Tandem Cycling - Northeast (New England) Rides

Looking for tandem rides throughout NE. Anybody have any great rides you liked doing? Or how about group rides to join (with singles)?

Where do you find the best place to ride?

I (or we) lead a ride every Sunday morning from Sharon, MA (between Boston and Providence). We usually have 15-20 bikes. However, I hesitate to recommend it to most tandem people because it is relatively fast. We go 2 to 2.5 hours at 18mph average with few stops, and it is one of those rides that if you lose the paceline, you won't regain it until the lead slows down for some reason. Usually the reason is to let you catch up. Because we never repeat a route (at least, if I can't remember doing it before, that counts as "never"), we have a no-drop rule, but there is a limit.

However, on the plus side, the singles (we are generally the only tandem) are used to tandems in their midst, and won't treat you like a leper. We have had 3 or 4 tandems at times, but not recently, and not since the speeds have gone up so that casual stokers generally aren't enough. I generally avoid steep hills when I have the tandem, but definitely do not avoid hills. I don't want the singles to think their rides are being limited by me being on a tandem.

PM me if you want more detail.

Although it is too late to sign up for it now, a great tandem-friendly ride is The Flattest Century In the East (TFCE) in September. We did it last year and I can highly recommend it. It isn't flat, and probably isn't even the flattest, but the hills are minor. The other organized centuries such as those put on by CRW are more hilly.

And, you should sign up with T-BONE. There is some discussion / announcement of rides in the area.

However, I hesitate to recommend it to most tandem people because it is relatively fast. We go 2 to 2.5 hours at 18mph average with few stops, and it is one of those rides that if you lose the paceline, you won't regain it until the lead slows down for some reason.

This statement confuses me. Are you saying the single bikes are going faster than the tandems? We cycle with single bikes and those fellows happily jump on our train, cruising along at higher speeds than they can normally withstand for a lengthy duration. (20+ mph)


And, you should sign up with T-BONE. There is some discussion / announcement of rides in the area.

I have checked the T-Bone website and find it is incredibly out of date. Is there perhaps another site they are using or do you have to sign-up in order to access the more current information on rides?

To the OP, where in NH are you? We are in MA but travel to the southern tier of NH to do a sweet ride over from Milford area over Pack Monadnock then northward through Hancock, eventually circling back down through New Boston. I can give you more precise mapping if you PM me. I'm sorry but I don't know of any group rides.

This statement confuses me. Are you saying the single bikes are going faster than the tandems? We cycle with single bikes and those fellows happily jump on our train, cruising along at higher speeds than they can normally withstand for a lengthy duration. (20+ mph)
Yes, that is true, as long as you are the "higher speed". When you aren't, then you are the one hanging on. When I said "lead" I wasn't implying it was us all the time. We tend to lead a lot, but not after a stop, nor during a longer grade. And if there is a town line, the only way we win that is on a downhill or a surprise.


I have checked the T-Bone website and find it is incredibly out of date. Is there perhaps another site they are using or do you have to sign-up in order to access the more current information on rides? Yes, the web site is not very useful. But there is a mailing list that actually is used. I have been getting fairly regular (weekly) traffic on it lately.

We live outside Burlington, VT and have a number of rides that I think, especially this time of year, are hare to beat. Some are relatively flat others have extensive climbing.

If you'd like to email me with typical length of ride, whether you'd like some climbing or not, and how fast you go,...if it's a group ride,..then I could make some specific suggestions in and around northern Vermont.
rich@tcvermont.com

Hi,
During a fall vacation a couple of years ago, my wife and I had a great time riding our tandem on a few of these rides. The routes are mostly on secondary roads with little other vehicle traffic. :thumb:

http://www.travelthekingdom.com/pages/outdoor_activities/index.php?category=Biking+On+and+Off+Road#Road%20Tours%20of%20the%20Kingdom

Looked like some good possibilities. We like riding New England because of the varied terrain and challenges. There are some nice rides down around the North Shore in MA.

