The Four Gapper Bike Ride – 2011

Saturday, August 27th (rain date is the next day)

The trek is about 78 miles long and traverses four mountain gaps in the heart of NH’s White Mountains.  The Four Gaps are Kancamagus Pass, Bear Notch, Crawford Notch and finally Franconia Notch, in that order.  There is well over 5,000 feet of total climbing.  We always have riders of varying abilities for sure.  The “Four Gapper” ride is not a race by any means.  It is a recreational ride with lots of discussion in our small groups, at least during the earlier part.  As the ride progresses, some of us get more quiet for some reason or other.  It is good to point out that the ride is demanding and at day’s end, we are all quite tired and quite inspired.

Our base of operations is the Hobo Hills Miniature Golf parking lot in Lincoln, NH.  The parking lot is near to and just east of the I-93 exit to Rte. 112.  We will plan on starting and ending the ride from there.  The ending segment of the scenic bike loop provides a sweet and welcomed descent from The Flume Visitor Center southward along Route 3’s wide shoulder back into Lincoln.

In recent years, we have been starting our rides at different times of the morning, timing our ride completions such that we all arrive back at Hobo Hills at roughly the same time.  We typically have a wide range of average speeds on the circuit such that the variation in the time that it takes each of us to do the 78 mile loop can be well over an hour and a half maybe 2 hours.  I know that if one averages about 15 miles per hour for the loop and if you add time for stretching and nourishment, it can easily take about 6 ½ hours to do the loop.  In an effort to enjoy this great event as a group activity, I would like to have us attempt to time our start times such that we complete our rides back at Hobo Hills all at about the same time.  By doing this, we can better share the enjoyments of dipping and basking at the Pemigewasset River and feasting at the Woodstock Inn after the ride.

So let’s each of us plan to complete our Four Gapper loop at about 3:00 PM.  That leaves time to change into our bathing suits, head over for a dip in the “Pemi”, and then culminate our day at the Woodstock Inn (unless you want to end the day after the Woodstock Inn with Ice Cream at Ice Cream Delights back in Lincoln).

The meal at the Woodstock Inn is a Four Gapper tradition however, it is clearly an option. Sometimes people have to get back home and leave right after the ride.  I do encourage you to try to plan for the Woodstock feast; it is a great time!

Give consideration to the above and let me know (jose777@aol.com) if you are contemplating this year’s Four Gapper.  I reserve a table for us at the Inn and it is helpful know approximately how many will be feasting.

The decision on the use of the next-day rain date will be made early Friday evening from Jose777@aol.com; you can also call me on my cell phone at 617.901.2350.

Joe Anthony

The “Four Gapper” Bike Ride- 2011

Location	Elevation (Ft)	Segment (Miles)	Total Distance Miles (+)	Notes
Lincoln, Hobo Hills Golf Parking Lot	811			On Rte. 112 just east of I-93 and opposite MacDonalds.  Parking lot is behind golf course.
		13.4		Kancamagus Highway (Route 112 Eastward)
Kancamagus Pass	2855		13.4	2 vistas at top
		9.6		Kancamagus Highway (Route 112 Eastward) There may be some road construction near Bear Notch Rd.
Bear Notch Road Intersection	1275		23	Turn left onto Bear Notch Road right after Jigger Johnson Campground on left
		4		Bear Notch Road (Northward)
Bear Notch	1772		27	Vista at top
		5		Bear Notch Road (Northward)
Bartlett	715		32	The General Store at the “302” intersection – Water, Ice, etc. is no longer there; go to mile 39.5 for a store (half way to Crawford Notch from Bartlett.
		14.1		Route 302 Westward (Northward)
Crawford Notch	1923		46.1	Some stores for supplies & water if needed
		8.9		Route 302 Westward (Northwestward)
Twin Mountain	1289		55
		9.8		Route 3 (Southward)
Start of Bike Path (just after Rte. 141 which is on right side)   Franc. Notch  Elev. = 1986	1674		64.8	Bike Path starts at Parking lot on left side of road at Skookumchuck Trail Head
		8.8		Bike Path (Southward)
The Flume Scenic Area Parking Lot	1400		73.6
		3.7		Route 3 (Southward)
Connector Road on left	797		77.3	Look for this road as Route 3 levels off; turn left @ Arnold’s Automotive
		0.7		Connector Road (Southeastward)
Lincoln, Hobo Hills Golf Parking Lot	800		78	It’s time for the Pemi & Woodstock Inn!