Fun weekend on the new bike

[benVFR]

Friday after work I left and went up to Colchester, VT (north of Burlington). Left around 4PM, hit wicked traffic till I got out of MA, then smooth sailing through NH and VT. Got there like 10 minutes before sunset, there are great sunsets on Lake Champlain. I took the highway through NH and VT because I had lost so much time skipping around traffic in MA. I had done 50 miles of bumper to bumper traffic, I ended up having my reserve light come on at 191 miles. Pretty sweet. Longest I've ever gone without stopping for a break.

Saturday I went down to Smugglers Notch. Talked to a couple of other riders, which was fun, but it kind of sucked. Way too many people. HIkers who were out of it in the road. (WTF would you hike in the road when there are trails available?) Bicyclists who weren't strong enough to ride up the hill so they're walking all over the place. Cage drivers who are really dangerous, etc.. So I got a little spooked. Smugglers Notch also seemed really steep compared to Deal's Gap, etc.. the vertical stuff required a big adjustment. I could really feel the new, heavier bike too. I think I can get used to it though, maybe I will try and take it to the track. Next time I go up there I'm going to Appalachian Gap instead of Smuggs though, App Gap is really fun.

Yesterday I cut across VT on 302 over to the white mountains. Went through Crawford Notch, got into Conway, and then took the Kanc back to 93 to go home. I was underwhelmed by the Kanc. It was sprinkling, so the road was wet, but the pavement quality sucked. And I think I got spoiled by going down to NC, etc.. Guess I will be going to the Gap again next year. I did have a Moose cross the road in front of me on the Kanc, that was pretty cool... I saw him with tons of time to stop, he walked across the road and didn't even stop. It was HUGE. I think I could have rode under him. Saw a fox in the road carrying a dead rabbit too.

Ended up getting greeted back to crappy MA by a big rainstorm after great weather all weekend. Total for the weekend was 670 miles, I love the new bike, very comfy, very warm when it got cold in the mountains, etc.. I love the wind protection and it's starting to loosen up... I can feel the difference in 6th gear roll-ons. One of these days I will ride this bike 200 miles without stopping at all, it's comfy enough and definitely has the range. (Came pretty close yesterday)

Ben

[scootertrash]

Sounds like a great weekend. There are some great places to ride in the White Mountains.

200 miles on a tank of gas? I'm envious. My zx9r has a puny gas tank...I can go something like 120 miles. It also has no fuel gauge or light, so I'm always nervous about running out. Gotta keep watching the odometer. Poor setup.

[MrBreese]

Where is Appalachian gap Ben? Haven't hit that yet? Sounded like you were'referring to Northern Vt, right? I may take a run up that way next week.

Thxs

[VinceF2]

Hey Ben.... I've gone a good 235 and still had a 1/2 gallon or so in the tank...

The gauge is very conservative... you have a good gallon when it starts to blink....

Glad you're liking the bike so much... my friends and I are hoping to do Deals this year.... we'll see!

Lata...

Mike

[benVFR]

Appalachian Gap is Rt. 17 between Rt. 100 and Rt. 116. It's like a 30 minute ride south of Burlington.

I'm not sure Appalachian Gap is the correct name, that's just what all my Vermonter relatives call it. Mad River Glen ski area is off this road, so it's pretty easy to find. It's one of the better twisties I've been too in MA, NH, VT, ME, etc.. I haven't done it this year but last year the pavement was in excellent shape too.

235 miles? Nice. Yes, I did notice the reserve is pretty conservative.

Ben

[MrBreese]

Thanks for the detail. Yeah I ran 17 couple times. It is sweet. Checked the map and sure enough it is Appalachian Gap. LSNED.
2 summers ago I took my son back and forth over Brandon (73), Middlebury (125) and 17. We had a ball. I have next week off and am pondering another run. I have a friend in St Albans i can stay at. The riding is much better during the week. Less LEO's and touresto's.

[Nikon]

Hey Ben - Fucker. I live in Colchester and you didn't let me know you were comin up? Bastard. Next time let me know and we can ride for a bit. I am hitting the Appalachian gap this afternoon with a fellow ZRXer.

[benVFR]

Sorry... hadn't talked to you much. I didn't know you lived in Colchester but I did remember you lived in the Burlington area while I was there. I had no internet access or I might have tried to send you a message. We don't even have a TV or phone line, and it's kind of nice that way actually.

I'm going to be up there for July 4th for sure. Maybe we can find some time to ride that weekend.

Ben

[stoinkythepig]

Instead of the Kanc, go a little further south on 16 and take 113 and 113A over to Holderness. Much better roads and fewer cars. You can then either go West on 25 to 93 or 132 south or take Winona road south to 104 and 104 west to 93 or 132 south. Winona road gets my vote.

