Ride from Charlton to Wachusett Summit and Back

It was a gorgeous late summer day and I took full advantage.  The route from Charlton, MA to the Wachusett summit and back is one of my favorites.  This is the fourth time I've done it.  Parts of route 31 that had been really bad have been repaved so most of the ride featured excellent pavement.

The route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6137179

Stats from today's ride:
Miles: 68.61
Time: 3:49:41
Average Speed: 17.92MPH
Max Speed: 52.16MPH
Elevation Gain: 5375 feet = 78.34 feet per mile

The captions to the photos contain the rest of the ride report.

This is on route 31 about 17 miles into the ride.  It passes across the Kendall Reservoir.  You can't tell from the photo but this is the end of a phenomenal descent.  You come flying out into the beautiful open area with water on both sides.  I hit 47.37MPH today.

This is at the route 31/route 62 intersection.  The ride goes straight across here onto Mountain Road.  There's a sharp ascent just ahead.

The entrance to the Wachusett Mountain Reservation.  Upon exiting, I took the left (straight ahead in this photo) and the incredible descent on Mountain Road is just ahead.  That yellow sign in the distance indicates the hill's magnitude.

The road to the summit passes several ski runs some of which have chairlifts over them.

Continuing on the road to the summit.

The ascent is straight ahead and the descent comes in from the one-way road to the left.

A level spot about halfway up.

One of the lefts that are taken to reach the summit.  Shortly after this turn is where the ascent gets steep hitting 15% grade.

This area is called The Ledges and offers superb views.  This is not far from the summit.

At the summit with the observation tower.

Another area at the summit.

One of the many hiking trails.  There were many people on the mountain today, hikers and drivers.  I didn't see any other cyclists which surprised me.

Ready to leave the summit.  I had to ride slowly down a cramped walking path with many people on it.  It took a toll on my average speed for the ride.

This is the start of the real descent within the park.  It's normally extremely fun with many twists and perfect pavement.  There were so many hikers and walkers on it today, however, that I had to scrub a lot of speed.

BUT, upon exiting the park and taking that left shown in the earlier photo, there are no limits on Mountain Road and I achieved a new speed record for that descent:

I actually caught up to a car that was descending and had to brake briefly but then I was able to stay in its slipstream almost down to route 142 at the bottom.

The small section of route 142 is the one unpleasant part of the ride.  There's a lot of traffic, no shoulder, and lousy pavement.  However, once you get on Mirick Road shown here, it's very quiet.  This is the flat part at the end of it but there is much elevation gained and lost prior to this.  A really fun road.

This is after the climb up route 62 back to the intersection with 31.  That hill sign was well placed.  It's not long but a fairly tough hill.

Once back on 31, the ride just retraces the route taken on the way.

4 Notch and a Pass Loop Starting and Ending in Lincoln, NH

One of my favorite Jack London novels is "Burning Daylight" which was a nickname given to the main character.  He was called this because he hated to waste or "burn" daylight.  He wanted to make the most use of what was allotted to him.  Yesterday I feel I used the daylight to its full potential by completing the 4NaaP ride in the White Mountains of NH.  This ride hits four notches - Kinsman, Franconia, Crawford, and Bear - and one pass, the Kancamagus.  When done clockwise, that pass is the final and toughest climb.

I had done this loop once before but yesterday's ride was more of a smell-the-roses event as I stopped to take photos.  I don't really like to stop much because it breaks up the rhythm of the ride but I think it was worth it to document the route and the sights.  The day turned out as forecast with light wind and no rain but it was much hazier than I expected.  I later read that New England is being somewhat affected by wildfires in the western part of the country.

I had one of my fastest trips up to Lincoln making it in just under two hours.  I didn't drive that fast but hit no traffic.  I stopped at Subway for a six inch sub and then proceeded back to the White Mountain Visitor Center to kit up.  It was a little chilly to begin at only 58 degrees.  The ascent of Kinsman Notch helped warm me up.  This was the first time I had done it using a compact geared bike.  I find that if I have the lower gears, I'll most likely use them.  I have done this ascent using a 39X27 ratio in the past but this time went considerably lower.  Not sure if this is a good thing.  The grade tops out at 12.8%.

After stopping at the top to take some photos, I descended down the gentler (though still 9%) other side and then took the right onto 116.  There are some rollers here.  I then took the right onto Wells and then Kerr before getting on route 18 for the Franconia ascent.  This road has been nicely repaved and I'm looking forward to descending this way in the future.  I had descended this way once before and the pavement was not good for it.

After passing Cannon Mountain, I got on a short stretch of bike path that I had all to myself.  I then took route 3 over to Twin Mountain where I refueled on a ridiculous amount of less than stellar food.  I had Fritos for their salt content, a blueberry muffin, some M & M's, and Pepsi.  I took a double Snickers bar to be consumed later.

I continued taking the right onto 302 some of which had been repaved.  I was a little disappointed at the poor views over to Mount Washington as it was really hazy.  I then stopped at the Highland Center at the top of Crawford Notch which has excellent water and facilities as well.  I consumed the Snickers bar here.  I made sure to top off both water bottles to add some weight for the coming descent of Crawford Notch - the crown jewel of the ride.  There was some construction going on but nothing that impeded my way.  I threw myself into the pedals, passing the 13% grade sign, until I spun out and then got in a very low tuck.  There were no cars behind me nor in front of me so I comfortably took the whole lane.  There were also not many tourists around by the waterfall so I wasn't worried about people crossing the road and not seeing me.  I had done this descent three times previously and had a bit of headwind but I didn't have that today and I think it helped me achieve my highest speed for this descent - 54.86 MPH.  That produced a nice adrenaline spike.  I stopped a couple of times further down on 302 to take more photos.

