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November is one of the best kept secrets of riding in the Midlands. The heat is long gone, the bugs have mostly quit, and a sunny afternoon still feels great in a light jacket. The clocks went back on Sunday, November 1, so the light goes early now, but the roads are quiet and the air is crisp. Pick a dry day, start once the dew is off, and you can still put in a full day before dark.
Ride of the Month: The Savannah River Scenic Byway
Big lakes, quiet forest two-lane and a road that runs along the Georgia line
Head west out of Columbia on US-378 through Lexington and Saluda to McCormick, a small town on the edge of the Sumter National Forest. From there the Savannah River Scenic Byway follows the South Carolina side of the river. Take SC-28 south through Plum Branch toward Clarks Hill for the wide open water of Lake Thurmond, then come back through McCormick and pick up SC-81 north toward Calhoun Falls and Lake Russell. It is mile after mile of quiet two-lane through pines and hardwoods, with the lakes showing up between the trees.
Hickory Knob and Baker Creek State Parks sit just west of McCormick and make good places to stretch your legs. Services are spread out, so fuel up in Saluda or McCormick before you head into the forest. In November the hardwoods still hold some color and the summer lake traffic is gone. Plan the ride so you are back on the main roads before dark.
If you only have an afternoon, run US-1 west to Aiken and ride the quiet roads through the horse country around town. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, take a minute to thank the veterans in your riding crew. Plenty of them are the reason this community exists.
Late-Fall Safety: South Carolina Edition
November is good riding in the Midlands, but the shorter days and cooler nights bring a different set of risks.
- Deer are still on the move. The back roads around the lakes and the national forest are full of deer at dawn and dusk. With the time change, dusk now lands right on the ride home. Slow down near fields and tree lines, cover your brakes, and never swerve across the center line to miss one.
- The ride home is in the dark now. Since the clocks went back, a lot of us finish the commute after sunset. Drivers are not looking for a single headlight. Run your lights, wear something bright or reflective, and give yourself extra room at every intersection.
- Cold mornings, wet leaves and pine straw. Frosty mornings are possible now, and bridges and low spots ice up first. Wet leaves and pine straw pile up in the shaded curves and stay slick long after a rain. Let your tires warm up and take the shady corners easy.
- Thanksgiving week traffic. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. The Wednesday night before is one of the worst nights of the year for drunk driving. If you ride that week, ride early in the day and stay off the road that night.
Know Your South Carolina Law
- Some blame cuts your claim, too much ends it. South Carolina uses modified comparative negligence. Whatever you recover goes down by your share of the fault, and if you are found 51 percent or more at fault, you get nothing. Good records from the scene make a big difference, because insurers work hard to put the blame on the rider.
- Helmets are required only under 21. Riders and passengers under 21 must wear a helmet in South Carolina. At 21 and older the choice is yours, but insurers may still try to use it against you, so wearing one is always the smart call.
- Check your uninsured motorist coverage. South Carolina requires 25/50/25 in liability coverage and requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy. Plenty of drivers on Midlands roads carry the bare minimum or nothing, so UM and UIM are what really protect you. If the bike goes into storage for winter, keep the policy active.
- You have three years. In most cases South Carolina gives you three years from the crash to file an injury claim. Claims against a government agency have shorter deadlines and notice rules. Do not wait to get advice.
Ride Nation Columbia
The riding does not stop in the Midlands when the leaves come down. Post your best November ride, tell other riders which lake roads have leaves, pine straw or gravel in the corners, and share the photos worth seeing. Tag us. This is your scene, run by riders who ride these roads.
Final Weeks for the $20,000 BikeWin Giveaway
You are already entered for a chance at 20,000 dollars toward any motorcycle you want, and the winner is drawn December 10. That is only a few weeks away. Know a riding buddy who has not entered yet? Entry is free, so send them the link before it closes.
Enter the giveaway
A driver who never saw your headlight on Two Notch after dark. A deer jumping out on a Lake Murray back road. A pickup sliding on a frosty bridge on I-26. If you ever go down in South Carolina, one slice of blame can cut your claim, so you want a lawyer who rides these roads and fights the fault game hard.