Wednesday, November 17, 2010

West Side/Passaconaway/Burritos 10:30 am

Thursday, November 18th

Perhaps we can get a ride in tomorrow? It may be windy, but it will be warmer than the days ahead. So, if you want to try to get another ride in this November, let's try for the local favorite. I don't think the weather is worth an away-adventure ride!

We can ride West Side Road to Passaconaway to the Kanc and then as far up the Kanc as the temperature, wind and ambition allows.

Meet at the parking lot behind the Eastern Slope Inn, ready to ride at 10:30 am.

If you have a Kiwanis Book, there is a coupon for 2 for 1 burritos at the Kearsage Cafe. Bring the coupon and we can head over to the Cafe for burritos after the ride.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Brownfield in November

Thursday, November 11th

Looks like we will get a few days of Indian Summer this week, and Thursday looks like a good day for a ride!

Let's do the ride from the Visitor's Center in Fryeburg to Brownfield on the good pavement. There is a lot of sunshine on this ride to keep us warm! I have a few ideas to add a few different roads for some explorations if we feel like it. We will begin by riding Haleytown Road. Perhaps we can stop on the way back at the general store on Main Street in Brownfield (that opened this past summer) for some goodies and tea or coffee with our lunch. Expect up to 31 miles.

Meet: Maine Visitor's Center, just over the Maine state line, on the right side of Route 302 in Fryeburg.

Time: Ready to Ride at 10:30 am

Distance: Cut out the section on the east side of Route 5 and you will get 21 miles. Do the whole ride and get 31 miles.

Map:

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Snow, Sleet and Cold Dampens Ride

Thursday, November 4th

Ride Cancelled.....
Looks like it will not be a good day for a bike ride ... check in again for next week!!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Fall Tour of Randolph and Jefferson

Thursday October 28th 10:00 am start

Looks like we get a taste of Indian Summer for this Thursday's Ride! This probably is the last chance for us to do a ride North 'o the Notches for the season, and perhaps the last chance for a long ride, so let's take the opportunity to do a ride I have been thinking about for awhile. It is a combination of parts of 3 different rides that we have done this season - all of which are good ones! The ride combines the Randolph Durand Road-Valley Road springtime Lupine Ride with 2 rides that we typically start out of the Twin Mountain - Zealand parking lot - Route 302 area: the Jefferson Valley Ride and the new ride this season that explored new pavement on Airport Road-Hazen Road near the Whitefield Airport and Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge.

Although the fall foliage peak colors have passed, the golds, coppers and bronzes of the November forests should be pretty. The fields and pastures along this ride allow for great views, and should provide us good access to the tailwind on the way back to the car!

We start at the end of the Pinkham B Road in Randolph, ride Durand Road, cross over Route 2 to Valley Road (some packed dirt to ride) cross over Route 115 to Israel's River Road, to Route 115A to another packed dirt road (Whipple Road) to Route 116. We take a left there, riding up towards the Mountain View Grand Hotel and decide whether to eat on the edge of the golfcourse there or not, then continue towards Whitefield, turning left to Airport/Hazen Road. We have a great view from new pavement, then climb up to Route 3. Taking a left gives us a great downhill cruise all the way to Valley Road, where we take a right and do the gradual climb back to Route 2. It is all downhill for the next 7 miles back to the car!

Total Distance: 38 miles. If we decide to eat lunch at the Mountain View Grand Hotel, it will add 2 to the total for 40 miles.

Start time: Ready to Ride at 10:00 am.

Carpool: If you want to carpool, meet at the parking area at Jackson Ski Touring/Wentworth Golf course across from the J-Town Deli at 9:05 am.

Directions to the start: Drive up route 16 over Pinkham Notch. Pass Great Glen, the Imp Trailheads and take a left onto the Pinkham B Road (Dolly Copp, Horton Center). Drive up and over, then park on the left side where the Presidential Rail Trail crosses the road. If you prefer pavement rather than the dirt and potholes of Pinkham B, drive to Gorham, take a left to go through town and take another left at the lights to get onto Route 2 West. Drive about 5 miles and take a left onto Pinkham B Road (at the bottom of the big downhill). Drive 0.5 miles to the rail trail parking area.

Map:
View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Ride Cancelled due to Forecast of Rain

Thursday, October 21st

No matter which forecast I consult, it looks like rain is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, ruining our bike day. Hopefully we will get a good day next Thursday!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Thusday, October 14th

It looks like the approaching rain isn't going to arrive until the evening, so let's try a nice ride beyond the notch.

Let's start at the Bretton Woods Ski Area, parking in the lot near the entrance across from the fitness center. Then head west on 302 straight through the lights at Twin Mountain to River Road and Wing Road (along the Ammonoosuc River), until Wing road ends at Route 116. Turn around and return to Route 302. Turn west (right) on 302, cross the bridge, quickly turn left onto Trudeau Road, and ride to the junction with Route 3. Turn left, and ride Route 3 into Twin Mountain and the junction with Route 302. We can do a lunch stop at the roadside rest stop on Route 3 (can't recall the name, but it has a restroom).

Distance ... ummm .... mid-30's maybe?

Shorter, easier route -- out and back via River Road and Wing Road, skipping the Trudeau loop, for 28 miles.

Longer option: Start from the Mt Clinton Road forest service parking lot (need a parking pass) or park at Crawford Notch near the railroad station. This way you get the climb the notch back to your car at the end of the ride.

