Hello from Southern NH Seacoast

I just wanted to say hello to whoever is local here on the forum from Southern NH. I've been living out this way for about 4-years and got hooked on riding back roads and dirt on RAID Rockingham.

Now I am looking for more rides to work up to a century. There are a ton of rides coming up this Spring and Summer. I am hoping to catch a few.

Cheers,

Tim

Hi Tim - welcome aboard.  I don't have any firsthand knowledge of NH routes, but I have done a bunch of VT events and they are definitely worth the trip.  The closest one I've done to southern NH was the West Hill Grinder out of Putney, VT.  A bit too much singletrack for my taste, but still a very well run event.

Thanks Clark!  Hoping to ride RAID Lamoille this year in VT...cheers!

clarksonxc wrote:Hi Tim - welcome aboard.  I don't have any firsthand knowledge of NH routes, but I have done a bunch of VT events and they are definitely worth the trip.  The closest one I've done to southern NH was the West Hill Grinder out of Putney, VT.  A bit too much single track for my taste, but still a very well run event.

Tim and clarksonxc I am kind of the newbie here. I have only raced in Kansas(Pony Express 75 miler) and Pa. Maple City Century and Crush and run II. I would be into coming up to NH or VT to do some ride/races but not if it has lots of single track because I haven't done that or am comfortable with that yet. Have either of you heard of the C2C or something like that up there?

I want to race in as many states as possible.


Thanks
Zman

Hi Tim - welcome to the NH club. I live on a rural dirt road in Greenfield NH, almost halfway between Keene, about an hour to the west, and Nashua about 1 hr to the east. Our area is a paradise of maintained dirt and gravel roads, as well as traffic free pavement. For the more adventurous, there are miles and miles of unmaintained class A and class 6 forest roads, as well as a network of challenging single track. A great way to sample our gravel offerings is to download some of the routes from the annual August Rose Mountain Rumble: http://www.rosemountainrumble.com .
Definitely worth a day trip from the NH Seacoast.

bobknh wrote:Hi Tim - welcome to the NH club. I live on a rural dirt road in Greenfield NH, almost halfway between Keene, about an hour to the west, and Nashua about 1 hr to the east. Our area is a paradise of maintained dirt and gravel roads, as well as traffic free pavement. For the more adventurous, there are miles and miles of unmaintained class A and class 6 forest roads, as well as a network of challenging single track. A great way to sample our gravel offerings is to download some of the routes from the annual August Rose Mountain Rumble: http://www.rosemountainrumble.com .
Definitely worth a day trip from the NH Seacoast.

bobnh how much single track does this ride have and a guess on how much is regular roads versus gravel?


Thanks
Zman

Zurichman wrote:

bobnh how much single track does this ride have and a guess on how much is regular roads versus gravel?


Thanks
Zman

The shorter routes, up to 50 miles have a few unmaintained double track sections that are very manageable. I've ridden most of the remaining sections of the 100k route as well. There are some rougher double track sections on this route that I haven't tackled yet; but I wouldn't classify these as "single track" requiring a mountain bike. With good 40mm knobby gravel tires you should be able to ride your gravel bike. Of course, a lot depends on your skills and willingness to take risks. You can always get off and walk if something looks dubious. Although I haven't done any other events on the gravel calendar; based on reports and video's, I would say that the RMR is safer than most. Not easy though -- very hilly. I estimate %75-80 of the rides is on unpaved roads. BTW, if you are looking for more challenging terrain, there is plenty of nasty single track and messy unmaintained forest roads in our area. I'm planning on buying a mountain bike to ride some of these next Spring.

bobknh wrote:
The shorter routes, up to 50 miles have a few unmaintained double track sections that are very manageable. I've ridden most of the remaining sections of the 100k route as well. There are some rougher double track sections on this route that I haven't tackled yet; but I wouldn't classify these as "single track" requiring a mountain bike. With good 40mm knobby gravel tires you should be able to ride your gravel bike. Of course, a lot depends on your skills and willingness to take risks. You can always get off and walk if something looks dubious. Although I haven't done any other events on the gravel calendar; based on reports and video's, I would say that the RMR is safer than most. Not easy though -- very hilly. I estimate %75-80 of the rides is on unpaved roads. BTW, if you are looking for more challenging terrain, there is plenty of nasty single track and messy unmaintained forest roads in our area. I'm planning on buying a mountain bike to ride some of these next Spring.

Thanks for that info bobknh. I actually am scared to death right now on the techy single track stuff until I get some more experience on my bike. I am sure it will come to me with practice but I am not there yet. I do want to ride in as many states that have gravel races though. Good luck at your end.


Zman

Zurichman wrote:

Thanks for that info bobknh. I actually am scared to death right now on the techy single track stuff until I get some more experience on my bike. I am sure it will come to me with practice but I am not there yet. I do want to ride in as many states that have gravel races though. Good luck at your end.


