RIP 226A, AKA Little Switzerland, NC

[gpzrocker]

Don't know if any of you ride the "Diamondback", aka Little Switzerland, AKA 226a, but wanted to pass this info on. The DOT has repaired the road with "tar snakes", the stuff they use to fill in cracks instead of paving.

On straight surfaces it's scary, add in braking, turning, and elevation changes it is terrifying. I brought along a guy on his FZ1, track rider and very experienced, and he stated "that was not fun at all".  I know the road well (local) and skipped over the yellow line twice, and got really close to the white line once. I thought I lost the FZ1 rider twice, but he was being more careful than I, and showed up in the mirrors eventually.

Luckily there are many more roads around that I will frequent now. I have to recommend scratching this one off your BRP run.

Anyone that rides 63 out of Hot Springs, "Shiners Run", I noticed the same last month.

[George R. Young]

Once due to hurricane closure of the BRP south end, I bypassed from Asheville on I40 and came up 226A, lovely twisty road at the time. Near the top, there was a Harley buried in the brush and a bunch of Harley riders parked and trying to extricate the bike. Kind of amusing, the parking, teamwork and all.

Sad to hear about the tar snakes, maybe they will solidify over time.

[tonedeaf]

...and it would be so easy to just throw some sand on the stinking patches before they set up.

[Pokey]

Nah I would be fine on that road, that is what I deal with here in Ohio.   

[gpzrocker]

Good luck with that, my travels in Ohio for a few years never saw a downhill grade or curves like this. I think the people that look at this say a 2000 ft drop in the 15 minutes it takes me to get down it, or used too. Ohio has fantastic roads, I love some of them, but this is a different level. East and south of you in particular I like.

And the usual (unfortunate) sight is the guy standing forlornly looking over the edge at his m/c waaaaay down. Most recent report among my friends was motorcycle and rider disappear. Second rider stops, gets off bike and looks over just in time to see rider one pull himself over the edge. 6 hours to get the bike up.

For many it was a good idea to stay off that road in the first place. So maybe it is a good thing.

[Pokey]

I ride down there all the time, and yes I was being a bit facetious. 

[carlntia]

Just rode it last weekend. Very unfortunate what they've done - 226A - "The Tar Snake"..... Just head over to 80 and have some fun!