North East Cycling – Page 2

North Dakota Bike Trails

Summer is almost here and it’s time to hit the trails, wouldn’t you agree? If you want to check some other great regions in the U.S., consider North Dakota.

The state is a fine destination in summer, but also in winter, North Dakota is a great place for skiing and enjoying the great outdoors!

North Dakota bike trails cut through the Midwestern region of the United States. From the northern portion of the Badlands to the Missouri River, the state consists of hilly great plains.

The state also has man-made lakes, trees (usually in central North Dakota), and wetlands. Browse through the trails below to find more information about bike trails in North Dakota. And of course, enjoy your ride.

You should also be aware of the bicycle shops and bike dealers where you travel just in case you need to pick up some new gear. For a list of North Dakota bike shops and dealers, please visit the North Dakota Bike Shops page on US Bike Trails.

New Hampshire and Maine Mountain Climbs

Mount Washington, Gorham, NH

Mt. Washington is the biggest climb in the Northeast. The auto road is mostly paved and rises more than 4720 feet in over 7.5 miles, almost a 12 percent average grade. There is also a 22 percent grade section when you near the top!

The climb is truly rising in a monotonous way, with hardly any flat or downhill parts on the way up to catch your breath. There are some extended sections that have well-groomed gravel surfaces that were no problem for my 23-mm tires.

Only two times each year (four times if you include practice rides), bikes are allowed on this private auto road, and that’s only for the Newton Revenge Race (in July) and for the Mt Washington Bicycle Hill Climb (in August). You need to take the provided auto transportation downhill. At the top, the weather can get downright nasty, even in mid-summer.

I remember one year it was in the mid-60s at the base, and 38 and extremely windy near the top, and it even snowed at night! Some years, the race was entirely canceled, as the Six Gaps Hill Climb in Vermont was several times.

Best GPS For Mountain Biking

When it comes to choosing a GPS bike navigation computer, several factors play a role. Let’s take a look at factors such as price, connectivity, the screen, GPS and Mapping options, and 3rd-party apps.

Price: Of course, price matters. Not everyone needs a bike computer with lots of functions and options. Often, a simple computer will meet your needs and requirements when climbing hilltops across America. For many cyclists and MTB riders, a compact, simple unit with just a black-and-white display that provides only basic metrics will do. More expensive units, however, have base maps, in-depth power metrics, interval timers, color touchscreens, and more connectivity options than you’ve ever dreamed of. Every bicycle computer, regardless of price, will provide basic data such as speed, time, and distance, but in general, the more you spend, the more functions and features you’ll get.
Connectivity: Then, there is the element of connectivity. Even most bottom-end computers support Bluetooth or ANT+ connections to heart-rate monitors and cadence or speed sensors. Cheaper units, however, often don’t support power meters. Today, an increasing number of bike computers, also the cheaper models, start facilitating Bluetooth connections to smartphones for notifications, updates, and the like.