Let's meet at 10:00 am, ready to ride at the big parking lot across from the Bretton Woods Fitness center building. The fitness center is on your right just after you enter into the Bretton Woods Ski Area road.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Thursdy, October 7th .....

looks like another rainy day, more so in the morning, so no ride is planned.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Ride Cancelled for Thursday, Sept 30th

Due to the forecast of rain, the ride is cancelled this week. This is too bad, since the foliage is spectacular above the notches!! Next week!!!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Bear Notch Loop with Early Fall Foliage

Thursday September 23rd

The foliage is starting to get brighter, especially in the Lincoln/Kanc area. For a glimpse of the local colors, how about the Bear Notch Loop?

Meet at the public parking lot behind the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway. You can decide whether to ride up West Side Road to Bartlett (38 mile ride) or go via 16A to Glen (40 mile ride).

Ready to Ride at 9:00 am

Enjoy!! Again, I will not be able to join you this week!! I miss you all and I miss my bike!!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

North Conway, Intervale and Jackson Loop

Thursday, September 16

This ride explores local roads in North Conway, Intervale and Jackson for a nice loop. Start by riding through North Conway to Cranmore and take Old Bartlett Road to the North end of Kearsage Road, then down Hurricane Mt Road down to Route 16. There, turn onto Route 16A. As an option for a nice ride along the river, turn up Town Hall Road for awhile and turn back when it gets steep and/or turns to dirt. The ride down is great!! Return to Intervale Road and then go up Dundee Road to Jackson, coming down near Black Mt Ski area, then down to Carter Notch Rd, then stop to snack at Jackson Falls. The downhill ride continues down route 16 back to Beautiful Downtown Glen where you turn left and return to North Conway via Route 16 and Route 16A.

So you wonder about Dundee Rd??? Yes, it has a stiff climb -- not long - but it is walkable and well worth the effort. This is a fabulous ride, and some walking on some dirt is part of the deal. The ride down from the top of Dundee all the way back to the car is really scenic and you will smile all the way.

Start behind the Eastern Slope Inn in the public parking lot, ready to ride at 9:00 am.

The total distance is 28 miles.

I am still away this week -- see you next week!! Happy Riding!!






9:00 ready to ride

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Kezar Lake Narrows

Thursday September 9th

I am off to Montreal to ride so I am going to set up the Thursday ride and hope that the weather holds for you this week!

How about the old favorite Kezar Lake Narrows Loop? So many of you know this ride that I am certainly not needed to point out the route! There are many options for this route, so make up a new version if you like!!!

Start the ride at the park next to the North Fryeburg Fire Station (as you know, park away from the fire station where the firefighters may need to park).

Ready to ride at 9:00 am.

The ride goes through the turf, potato and corn fields via Cornshop, Fish and McNeil, cross the Red Iron Bridge, up Union Hill Road. Check out the progress of the potatoes, corn, soybeans and grass. Look for llamas and horses and goats. For an option, turn left at Meadow Road (also known as New Road) and enjoy the new pavement to the Stow Store. Load up on goodies there and take them with you back over Meadow Road, back to Union Hill where you hang a left and head out (and gradually up) and over (bearing right at forks in the road) to the Kezar Lake Narrows. Just before the steel lattice bridge at the Narrows and before the snack shop at the Narrows is a narrow road leading to a shady narrow picnic area on the narrow part of the lake. Porta potties are there, too (narrow ones, likely..). Return is is by Christian Hill Road to Lovell and then a short ride on Route 5 to Shave Hill Road and back onto Harbor Road to the parking area. Be sure to stop and enjoy the views before dropping down into Lovell.

Total ride is 30 miles if you include the spur to The Stow Store. Cut out about 4 miles if you do not do the Stow Store.

Shorter option? Just do the route as mapped to the Stow Store and return by heading south on Rt 113 for about a 16 mile ride that is very flat for around here. Be ready to ride at the parking area at 9:00 am

As always, this ride includes the Red Iron Bridge (spanning the Old Saco River at the McNeil Road-Harbor Road intersection) which will be taken down later this fall or early next spring. So be sure to give it a salute and a kiss as you ride over it for its 53 years of service. The bridge over the Charles River on Harbor Road was under construction last time I was over there.


Map:

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Shade, Short and Early

Thursday, September 2nd

Sorry for the late posting -- I just returned from some very nice and very flat riding in northwestern Vermont, both road riding and rail trail riding with the Fat Tire Cruisers. It is really nice riding out there -- but it was really hot!!

It is going to be hot and humid again tomorrow so I think a short, shady, early morning ride is the plan. This ride is yet another version of the Beautiful Brownfield Ride - but avoids the steep set of hills over in the Denmark area on the far side of the Saco River. There are ways to lengthen or shorten this ride if you like.

Meet: Maine Visitors Center, Fryeburg. It is on the right, just over the NH border on Route 302.

Time: Ready to ride at 8:30 am

Distance = 32 miles

Route: From the Visitors Center, take Haleytown Road about 5.5 miles to the intersection with Hampshire Rd. Take a left and ride to the intersection with Route 113. Cross over Route 113 and head out Route 160 for about 1.5 mile and bear left onto Lord Hill Road. At the end of the road at the T, take a LEFT. We typically take a Right and encounter a few steep hills, but considering the heat, take the left for a pleasant ride out and around until the road turns to dirt.

(To shorten the ride by 9 miles, just go to Route 113, do not cross -take a right, then another immediate right onto Pig St and follow the route as described below from Pig St.)

