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#1 2009-Feb-17 6:38 pm
- lh64175
- Member
Road: Rad Gnar loop
Distance: 32 miles
Time: 3 hours
Route: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-st … 1811598510
Notes: This is the best I can do to map the ride because the road is not on any maps yet. Once you get to State View Road you will see the descent on the right (three lane width gravel road with a white gate). This ride might be better the other direction but I have not done it that way yet. There is gravel for the first 2-3 miles of the descent, then a perfectly paved road the rest of the way down. Take a left at the bottom and ride along the river with short sections of gravel. If you dont want to climb Jakes Creek just stay on Elk Creek and it will take you back to old 421 and it is paved the whole way. Jakes creek is one of the better dirt roads in the area and is super narrow and seems very remote. Watch out for the old dog at the begining of Jakes Mountain on the left. Perfect for road tires just probably not for carbon frames. This is easily one of the most scenic and fun rides I have done in Boone so go do it now. *Named for the person who would have appreciated the extremeness of the descent the most.
Last edited by lh64175 (2009-Feb-17 8:05 pm)
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#2 2009-Mar-05 9:50 pm
- broseph
- Member
Re: Road: Rad Gnar loop
lewis. are you turning on sampson rd (george hayes area off BRP) or going up little laurel to heavenly mountain?? does state view road go down into laurelmore?? good looking route.
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#3 2009-Mar-23 11:53 am
- lh64175
- Member
Re: Road: Rad Gnar loop
Turn on to Sampson from George Hayes then take the last neighborhood road to the left (up a big hill) before you get to the junkyardish houses on Sampson. Then I think you will be on State View road and you will see the entrace to Laurelmore on the right (gravel).
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#4 2009-Mar-23 5:09 pm
- Udo Bolts
- Member
Re: Road: Rad Gnar loop
lh64175 wrote:
before you get to the junkyardish houses on Sampson. (gravel).
is there any other type on that road?
system booms as i dip
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#5 2009-Aug-02 9:36 pm
- JFlorence
- Member
Re: Road: Rad Gnar loop
I think this route should be renamed "Graveyard of the housing bubble bust." I did it today and I think Laurelmore is probably the most epic climb in the area. I'd also say that for most people doing this ride, some sort of knobby tire is almost a requirement - the first mile or two of the decent is really gnarly with a lot of weird water bars in the road, etc. that looks soft but is actually baked into the pavement. I also went right after it rained, and since the gravel part isn't maintained by anyone, there was a lot of small loose stuff on the road that can be tricky in some of the hairpin turns. But seriously, this is one of the coolest rides I've done in Boone.
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#6 2009-Aug-31 6:56 pm
- stackout
- Member
Re: Road: Rad Gnar loop
Updated map, and few notes:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-st … 1795353543 (note, map is to/from New Market, not campus and returns via Elk Creek rather than Jakes Mountain.)
The guard shack at the top of Laurelmore is still deserted, however, construction has resumed - there was both grading equipment as well a sewers going in on the road, and a significant amount of uphill truck traffic. The road is in the process of being paved - 2 weeks ago it was well groomed sand, with large stretches of brand new pavement.I did this ride a dual-suspension mtb, and was going 50mph is the straights, and basically holding on for deal life in the corners. It might actually be easier with narrow tires that cut into the loose sand, but not having disc brakes would have been tough.
We came back Elk Creek because it was raining and it seemed like the easier option, as it is paved, dog-free, and has a slightly lower incline. Either way, I'd put 3 hours as a fast estimate.
It will only be a matter of time before this entire road is paved, and several hundred houses and a golf course get built, so enjoy it while you can, but use extreme caution as no one expects bikes to be on the road, and the road conditions are likely to change dramatically.
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