Monday Fat Tire Ride

Yes, that's right a Monday Fat Tire ride!  Faced with another iffy Tuesday forecast I thought it would be a great idea to get ahead of the forecast and ride during tomorrow's sunny weather.

So how about meeting in the JXN Historical Society's parking lot at 9am and doing the Dam and Dummer ride?  It starts across from the Berlin Airport and goes to the Pontook Dam and back.

Please let me know if you plan to ride.

Thanks, Joan 

Dam, Dam, Dam, Dam, and Hot Dam

This favorite route, runs from the Gorham train depot to the Berlin eastern depot. It has a lot of variety, not to mention about five dams. We'll start off in downtown Gorham by the old train station and ride past the airport and then ride a mile through the back woods on the emergency access road which is closed to motorized traffic. After this we will be riding on the eastern end of the presidential rail trail to Berlin on the quiet and beautiful eastern bank of the Androscoggin River.

Along with getting great views of the Androscoggin we'll skirt a gravel pit, go over the very high trestle bridge across route 16 (this is always a thrill), bike by the hydroelectric powerhouse and dam on the canal adjacent to the Androscoggin, view the Cascade Flats complex and dam from the seldom seen east side and visit a waterfall, possibly for a lunch stop. This is probably the most beautiful fat tire cruiser lunch spot.

The changing surface of this easy, pretty flat ride consists of dirt, ballast, gravel and the occasional mud puddle.  This 17 mile out and back route is appropriate for all abilities. The ride will start at 9:30 on Railroad Street across from the Gorham Town Common.

Carpooling: Meet at the Jackson Historical Society aka the Old Jackson Town Hall, parking lot (across from the post office) at 8:50.

Directions: Drive north on route 16 to Gorham. Just before the T intersection with route 2 there will be railroad tracks. Immediately after crossing the tracks turn left onto Railroad Street. Hook a U turn and park on the other side of the road across from the Common.

Please let me know before 8:00 tomorrow if you plan to ride and where you plan to meet the group.

Happy Trails

The Cat is open, see you on the slopes!

North Fryeburg to Hemlock Bridge

Last Call!

Let's meet at the No. Fryeburg Fire Station at noon to ride the roads (paved and dirt) of North Fryeburg.  The views should be spectacular.  We can figure out which route we want to take at the fire station.

Pine Barrens

NOTE: we are starting the ride at 1:00pm to get the best weather conditions.  Please let me know, by tomorrow  by 10:00am if you plan to join us.

Let’s explore the Pine Barrens in Madison. This area is New Hampshire’s last intact example of a pitch pine/scrub oak woodland, a globally rare forest type. The main trails are wide, firm(if a bit sandy) and flat. There will be a couple of trail segments that are more like simple single track than the main wide trails. There may be a section of the West Branch Trail that is wet so expect a bit of mud and a walk through this area.

Directions: Take Route 16 south of Conway to the intersection of Route 113 at Coleman’s. Take a left and follow 113 through Madison. After you see Silver Lake on your left, Route 41 will diverge to the left. Follow Route 41 for 3.4 miles along the western side of the lake. The Nature Conservancy entrance and sign will be on the left directly opposite Black Birch Road. Drive in to the kiosk and parking area.

Or take Route 16 south to the junction of Route 16 and Route 41 in Ossipee, follow Route 41 north for approximately 2 miles, crossing into the Town of Madison. The entrance to the preserve will be on the right side of the road, marked by a TNC sign. 

Rob Brook Road

CANCELED.  Where'd this rain come from?


The Rob Brook Road Loop is a valley classic.   This is a rolling 12 mile ride, suitable for all abilities, mostly on a winding dirt forest road with the last few miles on the Kanc and Bear Notch Road. There are small hills to climb and even though it's one of our shorter rides. you (and your gears) will get a good workout on this ride.  

Marty Basch describes this ride in his White Mountain Ride Guide as follows "The road winds by streams and huge boulders. Spotting signs of moose and deer are common. A few quick climbs are rewarded with refreshing downhills."

Plan on getting your feet wet as you need to cross the Swift River to get to the Kanc. You may want to bring an extra pair of shoes to get you across the river.  Just after you cross the river look slightly right and follow that path a short way to the Kanc. Go left (east) on the Kanc.   

A good lunch spot is at The Russell Colbath House (on The Kanc) where there are picnic benches by the barn. After lunch continue eastward on the Kanc until Bear Notch Road appears on the left.

The Trail Head and parking are on the west side of Bear Notch Road .75 mi north of the intersection with The Kanc. Meet at the trailhead at 10:00am. 

Please let me know if you plan to join us.

Tour de North Conway ???

There's not many more biking days left in the year so I'd like to get a ride in tomorrow.   Also the rest of this week looks pretty dreary.

Tour de North Conway is one of our shortest rides and we won't be too far from our cars.  See the 10/7 write up for a description.

Let's play it by ear.  Contact me if you think you might ride.  If it's a go I'll email you in the morning.