Thursday, May 7, 2015
This is a great time of the year to Kranc Some Kanc: no traffic, rushing Swift River, great views, trees all in soft-color spring foliage splendor!
The ride goes up the Kanc to Rocky Gorge to a great picnic spot. It is a gradual climb with the rushing river by your side. Check out the newly renovated Lower Falls Scenic Area on the way up. If you want to Kranc more Kanc, ride about 3 more miles to the Bear Notch Road intersection, then return to the picnic at Rocky Gorge. The downhill return is spectacular! Ride through the Albany Covered Bridge, Passaconaway Road (gates are open), then through Conway Village (careful for traffic and car doors opening...).
Start at the Saco Ranger Station located on the Kanc just after the intersection with Route 16.
PARKING. Important... Please carpool if you can as there is not unlimited parking at the Ranger Station. Park away from their visitor center (which has bathrooms!), pack in tightly. Perhaps some could park in Conway Village to ease the burden if the Ranger Station lot fills up? I used to suggest parking behind the Laconia Savings Bank but we ThursdayBikers overwhelmed the lot one day and someone came rushing out from the upstairs law offices to tell us that we were taking up too many spaces. I think this bank lot is a fine place to park for a few of us, but not the whole group. There are some parking spots behind the Mountain Center Physical Therapy that can be used by a few of us, but not enough for the whole crowd! This Kanc ride is too beautiful to avoid due to parking limitations!
Let's set the start time at 10:00 so that bikers can park wherever but rendezvous at the Saco Ranger Station, ready to ride.
Distance? To Rocky Gorge and return via Passaconaway will be about 21 miles, 27 if you tag the Bear Notch Road signpost. Should be a beautiful day for this ride!!!
Pat H. will be your ride host!!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Bike Path, Ice House Road and Menotomy Road, 9:30 am start
Thursday, April 30, 2015
APRIL came in like a lion, and might just go out out like a lamb...
Let's ride the Mountain Division Rail Trail, hopefully in warm sunshine, starting out of the parking lot of the Maine Visitor's Center located on Route 302 at the NH-ME state line. We can do the entire 4 mile trail then go through Fryeburg Village out to Icehouse Road, then out and back on Menotomy Road (which is glorious at this time of the year!).
The route is mostly flat, but Menotomy has a gentle climb, a good one for early season riding.
Meet at the Maine Visitor's Center parking lot, ready to ride at 9:30 am. The forecast suggests a temp in the mid 50"s with a brighter morning than afternoon, so let's get out in the sunshine, rather than in the snow, sleet and drizzle that we had last week on Bear Notch Road!
Distance? About 20 miles.
APRIL came in like a lion, and might just go out out like a lamb...
Let's ride the Mountain Division Rail Trail, hopefully in warm sunshine, starting out of the parking lot of the Maine Visitor's Center located on Route 302 at the NH-ME state line. We can do the entire 4 mile trail then go through Fryeburg Village out to Icehouse Road, then out and back on Menotomy Road (which is glorious at this time of the year!).
The route is mostly flat, but Menotomy has a gentle climb, a good one for early season riding.
Meet at the Maine Visitor's Center parking lot, ready to ride at 9:30 am. The forecast suggests a temp in the mid 50"s with a brighter morning than afternoon, so let's get out in the sunshine, rather than in the snow, sleet and drizzle that we had last week on Bear Notch Road!
Distance? About 20 miles.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Bartlett Village, River Road and Bear Notch, 10:00 am start
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Hi Everyone!! Here we go starting season #11 of ThursdayBike!
We start the season off easy, so let's meet at Attitash Ski Area in the main parking lot across the street from the ski slopes at 10:00 am, ready to ride. The forecasts seem to agree that we should have cool but dry weather for the morning.
We can do "The Usual" which is to ride out to Bartlett Village, ride out River Road, into Stillings Grant, then head back to the Village and consider Bear Notch Road. For those that want to get some climbing in, go up as far as you like! The gate is still closed, there will be snow at the higher elevations and perhaps some tree and snowmobile debris here and there. But, with no cars, we can ride around anything, enjoying the road all to ourselves. It is probably snow and ice free for the first mile, or maybe two. How far can we go? A good start for the hill climbing season!
For those that just want to stay on the flats, no problem, just head back to the cars at Attitash!
Mileage 14 - 20 miles.
Bring a snack, drink, spare tube, tools, helmet.
10:00 am meeting time, ready to ride.
Hi Everyone!! Here we go starting season #11 of ThursdayBike!
We start the season off easy, so let's meet at Attitash Ski Area in the main parking lot across the street from the ski slopes at 10:00 am, ready to ride. The forecasts seem to agree that we should have cool but dry weather for the morning.
We can do "The Usual" which is to ride out to Bartlett Village, ride out River Road, into Stillings Grant, then head back to the Village and consider Bear Notch Road. For those that want to get some climbing in, go up as far as you like! The gate is still closed, there will be snow at the higher elevations and perhaps some tree and snowmobile debris here and there. But, with no cars, we can ride around anything, enjoying the road all to ourselves. It is probably snow and ice free for the first mile, or maybe two. How far can we go? A good start for the hill climbing season!
For those that just want to stay on the flats, no problem, just head back to the cars at Attitash!
Mileage 14 - 20 miles.
Bring a snack, drink, spare tube, tools, helmet.
10:00 am meeting time, ready to ride.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
ThursdayBike Starts This Week!! Weather permitting...
Thursday, April 23rd, 2015
I have put away the skis after a fantastic ski season! Now it is time for the bikes!
This week's weather forecast looks unsettled and is not easy to plan around, but I intend to set up a short, local ride to get us on our bikes again. I will study the weather forecasts carefully, and will likely set up the ride to take advantage of dry weather, so it might not be on Thursday. Check the blog for a ride if you see sunshine in the forecast!
