Thursday, August 30, 2018
With warm temperatures and the busy, trafficy roads full of pre-Labor Day vacationers, the North Road to Bethel ride is a shady, quiet alternative.
I cannot be with you on this Thursday, but I am sure that one of you (?) will take on the role of host and welcome a new rider who will be joining in on this ride!
Meet at the North Road starting point, in the parking area at the intersection of North Road and Hogan Road, north of the dam. Get there by driving north on Route 16 to Gorham, take a right onto Route 2, go about 3 miles looking for the big beautiful stone house on the left. After the stone house, take a left onto North Road. Cross the Androscoggin River at the dam and head up a short distance. Where the road bears hard right, you go left into the parking area on the dirt Hogan Road.
Ready to Ride at 9:00 am.
Bring a lunch or snacks to enjoy at the riverside park in Bethel.
Total distance: About 39 miles
Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13189960
Monday, August 27, 2018
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Apple Acres from Brownfield, 9:00 am
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Thursday looks like a great day for a bike ride!!
Dave and Connie created this ride a few years ago and everyone loved it! It is early for the apple season, likely the farm store is closed, but the views are still there!
Start the ride from the Brownfield Community Center, head to Route 160 via Pig Street. At about 10 miles, turn left on Tripptown Road, across from a cemetery, then left on Durgintown Rd. These roads are shady, scenic, quiet biking gems. Stop at Apple Acres for the view, then continue downhill and turn left on scenic River Road to Hiram. The 4-Corners Store has reopened so perhaps you may want to take a short side trip there for snacks and chocolate milk. Return by a short sprint on Route 113/5 then left on Notch Road (but, no notch to climb) and then back onto Route 160 back to Brownfield.
Distance is about 35 miles.
Dave and Connie will be the hosts for this ride.
Meet at the Brownfield Community Center, ready to ride at 9:00 am.
To drive there from the Conway area take Route 302 to the Maine border and take a right onto Haleytown Road. Take a left onto Hampshire Road towards Brownfield Center. Bear left at the Y junction with Route 160. The community center will be at about 0.7 mile on your right. It is approximately 30 minutes from North Conway Village, about 45 minutes from Glen.
Carpool if you like, from the back of Grant's parking lot, 8:00 am. Otherwise, see you in Brownfield.
Here is the map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13096250
Thursday looks like a great day for a bike ride!!
Dave and Connie created this ride a few years ago and everyone loved it! It is early for the apple season, likely the farm store is closed, but the views are still there!
Start the ride from the Brownfield Community Center, head to Route 160 via Pig Street. At about 10 miles, turn left on Tripptown Road, across from a cemetery, then left on Durgintown Rd. These roads are shady, scenic, quiet biking gems. Stop at Apple Acres for the view, then continue downhill and turn left on scenic River Road to Hiram. The 4-Corners Store has reopened so perhaps you may want to take a short side trip there for snacks and chocolate milk. Return by a short sprint on Route 113/5 then left on Notch Road (but, no notch to climb) and then back onto Route 160 back to Brownfield.
Distance is about 35 miles.
Dave and Connie will be the hosts for this ride.
Meet at the Brownfield Community Center, ready to ride at 9:00 am.
To drive there from the Conway area take Route 302 to the Maine border and take a right onto Haleytown Road. Take a left onto Hampshire Road towards Brownfield Center. Bear left at the Y junction with Route 160. The community center will be at about 0.7 mile on your right. It is approximately 30 minutes from North Conway Village, about 45 minutes from Glen.
Carpool if you like, from the back of Grant's parking lot, 8:00 am. Otherwise, see you in Brownfield.
Here is the map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13096250
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Vermont Side of the CT River: Lancaster to DeBanville's Store 9;30 am
Thursday August 16, 2018
The weather looks good for us, the best day of the week, sunny and no chance of rain! (well at least by all the forecasts on Tuesday evening...)!! Let's take advantage of this great forecast and head to Vermont!
This ride follows the southern section of VT102, starting from Lancaster, heading north to DeBanville's General Store. This store had been closed and for sale for a few years, but it reopened last year. We can get food and ice cream there for lunch.
Weather: Looks good. We might have some wind from the northwest, excellent for a good tailwind for the ride back!
Ride Starts: 9:30, ready to ride, from the parking lot of Shaw's Supermarket in Lancaster, on the right side of Route 3 North, just north of the town center.
Carpool if you like: Meet in the Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts, 8:00 am. Otherwise see you in Lancaster.
