A Montague in the Mountains (Conway, NH)

Over the 4th of July break, I was lucky to have the opportunity to bring my Montague folding bike up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. This was really only my second time riding the bike, so I wasn't sure what to expect, especially with the recent upgrades.

Starting out along West Side Road, I took a left at the big farm on Passaconway Road. I then headed towards High Street and pedaled up the hill towards the back of the Marshall Conservation Area. High Street starts out as a dirt road and then switches back to pavement before turning to dirt again. This area is commonly refered to as the "Mineral Site" because it cuts through a popular mining site for geology enthusiasts. I usually start my mountain or gravel rides from here, since there's a variety of fire roads and trail riding. High Street is marked by a sign for the mineral site with a pick axe icon.

Beautiful Farm on the corner of West Side Road and Passaconway Road

High Street after the 1st dirt section and before Fire Road 379

Mmm...gravel

Usually I climb almost to the top of the road and then take a right at the sharp bend onto Fire Road 379. This double track provides an exhilarating downhill section which I typically do on a gravel bike, but I found it just as fun on a hardtail mountain bike. The new suspension fork seemed to work really well here too. After riding a gravel bike exclusively for the past four years, I appreciated the stability of the Montague on this fun little descent. 

Entrance Gate to Fire Road 379

Fire Road 379

More Fire Road 379

View from a bridge on Fire Road 379

Don't ask me why, but I got it in my head that I should try riding my folding mountain bike from the trash heap on the side of the road on a double black diamond mountain bike trail called "Stony Ridge Trail". Really, common sense should have provided some guidance, but I think the heat overrode my sense of reason. What ensued was nothing short of a disaster. 

Maybe the broken sign should have been a warning?

Once I headed down Stony Ridge Trail, I came across a small stream that had to be crossed on foot. Ordinarily, it looks like I could have ridden through it, but with all the recent rain, the stream was fast and deep. After this short crossing, the trail just kept going up, up, up. I couldn't get any momentum to even begin climbing and I was woefully under-biked for this type of trail. In addition, the new fork I had installed had a tremendous amount of wheel flop, so my wheel kept turning every time I hit a rock or log. There were rock gardens that climbed, off camber turns, and everything else that New England trails are known for. Even if I had a Cannondale Scalpel, I don't think my weak little gravel legs could have managed this climb. So, in Clark Griswold fashion, I stubbornly persisted, mostly on foot. What turned into a nice mountain bike ride devolved into an epic hike-a-bike. However, once I got to the top of White Horse Ledge, I was rewarded with some great views. 

The ride down was equally miserable until I got back to Fire Road 379 and then Fire Road 379A. This led me back to West Side Road and ultimately home. Overall, the Montague was not the weapon of choice for a real mountain ramble. Maybe it was me, maybe it was the trails, but I was surprised at how much I missed my gravel bike on this ride. 

I have since parted ways with the Montague folding mountain bike and sold it to someone who will use it for commuting to the city--it's intended purpose. It was nice to finally try one out, but unfortunately it's just not built for really off-road riding.