If you have any other thoughts post them along as we like to try new routes and not repeat the ones already ridden....

When you get here, go to any bikeshop or bookstore. They'll have some great books with great rides.

June 20, 2009: Doubles of the Garden State, Moorestown, NJ. psklarow@verizin.ne
July 10-12, 2009 . Eastern Tandem Rally (ETR) Strasbug, PA www.easterntandemrally.org
Aug 7-9, 2009 MATES Rally Carlisle, PA jim@uxopro.co
The Northeast Area Tandem Club of America reps are Bob and Linda Harvey in Salem, NH (603)898-5285; they may ber able to give you more ride information.

Here is a link to the North Shore Cyclist that host their rides north of Boston. There are many tandems that ride with the group so most people are comfortable with the nuances of riding with a tandem. If you are worried about terrain or have any questions regarding a ride just shoot the ride leader an email. There are riders of all levels from 12 to 20+ mph groups.

http://www.nscyc.org/rides


.

A couple of loops we did and thoroughly enjoyed them. Beautiful countryside.

1. Bar harbor, Maine. Ride to the top of Cadillac Mountain and around Acadia National Park. Stop in a LBS in Bar Harbor. They will give you the maps.

2. Stowe, VT. Stop in a LBS on Route 108 (in town) and get the route. It is a 30 miler with rolling hills. The general route is route 100, Left on Stagecoach. Follow to Morristown. Stop for food and drink. Return is via Walton and Cole Road. Check these two roads at the LBS.

3. Woodstock, VT. North out of town. Cross Taft covered bridge. Turn right on River Road. You will end up going through North Pomfret and Hewitts Corners. Return to Woodstock via Ponfret Road. Check with a LBS. I don't remember the name of the connecting road from River Road to Pomfret Road.

Granite State wheelmen ride out of Concord NH and I think Portsmouth on Saturday AM, and the Concord group rides on Wednesday too.

http://www.granitestatewheelmen.org/main.html

We haven't taken the tandem out with them, but I know for a fact there are some tandems that ride out of the Concord area. we are bringing the triple up this weekend, and are going to do a ride around the Wilmot, NH area in preparation for ETR in July. Got to get the little stoker geared up for his first rally.

This weekend is 'King's Tour of Quabbin' in central MA. 100K, 100mi, 200k options. Hoping our team can make the time for it.

Thanks to all, keep them coming, this is great all these options. I can we will be getting a lot of great use out our bike this year.

Anyone ride Route 112 (Kancamagus Hwy) over and back? I was wondering how much of a challenges that would be?

We did a ride in central Vermont (east of Lake Champlain) about 5 years ago. We used Inn to Inn Tours:

http://www.inntoinn.com/

We loved it. We contacted them, told them when we wanted to ride & about how many miles each day. They created an itinerary, booked the inns and hauled our stuff each day to the next inn. During the day, you're on your own. The guy that runs Inn to Inn is a cyclist and does a very good job of making routes that are scenic and have light auto traffic. The countryside is beautiful, the inns range from quaint to luxurious. The towns are close enough together that you can get food most anywhere along the route.

We crossed paths with Vermont Bicycle Tours (I think). We were glad to be doing our "independent" tour. We rode at our pace and stopped when we wanted.

I don't know if things have changed much since then but I highly recommend them.

We have done a ton of loops from our place in Bethel, ME. Portlan Velo has a good list of routes in the Whites;

http://www.portlandvelo.com/routes.htm

The Rangeley loop is excellent as are many of the others.

Mike

2 teams just competed in Crank the Kanc 2 weeks ago. Fastest single time was a 1:04 I believe, and the fast tandem team was 1:09. It was a challenge on the single at race pace for me. No interest from the stoker in doing it! The fast team was on a Callfee, all decked out with aero bars, rear disc, and an 808 front. That race was from Conway to the peak. 21 mile TT with about 2500' of elevation. (For those not familiar, this is rte 112 that he inquired about.) Coming the other way is 10% for the to 3 miles. You could sign up for the Mount Washington Century in August. That was fun too, if you like to climb. 4 notches I believe. Give it a google.

