Louisville Slalom and Downhill KY

[PUcmw11]

There are a bunch of good hills up in the knobs...some of which (like spickert knob) are doable and hard...and others...like fairview knob....that are soo steep they are hard to walk down...I took a tumble down fairview last summer on my bike...dropped the bike at 40mph trying to slow down for a crazy corner...and hit a patch of those dreaded road cinders...still got road rash on my arm and leg to prove it...(not to mention havent fixed the bike...lol) so if fairview knob is one? ride with caution...i wouldn't attempt it....but yeah...ride around on skyline drive and you will find some really good hills there are two off of skyline dr. (road that spickert knob comes off of at the top)
Both are long and steep...and straight...good pavement...(if going up spickert) one is to the left on skyline about 2 miles...you can't miss it....its HUGE...and the other is to the right on skyline...about 2.5 to 3 miles...about 1 mile past plum hill subdivision...also wicked...and huge...can't miss

If you can pull those three in a day....without bailing or dying...you will appreciate southern indiana!!
Any other good southern indiana or KY runs? do mention if you have them!

[PUcmw11]

correction...hill to the left is only about .5 or .6 miles away from the top...
www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2689833

The one to the right is easy to find as well...plum hill subdivision is quite posh...very large homes...mile past that and you find this hill
Gmaps Pedometer

There is also Moser Knob right next door (I know...we are filled with hills!!) Moser is really steep and really straight...turning at the bottom could pose problems.
Gmaps Pedometer

(***Note to riders*** These are all really big hills...where if you have any weight to you at all...you are guaranteed to break 30mph...So EXERCISE CAUTION) These are my favorite hills...and I feel the need to share them with you...just don't kill yourself...
Spickert Knob is my personal favorite...(the route from two posts ago) but these are also a blast if you are looking for somthing thats also fast...but less curvy. Hope you all enjoy!

[PUcmw11]

and not to write a novel...but for those of you who drastically exceed my skill level...or pro/semi-pro riders looking for crazy ####...or people just generally wanting to kill themselves....Fairview knob...only .8 miles long...but drops about 500ft vertically...you do the math...this is the road where I lost it and gained my road rash...and if you can board this...you deserve a medal (This is the only hill in the county that has gates to close it when winter hits hard...) For the brave...or the dumb...here you go
Gmaps Pedometer

[sniffleless]

You da man, PU. Thanks for the heads up on those. I'm sure Bobby will be ringing me up to hit those pretty soon. I was looking at a house in the Silver Hills area. I saw a run or two out there that I have been meaning to go back and check out again. I've got to make some time to drive out there and explore. This summer it's time to get serious about some downhill.

[bobby t]

Maybe Alysa didn't tell ya, but I called you 3 hours before you posted that! Let's air it out kids.

[sniffleless]

See. I told you.
Soon as I finish the "honey do" list that I promised so I could go to the Sizzler, I will be scouting out some new hills for downhill on both sides of the river.

[sniffleless]

Downhill session Derby weekend. Who's down???
Maybe some slalom.

My slalom hill has even more stuff dumped on it now. So much stuff that it effectively closes it off from the top. I am going to have to do some clean up of the course area but I may just leave the top blocked like it is. Maybe I can call the city and try and get the road closed again. Then we do an outlaw race!

[PUcmw11]

Downhill session Derby weekend. Who's down???
Maybe some slalom.

My slalom hill has even more stuff dumped on it now. So much stuff that it effectively closes it off from the top. I am going to have to do some clean up of the course area but I may just leave the top blocked like it is. Maybe I can call the city and try and get the road closed again. Then we do an outlaw race!

no way? call city and get a road closed? do you have a super chill city? or connections? Or...can anyone do that? because that would be incredibly sweet!! (and a random question...but how does one get rep points? I see them...but haven't asked)

[sniffleless]

It's basically that this road has become an illegal dump site. This can become a problem for the city. Easiest think I think for them to do is close the street off again to through traffic. Although the developers might not like that idea. It's hard to sell plots on a closed road. I just want them to close it so I can use the whole road for slalom. That is how it was when I found it. The road was blocked on both ends. We set slalom courses all over the road with no fear of traffic. I miss that.

Derby weekend is definitely a skate weekend.

[BluegrassSurfer]

and not to write a novel...but for those of you who drastically exceed my skill level...or pro/semi-pro riders looking for crazy ####...or people just generally wanting to kill themselves....Fairview knob...only .8 miles long...but drops about 500ft vertically...you do the math...this is the road where I lost it and gained my road rash...and if you can board this...you deserve a medal (This is the only hill in the county that has gates to close it when winter hits hard...) For the brave...or the dumb...here you go
Gmaps Pedometer

Did the math = 11.8 % grade.