Turn back at the dirt road and reverse the route back to route 113. Turn left onto 113 for about 100 yards, then right again on Pig Street (flattest road in town), back to Hampshire (also called Main Street), then bear left onto Merrill Corner Road (NOT Dugway Road. Merrill Corner is after Dugway, just before crossing a bridge). This is a gradual uphill grade should be in the shade. Shorten the ride about 5 miles by staying on Hampshire and riding back to Haleytown -- but you miss the views!).

Turn left onto Old County Road for another gradual climb, then a right onto Sam Brown Hill Road. Enjoy the view and the downhill! Right onto Porter, right onto Hampshire (at the bottom of Asparagus Hill! Smile, you won't be climbing it!), then left back onto Haleytown to the parking lot.

Here is the map:

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Don't Yank the Crank!

Thursday, August 26

Bethel to Bryant Pond, Maine

Looks like the weather will be fine for the Thursday Ride!!

This ride will take us from Bethel to Bryant Pond, ME, the site of last hand-cranked telephone exchange in the USA. This little town is also famous for a 3-story outhouse. It also has a nice bakery and a convenience store, outdoor dining near the telephone monument and a lakeside dining option also.

And, there's more!!!

The ride is nice and quiet, along the Androscoggin River, fields, farms and forest plus shore side riding on North Lake in Locke Mills. No big hills! This will be a welcome relief from the traffic and noise around the Mt. Washington Valley this week in the height of tourist season.

If you have done the ride to Andover, this ride shares the first 12 miles with that route following Intervale Road to the south and east of the Androscoggin River. Where we typically turn left at Rumford Corner to cross the iron bridge over the river, this route to Bryant Pond takes a right. At Bryant Pond we will stop for snacks (great bakery) and/or lunch. The return is by North Pond in Locke Mills, then winds back via East Bethel Road, a nice back road complete with interesting sculptures...

The ride will start at 9:30 am at the Bethel town park on the Androscoggin River at the intersection of the bike path and Route 26 (where we typically eat lunch on the North Road Ride). Drive to Bethel via Route 2, and about 0.5 mile past the brand new bridge over the Wild River (Rt 113 intersection, Evans Notch area) take a left onto Bridge Street. The construction after this point on Route 2 probably makes it a good idea to turn left on Bridge Street to drive on North Road the rest of the way into Bethel. When you get to the end of North Road, take a right on route 2, then a left at the light and drive about 0.5 mile to the park, on the left at the stop sign.

Ride distance is 40 miles.

Ready to ride at 9:30 am!!

If you want carpool, meet at the Jackson Ski Touring/Wentworth Golf Club parking area across the street from the J-Town Deli at 8:20 am. Otherwise, see you in Bethel! See map link below...


Here is some info on Bryant Pond:

www.roadsideamerica.com/map/631

www.privateline.com/mt_telephonehistory/iv_the_telephone_evolves/07_part_g/

"Bryant Pond achieved some national fame and media attention beginning in the mid-1970s when its family-owned Bryant Pond Telephone Company became the last hand-crank telephone exchange in operation in the United States. When in 1981 the local company, operating from a two-position magneto switchboard in the living room of owners Barbara and Elden Hathaway, was purchased by the Oxford County Telephone & Telegraph Company, a nearby larger independent company. A movement called "Don't Yank The Crank" was organized by David Perham and Brad Hooper in a valiant but futile effort to keep their beloved crank phones. The effort was not ultimately successful, and the last "crank" calls took place on 11 October 1983, when a modern dial exchange was placed in service."


Here is a map of the ride:

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com


Waiting for weather forecasts

Thursday, August 27th

I have some new rides and some old favorite "away" rides that I am itching to do. I want to look at the weather forecast this evening to get the latest on where the clearest weather will be. Looks like there is some chance of rain in Maine and some chance of thundershowers in NH. By later today I will trust the forecasts and will make a plan! Tune in later.....

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Crank Some More Crawford

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Meet in the Attitash parking lot, ready to ride at 9:00. We will ride up Route 302 towards Crawford Notch as far as you want to go, with a regroup/lunch/ice cream stop at the Wiley House. About 30 miles round trip to the notch, or less as you please.

Of interest tomorrow, Cycle America's Coast-to-Coast tour will be riding down the notch, on their way from Littleton to Fryeburg. Among a larger group, there should be about 40 riders who have pedaled 4,000 miles from Seattle during the last 9 weeks. They'll likely be savoring the last big downhill cruise on this journey, but you might enjoy talking to some of these folks at the tour's picnic lunch stop, which will be sharing the Attitash parking lot.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Snowville Loop with New Pavement

Thursday, August 12

The word is out that there is new pavement on Brownfield Road - that downhill section that goes over the Maine border to Hampshire Street!
This is good news for us bikers - this should now be an enjoyable cruise downhill instead of an obstacle course around the cracks, heaves, rock gardens and potholes!

To avoid the construction project and the traffic in Conway Village, let's meet at the park next to the police station on East Conway Road. The park entrance is on the right, just after the police station. Drive down the entrance road to the parking and picnic area on the river. The ride goes out Route 302 (careful in the construction area on the 302 bridge - take the lane - there is not enough room for a bike and a car to travel together in the lane!), takes a right onto Mill Street to ride by the beach on Conway Lake, up Brownfield Road to Hampshire, and up the famous Asparagus Hill. The reward is then a great ride to Crystal Lake. Return by Route 153 to Stark Road, then back to the park off of East Conway Road -- picnic time on the river??