Has anyone ever tried going the full distance ove the Kanc?

The portland rides look good.

Not on a tandem, but my bro and I did the full distance of the Kanc... We started at White Lake State Park and went over to Lincoln and back. I think that made it about 100 miles. It's a nice feat, but not the nicest place to ride, depending on traffic.

Not on a tandem, but my bro and I did the full distance of the Kanc... We started at White Lake State Park and went over to Lincoln and back. I think that made it about 100 miles. It's a nice feat, but not the nicest place to ride, depending on traffic.

How difficult was it on a single?

How much more of a challenge do you think it would be on a tandem?

(RE riding the Kancamagus Hwy on a tandem)

It's been a long time. If you have a hankering to do it, I'd say go for it. With the right gear, you can climb anything.

The ascent from either side is somewhat gradual (3-4%) until you get within a few miles of the pass, where it goes to 5-10% grade. I just ran it through mapmyride, and it had the steepest grade at 7%, but their app averages over larger distances the longer the ride is; I think it gets steeper than that. I remember laboring up the steep ascents for a long time.

Be careful on the way down in a tandem. I'm sure you could get going 50+ mph, and there are some sweeping corners where you don't want to end up in the opposite lane. If you aren't comfortable turning at those speeds, keep it slow. On the switchbacks on the east side, you won't have a choice.

Finally, as the signs say, "watch for moose, it could save your life"! They're usually out at dawn & dusk, but I've seen moose on that road in the middle of the day and the middle of the night. They aren't as predictable as cars.

The last 3 miles @ 10% from the west just before the hairpin, and about 6 miles @ 7-8% from the east side. That is the way we just raced it. I found west to east easier, even though it is bigger grade @ the top. Can't say I would be looking forward to it on the tandem. But that's just us.

We're setting that as a goal before the end of this year's riding season. We try to work 5+ hills into all our rides which of course here in NH is not to difficult to do. Over and back, even if we stay the night in Conway would still achieve our goal. To do it on the tandem would be rewarding... and I can assume a bit painful.

For Kicks you can take 25 over Moosilaukee, over the Kank from Lincoln, then take Bear Notch into Glen. Spend the night in Conway, and do it backwards the following day! Of course you could do it all in one day too......

I'll have to check out that route too. Living in NH its usually all about the hills.

This would give you 3000' +- before you hit Lincoln. :roflmao2:

I'd second the NSC - North Shore Cyclist rides (www.nscyc.org). Kathy and I do both the recurring and the Sundays rides on a regular basis. We'd love some tandem company!

I'd second the NSC - North Shore Cyclist rides (www.nscyc.org). Kathy and I do both the recurring and the Sundays rides on a regular basis. We'd love some tandem company!

I think I will plan to check this out in a couple weeks, probably by July. We hav had so much going on lately we have been lax on getting our rides in...

If the rain ever stops in NE we will be back out riding. This has been rediculous this year... where is our SUN! :winter:

This weekend is looking to be a nice one. Sunday ride is out of Georgetown. http://www.nscyc.org/Ride_to_sea_2009

We are looking forward to getting out this weekend too. Don't think the triplet would be appropriate for the Georgetown ride.

We'll be in Keene Sunday moving our daughter to her new apartment. We will be looking for a ride the 4th weekend, maybe Sunday there will another good opportunity.

The Triplet will be in NH the weekend of the 4th, keeping the stokers in line for ETR. Please keep it flatter.... :-)

I'd second the NSC - North Shore Cyclist rides (www.nscyc.org). Kathy and I do both the recurring and the Sundays rides on a regular basis. We'd love some tandem company!

