Test yourself against New Hampshire's Finest Cyclists on the White Mountain Gran Fondo
For those of you on Strava (or who aren’t on Strava just yet), the White Mountain Gran Fondo , taking place on 23rd August from Lincoln, New Hampshire has a treat for you climbers.
They will have 5 timed Strava Segments along the course for you to test your skills against the WMGF pack as well as other Strava users.
They’ll have signs to let you know that a segment is coming up and then a sign to mark the start and finish of each segment along the course.
So we decided to give everyone a run down of exactly what's in store.
Loon Mountain Kancamagus Climb
The highly scenic Kancamagus Highway (Rt 112), aka "The Kanc" slices through the White Mountains of New Hampshire and offers the most vertical gain, plus it reaches a higher elevation than the other paved pass climbs. The highway connects Lincoln in the eest with Conway in the east. The scenery can’t be beaten, and it’s a brute of a climb from either direction.
The Strava section is the last 2.5 miles to the top and just over 727 feet in height gain, at an average of 5%.
TIP: Use the preceeding part of the climb as a warm up.
Local cyclist Mike Barton currently hold's the KOM record, with an average power output of just under 400W. Crystal Anthony holds the QOM.
Strava Link - http://www.strava.com/segments/4326468
Bear Notch Climb
A popular segment of many rides and with many cycling clubs across New England, Bear Notch Road is a nine-mile road that winds and climbs through the White Mountain National Forest between the scintillating Kancamagus Highway and U.S. Route 302 in Bartlett Village below Crawford Notch. Closed in winter, many hardcore cyclists like to try to ride the road before it is officially opened and is still littered with winter's debris and patches of snow. Bear Notch sits between 3,220-foot Bear Mountain and 2,980-foot Bartlett Haystack. It's also home to the 2,600-acre Bartlett Experimental Forest, a working outdoor lab with a maze of dirt roads.
Bear Notch Road has maybe 1,200 feet or so of vertical gain along its narrow, service-less and swerving path. Much of the road has a decent smooth surface - at least on the Bartlett side - and a welcome canopy of shade-providing trees for much of the way except for the pull-outs that display rippling mountains and the Saco River plain for those who need a reason to stop and rest along the way.
The climb also features in what has been called "New England's toughest Century" the Mt. Washington Century.
The segment starts not long after the previous climb of the Kanc, from the Swift River to the top its 3.1 miles at an average of 3%.
Chad Young currently holds the KOM. Rebecca Wellons holds the QOM. Well known local pro-cyclist and Tour de France veteran Ted King is up there too, having used the climb in recovery rides.
TIP: Recover after the Kanc and get back into a rhythm before the Swift River.
Strava Link - http://www.strava.com/segments/5232287
McLane Crawford Notch Climb
It's easy to remember the Crawford Notch climb for the 15%-20% grade (depending on which mapping tool you believe) in its last mile or so. The climb up the steep section of Crawford Notch will be way harder than the previous 2 climbs. It's also 5.5 miles long at an average of 3%, which really masks the final mile.
Justin Henderson holds the KOM which has stood for over 4 years. Cortney Jacobsen holds the QOM.
TIP: Ride at threshold until the last mile.
Strava Link - http://www.strava.com/segments/5227216
Littleton Climb
Starting in the small town of Littleton, this smaller and not so well known climb, grinds up into the White Mountains in 1.4 miles at an average of 6%.
Fred Howland currently holds the KOM and Christine Bengtson the QOM. We reckon that these could fall as this climb becomes more well known.
TIP: Give it everything and go for it.
Strava Link - http://www.strava.com/segments/4518805
Baker Newman Noyes Kinsman Notch Climb
Kinsman Notch (el. 1870 ft./570 m.) is a mountain pass located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, United States. It is the westernmost of the major notches through the White Mountains.
The timed section is exctly 3 miles at an average of 4%.
Jeff Elie only recently got the KOM by a few seconds. Danielle Ruane holds the QOM.
The 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail passes through this notch due to it's height on its route between Moosilauke and Kinsman Ridge.
TIP: Wtach out for the 13% grade nearer the top.
Strava Link - http://www.strava.com/segments/4326618
Stage 1 - Le Perray-en-Yvelines