Distance = 25 miles

Ready to Ride at 8:30 am!

Here is a map:


View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Weather will keep us close to home

Thursday August 5th

It looks like we will be getting a cold front coming through tomorrow with a good chance of rain with thundershowers. The timing varies depending on the weather forecast (making ride planning frustrating....again...).

I think we may be able to get a short ride in before it hits. So, let's do the old standby ride for these iffy forecasts. Let's just do the standard West Side Road/Passaconaway/Kanc. It is an out and back, so if weather threatens, we can turn around at any point and have an easy ride back to the car. The tourist traffic is not too bad on this route.

Meet at the public parking lot behind the Eastern Slope Inn and be ready to ride at 8:30 am. It could be raining when you get up in the morning, so rain will cancel the ride. It could be just warm and sticky-humid and we might be able to get in some miles. We'll see!!!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

New Pavement Means New Ride

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Looks like we will win on the weather tomorrow -- the rain should be gone by morning and a clearing, drying northwest wind will feel great!

I have a new ride that I want to try --- this is a new route due to the paving of the formerly gravel Airport Road in the Whitefield-Jefferson area!!!

Airport Road is off of Route 115 on the way to Jefferson, just after the scenic vista that looks out over Jefferson and the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. With this road paved, a nice loop can be done from the Bretton Woods area.

We start at the Bretton Woods Ski Area, parking in the lot near the entrance across from the fitness center. Then head west on 302 straight through the lights at Twin Mountain to River Road and Wing Road (along the Ammonoosuc River) to Route 116 to Whitefield. We can eat lunch and/or ice cream at the gazebo on the town green in Whitefield, then head out a mile on route 116 to Hazen Road. Hazen Road takes us to the small airport and wood chip power plant on new pavement that goes past the entrance to the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. There is a climb here up to Route 115 and the scenic vista, then downhill back to route 3 and route 302. The northwest wind will power us back to our cars.

Total Loop from Bretton Woods parking lot: 37 miles.

Shorter, easier route -- out and back via River Road and Wing Road for 28 miles.

Shorter, but still a loop - start at Zealand parking lot on the north side of route 302 for 29 miles. Look for riders passing by at about 9:45.

Longer option: 44 miles if you start from the Mt Clinton Road forest service parking lot (need a parking pass) or park at Crawford Notch near the railroad station. This way you get the climb the notch back to your car at the end of the ride.

Let's meet at 9:30 am, ready to ride at the big parking lot across from the Bretton Woods Fitness center building. The weather should be clear and bright by then.....The fitness center is on your right just after you enter into the Bretton Woods Ski Area road.

Here is a map of the ride:

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Crank Some Crawford - or all of it

Thursday July 22nd

Since I will be away cycling the Adirondacks this week I am writing this post early without knowing the weather for the 22nd of July.  As of Sunday, 7/18, the forecast for Thursday is mid-80's with chance of a thunderstorm.  If rain is imminent, ride will be cancelled. I am setting up a local ride that is out-and-back for a quick return to the car if the weather turns sour. It is a shady ride with a cooling breeze on the way back downhill.


Start out of the Attitash parking lot at 8:30 am.

Total distance to the Willey House and back is about 30 miles


Make it 34 miles if you go up to the railroad station at the top of The Notch.


For a longer ride, 40 miles, start out of the Grants parking lot (8:15 am), meet the folks at Attitash and Crank Crawford.


Do you need a map?? see below. Even if you don't need one, take a look at the elevation profile after you finish the ride.

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Stow Store and Kezar Lake Narrows

Thursday July 15th

Looks like we will finally have perfect weather on a Thursday for a bike ride. We deserve it after all the rain, the cold+wet and the hot+humid days we have endured!!!!


As you may know, The Stow Store is now open, serving ice cream, pastries, pizza, and sandwiches. I am setting up a ride that will take you by the store to check it out and congratulate the owners! So, this ride is a modification of the classic Kezar Lake Narrows Ride to include a short spur onto Meadow Road to the Stow Store. And... for even more fun and excitement -- Meadow Road is newly paved!! So enjoy the black velvet ride where we used to bounce over all the cracks, potholes and sand!!

As always, this ride includes the Red Iron Bridge (spanning the Old Saco River at the McNeil Road-Harbor Road intersection) which will be taken down later this fall or early next spring. So be sure to give it a salute and a kiss as you ride over it for its 53 years of service.

Start the ride at the park next to the North Fryeburg Fire Station (as you know, park away from the fire station where the firefighters may need to park). The ride goes through the turf, potato and corn fields via Cornshop, Fish and McNeil, cross the Red Iron Bridge, up Union Hill Road. Check out the progress of the potatoes, corn, soybeans and grass. Look for llamas and horses and goats. Turn left at Meadow Road (also known as New Road) and enjoy the new pavement to the Stow Store. Load up on goodies there and take them with you back over Meadow Road, back to Union Hill where you hang a left and head out (and gradually up) and over (bearing right at forks in the road) to the Kezar Lake Narrows.

Just before the steel lattice bridge at the Narrows and before the snack shop at the Narrows is a narrow road leading to a shady narrow picnic area on the narrow part of the lake. Porta potties are there, too (narrow ones, likely..).

Return is is by Christian Hill Road to Lovell and then a short ride on Route 5 to Shave Hill Road and back onto Harbor Road to the parking area.Be sure to stop and enjoy the views before dropping down into Lovell.

Total ride is 30 miles including the spur to The Stow Store.

