PERFORMANCE RIDE

Wolf Pen Gap/Blood Mtn

Cooler Run — 34.2 miles
Surely one of the best rides in all of
Georgia. This loop through the Chat-
tahoochee National Forest combines
two incredible runs up and around Blood
Mountain. It can be run counterclockwise
if you prefer to take most of the turns on
the uphill or clockwise for the reverse.
Start in Suches, GA, the self proclaimed

Ride Data © 2010 All Rights Reserved. Sunday Morning Rides – Map Data © 2010 CC-BY-SA Open Street Map Contributors.
‘Valley Above the Clouds’ at Woody
Lake and head south east on SR60 to
Porter Springs where you connect to the
northbound US19. Head northeast, con-
necting to US129 and an exhilarating run
up the mountain following a seemingly
endless course of winding sweepers. At
Lake Trahlyta, connect to Wolf Pen Gap
Road (SR180) and head southwest back
to the start. A beautifully twisty run along 2010
PERFORMANCE

the wooded mountain is still the name

of the game here, but expect the road
to be a bit rougher on this side and very
narrow (watch out for folks crossing the
double yellow). Back in Suches, hook-
up with fellow riders at the Two Wheels
Only Campground and learn about all
the other great roads in this area. Go
counterclockwise loop with most turns
on an uphill, likewise clockwise for most
turns on a downhill.

REAL RIDER

I’m Brandon Carter from Dallas, Texas. I love riding sportbikes and
hitting up track days. I’m pretty excited to check out ducati’s new 848EVO,
though I think the next bike I’d get would be Star’s new Stryker because I like
to cruise in style, too. I like coming to the shows each year because they give
you the ability to see, touch and compare new models of motorcycles all in
the same place — not to mention all the aftermarket products showcased in
The Marketplace.

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 CRUISER RIDE

San Francisco to
Sausalito, Calif.
— 18 miles Ride Data © 2010 All Rights Reserved. Sunday Morning Rides – Map Data © 2010 CC-BY-SA Open Street Map Contributors.

This is a nice short jaunt through the

sights of San Francisco. Starting along
the coast (right next to the northern
windmill), this trip takes you through
Golden Gate Park and into the heart of
Haight-Ashbury. From there it’s a short
trip north along the twists of Lombard
Street, where you can visit nearby Coit
Tower. Finally, connect on the Embar-
cadero toward the waterfont. Stop at 2010
Fisherman’s Wharf for the famous clam
chowder (and maybe schedule a short
ferry trip to Alcatraz) before making
your way across the Golden
Gate to beautiful Sausalito.

For other detailed maps, visit

www.motorcycleshows.com/maps

CRUISER
REAL RIDER

I’m a sucker for anything with two wheels and a motor. Be it the Vespa P200E
that hauled my teenage self through most of Southern California, to the Triumph
Photo courtesy of Brian J Nelson/Victory Motorcycles

Thruxton that is my forever “keeper” bike — I need motorcycles. It’s the need
for motion and the freedom and peace it brings to the space in between my ears.
Perhaps that’s why I’ve always been drawn to cruisers and standards. These
are about straightforward locomotion, about the movement of heading down the
road. Go-fast performance is great, but that’s not where my sensibilities lie. Just
give me two wheels and a motor and I’m smiling. The International Motorcycle
Shows are somewhat like the Sears Christmas Wish Book for me — a chance to
dream and drool, to plan, pretend and picture just what this one’s like rolling
down the road.
— Dennis Johnson, editor, Dealernews

official magazine motorcycleshows.com 43

 DIRT RIDE

Allegheny
National Forest,
Pennsylvania —
18.2 miles
Here is an 18 mi. section of
the Marienville/Timberline
Ride Data © 2010 All Rights Reserved. Sunday Morning Rides – Map Data © 2010 CC-BY-SA Open Street Map Contributors.

trail. All told, there are more

than 70 miles of trails in the
area. The main trail-head is
just off Route 66, north of
Marienville.

The condition of the trails

2010
are subject to change but are
usually fairly rocky and narrow
in places. These trails are best
navigated on a smaller dual
sport (a DRZ 400 or similar
bike would be perfect) or pos-
sibly an ATV. Larger liter bikes
will be tough to get around.
Be sure to purchase a permit
(currently $35 a year).

For other detailed maps, visit

www.motorcycleshows.com/
maps

OFF-ROAD
Photo courtesy of BRP / Can Am

official magazine motorcycleshows.com 49

 TOURING RIDES
Loop of Southwest Wisconsin — 330 miles
This is a leisurely tour through the “Driftless Area” of southwestern Wisconsin. This region is
known for its unique topography of valleys, craggy bluffs and expansive plateaus. The winding
roads and byways through this rural landscape offer some of the finest views in the Midwest, espe-
cially during fall. Start and end this 330-mile loop in the town of Spring Green, known for Taliesin,
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin home. Wildcat Mountain State Park on the northern end of the ride
is an excellent stop for hiking, fishing and canoeing the Kickapoo River, which carves through the
area and bisects the tour again at Gays Mills. Connect with the upper Mississippi river in Bagley
and follow it south to Dickeyville, home of the famous “Dickeyville Grotto” collection of eclectic
roadside shrines. From there, trek back north to Spring Green. For the brave, a quick swing by
Mazo Nude Beach will cap a truly scenic and quirky day.

Ride Data © 2010 All Rights Reserved. Sunday Morning Rides – Map Data © 2010 CC-BY-SA Open Street Map Contributors.
2009
2010

Ride Data © 2010 All Rights Reserved. Sunday Morning Rides – Map Data © 2010 CC-BY-SA Open Street Map Contributors.

Pike National Forest, COLO. — 123.1 miles

With both twisty roads and off-road trails in the area, Pike
National Forest, just west of Colorado Springs, is perfect for
all riders. Perhaps the best known off-road adventure
is Rampart Range Road, which leads you to the Devil’s Head
Photo courtesy of Triumph Motorcycles

Lookout. This ride starts on Rampart, but loops south and

eventually connects with Shelf Road. Shelf is an old, loosely
maintained stagecoach trail with beautiful scenery and wild-
TOURING

life — you’ll see everything from bears to elk. After a while,

you’ll connect with CO-67 for a twisty stretch of pavement
back to civilization. While parts of Rampart can be narrow,
due to varying terrain and surfaces, this is a good BMW GS
or KTM Adventure ride.

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motorcycleshows.com 59