Terrain: Lots of flat or very gradual ups and downs, a few rolling hills requiring some work; no Asparagus Hill, easier than Snowville, easier than that hilly section of the Wonalancet ride, no notches.
How far: 49 miles. See map below. (If you just have to get that 50 mile ride in for your record books - just continue up Route 102 from DeBanville's until your odometer says 25.00 then turn back!!)
Shorter Option? Drive up a bit further up Route 3 north and cross the CT River via the bridge into Guildhall, VT and start from there. Park alongside the Town Green (bear right after you cross the bridge, then make a left alongside the green). This will take 18 miles off and give you a 31 mile ride.
Directions: Route 302 to Twin Mountain 4-corners stoplight. Take a right onto Route 3 north. Follow Route 3 though Whitefield, then continue on Route 3 into Lancaster. Shaw's Supermarket is on the right, approximately 0.5 mile north of the center of Lancaster on Route 3. It is across the street from Dunkin Donuts. Park at the part of the lot closest to the road, furthest from the store entrance.
This ride follows the southern section of VT102, starting from Lancaster, heading north to DeBanville's General Store. This store had been closed and for sale for a few years, but it reopened last year. We can get food and ice cream there for lunch.
Weather: Looks good. We might have some wind from the northwest, excellent for a good tailwind for the ride back!
Ride Starts: 9:30, ready to ride, from the parking lot of Shaw's Supermarket in Lancaster, on the right side of Route 3 North, just north of the town center.
Carpool if you like: Meet in the Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts, 8:00 am. Otherwise see you in Lancaster.
Terrain: Lots of flat or very gradual ups and downs, a few rolling hills requiring some work; no Asparagus Hill, easier than Snowville, easier than that hilly section of the Wonalancet ride, no notches.
How far: 49 miles. See map below. (If you just have to get that 50 mile ride in for your record books - just continue up Route 102 from DeBanville's until your odometer says 25.00 then turn back!!)
Shorter Option? Drive up a bit further up Route 3 north and cross the CT River via the bridge into Guildhall, VT and start from there. Park alongside the Town Green (bear right after you cross the bridge, then make a left alongside the green). This will take 18 miles off and give you a 31 mile ride.
Directions: Route 302 to Twin Mountain 4-corners stoplight. Take a right onto Route 3 north. Follow Route 3 though Whitefield, then continue on Route 3 into Lancaster. Shaw's Supermarket is on the right, approximately 0.5 mile north of the center of Lancaster on Route 3. It is across the street from Dunkin Donuts. Park at the part of the lot closest to the road, furthest from the store entrance.
Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13189233
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Lovely Lovell Loops 9:00 am YES, Let's gp for it
Thursday, August 9, 2018
UPDATE as of 7:30 am Thursday: The radar suggests that we could do fine with our relatively short morning ride. Most of the activity is to our north and south. Let's go for it, see you at 9:00.
Some forecasts indicate morning t-storms ONLY at 9:00 am, others indicate t-storms at every hour EXCEPT 9:00 am. Quite a conundrum for me as I deal with my welcome back to the Lower 48. With the scattered nature of the storms and showers going through our area over these last few days, anything can happen.
It is therefore obvious that I set the time for us to meet at 9:00 and we will see what happens. If the weather looks bad out the window in the morning, and the radar indicates a storm on the way, the ride will be cancelled or postponed. I will post here if need be.
Lovely Lovell Loops
This is a newly designed ride thanks to Connie. A few weeks ago, Connie, Denise and I went out to give it a try. It is a great ride, hilly but not too hilly, quiet roads with lots of NEW PAVEMENT! Smooth black velvet! It is not a long ride so we should be able to get it done before any afternoon showers. Short in mileage, but long on workout and scenery.
Start at the park next to the North Fryeburg Saco Valley Fire Station (corner or Route 113 and South Chatham Road). Park away from the fire station, leave that area open for the firefighters.
We head out on Harbor Road all the way to Lovell, then go up Christian Hill Road, head out by Ebenezer's Restaurant and then cross Route 5. We go up Old Waterford Road and do a scenic quiet but thrilling loop on Eastman Hill and Old Stage Road. Return is back by Ebenezar's, but then we head out to the Kezar Lake Narrows for a lakeside lunch and/or ice cream break and maybe a swim. Head back via Shave Hill (sometimes called Swamp Road, now newly paved!) and Harbor Road.
This is a 24 mile ride. It can be lengthened if the weather forecast allows us to add in Fish Street/MacNeil or MacNeil, up Fish, down Cornshop.