Has potential for High-G carve. What's traffic like? Would I be able to run 2 lane, ultra-tight carve the whole length? Any pics of this hill?

Got an address for this place so I can find it on Expedia.com Maps?

[sniffleless]

I hope to drive out that way on Friday and scope some of these out. I'll be sure to post up my thoughts on the hills.

I wish it wasn't going to rain. I was hoping to get some riding in on Friday. Maybe hit the hill on Seatonville. I'm ready to try it.

[PUcmw11]

Did the math = 11.8 % grade.

Has potential for High-G carve. What's traffic like? Would I be able to run 2 lane, ultra-tight carve the whole length? Any pics of this hill?

Got an address for this place so I can find it on Expedia.com Maps?

As for "did the math" not a clue how you did that...but props to you...traffic and such was previously posted...it can be medium at lunch...but hit it an hour or two before lunch...or from say 3-5pm and you will be fine...and I will warn you...it may start at 11.8....but take an angle reader...because there are some parts that are quite a bit steeper...and if you can carve this...props to you...the road is easily in good enough condition. no gravel...potholes....but give it a shot...There is no way you are gonna carve the whole thing without like 65mm contact patch and 72a wheels...too fast for it...but you will see...its a blast...be prepared more for DH and less for carving...that is for sure...but the other hills I listed are good for high-g carving.....also very steep though. As far as location...I posted the gmap locations in previous posts...just scroll down and you should find what you are looking for...I figure you can find it from there...they are all within 3 miles of each other...if you need exact locations I'll try and find houses on the routes...just message me or post again...best of luck...have fun...wish I was home to do it with you!!!

Chris

[sniffleless]

Who wants to skate Derby weekend? That's the first weekend in May if you didn't know.

[PUcmw11]

Who wants to skate Derby weekend? That's the first weekend in May if you didn't know.

wish I could...i wont be home yet...have fun!

[sniffleless]

I didn't get to go out to check out those hills as I hoped. Stupid taxes took too long to do. Now I'm in Evansville for the weekend. Maybe I'll get to skate here this weekend. Nice looking hill right down the street.I've got a board with a revamped set up I'm dying to try. I hope I get the time.

[BluegrassSurfer]

As for "did the math" not a clue how you did that...but props to you...traffic and such was previously posted...it can be medium at lunch...but hit it an hour or two before lunch...or from say 3-5pm and you will be fine...and I will warn you...it may start at 11.8....but take an angle reader...because there are some parts that are quite a bit steeper...and if you can carve this...props to you...the road is easily in good enough condition. no gravel...potholes....but give it a shot...There is no way you are gonna carve the whole thing without like 65mm contact patch and 72a wheels...too fast for it...but you will see...its a blast...be prepared more for DH and less for carving...that is for sure...but the other hills I listed are good for high-g carving.....also very steep though. As far as location...I posted the gmap locations in previous posts...just scroll down and you should find what you are looking for...I figure you can find it from there...they are all within 3 miles of each other...if you need exact locations I'll try and find houses on the routes...just message me or post again...best of luck...have fun...wish I was home to do it with you!!!

Chris

Slope = rise over run = 500 ft divided by (0.8 mi x 5280 ft)

Saw the maps but they don't tell me where in Indiana to go (Floyd's Knob area?). If you give me a zip code for that area I can look up the street name on Expedia Maps. I'm a solid 4.5 hours away from Floyd's Knob.

Don't ride skateboards. Ride what you folks would call a hybrid: street-rigged mountainboard.

If the board in the front of the picture won't hold the asphalt in ultra-tight carve, I am out of luck. That board can darn near carve figure 8s. My regular ride is a short, 100 yd, 17% grade -- 13 seconds of intensity.

[PUcmw11]

Slope = rise over run = 500 ft divided by (0.8 mi x 5280 ft)

Saw the maps but they don't tell me where in Indiana to go (Floyd's Knob area?). If you give me a zip code for that area I can look up the street name on Expedia Maps. I'm a solid 4.5 hours away from Floyd's Knob.

Don't ride skateboards. Ride what you folks would call a hybrid: street-rigged mountainboard.

