enough tar...then having near flat shoulders on both sides with gravel the cars tend to drop a wheel. I'm mostly talking about the middle near a couple of the look outs though. From the cliff to 180 is fine and from the last lookout to 75 tends to be ok...it's the center portion, particularly one sweeping turn on one of the hills always has gravel.

Yes, zero chicken strips with balls of rubber on not just the rear tire but the front too is good

If you go north on Hwy. 60 in Suches past the T.W.O. on the left and 180/Dales on your right it's a great 5 minute run to Gaddistown to heat your tires up for 180 (is this where you are talking about loose gravel in 3 turns?)...or you can continue 25 miles to Morganton and Blue Ridge Lake but the roads are BORING from there. Best bet is to turn around and head back to Suches and get back on the main loop.

I have a detailed figure 8 loop I wrote with mileage, landmarks, and maps in PDF form that I may post up. I just REALLY don't like making it available to people that aren't comfortable on those roads. Especially those in cars!

[dazn]

Unless they repaved Richard B. Russell with a new mix I'm 100% positive there is gravel on it in places year round. That's why that road eats up tires so because of the mixture is eroding itself, too much gravel mix and not enough tar...then having near flat shoulders on both sides with gravel the cars tend to drop a wheel. I'm mostly talking about the middle near a couple of the look outs though. From the cliff to 180 is fine and from the last lookout to 75 tends to be ok...it's the center portion, particularly one sweeping turn on one of the hills always has gravel.

Yes, zero chicken strips with balls of rubber on not just the rear tire but the front too is good

If you go north on Hwy. 60 in Suches past the T.W.O. on the left and 180/Dales on your right it's a great 5 minute run to Gaddistown to heat your tires up for 180 (is this where you are talking about loose gravel in 3 turns?)...or you can continue 25 miles to Morganton and Blue Ridge Lake but the roads are BORING from there. Best bet is to turn around and head back to Suches and get back on the main loop.

I have a detailed figure 8 loop I wrote with mileage, landmarks, and maps in PDF form that I may post up. I just REALLY don't like making it available to people that aren't comfortable on those roads. Especially those in cars!

there may be a piece here and there in some of the corners in front of the lookouts, but there is not enough to even worry about. Like I said, I have ridden it hundreds of times in the last 5 years and not once had an issue there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa9EG...eature=related


and yes, the parts of 60 that have gravel is closer to dales than morganton. The one in particular I always think of is the off camber right hander after a quick set of esses. 60 is an awesome road all the way to morganton. There are a lot of great sweepers all the way to morganton. there are a lot of straights in between, but the run up to morganton is worth it. after morganton you could always do a run up Tellico plains, and then in the Skyway. tons of spectacular roads in TN and NC.
60 north
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM-YObhH5kA
Ive got some of tellico I am editing right now.

There is no need to "heat" your tires up for 180. your on a straightaway and non-twisty stuff for a good while before you even hit the fun stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFs7RZet-LE


speaking of good stuff, this road is on my top 3.
http://dzone.smugmug.com/gallery/504...517_UD5SH-A-LB
thats me being filmed btw.

[V84lunch]

speaking of good stuff, this road is on my top 3.
http://dzone.smugmug.com/gallery/504...517_UD5SH-A-LB
thats me being filmed btw.

Yes taking Warwoman to 28 and into the highlands is an awesome ride!