Now is a good time to check over your bike. I know everyone cleaned their bikes really well at the end of last season and checked them over for worn tires, brake pads, chain etc., correct??? Lube the chain, pump the tires, make sure you have a spare tube, patch kit and tools in your underseat bag.
Interested in a fun, supported bike tour this summer??? Check out the "Cycle the Erie Canal Annual Bike Tour", run by the Parks and Trails New York. It is an 8 day, 400 mile ride from Buffalo to Albany, 75% on the Erie Canalway Trail, July 12-19, 2015. Drive to Albany, shuttle (provided for extra $) to Buffalo then cycle back. All the details are well described at www.ptny.org/canaltour. A few club members did it last year, and loved it!!!!
I have put away the skis after a fantastic ski season! Now it is time for the bikes!
This week's weather forecast looks unsettled and is not easy to plan around, but I intend to set up a short, local ride to get us on our bikes again. I will study the weather forecasts carefully, and will likely set up the ride to take advantage of dry weather, so it might not be on Thursday. Check the blog for a ride if you see sunshine in the forecast!
Now is a good time to check over your bike. I know everyone cleaned their bikes really well at the end of last season and checked them over for worn tires, brake pads, chain etc., correct??? Lube the chain, pump the tires, make sure you have a spare tube, patch kit and tools in your underseat bag.
Interested in a fun, supported bike tour this summer??? Check out the "Cycle the Erie Canal Annual Bike Tour", run by the Parks and Trails New York. It is an 8 day, 400 mile ride from Buffalo to Albany, 75% on the Erie Canalway Trail, July 12-19, 2015. Drive to Albany, shuttle (provided for extra $) to Buffalo then cycle back. All the details are well described at www.ptny.org/canaltour. A few club members did it last year, and loved it!!!!
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Bretton Woods Mountain Road and High Country Trails 10:00
Wednesday March 25th, 2015
Bretton Woods: Mountain Road and the High Country Trails! 10:00 am
Wednesday is supposed to warm up so the snow will eventually be soft and spring-like! Wednesday is 2-fer day at Bretton Woods. The plan is to meet at the Nordic Center at 10:00 am, take the shuttle to the alpine slope, ski the new 3K Fabyan's Fields (flat, sunny), take the lift up, ski Mountain Road to the T-bar, ride the T-bar up to the cabin, ski the High Country and Telegraph Traverse trails above the cabin, then head down Mountain Road, cross route 302 and head back to the Nordic Center. This is truly the MOST FUN XC ski routes in New England! You will need that 2-fer Nordic ticket and a special alpine ticket good for one trip up the chairlift (or your season 's pass). Both can be obtained at the Nordic Center.
Meet at the Nordic Center at 10:00 am.
If you would like to carpool, meet at the back of Grant's Supermarket parking lot (near the walk-in medical center) at 9:20 am. I already have passengers, so see you at Bretton Woods!
Monday, March 9, 2015
Try Again: 2-fer at Bretton Woods, 10:00 am
Wednesday March 11th, 2015
Bretton Woods: Mountain Road and the High Country Trails! 10:00 am
Wednesday is supposed to be really warm so the snow will be soft and spring-like! Wednesday is 2-fer day at Bretton Woods. The plan is to meet at the Nordic Center at 10:00 am, take the shuttle to the alpine slope, ski the new 3K Fabyan's Fields (flat, sunny), take the lift up, ski Mountain Road to the T-bar, ride the T-bar up to the cabin, ski the High Country and Telegraph Traverse trails above the cabin, then head down Mountain Road, cross route 302 and head back to the Nordic Center. This is truly the MOST FUN XC ski routes in New England! You will need that 2-fer Nordic ticket and a special alpine ticket good for one trip up the chairlift (or your season 's pass). Both can be obtained at the Nordic Center.
Meet at the Nordic Center at 10:00 am.
If you would like to carpool, meet at the back of Grant's Supermarket parking lot (near the walk-in medical center) at 9:20 am. I already have passengers, so see you at Bretton Woods!
Monday, March 2, 2015
WednesdaySki AND/or ThursdaySki!
Wednesday March 4th, 2015, Bretton Woods: Mountain Road
Thursday March 5th, 2015, Jackson Ski Touring: South Hall-Ellis-North Hall Loop
The ski conditions are excellent so I am posting two days of skiing. Hopefully you can join in for at least one of these epic XC ski routes!
Wednesday:
Wednesday is supposed to be warm so the snow will be soft and spring-like! Wednesday is 2-fer day at Bretton Woods. The plan is to meet at the Nordic Center at 9:30 am, take the shuttle to the alpine slope, take the lift up, ski Mountain Road to the T-bar, ride the T-bar up to the cabin, ski the trails above the cabin, then head down Mountain Road, cross route 302 and head back to the Nordic Center. This is truly one of the most fun XC ski routes in New England! You will need that 2-fer Nordic ticket and an alpine ticket for one trip up the chairlift. Both can be obtained at the Nordic Center.
Meet at the Nordic Center at 9:30 am.
If you would like to carpool, meet at the back of Grant's Supermarket parking lot (near the walk-in medical center) at 8:55 am.
Thursday, March 5
The Hall/Ellis Loop is my favorite! Doing it as described here shortens the trip and ends it after a fun downhill.
Meet at the Jackson Ski Touring Center at 9:30 am. We carpool up to the South Hall trailhead on Green Hill Road. Ski down The Connector to the Ellis, head north up to the Rocky Branch parking lot. Climb the North Hall and cruise down the South Hall back to the car. Total distance is 20K.
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