There is a strong downhill bias all the way to Bartlett where I took the right onto Bear Notch Road.  I was feeling pretty good at this point.  The ascent of Bear Notch is almost a moving meditation as it's so constant.  You can really just get in a climbing groove.  I stopped at one of the overlooks before descending the other side coming out on 112 and taking a right.

The climb to the top of the Kanc is not the steepest of the ride - Kinsman and Franconia are both steeper - but it's the longest and it's unrelenting especially at this point in the long ride.  I just ground it out and didn't stop until I got to the two overlooks at the top where I took more photos.  The descent on the other side is fun with its twists on what is now good pavement.  The first turn especially is nice as it can be ripped at around 45 MPH.  There wasn't much wind but what there was was against me so it slowed my final descent into Lincoln a little.  Still, it's a nice way to end the ride with almost all downhill.  I could empty my remaining energy stores.  I arrived back at the Visitor Center with just over 92 miles ridden.  It was slightly longer than my last time because I went into some of the overlooks.

Here is the RideWithGPS track for the route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28436117

The captions on the photos add a bit more detail below.

On 112 approaching Kinsman Notch.  It doesn't get really steep until that corner in the distance is passed.  Perfect new pavement.

Looking behind at what I just had ascended.

Another shot of it with the 12% grade sign.  This makes for an amazing descent going this direction.

This is the pull-off just past the Beaver Brook trailhead.  Beautiful views are to be had in every direction.

The top of Kinsman Notch with that lake behind me reflecting the mountains.

On 116.

This is the corner where Kerr joins route 18.  I don't know if there was a bike race up here before but the road had many markings for encouraging riders.  Big ring - yeah right!  Compact gearing for me.

At the top of Franconia Notch looking over to Cannon Mountain.  That's route 93 below.

This is where the bike path begins.

I had the bike path to myself.

I refueled at the intersection of route 3 and 302.  I almost never drink soda but that Pepsi really hit the spot!

On route 302 heading towards Crawford Notch with the Mount Washington hotel in the distance.  You can barely make out the Presidential Range further back through the haze.  Notice the nice new pavement on this section of 302.

At the Highland Center at the top of Crawford Notch.  This is a convenient place to refill water bottles particularly with the coming descent just ahead.

There are full facilities here.

Getting back on 302.  The Crawford plunge is through the opening in the trees just past the water.

Looking back at Crawford Notch after the descent.  I was back there in that high country just a short time before.

A new high speed record for this descent.

Further down on 302.  That rocky ribbon ascending the mountain side is apparently climbed.  I noticed a metal bridge about halfway up on it.

Looking back in the Crawford Notch direction.

The start of the Bear Notch ascent after coming into Bartlett.

At an overlook near the summit of Bear Notch.  The haze again affected the view.

Looking back on what I had just climbed on Bear Notch.

Now very near the summit of the Kancamagus Pass.

Made it!

At an overlook on the other side of the road.

Preparing for the final descent of the ride which goes all the way back to Lincoln.

Vermont: 58 Mile Ride Starting at Bald Mountain Campground then 30/Windham Hill/121/100 to Apex Near Mt. Snow

The route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28072913

It was a picture perfect day for a climbfest in Vermont on Friday, July 13, 2018. I was staying at the Bald Mountain Campground in Townshend, VT. I've done quite a bit of cycling in the area over the years while staying at this campground.

I had done all the roads on this route before but never in this combination. There were three large climbs/descents - Windham Hill Road, 121, and route 100 going to the highest point heading towards Mt. Snow. Windham Hill Road has lots of climbing throughout but the initial section after leaving route 30 is the toughest. I was about 7 miles into the ride when starting this extended climb.

Two of the three descents are no-brake affairs (121 and 100) but Windham Hill is another story as the pavement is full of heaves and there are some blind corners. I did considerable braking and caution must be exercised at the end approach to route 30 as it's the steepest section and abruptly stops.

I had the wind behind me on the route 100 ascent towards Mt. Snow. Still, even with that, it's a significant climb - particularly the steeper second section. I had the wind against me on the descent and only topped out at 47. It was still a fun descent with excellent pavement and some turns.

At 87.02 feet per mile, this was my fourth hilliest ride. Just a fantastic area for cycling!

The captions detail more.

This is where the Townshend Dam is. I passed this early in the ride after the 3 mile gravel section in the beginning. I liked how the morning light lit up the area.

At the intersection where 121 to the left (as shown in the photo) soon becomes gravel. I went right which leads to route 11. Looking straight ahead here is where I came on Windham Hill Road.

About to plunge on the descent on 121. Good pavement with a couple of turns.

On the way back on Windham Hill Road. The area is very rural.

The Windham Hill descent approaching route 30 on my return. Insanity ensues after this point as this is the trickiest descent on the ride. Twisty with sketchy pavement.

Just starting on route 100 heading towards Mt. Snow. Route 100 is great for cycling with beautiful scenery, excellent pavement, and lots of vertical.

Getting to the steeper section on the ascent.

Just before turning around. This is the apex of the climb.

I turned around just a little bit later at this 10% sign. The first half of the descent from this point is fantastic. No braking is needed.

Farther down on the descent where it's not as steep.