The "Tuesday Dirt and Gravel" group stops at Durgin Bridge to refuel for the climb from the "flats" up to the "hills" of Sandwich and Tamworth. (SALLY MCMURDO PHOTO)
Mount Washington Valley Bicycling Club's Tuesday Dirt and Gravel riders are all smiles by the Great Hill/Pease Hill turn in Tamworth near the end of their "Tour de Tamworth." (RACHEL ANDERSON PHOTO)
Tamworth's Rachel Anderson stops at the Great Hill Road vista to point out the field and "Red Cottage" in the distance riders would be pedaling to on Pease Hill Road. (SALLY MCMURDO PHOTO)
One of the few places in the area where you'll see road signs with the word "flat" instead of "hill." Note — this is the turn to historic Durgin Bridge,too. (SALLY MCMURDO PHOTO)
The "Tuesday Dirt and Gravel" group stops at Durgin Bridge to refuel for the climb from the "flats" up to the "hills" of Sandwich and Tamworth. (SALLY MCMURDO PHOTO)
Mount Washington Valley Bicycling Club's Tuesday Dirt and Gravel riders are all smiles by the Great Hill/Pease Hill turn in Tamworth near the end of their "Tour de Tamworth." (RACHEL ANDERSON PHOTO)
Tamworth's Rachel Anderson stops at the Great Hill Road vista to point out the field and "Red Cottage" in the distance riders would be pedaling to on Pease Hill Road. (SALLY MCMURDO PHOTO)
One of the few places in the area where you'll see road signs with the word "flat" instead of "hill." Note — this is the turn to historic Durgin Bridge,too. (SALLY MCMURDO PHOTO)
Cyclists are now discovering the pleasures and adventures of riding gravel roads. These roads are often shady and scenic and the vehicle traffic light. You can spin at your own speed and enjoy the view. The sounds of cars and trucks speeding by are replaced by bird songs and babbling brooks. Sunlight filtering through the trees lights a tunnel of green. There’s something relaxing and rejuvenating about pedaling on dirt roads.
Riders with a sense of adventure enjoy taking out their gravel or mountain bikes to explore dirt backroads and make connections. Armed with gazetteers, topographic maps and google maps, they plot out a course, then try it out. They may even drive it before they ride to scope out hills and challenges. Routes always look easier on paper than on the ground. Roads are steeper, longer or rougher than you expect. You may even get lost or have to turn around at a dead-end. That’s all part of the adventure!
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
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Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.