Shorter option? Just do the route as mapped to the Stow Store and return by heading south on Rt 113 for about a 16 mile ride that is very flat for around here.


Be ready to ride at the parking area at 9:00 am (may be some fog early in the morning, but otherwise a perfect day is predicted!!!!

Map:


View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Shady Ride for a Hot Day

Thursday, July 8th

Last week we had blue sky, black sky, sun, rain ,drizzle, cold and damp, pleasant and sunny. We did not have snow, nor did we have sweltering heat. So this week, looks like we get the heat.

So, I am thinking about a ride that starts early in the morning, has a lot of shade and has opportunities for a dip in the water to cool off.

The old favorite standby ride should work -- West Side Road to Passaconaway to the Kanc. It is 25 miles round trip to the Albany Covered Bridge and 31 miles round trip to Rocky Gorge. There are lots of opportunities to cool off in the river!

Meet in the public parking lot behind the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway off River Road.

Ready to ride at 8:00 am

Hopefully we will be done with the ride before it gets too hot!!!!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Franconia Notch Bike Path

Thursday, July 1


The weather forecast for Thursday looks good (for a change...), so lets do an "away" ride over the hill to Lincoln and Franconia Notch. There have been requests for this ride over the past year or so and Thursday looks like a great day for it.

The bike path is wonderful - a paved path though the woods, great views, interesting stops along the way (view of where the Old Man used-to-be, The Basin, The New England Ski Museum, climbers on the sheer cliffs, the lakes, Cannon Mt.).

For the longer ride (approximately 32 miles), start out of the Loon Ski Area parking lot, ride on a quiet back road in residential Lincoln avoiding the busy Main Street (Pollard Rd; turn right of the Kanc by The Common Man Restaurant), then out onto Route 3 by Clark's Trading Post. Ride up Route 3 by the 1950's style motels and cabins and Indian Head to The Flume parking area where the bike path begins. It is about 6 miles to this point. The bike path starts at the upper, northern end of the parking lot; turn left as you enter the lot and ride up to the entrance way.

The bike path IS NOT a rail trail - it IS NOT flat - it will be a great use of all of the gears that you have on your bike. There are some short sharp ups, and short sharp downs, some sweeping turns, bridges and tunnels - all lending itself to a wonderful Disney World attraction for us. The way back is a smiling mostly downhill cruise. This is a great time of the year to ride this, as there are not many tourists, walkers, baby carriages, etc. on the path to get in our way!

For the shorter ride, just do the bike path. It is about 19 miles round trip from the Flume parking lot. Turn around earlier if you like.

For the Longer Ride: Ready-to-ride at the Loon Ski Area parking lot at 10:00 am

Enter the Loon parking lot at the Main entrance (by the train engine), cross the bridge then bear left up towards the main lodge. There is lots of parking available on the right side of the lot.

For the shorter ride: Meet the longer riders at The Flume Parking Lot near the bike path entrance between 10:45 and 11:00 am.

Carpooling: Meet at the Attitash Parking lot at 8:45 am to load up. Pull out of the lot NO LATER than 8:50 am. Drive to Loon via Bear Notch Road and the Kanc.

There are bathroom facilities at The Flume and at various parking lots along the Bike Path. There is a snack bar/ice cream near the Ski Museum at Cannon Mt. but I am not sure if it is open yet. Bring water, food and snacks for a picnic either at the Ski Museum or by the lake.

This should be a great day!

Here is a map:


http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/nh/-lincoln/125124277838389505

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Weather Issues, Again. Ride Cancelled

Thursday, June 24th

Sorry I am taking so long to decide what to do about tomorrow's ride. I just refuse to believe that there can be bad weather on a Thursday for 4 weeks in a row. I have been checking for a good forecast, but I am afraid that no matter what I plan, we will get hit with showers and thunderstorms. So, I give up, and I am cancelling the ride for this week.

Stay tuned for next week!!! We have to have good weather!!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What will the weather be?

Thursday, June 24th

Tune in tomorrow evening for the info on the Thursday Ride. The weather forecast is not cooperating -- again!! Can it be 4 weeks in a row??? I hope not!! Hopefully tomorrow's forecast will make it easier to put together a ride plan....

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

June Wildflowers in Randolph and Jefferson

Thursday, June 17th

8:00 am update:

RIDE CANCELLED! How about tomorrow??
The weather just won't clear early enough for this ride today.

Anyone want to do it tomorrow on a beautiful sunny day???
Meet at the Jackson parking lot, across from the J-Town Deli at 9:00 am on Friday June 18th.

New Ride!

If you have not been up in the Randolph-Jefferson area lately, you have not seen the amazing displays of lupine, daises, wild iris, and an assortment of yellow, red and white blossoms. I just have to put a ride up there for this Thursday, as it is well worth the visit.

The weather looks good for this ride. The rain is over early and the clouds will clear out completely as the day goes along. It is worth some clouds in the morning for the scenery on this ride!

I decided to test out a new route, to stir up some adventure and to try to ride by some of the best displays of panoramic scenery and lupine fields in the area. The ride includes the entire length of Valley Road, a hidden treasure, running in the valley, parallel to Route 2 but without the traffic. Valley Road lacks pavement for about 2 miles. but the riding on it is just fine (better, in fact, than a lot of pavement we have around here...). Durand Road is a terrific ride also, lined with summer houses from the 30's and their nice gardens.


