The onramp/offramp dillema

[isleofmanfan]

I awoke this morning as I often do, with a burning desire to throw a leg over my trusty red steed, and devour some onramps and offramps.  Sound weird?  I love onramps and offramps.  I'm lucky, as within fifty miles of here there is plenty of 70 MPH highway, and pristine ramps.  I checked the to do list for Saturday, and was happy to see nothing pressing needed to be done.  Offramps are great fun to swoop into, snapping down a few gears, and tipping into a low lean, visions of James Toseland running in my mind.  Onramps CAN be great fun, sometimes...  if its clear of traffic, its full out baby, laying it low and twisting on as much power as my Dunlop will hold.  Here comes the fly in the ointment.   Here in Michigan, NO ONE arrives at the end of a highway onramp traveling at highway speed!  (70 MPH)     So, invariably, you are deep into your Casey Stoner impression, grin meter pegged, and have to grab a handful of brake because the understimulated cage driver ahead of you is determined to enter the highway traveling 40 MPH.        Does anyone else out there feel my pain?

[Bumblebee]

Sounds like it's time to move where the twisties are.

[LuminousPube]

agreed

the on ramp is only good at silly o'clock then you get to come of the roundabout leant over, down the on ramp and enter that first lane at 70ish.........

Otherwise you come round the roundabout looking for a way round the cage in front, get on the ramp behind a line of cages to spot bumper to bumper for the next 15miles into town.

[Burgi]

Sounds like it's time to move where the twisties are.

+1
How about doing this instead?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digammo/3299783778/in/set-72157607937322426/
I run this when I go to visit my mother-in-law. Almost makes the visit worthwhile. 

[Bumblebee]

How about doing this instead?

Uh. NO! I'm pretty sure they have a kill on sight warrant out for me in that country based on the license plates of cages that go out of their way to run me down even when I outmass them at about 10:1.

[soyavenger]

How about doing this instead?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digammo/3299783778/in/set-72157607937322426/
I run this when I go to visit my mother-in-law. Almost makes the visit worthwhile. 

how many car commercials have i seen that stretch of road in?

[isleofmanfan]

Good stuff Burgi!  I could spend a week riding that section of road. Indeed, we are REAL short on twisty roads here in Michigan.  Actually, if my house would have sold, I would be living in Nevada right now.  But... it looks like I wont be selling it this season.  I plan to be living out there within six months for sure!  I am SO READY to ride year 'round!

Thanks for checkin' in Burgi, I always get a kick out of your posts.  

[hockeyhawk]

Here is another twisty road to feed your need. 

Ride Safe 

[isleofmanfan]

hockeyhawk's photo looks a lot like southern Switzerland/northern Italy.  

Lets go ride it!

[DesignFlaw06]

  Does anyone else out there feel my pain?

I hate 90% of people on the freeway! There needs to be a new set of rules, and by far fewer drivers. On ramps are just the start of it. If you're in the left lane, and someone comes up behind you, YOU ARE IN THE WRONG! I don't care how fast they are going. You should never be in anyone's way. No one should have to touch their brakes on the freeway. I believe that cruise control should be a requirement as well. Yeah, I know that doesn't favor many bikes, but there are aftermarket systems that can be added easily enough. Most people are just so unaware, it bothers me. 

I would be such a horrible cop. I don't think I'd ever write a ticket for speeding. But someone who can't get up to speed on an onramp in my mind is more dangerous than someone going 100 MPH down the road.

I should stop. It'll just make me more upset.

[Laminar]

Here is another twisty road to feed your need.  

Ride Safe  

I could swear I've driven that road...in Gran Turismo.

[Burgi]

Thanks for checkin' in Burgi, I always get a kick out of your posts. 

Ahhh...You certainly are from Michigan, you like pain
Being a native of the flat lands I get it, but remember we all pay a price. When they say "Golden" California what they really mean is brown for  6-9 months. Not nearly as pretty as a green Michigan summer!
Where in Nevada? You aren't moving just to become a serious contender in the BBQ Biker thread I hope...

[isleofmanfan]

I have wanted to live in California since I was about 12.  I learned everything about the state/lifestyle that I could, and just loved every bit of it.  STILL want to live there, just cant.  Theres no PHD behind my name, so I could never afford housing.  So... I researched Las Vegas  (no, I dont gamble) and found many reasons to move there.  ONE of the reasons is that I can be at a desert race, bike show, or Laguna seca, within a reasonable amount of time, but NOT live in the state.  The heat is going to be a legitimate obstacle!  I'm not looking forward to that.  I've seen and done everything Michigan has to offer, and now its time to head west!  Have you lived out this way?

[ROJ]

For those interested, hockyhawks photo is of the Localita Passo dello Stelvio, in Italy right near the Switzerland border. I had planned on doing that trip after finishing my M.Sc., but plans have changed. Still would be a beautiful road to play on though.

[Burgi]

Have you lived out this way?

Yup, I'm from the Detroit area. Spent the majority of my life there and still go back at least twice a year.
I would think you could do well with housing in Vegas. Half my neighbors own second houses there and are upside down on the mortgages on them. I guess at some point they all planned to retire there but have changed their minds.

[LOKi]

isleofmanfan, careful on those on/off ramps. Here they like to put expansion joints every 10 or 15 feet. If there is a hint of moisture it gets slick. They are fine as long as they are on ground level. Once a ramp leaves the ground to climb up to the elevated HWY there will be expansion joints.

The on ramp I take every morning has almost no merge land or run out. The ramp comes in at a relatively sharp angle to the HWY. The HWY is just coming down from the elevated section so there is little time to line up your gap and adjust speed. While traffic is usually going 70 or so people always hit their brakes to merge. I don't understand why they feel this helps them. I have seen cars come to a screeching halt because they saw a single car 3 lanes over.

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=29.954739,-90.089698&spn=0,359.996551&z=18&layer=c&cbll=29.954602,-90.089484&panoid=e5if8hCE-LrNPG73xUFrfw&cbp=12,290.85,,0,20.82

[isleofmanfan]

Yes, those metal expansion joints can sweat a little, and get slippery like butter.

Yep, thats EXACTLY the idiotic cage behavior I'm talking about!

[Vermontster]

The concept of 'merge' is definitely a lost on a considerable number of cagers. Ya can't be timid and merge into a hole going 70 mph. Some folks should just stay off the road!