I think Bounce makes some good points. I'm certainly a novice around the Dragon and the Cherohala, but I know there are many curves that you can scout before you get there. IE you can see if anything is coming on the other side of the switchback or over on the next hill around the other side of the sweeper before you ever get there, so you know that nothing is coming, even if it seems like a totally blind curve. As I got more familiar with the terrain and comfortable with my skills, I also started looking ahead to see what was around the bend, before I even got there.
I was passed by several sport bikes in the Dragon, on the Cherohala, and in other places around the area as well. A couple times I was pretty nervous at first, but I moved over to the "fog line" and waved the bikes on. Even a couple FJR's. In some cases when they did blip by me on a "blind", I knew it was clear. A couple times I figured out after the blind or on a subsequent trip around how someone could scout ahead and easily pass in the curve while I was slowed and they were substantially faster. They usually jumped by me extremely fast and still had time to make a wave of thanks before I even finished the curve.
I agree that no one should pass in a curve like that without "permission", especially when it is truely a blind curve. I think that in a place like the Dragon, the sportie may be able to handle the situation, but the passee may loose his or her **** because of the pass and THAT could cause an accident. But the road ettiquette should go both ways.
Again, at the other end of the spectrum, I had to blow by more than a couple bikes that just would not share the road or wave to allow a pass. If that happens it pisses me off to no end, car or bike, but especially a bike. I never did pass on a blind curve, and I was careful where I picked my spot, but double yellow or not, I was not going to sit behind a Gold Wing or a Harely poking under the speed limit. After all, what's the point of having a super sport touring bike if you can't utilize the sport side.
I was thinking in the Dragon that in addition to the STAY IN YOUR LANE and Crossing the Centerline KILLS signs there should have been several SHARE THE ROAD signs all over the place.
I'm happy to report that the vast majority of cars and bikes did share the road. I had many slower cars pull off or over and wave us by. Even several Harley riders were obliging. However, there were a couple packs that I would just assume have nuked. But that's part of the problem when in the Gap area on a busy weekend I guess. Which is why I tried to ride it early and late in the day when there was very little or no traffic at all. Saves a lot of frustration and makes the riding much more enjoyable. And as crazy busy as it was, especially on Saturday, I'll do it again. Soon I hope.
