"Today Ride"

[DUCeditor]

We post so much about our cars, but it strikes me, not enough about how we actually enjoy them on the road. Thus this thread which I hope will become active.

Today in the Monadnocks area of (S.W.) New Hampshire was absolutely gorgeous. Mostly sunny. Dry. Temperature in the high-70s f. My good lady and I took advantage of the day by going for a drive on some of our favorite back roads. South on Rt 31, then west on Rt 123 where we caught an absolute favorite -- Rt 137 northward to 202 which brought us back towards home.

Only one stoplight on the entire journey and two stop signs. The rest open, free, curving two-lane roads -- much (but not all) of it newly paved.

This is my favorite type of driving in the Spider. Speeds averaging about 45 or 50 mph with the fastest sections responsibly driven at up to about 60 or so, and with tighter turns marked as low as 30. Woods, fields and streams on either side with undulating terrain. Traffic too light to call it such. (Rarely a car ahead or in the mirror)

Yes, that to me is what the Spider was designed for in every respect. Radio off. The exhaust and engine making all the music we needed.

Hard to come home. But then... there is tomorrow.



-Don

[RRoller123]

SW NH is one of the overlooked gems of New England! We used to love taking the Lance up there and touring around, including Southern Vermont. God's country for sure. Rt 31 is a great road, if I remember correctly, even in a laden camper, ha!

Pete

[DUCeditor]

Some years ago when I was running the DUC website we had a section entitled "Favorite Rides, Favorite Roads" that allowed members to post routes they enjoyed. It wasn't up for too long before I started writing for Ducati and thus allowed the site to run fallow, but in that time we got suggestions from many areas of the US and several other countries.

Roads were listed by country and, for those in the USA, by state.

The page is no longer active, but it can still be accessed here: http://duc-bz.github.io/favorite_roads_listings.htm

Those roads are just as enjoyable in a Spider as on a Ducati. If you are looking for some good drives you might check it out and see if there are any suggestions for your area.

-don

[Redline]

Even though it was raining, we took the Fiat to get some flowers at a field where you cut your own. It was a simple little pleasure to blat along on the greasy road, with only a weak excuse for the trip, and even better with functioning wipers and lights for a change! The nice thing about our area is that every road is good. Well maintained, but narrow, curvy and scenic. Within 1 km I can be curving through rolling farmland or charging up and down little passes.

We took the long way around to get home again. If anyone is interested in the route, you can look for these towns on Google maps, with an obvious preference for the white roads:

Hinwil - Pfäffikon - Bauma - Neuthal - Wald - Hinwil



46 km round trip to buy flowers.



I realised I need to stiffen up the dampers a few clicks; I went full soft a few weeks ago as an experiment and that was a bit too much. It was still well damped on the lowest setting, and quite a magic carpet ride, but it likes to roll a lot in transients. The Spax are much easier to adjust than Konis, as you do it on the car without tools. The rears are easily adjusted by just quickly lying on the ground behind the car and clicking the thumbwheel (a small screwdriver makes it even easier). For the fronts, you need to turn the wheel full lock and then reach up in the space between the ball joint and shock mount to access the little thumbwheel. Clickity-Click.... Barba-trick!

[DUCeditor]

Redline, that is such a beautiful car!

We never see those around here any more. Spiders are rare, but such as yours so much rarer.

Thank you for sharing!

-Don

[AriK]

Don,
I've followed this route in my Spider with my motorcycle buddies when I couldn't ride with the bike. I've also been through the famous Kancamagus Hwy route 112 through the White Mountains although not with the Spider. Now that's a cruise not to forget. I've stayed in Concord and Manchester plus I attend Motorcycle Week in Laconia for several years now. New Hampshire is addictive to bikers because of the lax helmet laws. Everybody in N.H loves bikers including the cops, unlike in Montreal where they're out to get you and the government rips you off in order to keep your motorbike license. N.H is such a beautiful place.

[RRoller123]

Yeah 89 is a great highway, well paved and wide open! Watch for speed traps though, mostly in NH. I used to live in Portsmouth, a lovely little town at the time, and still beautiful!

Pete