If the board in the front of the picture won't hold the asphalt in ultra-tight carve, I am out of luck. That board can darn near carve figure 8s. My regular ride is a short, 100 yd, 17% grade -- 13 seconds of intensity.

guess I had never thought to use the slope formula to calculate anything outside of math class. Prepare for the lightest stuff from 7-10% grade...all to one hill easily exceeding 15%...its fun...i have no doubt that the board can stick the curves...its just soo freakin fast...lol I will get on later today and see if I can find you exact locations...i don't know of a good way to get them because I am also 4 hours away at Purdue right now...so can't just drive down and find a house on the street. I'll see what I can do. The zip code is 47119 and the main hill I listed is called spickert knob rd. (the others should be able to be found from the gmap things...all very close to eachother... sweet mountain board btw...always thought that looked like fun,...still never tried it

[BluegrassSurfer]

guess I had never thought to use the slope formula to calculate anything outside of math class. Prepare for the lightest stuff from 7-10% grade...all to one hill easily exceeding 15%...its fun...i have no doubt that the board can stick the curves...its just soo freakin fast...lol I will get on later today and see if I can find you exact locations...i don't know of a good way to get them because I am also 4 hours away at Purdue right now...so can't just drive down and find a house on the street. I'll see what I can do. The zip code is 47119 and the main hill I listed is called spickert knob rd. (the others should be able to be found from the gmap things...all very close to eachother... sweet mountain board btw...always thought that looked like fun,...still never tried it

The Barrel Shoot Road/Fairview Knob Road run sounds like it might be the epic asphalt (grade) I've been looking for, within day-trip driving range. Typed in Fairview Knob Rd with Floyds Knob and found it in the Sellersburg zip area. Am assuming the other runs you listed are in the same area.

Would love to check them out (Barrel Shoot/Fairview especially). Since I have so far to drive, I could wait for the guided tour with a local. If you don't mind cruisin with a gray-beard, maybe we could scout these spots together for a test run or two. Maybe we could even talk BobbyT and Sniff into joining up for an expedition quest. When will you be back in the area?

BTW the street slicks on that baby are for burning off speed with ultra-tight, surf-style carve, all the way down -- doubt I get much over 20 mph. I have a quiver of 4 custom MB street rigs (a couple more experimentals that need to be put together yet too).

If we do a meet-up, I'll let you have a go on one of my street carvers.

How wide is Fairview Knob/Barrel Shoot (wide or narrow 2-lane [?] I need about 24 feet wide for speed burning carve). Would need a real low traffic time though, like maybe "dawn patrol" on Sunday, or maybe spotters.

BTW "Barrel Shoot" Road is the perfect name for an epic streetcarver, surf-style run. I just gotta come see it.

Bill
aka: BgS

[sniffleless]

Once I get caught up on yard and house work I plan to head out there for a surveillance run. I'm just not sure how soon that will happen. I'll be posting on here when I do.

[PUcmw11]

The Barrel Shoot Road/Fairview Knob Road run sounds like it might be the epic asphalt (grade) I've been looking for, within day-trip driving range. Typed in Fairview Knob Rd with Floyds Knob and found it in the Sellersburg zip area. Am assuming the other runs you listed are in the same area.

Would love to check them out (Barrel Shoot/Fairview especially). Since I have so far to drive, I could wait for the guided tour with a local. If you don't mind cruisin with a gray-beard, maybe we could scout these spots together for a test run or two. Maybe we could even talk BobbyT and Sniff into joining up for an expedition quest. When will you be back in the area?

BTW the street slicks on that baby are for burning off speed with ultra-tight, surf-style carve, all the way down -- doubt I get much over 20 mph. I have a quiver of 4 custom MB street rigs (a couple more experimentals that need to be put together yet too).

If we do a meet-up, I'll let you have a go on one of my street carvers.

How wide is Fairview Knob/Barrel Shoot (wide or narrow 2-lane [?] I need about 24 feet wide for speed burning carve). Would need a real low traffic time though, like maybe "dawn patrol" on Sunday, or maybe spotters.

BTW "Barrel Shoot" Road is the perfect name for an epic streetcarver, surf-style run. I just gotta come see it.

Bill
aka: BgS

Well...actually I will be hurting for time. I will be home the weekend of derby...but the tuesday after I leave for Basic training with the air force...lol (all summer long...but they are payin for my college...no complaints)
Fairview....its freakin nuts...the first sharp left...if you miss it...you clear a guard rail and drop about 80-100 ft to your death...lol (I used to bike it...but I dropped my road bike goin 42mph when I hit a bit of gravel and I have a bent ruined rear rim and road rash scars to prove it) If you can board it...you won't stay under 20mph....full brakes nearly all the way down on a bike yields a minimum of 30mph. I've hit (highest speed to date) of 54.2 on my trek road bike going down the last straight on that hill...
Numbers aside...if you can board it...any age...you are a bad ass!! I know you won't be disapointed with spickert though...its worth the drive all by itself!! And I guarantee you will get the speed you are looking for. All the hills are really close to each other and all stem off of N. skyline drive.....sweet road that overlooks Louisville's skyline (hince the name)
As far as traffic goes...spickert...averages probably 15 cars an hour...maybe 20....fairview...farther back so it gets LIGHT traffic...but that first left of fairview down the hill would need to be broomed...too much of that cinder #### from winter...and its two lane...moderate width...absolutely no shoulder...hope this all helps a bit! If you need to know anything else...don't hesitate to ask!