The Kanc
 

Hello, has anyone ever ridden the kanc highway in New Hampshire? Its 32 miles one way and the average grade I think is 12%! I think this can be done in 1 day... Whats the best start from Lincoln or Conway?? How much water should I take since I want to be light as possible climbing those monster hills!! any help would be great

I've never done it, but have been thinking about it for a while. I "think" there are some reports on Crazyguyonabike. It can "easily" be done in less than a day by a fit cyclist. I would go from Lincoln to N Conway, and back.

This would allow for camping at one of the WMNF sites around Lincoln as a "base", without having to drive to a hotel/motel/campground (or back home) from N Conway.

12% average grade? Whoa! Kancamungus pass gets steeper every year :)

The climbing itself, going up on the west side is about 5 miles at about 6% grade most of the way with maybe 8-9% near the top, From the east side it is about 3 or 4 miles of climbing at probaly 7-8% grade with maybe a 10% grade just before the top. on the inside of a uphill turn you might find 12% pitch but certainly not on average.
In 1998 I rode it from the Conway side with 70 lbs of loaded touring bike and got to Lincoln inside of 4 hours.
I rode it with a group last fall on my 25# MTB from Lincoln to Conway and back the same day.
the effort in one direction(32 miles) is about equal to the effort of a 65 mile flat to rolling ride.
Bonking on a 32 mile ride because you didn't bring enough water would rate as pretty dumb. so bring at least 2 20z water bottles

I was thinking it was an average of 12% grade for 32 miles. Now there is some elevation gain for ya! :p

Nancy and I will be in Burlington in 4 days and will surely aim for this climb as it might remind us of our little hill in our back yard. Trappers Loop, 4 miles up at a constant 8% and 4 down at 8%. For real fun come on out to Ogden Valley and ride up to Powder Mountain Ski Resort though. Make sure your brakes are good because the only way down is the way you get up there, about 12% for 7 miles straight except for a short pitch of close to 20% a mile from the top.

That said, I'll be hurting in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine because I haven't ridden a single mile in 2005! We'll I hope to be back in shape by Maine. ;)

Cheers,

Ron
Wasatch Mountain Range, Utah
Our Touring Journals

Yoinks! Ouch. I hope you've had some time on rollers at least.