Next week, the July 4th weekend, are you planning on any of the NSC rides? Our Sunday is open and we are hoping for great riding weather and to head down for a NSC ride might be the right ride for Sunday.

One of my favorite rides is south on 153 out of Conway, left on Andrews Hill Rd to go through Freedom NH, left 25, left 160, right Center Conway Rd.

The turn onto Andrews Hill was not clearly marked, but not hard to figure out since it's the only turn for miles.

Ride to Brunswick from Portland, take one of the two roads to Bailey's Island. The first one, the 'back' road is nicer. Take the ferry from the island back to Portland. Both Brunswick and the island make for nice places to say. Brunswick is excellent place to stay the day. Hit the gelato place, it's excellent. Great sandwich,breakfast, and goodie shop above the movie theater in the Tontine Mall. You can't miss the mall, it's in the center of a small town. I do multiday trips and Brunswick is one of the places I plan a trip around.

The other places are Bar Harbor and Camden, North Conway,Middlebury and Burlington.

Bunch of rides out of Burlington, up to the islands, into the mountains. One time we took the ferry over to NY and rode around the lower half of Lake Champlain. Don't miss the fort, or the first restaurant as you come into town.

A great place to stay is the Maple Hill Inn.
http://www.maplebb.com/
From there are a bunch of rural roads to ride on. Try Northeast of Augusta.

One of my favorite rides is south on 153 out of Conway, left on Andrews Hill Rd to go through Freedom NH, left 25, left 160, right Center Conway Rd.

The turn onto Andrews Hill was not clearly marked, but not hard to figure out since it's the only turn for miles.

Ride to Brunswick from Portland, take one of the two roads to Bailey's Island. The first one, the 'back' road is nicer. Take the ferry from the island back to Portland. Both Brunswick and the island make for nice places to say. Brunswick is excellent place to stay the day. Hit the gelato place, it's excellent. Great sandwich,breakfast, and goodie shop above the movie theater in the Tontine Mall. You can't miss the mall, it's in the center of a small town. I do multiday trips and Brunswick is one of the places I plan a trip around.

The other places are Bar Harbor and Camden, North Conway,Middlebury and Burlington.

Bunch of rides out of Burlington, up to the islands, into the mountains. One time we took the ferry over to NY and rode around the lower half of Lake Champlain. Don't miss the fort, or the first restaurant as you come into town.

A great place to stay is the Maple Hill Inn.
http://www.maplebb.com/
From there are a bunch of rural roads to ride on. Try Northeast of Augusta.

Any place in particular to look for information on riding in the Burlington VT/ NY area?

Hi tandum NH A great adventure ride supported is best/[hard gravel] Is from Princeton to Bangor by way of Grand Lake Stream and the stud mill road //The G.L.Stream folk arts festival is annually the last weekend in July a garanteed great time:thumb:/Kenneth

I bought a Delorme Gazetteer of Vermont and got a book of rides in Vt from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Tours-Lake-Champlain-Region/dp/0881505757/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246224461&sr=1-2

Any place in particular to look for information on riding in the Burlington VT/ NY area?

There are lots of different rides around Burlington. We live just outside of Burlington and ride quite a bit. How far do you want to go? How much climbing? Our favorite flat ride starts at the Grande Isle ferry and goes north through the lake champlain isands. It returns south on the New York side of the lake and concludes with a ferry ride back to the car. A list of VT rides/maps can be found at the green mountain bike club's website. http://www.thegmbc.com/touring/2009%20Schedule.shtml This is the 2009 Sunday morning ride schedule and there is a link to their ride library. If you are planning on coming to the Burlington area and riding let us know.

I'm thinking early to mid august. I talk the wife about her schedule and firgure out which weekend would work. Be back to you on this soon.

T Our favorite flat ride starts at the Grande Isle ferry and goes north through the lake champlain isands. It returns south on the New York side of the lake and concludes with a ferry ride back to the car.


How long and how many miles for this ride?