Presidential Rail Trail and Durand Road from Gorham to Randolph: 10:00 am
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
A late start to the Dirt and Pavement Ride due to funky spring weather. Looks like we might be OK for a ride this Tuesday. Using the rail trail will be helpful...those railroad surveyors, designers and engineers knew how to keep the railbed above the waterways.
This 22.5 mile ride starts in Gorham, from the parking lot next to the railroad cars at the park near the intersection of Route 16 and Route 2. We ride out for a short bit on 16/2 then head onto the dirt road
and recreation path near the airport, popping out on Route 2 at the ATV parking lot. We head west towards Randolph for about 5 miles, coming out at Pinkham B Road. Here we get back onto pavement to head over to Durand Road and up to the Castle Trailhead. There we turn back for the fun downhill cruise on the hardpacked dirt rail trail, which is in good condition for a spirited downhill cruise. The Moose River should be running high after today's rain, we ride alongside and over it on many bridges.
On the way back we can stop for ice cream and/or lunch at Mr. Pizza in Gorham.
Start point: Parking area next to the train across from the park at the corner of Route 16 and Route 2 in Gorham. From Glen, take Route 16 north. BEFORE you get to the intersection with Route 2 you will cross a set of railroad tracks. Turn left immediately after the railroad tracks into the parking area and park facing the train tracks.
Which Bike to Use?: A mountain bike is OK for this because we don't have far to go on the pavement. A hybrid or gravel grinder is ideal. The key is to have wider tires than your road bike to enjoy the hardpack dirt and cinder rail trail.
Time: Ready to ride at 10:00 am
Mileage: About 22.5
Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27951573
Have you heard about "The Borderlands"? It is a collaborative group of mountain biking meccas in the North Country, including Mahoosuc Pathways in Bethel. Coos Trails in Gorham, PRKR Trails in Littleton, Profile Trails in Franconia, Craftsbury Outdoor Center and Kingdom Trails in Vermont and Circuits Frontiers just over the border in Quebec. As an enticement, The Borderlands is offering a prize of a patch and a hoodie to anyone who submits photos of themselves at each of the 7 mountain bike area along with a photo of themselves at a local business. Gotta get these.
More info: https://www.bikeborderlands.com
You can get the first of these 7 done tomorrow: a photo on the Presidential Rail Trail or the dirt road and trails near the airport and another photo eating at Mr Pizza or other establishment in Gorham. I will try to include the other areas in Tuesday D&P rides so we can collect all the requirements for the prizes.
As an added enticement, I now have stickers for the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. You must bike, walk, run, ski, snowshoe or ride a horse on any section of the trail to get a Highly Coveted Sticker! I will have them for you AFTER the ride tomorrow, because, as you all know by now, the Presidential Rail Trail is amazingly scenic part of this cross state route.
Even more fun:
Last Sunday in June, the 30th:
If you like riding dirt roads in New Hampshire, You will LOVE riding dirt roads in Vermont. They are smoother over there, less granite, more limestone which makes for butter cream roads (mostly). The Cross Vermont Trial has an annual supported, signed, loop ride on the dirt roads just north of Montpelier. They do a great job with on-route feed stations, lots of homemade goodies, and a really amazing buffet picnic afterwards. Lots of Vermont organic and local, including a maple creemee at the Morse Farm, with hosts the event.
Options are 13.5 miles, 33 miles or 65 miles. Yes, plenty of climbing, but amazing Vermont pastoral views. Bring you gravel grinder or hybrid, or wider tire'd roadie.
More info and registration (you can preregister for a discount, but also can do day-of):
https://www.crossvermont.org/events/cvct/register.php
A late start to the Dirt and Pavement Ride due to funky spring weather. Looks like we might be OK for a ride this Tuesday. Using the rail trail will be helpful...those railroad surveyors, designers and engineers knew how to keep the railbed above the waterways.
This 22.5 mile ride starts in Gorham, from the parking lot next to the railroad cars at the park near the intersection of Route 16 and Route 2. We ride out for a short bit on 16/2 then head onto the dirt road
and recreation path near the airport, popping out on Route 2 at the ATV parking lot. We head west towards Randolph for about 5 miles, coming out at Pinkham B Road. Here we get back onto pavement to head over to Durand Road and up to the Castle Trailhead. There we turn back for the fun downhill cruise on the hardpacked dirt rail trail, which is in good condition for a spirited downhill cruise. The Moose River should be running high after today's rain, we ride alongside and over it on many bridges.
On the way back we can stop for ice cream and/or lunch at Mr. Pizza in Gorham.
Start point: Parking area next to the train across from the park at the corner of Route 16 and Route 2 in Gorham. From Glen, take Route 16 north. BEFORE you get to the intersection with Route 2 you will cross a set of railroad tracks. Turn left immediately after the railroad tracks into the parking area and park facing the train tracks.
Which Bike to Use?: A mountain bike is OK for this because we don't have far to go on the pavement. A hybrid or gravel grinder is ideal. The key is to have wider tires than your road bike to enjoy the hardpack dirt and cinder rail trail.
Time: Ready to ride at 10:00 am
Mileage: About 22.5
Map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27951573
Have you heard about "The Borderlands"? It is a collaborative group of mountain biking meccas in the North Country, including Mahoosuc Pathways in Bethel. Coos Trails in Gorham, PRKR Trails in Littleton, Profile Trails in Franconia, Craftsbury Outdoor Center and Kingdom Trails in Vermont and Circuits Frontiers just over the border in Quebec. As an enticement, The Borderlands is offering a prize of a patch and a hoodie to anyone who submits photos of themselves at each of the 7 mountain bike area along with a photo of themselves at a local business. Gotta get these.
More info: https://www.bikeborderlands.com
You can get the first of these 7 done tomorrow: a photo on the Presidential Rail Trail or the dirt road and trails near the airport and another photo eating at Mr Pizza or other establishment in Gorham. I will try to include the other areas in Tuesday D&P rides so we can collect all the requirements for the prizes.
As an added enticement, I now have stickers for the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. You must bike, walk, run, ski, snowshoe or ride a horse on any section of the trail to get a Highly Coveted Sticker! I will have them for you AFTER the ride tomorrow, because, as you all know by now, the Presidential Rail Trail is amazingly scenic part of this cross state route.
Even more fun:
Last Sunday in June, the 30th:
If you like riding dirt roads in New Hampshire, You will LOVE riding dirt roads in Vermont. They are smoother over there, less granite, more limestone which makes for butter cream roads (mostly). The Cross Vermont Trial has an annual supported, signed, loop ride on the dirt roads just north of Montpelier. They do a great job with on-route feed stations, lots of homemade goodies, and a really amazing buffet picnic afterwards. Lots of Vermont organic and local, including a maple creemee at the Morse Farm, with hosts the event.
Options are 13.5 miles, 33 miles or 65 miles. Yes, plenty of climbing, but amazing Vermont pastoral views. Bring you gravel grinder or hybrid, or wider tire'd roadie.
More info and registration (you can preregister for a discount, but also can do day-of):
https://www.crossvermont.org/events/cvct/register.php
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