skinnyone

Before I get accused .. My riding partner has a camera and the photos will be here soon...

After getting a brainwave, thrusday night, inspried by Terrys Hors climb thread... I ended up doing one climb of the intended ride today with another BFer, Celticfrost... Thanks to all the inputs my earlier questions. Great views.. a very nice mtn.. I even improved my tan to skin contrast...

I was kinda nervous because this was my first climb of significant distance since Flagstaff, Boulder last year.. I dont hink I could have picked better weather... it was about 80-90 degreed not too hot..

We started off at Loon mountain resort at about 10'o'clock and didnt warm as the grades looked easy for the first 2 miles.. We agreed not to pace each other and just ride at our own pace.. The climb started off easy and I was able to exercise my glaring weight difference with Mr.Frost to good effect .. I pulled ahead about 100 mts and I kept at it at a tempo cadence at 42-19/21 for most of the climb... Then I did a mistake..

I stopped thinking that I had a long way to go and let Mr.Frost pass me.. I got the ticker down and when I started back on, I was in an incline and trying to catch up to Mr.Frost.. I ended up panting in a minute and had to stop again... This kinda disturbed my rythm a lot.. After stop#2 I decided to take my time and started back up at 42-25 and kept at it... There were two very wide switchbacks which were more line long turns to be honest.. No where near the Mid-west...

It was my secret hope that I wouldnt need to switch to the triple but I encountered a steep section which turned out to be the final 1/2 mile at 9% section, my legs were screming so I dropped down to the third ring and made my way up to find Mr.Frost waving at me to stop... I had anticipated a 12 mile ride but that was from Lincoln Proper.. Turned out that we did 10 miles and I did it at 50 mins.. works out to 10 mph for ~2400 ft of climbing..

At the top there were a bunch of Canadians(French I think) who seemed to be on some sort of tour.. They had stopped on the top of the climb approaching from the other side.. a lady driving a minivan, who was parked on top and she had food etc... At first I thought they were pros as I saw a full CSC kit and full CA kit in the group but then I noticed the hairy legs ... We talked a bit, got them to take a photo and then set off...

I discovered what I long suspected.. I suck on descents... Mr.Frost now used the weight difference to his advantage and passed me. The descent wasnt as fast as I hoped it would be.. I hit a top speed of approx 40 MPH and had to brake for the two gradual swtichbacks..

The touring group passed me like I was standing with the lead dude doing a crazy stuntman position, out and in front of the saddle and flat on the top tube.. One of the guys I talked to up there, pulled up from behing and said go go go... indicating that I should grab his wheel and gave me a good pull for a mile... I still had to pedal like crazy to keep pace, so I shouted a thanks and pulled away from the the slip stream..

Finally we came back to starting point and decided to do a few more miles... We climbed ~3000 ft. Overall, did 30 miles in about 2 hrs..

Verdict... Very doabale.. Starting at Lincoln town center would be a good idea as it would be a dencent warm up... A ride to Conway and back might be tougher as it looks like a steeper climb from that side... I think I need a lot of work on my climbing skills.. One climb every saturday from hereafter...
10 miles back from the top towards lincoln...

KevinF

Nicely done! 10mph up Kancamagus Highway is a good pace. From your other thread and your description here, it sounds like the NH road crews have done some serious work on the highway. The old switchback on the Lincoln side was an extremely tight turn, and it was a good two miles at around 9% to the summit from there. I'll have to try and check it out sometime later this year.

The descent towards Conway will always have a special place in my heart. That's where I passed a Porsche -- he was slowing down way too much for the turns, and I wanted to let it fly, so... I earned that descent!

Monument Man

great report man, i'll have to check this out sometime. i rode wachusett today and wrote up a trip report myself.

skinnyone

I am planning on Wachusett next week.. Lets see.. Where is your report?...

blandin

Sounds like you had a great time. Congratulations on handling the climb so well.

Monument Man

Waaaaaa Wa Wachsett Report

It was awesome, amazing views especially for around here. It is a tough climb I'd like to try it with a lower gear and maybe even a new bike, which I have been salivating over for the last 3 months.

JungleCat

Excellent report, congrats. I bet you'll get better on that decent as this was your first time seeing it.

BTW, Monument Man, I'm gonna get you for putting that damn Wachusett jingle in my head. I moved away from Boston 7 years ago and forgot about it til now. It's gonna be in my head all day on my ride now >

Monument Man

Aw Junglecat that was just the "teaser"!