The start is on the other side of The Mountain, towards the Randolph end of the Pinkham B Road. There is parking right next to where the Presidential Rail Trail crosses Pinkham B. Pinkham B was recently graded, so the dirt portions are good driving (or riding, if you want to add a hill and a few extra miles to your day). The pavement portions are as usual, pick-a-path. Access Pinkham B road from the Dolly Copp Campground entrance off of Route 16.

As you drive down the hill on Pinkham B and come out of the woods, where there are 2 houses on the left, the rail trail crosses the road at a public works department building. There is parking on the left side near the rail trail. If you don't want to do Pinkham B, drive route 16 to Gorham, follow it towards Berlin and take a left on Route 2 at the traffic light. Go up the hill and down the other side (being glad you did not have to climb it on a bike...). Just after the hill flattens, Pinkham B Road will be on your left. Take the left and drive about 0.5 mile to the parking area near the rail trail on the right.

The ride will go down Pinkham B to Route 2, crosses Route 2 and enters Durand Road, a scenic quite road parallel to Route 2. If you have hiked the Randolph Mountain Clubs trail systems, you have likely used the many trialheads on this road. At the end of Durand Road, we ride Route 2 on a wide shoulder for a short distance then have to deal with 0.25 mile of road construction. The good news here is that there is a flagman directing traffic on a 1 lane road, so we can go through as a group and have to road to ourselves. It is packed, quite smooth dirt.

Immediately after the construction, Valley Road is on the left. We ride Valley Road our to Jefferson Meadows. We can then decide whether to do some extra miles and ride up to Jefferson where we typically go for lunch at the convenience store/gas station (longer ride option), or we can lunch near the Israel River Campground and stop at their snack shop.

Start time: 10:00 am ready to ride at the parking lot on the west end of Pinkham B Road

Carpool: Meet at the Jackson Ski Touring/Wentworth Golf Club parking area across the street from the J-Town Deli at 9:15am.

Ride length: 26 miles

Longer option to Jefferson store: 32 miles

Map:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/nh/jefferson/829127656358752350
View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

The Durand Road area is rich in history, particularly for hikers.

For an interesting view of Randolph, the link below has a chapter from The History of Coös County, New Hampshire by George Drew Merrill; Syracuse, N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., published in 1888
http://www.nh.searchroots.com/documents/coos-history/History_Randolph_NH.txt

For an interesting history of hiking in the White Mountains, which highlights the Randolph area and its inhabitants, check this link:

http://www.randolphmountainclub.org/aboutthermc/historyoftheclub.html

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Rain in the Forecast for Thursday: Ride Cancelled

NOT AGAIN!!

Yes, unfortunately, again.
I am cancelling the ride for the second week in a row.

Get the work done around the house and enjoy the outdoors on Friday and Saturday!!

For Saturday - check out the Velo club ride -- it is the "Beautiful Brownfield" ride that starts out of the Maine Visitor's Center on route 302. http://www.mwvveloclub.org/

Here is the info copied from the velo club website:


Saturday Club Bike Ride- http://www.mwvveloclub.org/Calendar.html click on June 12th.

Mike and Denise Saches:
Start time 9:30Place:
Maine Visitors Center, Fryeburg. It is on the right, just over the NH border on Route 302. It looks like a railroad station - has bathrooms.

Ride: 23 miles, (can be 18 or 30)

It is about 5.5 miles on Haleytown Road to the intersection with Hampshire Rd. Ride to the intersection with route 113 and you have about 9 miles. Turn right onto 113 for about 100 yards, then right again on Pig Street (flattest road in town), back to Hampshire (also called Main Street), then, at about 11 miles, bear left onto Merrill Corner Road (NOT Dugway Road. Merrill Corner if after Dugway, just before crossing a bridge). This is a gradual uphill grade (good early season spin).
Shorten the ride about 5 miles by staying on Hampshire and riding back to Haleytown -- but you miss the views!). Turn left onto Old County Road for another gradual climb, then a right onto Sam Brown Hill Road. Enjoy the view and the downhill! Right onto Porter, right onto Hampshire (at the bottom of Asparagus Hill! Smile, you won't be climbing it!), then left back onto Haleytown to the parking lot. There are options for a longer ride..which will be discussed at the start.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Ride Cancelled for June 3rd

Thursday June 2nd

The forecast for Thursday contains showers and thunderstorms. It looks like a storm in the morning, and it is not clear to me from the weather forecasts when it might clear up for a ride, so I give up! -- I cancel the ride for tomorrow.

I wanted to set up some fun away rides -- like the Franconia Notch Bike path, Sugar Hill and the Vermont Side of the Connecticut River - if there is good weather for next Thursday, I will set up one of these rides!

Also, if anyone is interested in a 1 week supported bike tour in the Adirondacks (July 17-24)-- check this site:

http://www.inmotionevents.net/adirondacks/index.html

This tour is run by the same group that does the Bon Ton Roulet (in NY State, around the Finger Lakes). Tom and I and Jackie and Lisa did the Bon Ton Roulet last summer, and we will try the Adirondack tour this year!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Basin

Thursday, May 27th

The Basin is a great ride on a sunny spring day! The temperature should not be summer hot on Thursday, a high of 75 is predicted -- perfect!!!

Meet at the corner of South Chatham Road and Route 113 in North Fryeburg, alongside the park next to the Saco Valley Fire Station. As you already know, please DO NOT block the fire station parking area. Park head-in alongside the park to allow for cars to fit in, or park parallel, off the road, along South Chatham Road.