Zman

 
Hi Zman- The RMR isn't a race - it's a challenging fun ride to show off the magnificent, largely undeveloped area of old farms, and 2nd and 3rd growth forests. Proceeds from the entry fees goes directly to support local land conservation efforts; which in turn assure the continued availability of unpaved back roads and trails -- for us, and future generations. The ride attracts all sorts of riders and abilities, from serious racers who try to best each other on the 100K loop, to more pedestrian septuagenarians like my wife and myself, who are merely content to finish the 40 mile loop. Then kick back and enjoy the sumptuous bar-b-cue supplied by the Lyndeborough women's club. 

bobknh wrote: 
Hi Zman- The RMR isn't a race - it's a challenging fun ride to show off the magnificent, largely undeveloped area of old farms, and 2nd and 3rd growth forests. Proceeds from the entry fees goes directly to support local land conservation efforts; which in turn assure the continued availability of unpaved back roads and trails -- for us, and future generations. The ride attracts all sorts of riders and abilities, from serious racers who try to best each other on the 100K loop, to more pedestrian septuagenarians like my wife and myself, who are merely content to finish the 40 mile loop. Then kick back and enjoy the sumptuous bar-b-cue supplied by the Lyndeborough women's club. 

Hey bobknh not 100%  sure what all rides/races I have on my plate this year along with vacation time left but after you last post. The ride sounds like a blast and who is going to turn down good Bar B Q after a ride. Thanks again

Zman

Nice to to some NH people here!  I'm in for the Rose Mountain Rumble this year. It looks like a fantastic ride and a great way to learn some new roads.

Cheers!

Newbie to the group also in NH.  I am in the Manchester area and have ridden gravel since 2015...by accident😉. Went to a demo day for CX bike (thinking...I have a road bike, no need for another bike...that thinking was short lived).  Quickly became fond of gravel riding and subsequently bought the bike I rode that day (not knowing anything) Raleigh RXW.  It has served me well. (Rasputitsa x2, Muddy Onion x3, Raid Rockingham x2, Rose Mountain Rumble x2 and I use this course as every day rides now in the summer, as well as many other gravel adventures).  I'm always in the back and just riding for the challenge and the views but find it so much better than fighting traffic on the road. I still ride road but much less and am looking to perhaps upgrade a bit from my aluminum frame on my gravel and coming into the real world by finally getting a bike with disc brakes.  We'll see😉 Love this site for all the abundance of info.

Cool..I stumbled into gravel as well.  I've ridden RAID Rockingham twice and like to ride the Rail Trail from Newfields.  I was hoping to ride VOMAR this year but will not likely make it...planning Rockingham and Lamoille this Summer.  Have not ridden any of the others you mentioned but hope to in the next year or so.

Sounds like we need to get a group ride going!

No Mojo wrote:Sounds like we need to get a group ride going!

\n \nRight on. I love riding off-road and am not fast. Sounds great.

TimmyR wrote: Right on. I love riding off-road and am not fast. Sounds great.

Count me in. I'm returning to Greenfield in April. BTW, a high speed crash this Jan (on pavement, not gravel) has slowed me down a bit. I'll spare the details, but I'm nearly back to 100% after tough 6 weeks. Not sure how to organize a group; but I'm open to help out.

Lets plan on doing something in April.  Bob, maybe you can put together a 30ish mile route in the greenfield area.  

Is anyone doing Waterbury VT Gravel Grinder?  If so....see you there!  First time doing this.  I'm already happy since it is much later than "gravel" (more like mud and snow) rides of previous years (Rasputitsa and Muddy Onion).  This one is first wknd in May so more apt to have real gravel roads.  As mentioned earlier...I had been seeking to upgrade...mission accomplished.  Purchased a full carbon with disc brakes and tubeless tires...all a brand new world to me.  Hope to see you on the back roads😉

No Mojo wrote:Lets plan on doing something in April.  Bob, maybe you can put together a 30ish mile route in the greenfield area.  

Here is the weather outlook for Greenfield: https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/nh/greenfield?cm_ven=localwx_10day
Sat. 4/14 might be a good day for a ride. If you, or anyone else is interested, we can meet at the old Yankee Farm at the intersection of route 31 (Forest Rd) and New Boston Road in Greenfield NH. at 10a. There is parking on the west shoulder of New Boston Rd. just north of route 31. We can ride the last 10 miles of the RMR from there. Then add as much of the remaining sections as we like before returning to the Yankee Farm:https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9189787,-71.8410233,15z?hl=en
Anyone interested in meeting up, please RSVP through the private e-mail to me, rather than cluttering up this post.

So far, only one "maybe" response to this post. Given the short notice, and sketchy weather and road conditions, I'm not really too surprised. While I'm a little disappointed, I think it best to cancel this ride. Instead, I'm probably going to volunteer as a ride leader for NH Chapter of the AMC: http://amc-nh.org/calendar/activities.php?type=A&f=a&id=2&category1=Bicycling
Through the AMC news letter, we'll be able to reach a larger audience, and while it is a bit of a nuisance, individual ride leaders can be protected from any potential liability in the case of an accident.