Here is the map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28020504
UPDATE as of 7:30 am Thursday: The radar suggests that we could do fine with our relatively short morning ride. Most of the activity is to our north and south. Let's go for it, see you at 9:00.
Some forecasts indicate morning t-storms ONLY at 9:00 am, others indicate t-storms at every hour EXCEPT 9:00 am. Quite a conundrum for me as I deal with my welcome back to the Lower 48. With the scattered nature of the storms and showers going through our area over these last few days, anything can happen.
It is therefore obvious that I set the time for us to meet at 9:00 and we will see what happens. If the weather looks bad out the window in the morning, and the radar indicates a storm on the way, the ride will be cancelled or postponed. I will post here if need be.
Lovely Lovell Loops
This is a newly designed ride thanks to Connie. A few weeks ago, Connie, Denise and I went out to give it a try. It is a great ride, hilly but not too hilly, quiet roads with lots of NEW PAVEMENT! Smooth black velvet! It is not a long ride so we should be able to get it done before any afternoon showers. Short in mileage, but long on workout and scenery.
Start at the park next to the North Fryeburg Saco Valley Fire Station (corner or Route 113 and South Chatham Road). Park away from the fire station, leave that area open for the firefighters.
We head out on Harbor Road all the way to Lovell, then go up Christian Hill Road, head out by Ebenezer's Restaurant and then cross Route 5. We go up Old Waterford Road and do a scenic quiet but thrilling loop on Eastman Hill and Old Stage Road. Return is back by Ebenezar's, but then we head out to the Kezar Lake Narrows for a lakeside lunch and/or ice cream break and maybe a swim. Head back via Shave Hill (sometimes called Swamp Road, now newly paved!) and Harbor Road.
This is a 24 mile ride. It can be lengthened if the weather forecast allows us to add in Fish Street/MacNeil or MacNeil, up Fish, down Cornshop.
Here is the map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28020504
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Evans Notch from Shelburne Village and North Road 9:00 am
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Meeting place and parking: Start from Shelburne Village, just off Meadow Road (a left turn off of Route 2 about 5 miles east from the route 16/2 junction in Gorham). After turning left into Meadow from Route 2 take a quick right onto Village Road. Take a left into the park and park on the left off the dirt pathway on the grass. Meadow Road joins North Road at that grassy triangle intersection close to the Philbrook Inn.
If you want to carpool, meet in Jackson, in the parking lot across the street from the J-Town Deli at 8:10 am.
Here is a map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28223686
I will not be able to join you this week, but here is a great ride that is mostly in the shade for a good warm day ride option. I will presume that there will be many riders who know this route well and can easily lead the way and help out any newcomers.
To make the ride a bit different, start in Shelburne Village instead of the usual Hogan Road/North Road parking area near the dam. By starting in Shelburne, you will cut out about 3 miles and 2 tough hills at the end of the ride. You add a mile of flat scenic farmland, the river, perhaps a horse and a donkey that will want to join in, not a bad exchange.
To make the ride a bit different, start in Shelburne Village instead of the usual Hogan Road/North Road parking area near the dam. By starting in Shelburne, you will cut out about 3 miles and 2 tough hills at the end of the ride. You add a mile of flat scenic farmland, the river, perhaps a horse and a donkey that will want to join in, not a bad exchange.
The ride goes over RR tracks and the Androscoggin River as we ride about 1 mile to North Road, takes a right turn at the triangle and then out about 5 miles to the iron bridge, crosses the river again and goes to Route 2. Take a right and ride a short distance on a wide shoulder on Route 2, then take the left onto the road up Evans Notch (Rt 113).
Some will ride up to a small bridge for a nice, easy, gradual route upriver. After the small bridge, the steeper climb to the top begins. Some will climb to the top. Either way is a spectacular ride, and you can regroup down the river at the new bridge (where Irene took out the suspension bridge) for a snack on some shady rocks. Return to the cars by reversing the route.
Mileage: About 32 if you do the whole ride to the top of Evans Notch, about 28 if you go to the bridge just before the climb goes from gradual to steep.
Shorter option? Start at the iron bridge for a really nice 18 mile ride.
Time: Ready to ride at 9:00 am in Shelburne Village.
If you want to start at the iron bridge, look for riders coming across it at about 9:25-9:35.
If you want to start at the iron bridge, look for riders coming across it at about 9:25-9:35.
If you want to carpool, meet in Jackson, in the parking lot across the street from the J-Town Deli at 8:10 am.
Here is a map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28223686
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