Weather or Not? I think Not.

 Thursday, October 29, 2020

Over the past weeks we have had some really nice weather for ThursdayBike. This Thursday's forecast is cloudy with morning temperatures about 40, rising up to mid 40's, then rain coming in in the afternoon. If it was going to be sunny, I would be enthusiastic.

I think it best to just cancel and stay warm and dry, prepare for next week, if it is good weather for a bike ride, or, maybe we can start ThursdaySki?

Cheers!

Upper Connecticut River Ride to Colebrook and Pittsburg 9:30 am

 Thursday, October 22, 2020 

Ready to Ride in Bloomfield, VT at 9:30 am

The weather forecast for Thursday looks like another October gift, high 50's and mostly sunny, light tailwind.  Let's take advantage of the weather to fit in a ride we have not done yet this year....The VT side of the CT River up to Colebrook and Pittsburg.  This ride is my favorite ride in NH (one of many)!  I am happy that the weather will allow for this ride to happen! This is a fantastic ride and we can get some miles in while we still can. Ride alongside the Connecticut River, farm fields, cows, horses, 2 waterfalls, 2 covered bridges, panoramic views, cross the 45th parallel! History too: "The Republic of Indian Stream" which declared itself an independent nation in 1832. We will ride over the 3 rivers involved in this border dispute between the US and Canada. (see links for history, below).

The ride starts on Route 102 in Bloomfield, VT at a parking area just south of DeBanville's General Store. The ride is lollipop shaped, gently going up the CT River to lunch in Pittsburg, NH. It then turns south climbing "an interesting hill" followed by a 20 mile mostly downhill reward back to the car. It has been labeled by a friend from the midwest as a "Disneyland E-Ticket". See the photo on the right?? Ride through Colebrook on the way back, stop at the coffee and pastry shop, and cross the CT river back into VT for a nice downstream cruise back to DeBanville's Store. Of course there will be a tailwind on the way back.

Distance: 58 miles, mostly flat, one Climb. This is a relatively easy 58, easier than many 40 milers we have done!! The climb is a unique challenge. This is the ride to log your longest mileage of the season, perhaps?

Shorter version? OK. Many options because you can do out and back on the VT side of the CT River on Route 102. To the shady town green in Canaan, VT and back is 43 gentle, scenic miles. 

FOOD: Bring lunch and snacks. There may be NO options along the way.  Every time we travel through Pittsburg and Colebrook there seems to be yet another closure of a restaurant, general store or bakery.

Ready to ride in Bloomfield at 9:30 am.

If you want to Carpool, meet at the far end of the Attitash parking lot at 7:45 am. According to the map app, it should be a 1.5 hour drive. It is worth it.

Directions to the start: Route 302 to Twin Mountain four corners, turn right at the light onto Route 3. Drive up Route 3 through Whitefield, Lancaster and Groveton. Turn left in North Stratford, NH to cross the CT river into Bloomfield, VT on Route 105. Take a left onto Route 102 immediately after you cross the river, DeBanville's store is on the corner. Drive under the railroad bridge and you will see the dirt parking area on the right with a kiosk describing the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.   There is an attractive outhouse in the woods near the parking lot. 

The map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13191847

For info on The Republic of Indian Stream check these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Indian_Stream

https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/27-the-republic-of-indian-stream-1832-1835
www.cowhampshireblog.com/2006/05/21/new-hampshire-missing-places-indian-stream-republic-1829-1836/

The Andover Ride 9:30 am

Thursday, October 15, 2020

WooHoo, looks like Thursday's weather will be a mid October gift!  Let's take advantage of it and do the Andover Ride. 

The route to Andover from Bethel is a gem, a ThursdayBike favorite, worth the drive to Bethel. It is an extension of the North Road ride! It is a beautiful route on quiet roads. It is not a hard ride, only some short grinder hills on Intervale Road in the first 10 miles (and last 10 miles). The remainder of the ride is pleasantly gentle and scenic.

Start at little Davis Park on the Androscoggin River in Bethel (where we picnic at the end of the North Road ride) and go north on Intervale Road to where it ends at Route 232 in Rumford Corner.  Take a left and cross the Androscoggin River on the new bridge. A very short ride on Route 2 then right on Whippoorwill Road to Andover Road and eventually into the center of Andover where there is a great general store and perfect town green with gazebo for lunching.

Return south on Route 5 for a short distance, then cross the Lovejoy Covered Bridge (Maine's shortest covered bridge) then retrace the route back to the cars.

Total distance: 49 miles   (a short out and back on the bike path and wham,  you get a 50 miler)

Lunch: The Andover General Store is a good food and ice cream stop located across the park and gazebo. 

Starting Time: 9:30 am Ready To Ride from Davis Park at the end of the bike path in Bethel on Route 26 (our usual lunch stop with picnic tables, porta-potties and playground).

Parking: There are not a lot of parking spaces at the riverside park. If the lot is full, park near the convenience store/Dunkin Donuts on Route 2 where the bike path crosses the Androscoggin River, or at the Bethel Chamber of Commerce.

Carpool: If you want to carpool, meet in Jackson at the parking lot across from the J-Town Deli at 8:15 am, otherwise, meet Dave and Connie in Bethel! 

Shorter Options:  

Park along the edge of Intervale Road, north of our starting point. You can cut out up to 16 miles this way (it is 8 miles to the intersection with East Bethel Road, located on the right off of Intervale Road where the cows are), and avoid the 2 hills at the very end of the ride!  Meet with everyone else at the park at 10:00, then drive up a ways, park, hop on your bike and join the group as we ride by! 

To see a map of the ride (almost exact, the one below has an extra 2 miles that are not included in Thursday's ride) click the link:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/25168624

Ride Cancelled due to temperature and wind

Thursday, October 8, 2020

I have checked and rechecked the weather forecasts for this Thursday, and just finally decided to give up. The forecasts don't seem to be getting more enticing for a ride.  It will be in the mid 40's, mix of sun and clouds and windy. I think that this just might not quite be good enough for a fun ride. I think it is the wind gusts that would be the issue, and wind chill factor.

It this were March, we would all be running out the door to ski in 42-45 degree weather, t-shirt skiing weather. But, I am not cold acclimated yet, so I think tomorrow's weather forecast breaks the rule of "Pick 2 of 3: Temperature, Sunshine, Wind". Two of these 3 parameters must be favorable for a good bike ride. (i.e. a cold day with bright sunshine and no wind would be OK!) I think tomorrow's forecast indicates 3 of 3 might not work in our favor.

If next Thursday is good, I will hope to post The Andover Ride!