Southern NH

[imploded]

Hey all,

I just accepted a new position with Fidelity in Merrimack, NH.

Not sure where I'm going to live yet, I'll be commuting from MA for a while before we get settled up that way. It's going to be a lot of driving (70 miles each way), but it is doable for us to find the "right" place to live.

What's the area like? Good towns, bad towns? I'm willing to drive up to an hour to work, especially if I'm near good road and MTB. A local rock gym is also important.

Anyone work in social work / domestic violence? My wife was a crisis counselor, and is now the coordinator of community outreach and support services (preventing DV, working with DV victims in getting post-crisis treatment, support). Since she'll have to leave her job as a part of this move, I'd love to help her get something new locally...

Looks like I'll be able to hit up FOMBA more often.

Advice, tips, hints, rants, anything appreciated!

Cheers,

-Andrew

[Husqvarna]

The riding is plentiful in southern nh, i'm in manchester and its only 30 minutes to fort rock or bear brook and pawtuckaway. Northwood is a bit further for a hour worth of trails. However, there maybe some new trail developement there in the future. There's also a number riding areas in the Nashua, Amherst, Merrimack and Bedford areas. FOMBA singletrack is my backyard, and sometime to convenient as i tend not to go elsewhere often enough. There seems to be more oppurtunity to builds trails than what we have volunteers for at FOMBA and SNH NEMBA, so we can always use an extra set of hands who want to volunteer. Also get on the SNH NEMBA email list and there is a Wed and Sunday ride, that goes nearly year round, in a different location each time out. The ride level is intermediate to advanced. When you get settled in NH, make sure you hook up with the SNH group for ride, if not before.

[catbbq]

The house across the street is for sale and a good price too. I have watched the price drop almost 40k in the last 4 months. Its below appraised value, and I bet they would still take less. They already have another house, so they gotta be getting desperate.

I live in Fremont which is just about half way between Manchester and the seacoast. Its 15 minutes to Exter and FOMBA. Merrimack is less than an hour.

I used to live in Nashua which is great for riding in Lowell Dracut, but I was never impressed with the riding in Nashua itself. Mine Falls and Yuddicky never suited my tastes. If you do look in Nashua / Hudson area, avoid the Shepard's Hill condo complex. That is where I use to live and it is a nightmare.

[Husqvarna]

I live in Fremont

Catbbq, you might be interested to know that Southern NH NEMBA is working with the Danville Conservation people and developing new trails at the Hawke Conservation area, on Main St. in Danville. Hawke is just a couple of miles from Freemont village. There's only a couple miles of new singletrack there now, but planning is already in place to expand on that.

[ArmOnFire]

Catbbq, you might be interested to know that Southern NH NEMBA is working with the Danville Conservation people and developing new trails at the Hawke Conservation area, on Main St. in Danville. Hawke is just a couple of miles from Freemont village. There's only a couple miles of new singletrack there now, but planning is already in place to expand on that.

Sweet!
I'm looking forward to doing some work there.
-Dan

[peterdbikes]

I think you have to decide how long a commute you want. I certainly think there is much more riding, east of 93 than to the west. The Nashua / Merrimack area has to be pretty pricey for homes unless you go a bit more west (such as New Boston, Mason.. etc) Candia / Auburn and East Manchester area is convienent to riding and still aceptable commute

[Tim]

Not to be too negative about your wife's chances of landing a job, but NH isn't exactly the social services hotspot of the western world. To paraphase the license plate, "Live Free or Don't."

T.

[neusaab]

Re: Hawke Conservation area in Danville: How much riding is currently available there now? I live in Hampstead. Always looking for new places close to home.

Thanks

[peterdbikes]

Not much right now. Maybe a mile of ST. Plans are for another mile this spring. You can also get to the powerlines for additional miles, but have to know the way. We have a trail day scheduled for march 25 to begin work on that new mile as well as building a bridge. www.snemba.org will have details shortly.