Conference noted::bicycle

3143.0. "Nashua to Pickety Place in Mason, NH" by QUAKKS::BURTON (Jim Burton, DTN 381-0272) Tue Sep 03 1996 13:44

On Saturday, I rode my Cannondale mountain bike from Nashua to Pickety Place
in Mason, NH and back.  Although I don't have anything on the bike to
measure distance, I estimate it was a 60 mile ride.  

I left Nashua for Hollis center via Pine Hill Road and got on Route 130 just
before Hollis center.  This part of the ride was pretty easy with some
rolling hills.  Out of Hollis center, I went down a huge hill, had a small
straightaway, and then hit a huge uphill.  I only made it halfway up and had
to walk the rest (wanted to save my strength).  The remainder of the ride to
Brookline center was nice rolling hills with nothing unusual.  It took an
hour to get to Brookline Center.

Out of Brookline, it became more rural and a little bit flatter.  Then I hit
the hills around Parker's Maple Barn.  There was one steep hill before, then
a gradual uphill by Parker's, then another steep one, and another flat, and
then a third steep one.  I expected to see the Connecticut River Valley over
the crest since I did so much climbing, but it was not to be. 

At some point, I entered Mason without any sign announcing it and the road
became steady up and down.  By this point in the ride, everything seemed
like 'up', but I do remember a few stretches that were down.  I followed the
signs to Pickety Place and arrived exactly two hours after leaving Nashua.
My wife and daughter met me (they drove) and we had the herbal luncheon
which was great.  Then it was back on the bike with a fresh water bottle for
the last 30 miles.  I could have sworn I did nothing but go up hills the
first time through Mason, but the return seemed just as hilly.

When I do it over again, I think I'll meet my wife at Parker's for a pancake
breakfast.

Jim

The Cannondale road bike with aluminum frame was very comfortable on the ride.
Some people feel aluminum frames are too harsh, but the 2 inch diameter
mountain tires absorbed much of the shocks.  An aluminum framed road bike may
be different.

Jim

    Nice ride Jim. Those are some major hills out that way.
    -Larry

We (the "lunchtime we") like to ride up those hills on rt. 130.  They are still
hills, however, not "climbs".  NH is not very flat, which is a nice thing about
the state.  It is also very scenic.  Unfortunately, the roads are not always
that smooth.  But, on a mountain bike, who cares how smooth the roads are.

Tim

    The hills on 130 are smaller than the hill's going up through
    Mason.   There are some decent climbs heading out past Parker's.
    -Larry

Re: .3:
> But, on a mountain bike, who cares how smooth the roads are.

That's right, I don't care. I hardly ever ride my mtb on the road!


I have ridden my road bike from Temple Mountain (you can park there) into Mason,
Temple and Peterborough. Once you get off of rte 101, the ride is very
enjoyable. There are hills, though. You can do a loop that starts and ends at
Temple Mountain.

If you like climbs, you can ride up/down the autoroad to Pack Monadnock. I did
that once and probably don't need to do it again...

You could also ride your mtb on the trails starting at Temple Mountain.

-Jeff