Are you ready for the entire jingle?

Waaaaaaaaaa,
Wa Wachusett.
Wachusett Mountain,
Mountain Skiing, Just Minutes Away!


Enjoy! (Unfortunatley I too now have this jingle stuck in my head...)

JungleCat

LOL! I'm gonna git u! I will find you on your next climb and sing Menudo the whole way up - "Like a cannonball, at the 'chopping' mall..."

(sorry to hijack the thread skinny)

The Octopus 

Great reportage! Looking forward to the photos. It does sound like they did some major work up there. I remember the turnoff/switchback at the trailhead for the Hancocks being 180-degrees and wicked steep. Well done!

skinnyone

Here are the pics...

CelticFrost is an uber OCP...
His fuel!!Note the perfec positioning of the look stickers on the arms of the jersey.

His Ride- They say Ti/Carbon are true OCP materials but our man has Titanium AND Carbon...Hah..

Beaverpond... I dont even recall passing this...

Here's CelticFrost(Right) and me at the summit.. Note that helemts are off, true OCP style... I am a little pissed that I wore the wrong jersey and couldnt show my tan lines...

A blow up of the sign behind us... 9% for 3.5 miles...


I think he has me beat on OCP points this time... Next week victory will be mine...

celticfrost

Beaver Pond is actually west of Lincoln, when route 112 (Kancamagus) turns into Lost River Road. I just thought I'd take a picture of it to give folks an idea of the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Let's hope the weather holds for Saturday, so we score some more OCP points.

baj32161

I remmeber driving along Rte 112 (Kancamagus) last April, thinking how much fun it would be to bike that. Is that Swift River that runs along the side of it? I remember thinking it was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever been through. I also remember e very nice covered bridge in Conway.

celticfrost

Yep --- good memory. Swift River runs along the eastern portion of the Kancamagus, then the Pemigewasset is on your side as you head further west, once crossing interstate 93, stay on 112 and Lost River is on your side. From there, head west into Vermont -- it's just as beautiful (w/ a covered bridge as well) as the Kancamagus, but less travelled.

Bring your bike next time! I'll ride up there again.

baj32161

I would love to, but, alas, I am in New Jersey and was visiting a friend with whom I have had a bit of a falling out ( lady who wanted more than just a friendship....you know how it goes). I would love to go there again with my current girlfriend. I think she would love it, and I am always looking for someone to ride with. I took alot of pics, and once I find them I will post them here. I was there at the beginning of the spring thaw and the river was running quite rapdily. I was awestruck.

I wonder something. Do any of you guys ever wake up in a bad mood when you have that to look at?

celticfrost

New Jersey ain't so far away, so if you do decide to head-up, just send some pm's. From my home in Mass, it's about a 2 hour ride. Best time of the year to visit would be early September, which is after the summer rush and before the leaf peepers in the Fall.

Every time I go up there (or to Vermont or Upstate NY) I wonder the same thing --- I'm still caught in the urban/suburban rat race. I'd love to move up there, but there's not too much demand for IT professionals up there. Someday, someday.

baj32161

I am moving up to Canada (Toronto area) in the next year or so to be with my girlfriend, where we plan to get married. So I will be much closer than I am now. I did not see much else to do up there except ride, which is a good thing. But my friend lives in Derry, NH and I was not too thrilled with that area. But the mountains were lovely. If I ever do get up that way, I will be sure to give you a head's up.

Brian

rufus

it's just like any other area: you don't really appreciate what you have when you see it every day. you have your good days and your bad days just like anyone else. mostly low-paying service industry jobs don't help a whole lot in that department.

i was unemployed for a while, and looking at re-locating if the right thing came along. but but i just can't contemplate riding anyplace else. i can do a different loop every day of the week here if i wanted, there's just such a number of small back roads to choose from, ranging from serious climbs like the Kanc or any of the notches, to relatively flat ones.

if only i skied, it would really be paradise. as it is, i tend to hibernate int he winter, though i'm in the process of learning to skate, with the future goal of playing hockey.

it's also great for daytripping elsewhere if you want to. just a bit more than an hour from Portland, Maine and the coast, 2 1/2 hours to Boston, a bit more to Providence, it's really an ideal location. but every time i cross the border from Mass. back into NH, i just let out a huge sigh of relief. it's like a huge pressure weighing over me has been lifted.