The last half mile up to The Basin is a dirt road, and I am not sure of its condition at this point of the season. If it is a wash out, you may want to just use the campground at the entrance as your lunch spot. There are picnic tables, porta-potty and water pump in the campground. There is another campground with water and porta potties up at The Basin.


The starting time, ready-to-ride will be 9:00 am, now that "Summer" has arrived!


Total distance, doing the complete ride: 33 miles (Route 113 south to Cornshop, to Route 5 to Fish St, McNeil, Harbor, Union Hill, Meadow, Stowe Store, up 113 to The Basin then back via Chatham center and route 113). Note that the bridge over the Old Saco at the corner of McNeil and Harbor Road is likely to be removed this year - say fond goodbyes as you cross...

Shorten it to 28 miles by going south on 113 to Fish St to McNeil, cutting out the Cornshop Road section.

Want more miles?? Start at Weston's Beach for a total of 44 miles.

Carpoolers from the Bartlett/Jackson area -- meet at Grants parking lot at 8:15.

Here is a map:



View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Go North! Springtime on the North Road

Thursday May 20th

Let's head north and enjoy the palette of springtime green colors up on the North Road. The weather looks great for this ride!

Start at the intersection of North Road and Hogan Road, on the north side of the Androscoggin River, ready to ride at 10:00 am. To get to this point, drive north over Pinkham Notch on Route 16. Turn right at the intersection with route 2 in Gorham. Drive about 3 miles, and turn left onto North Road, just after a beautiful stone house and barn. Cross the river at the dam, and proceed about 1/4 mile to where North Road bears sharply right. Hogan Road, a dirt road with access to several trail heads, comes in from the left at this point, and there is a dirt parking area there.

There is also some parking on the left side of North Road, about 50 yards after you cross the dam, for 5 or 6 cars, in a parking area used by kayakers.

The entire ride on North Road to the picnic area alongside the river in Bethel, and back, is 39 miles. The ride is not difficult, no notches! There are flat sections, sections of rolling hills, lots of scenery and occasional views of the river. Near the end, just before reaching Route 2/Route 5, there is a bike path that turns right at a red fire hydrant and goes behind the water slide park. The path goes for 1.1 miles, ending at a nice picnic spot (and porta-potty). There are many options for food in Bethel, or just bring your own.

Shorter Options: Since the ride is out-and-back, you can decide when you've had enough and turn back to the parking lot:

1. To Shelburne and back is 10.2 miles round trip

2. To the Gilead steel trestle bridge, the western portion of North Road, is 18.6 miles round trip

3. Or, to do the eastern (Bethel) portion of North Road, drive to the Gilead bridge (Bridge Street), park there at the canoe parking area on the southwest side of the bridge, and join the riders there as they ride by on North Road at about 10:45-11:00. Starting at the bridge and riding to Bethel will give you a 20 mile round trip.

CARPOOLING! To carpool, meet at the Dunkin Donuts in Glen at 9:00 if you can either take a bike or two in/on your car, or if you would like to join a carpool.

For a map you can play with, click on:



View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Try Again: Attitash and Go West

Thursday, May 13th


The reports about last week seem to indicate that the weather was not good enough for a Thursday bike ride. So, I will just set up the same ride as planed for last week. The weather forecast looks much better!!!

Meet at 10:00 am, ready to ride, at the Attitash parking lot. Head up route 302 to the Willey House, or even do the Notch!. I hear that Bear Notch Road is not open yet -- there is still a lot of tree debris, but it is being cleaned from Bartlett towards the Kanc (Info thanks to Joan Kelly). It may be good for a ride up and back if the tree debris is removed from the Bartlett side. Riders can make that decision at the Attitash.


Enjoy the good weather!! Tom and I are in Glenwood Springs, CO looking out the motel window at 40 degrees and drizzle, and of course, wind. There is a winter storm warning out - lots of snow in the mountains. This is not what we wanted for a bike ride! Looks like you win on the weather forecast for biking this week!!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Attitash and Go West

Thursday May 6th

The news about the hearty New Hampshire ThursdayBikers riding in snow squalls, wind, clouds and sun reached Newport Beach, CA on Saturday. I announced this feat to all those fair weather riders in sunny CA. Congratulations to all you determined, tough cyclists (Tom says "crazy"). You have ridden all 5 Thursdays in April, a ThursdayBike record!!!!



The weather forecasts that I am getting out here for Thursday do not look quite as iffy as what I saw over the last few Thursdays, (wet in the morning, but clearing out by mid to late morning...) so here is something different to try for the season.


How about meeting at the Attitash parking lot, across the street from the lifts, and heading west on 302. Make it a riders choice: depending on the weather, head up 302 to the Willey House (29 miles). If the Notch looks cloudy and damp (we've seen this before!) climb Bear Notch Road to the top and return (15 miles) or do the loop (39 miles). Or, for a shorter, easier ride, or if the weather does not want to clear, ride to Bartlett Village, take a right at the blinking yellow light and head out River Road.

Meet at Attitash, ready to ride at 10:00. Hopefully the weather will be cleared by then!! Have a great ride!!

Cheers - from St. George, Utah



Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Winter Weather?

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

The forecasts I am getting online and on TV for Mt Washington Valley again just don't look that great for tomorrow and Thursday. Snow?? 6-12 inches? Wet soggy snow? Wind?

Last week I expected the weather to be too cold and wet for biking... however I heard that everyone had a great time on the West Side/Passaconaway ride!!! (Tom and I did NOT ride last Thursday because the weather was too damp and too windy in Santa Barbara, California!!)

