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