[MrBreese]

Note on 113 around Squam lake over from Ashland to Sandwich. Only one legal passing lane on the east end close to Sandwich, and very few safe illegal spots. I followed a cage, who was actually clipping along pretty well, for at least 10 miles. Could not get by with minimal risk. He was maintaining a reasonable speed, but it woulda been alot faster and more fun without him. Just didn't feel like riskin it that day. There are hardly any straight stretches. Couple spots I coulda got by if I had tailgated but the roads too twisty (and rough in some spots) to do that. If you don't hit a cage it's pretty technical at speed but there are some rough spots, beware.

Agree - Vote for Winona road. It's pretty nice for a short run.

[Stoneman]

Damn you! Damn you fellow NH'ers. Shhhhhhhhhhh, already! Shhhhhhhhhhh! I'll take 'em (and HAVE taken 'em) on those routes, as well as other REALLY sweet roads. But I'll NEVER openly, WILLINGLY tell 'em all the route numbers!

Think about the ramifications of all these Massholes KNOWING our secret GOOD roads...

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by MrBreese
Note on 113

SNIP

There are hardly any straight stretches. Couple spots I coulda got by if I had tailgated but the roads too twisty (and rough in some spots) to do that. If you don't hit a cage it's pretty technical at speed but there are some rough spots, beware.

Agree - Vote for Winona road. It's pretty nice for a short run.

Oh yeah, nothing worse than those roads with no straight bits...

Damn you! Damn you fellow NH'ers. Shhhhhhhhhhh, already! Shhhhhhhhhhh! I'll take 'em (and HAVE taken 'em) on those routes, as well as other REALLY sweet roads. But I'll NEVER openly, WILLINGLY tell 'em all the route numbers!

Most motorcyclists won't ride all the way from the MA border just to take those roads. If they do, they are just the sort of people I'd like to see on those roads... I just hate to see someone ride all the way from the Boston area to do some serious riding and think the Kanc is as good as it gets.

Speaking of good NH roads, There's a road I've been meaning to try that goes from 140 to Alton Bay. I think one end of it is Crystal Lake road or something. Good route?

[MrBreese]

Speaking of good NH roads, There's a road I've been meaning to try that goes from 140 to Alton Bay. I think one end of it is Crystal Lake road or something. Good route?

Here's a close by fav of mine, but you'll need to scout it at safe speed 1st time. (no rt #s per stoneman, ha) Heading 3A N out of Bristol, take a left just as you get to Newfound Lake (west side lake rd? , this goes around the west (duh) side of lake. You have to take a right couple mi down. Lotsa camps but nice. Comes out onto Grotten rd, take a left and go up over the Mtn on some super uphill twisties. Comes out onto 118, right N to 25, left E on 25 to rumnney depot, watch for a paved rd on right, somthing brook rd, takes you back up thru some more super uphill twisties and onto the groton rd you crossed over b4. Then run it again and go up 25 to Warren. (Very low cage traffice, nock, never seen LEO out there.) Take 118 over the mtn down into woodstock (don't know about rd wrk there, but it's a real nice ride if no. May run this weds night for Rocks bike night.

Jay - may stop over this week, I'm off work.

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by MrBreese
Here's a close by fav of mine, but you'll need to scout it at safe speed 1st time. (no rt #s per stoneman, ha) Heading 3A N out of Bristol, take a left just as you get to Newfound Lake (west side lake rd? , this goes around the west (duh) side of lake. You have to take a right couple mi down. Lotsa camps but nice. Comes out onto Grotten rd, take a left and go up over the Mtn on some super uphill twisties. Comes out onto 118, SNIP

Done that one on a group ride with a friend who had a place in Hebron. Nice ride. Hafta try the other route. 118 is a great ride when it's not sandy.

[Stoneman]

Originally posted by MrBreese
Jay - may stop over this week, I'm off work.

I DARE you!

(I won't be home 'til 3:00-ish each day this week)

[RandyO]

Speaking of good NH roads, There's a road I've been meaning to try that goes from 140 to Alton Bay. I think one end of it is Crystal Lake road or something. Good route?

sweet ride.... Alton repaved some of the rough stuff lat year, but there's still a couple miles of dirt

[RandyO]

On my trip to Vermont this weekend, I scoped out a few roads, I found some nice ones that I hadn't been on before and also found a few more miles of GRAVEL Vermont state highway

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by RandyO
On my trip to Vermont this weekend, I scoped out a few roads, I found some nice ones that I hadn't been on before and also found a few more miles of GRAVEL Vermont state highway

I seem to recall a route 121 in VT that goes west from Bellows Falls to the middle of nowhere. It follows a river (which is why I took it) and turns to gravel but is still fun.

[Jank]

WARNING WARNING!!! DANGER DANGER!!!
Rt 121 in VT is under HEAVY construction!!!
The road will be super ass sweet in about 2 years but until then...
It all toorn up!