I saw thehappy biker photos linked to this blog! Great photos!! It is wonderful to see everyone out there riding --looks chilly!!

So what to do for this week?? I don't want to set up a ride too far from home or too high in elevation because the weather will likely be too cold and windy up and away.

So, again, look out your window on Thursday morning, and if it is good for a ride, meet again at 10:00 behind the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway. Riders choice - do West Side Road to Conway Village and loop back via the Kanc, Albany Covered Bridge and Passaconaway. Or, you can ride over to North-South road to Conway Village and back up West Side Road.

I hope that the weather allows for another ride!! We don't want to break the streak of continuous Thursday rides since April 1st!!!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Thursday, April 22

Thursday April 22nd
West Side Road and Passaconaway

The weather forecasts on 4 different online sites do not agree on the details of the weather for Thursday. They do agree on mostly cloudy with showers. One put the showers in the morning, one puts the showers in the afternoon, the others suggests showers all day. So, from out here on the West Coast (Tom and I reached the Pacific today--- As Clark wrote in his diaries in 1805: "Ocien in view! O the joy!"), I'll just guess and set up a close-to-home, short ride so that perhaps it can be achieved without riders getting wet and cold!!

So, if the weather looks good out your window on Thursday morning, meet at 10:00 am behind the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway, ready to ride. The West Side Road-Passaconaway ride to the Albany Covered Bridge should work (25 miles round trip). If the weather is good, head up to the Rocky Gorge for a 30 mile round trip ride.

I hope the sun comes out for you! Tom and I are actually dealing with a forecast of rain and wind here on the coast for tomorrow. Rain in SoCal????

Have a good ride!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Springtime Ride in Brownfield

Thursday, April 15th

Early Springtime ride in Brownfield

Weather.com says that Thursday should be a good day for a bike ride in the Mt. Washington Valley! I have mapped out the Brownfield ride so that it should be a good one for early-in-the-season biking muscles and saddle. This version does not do the steep climbs on the east side of the Saco - save them for later in the season! There are great views on this ride, and a really nice cruise downhill on Sam Brown Hill Road! There are ways to lengthen or shorten this ride if you like.

Meet: Maine Visitors Center, Fryeburg. It is on the right, just over the NH border on Route 302. It looks like a railroad station - has bathrooms!

Time: Ready to ride at 10:00 am

Distance 23 miles

Route: It is about 5.5 miles on Haleytown Road to the intersection with Hampshire Rd. Ride to the intersection with route 113 and you have about 9 miles. Turn right onto 113 for about 100 yards, then right again on Pig Street (flattest road in town), back to Hampshire (also called Main Street), then, at about 11 miles, bear left onto Merrill Corner Road (NOT Dugway Road. Merrill Corner if after Dugway, just before crossing a bridge). This is a gradual uphill grade (good early season spin). Shorten the ride about 5 miles by staying on Hampshire and riding back to Haleytown -- but you miss the views!). Turn left onto Old County Road for another gradual climb, then a right onto Sam Brown Hill Road. Enjoy the view and the downhill! Right onto Porter, right onto Hampshire (at the bottom of Asparagus Hill! Smile, you won't be climbing it!), then left back onto Haleytown to the parking lot.
This is one of Connie's favorite rides, - it is a great ride, thank you Connie!!!

Here is a map:

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Greetings to everyone from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Tom and I did a great ride yesterday in the high desert. Can it rain in the desert??? You betcha. We waited 1.5 hours in a town park gazebo for a spectacular thunderstorm to pass. Rain, hail, lightening and rivers of water rushing down the center of the road. It cleared out and dried in 10 minutes. The bad news was that the anxiously anticipated tailwind for the ride home shifted (of course) to a nasty side wind until the final 5 miles where we finally hoisted sails and flew back to the car.

Enjoy your bike ride in the new spring green! Out here in desert beige and tan, spring green would be a good color for a hi-vis bike shirt!


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

West Side Passaconaway

Thursday, April 8th

West Side-Passaconaway-Albany Covered Bridge

The weather may be OK for a ride on Thursday!! Look out your window and make the call in the morning!! I am in New Mexico, so I will not be able to post a ride "Go" or "No Go" on Thursday morning.

Here's the plan:

Meet in the public parking lot behind the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway.

10:00 am Ready to Ride

The ride will go down West Side Road to Allen's Siding to Passaconaway Road to the Albany Covered Bridge. Round trip is 25 miles. If you want more, you can ride up the Kanc to the Rocky Gorge for a round trip of about 30 miles. If the weather is iffy, you can turn back at any point and still get a good early season "saddle warmer" in!!!

Have a great ride!!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

First Ride of 2010!!!

Thursday, April 1st

This is NOT an April Fool's Day joke!!!

The weather looks great for a bike ride tomorrow! You will be "No Fool" is you do this ride!

Jackie suggests an early spring ride in North Fryeburg - Route 113 to Cornshop, Fish, Union Hill, Meadow to Stow Store (how are they progressing with it??), then perhaps the loop up though Chatham. With the loop, the ride is 23 miles - a good early ride for the season!

Meet at the park next to the Saco Valley Fire Station in North Fryeburg, at the corner of Route 113 and South Chatham Road. Do not park in front of the fire station, park on the side of the road next to the park.Start time 10:30 am ready to ride.


Here is a map that is fairly close to the proposed ride..., just ignore the Northern portion which extends the ride to The Basin and back:


View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com