With peak foliage in full swing, I bundled up in my flannel-lined jeans and thermal layers to take on New Hampshire’s scenic Northern Rail Trail on the Velotric Summit 2. Spanning nearly 59 miles of hard-packed gravel, this historic railroad corridor is an absolute gem for trail riding.
Here’s a recap of the 31-mile journey, the sights along the way, and how the bike performed.
The Setup: Built for Comfort & Gear
Before rolling out from near Webster Lake, I took a quick walk-around of the Velotric Summit 2 setup:
- Cockpit & Extras: Ribbed grips, side mirror, bell, phone mount, and a folding lock.
- Comfort Upgrades: The front RST Guide air shock paired with a Redshift suspension seatpost and an Ascent saddle soaked up bumps seamlessly, giving the bike a smooth, hybrid mountain/city feel.
- Cargo: Rear panniers carried my drone, extra camera gear, and lunch pack.
- Power: A 16.7 Ah battery powering Class 2 pedal assist and throttle.
The Route: Bridges, Tunnels, and Local History
The ride kicked off along a peaceful riverside dirt road before merging onto the official rail trail. Despite a chilly start around the mid-50s, pedaling quickly took the chill off as the trail unfolded into classic New Hampshire woodland:
- Scenic Crossings: The trail delivered plenty of rustic eye candy, passing quiet pastures with horses, open fields, and the historic Keniston covered wooden bridge in Andover.
- Tunnels & Big Views: Cruised through paved underpasses and across wide trestle bridges framed by vibrant autumn canopies.
- Potter Place Station: Around mile 11, I made a stop at the historic Andover railroad depot. I chatted with the site keeper and learned the area was named after Richard Potter—noted as America’s first famous Black magician and ventriloquist, who built an estate here in the early 1800s. Also on display outside was an ancient dugout canoe unearthed underground during local excavation!
- Rail trail info
Turnaround & The Ride Back
After continuing past Potter Place toward South Danbury, I marked the 15-mile milestone at an open bridge crossing and decided it was time to turn back.
- Outbound: Cruised mostly in Trail Mode (with a brief stretch in Eco), keeping a comfortable pace and finishing the first half with about 67% battery remaining.
- Return Leg: Switched into Sport Mode to push the pace and cover ground quickly on the way back to the trailhead.
By the Numbers: Ride Stats & Battery Range
- Total Distance: ~31 miles (30.86 tracked)
- Ride Time: ~3 hours
- Average Moving Speed: ~15–16 mph outbound (~10 mph overall including stops/exploring)
- Calories Burned: ~1,200 kcal
- Battery Consumed: 80% total (finished the day at 20% battery, leaving an estimated 5–8 miles of remaining range)
Final Thoughts
After troubleshooting some electrical gremlins on my other e-bike earlier in the week, the Velotric Summit 2 ran like a champ today. It handled the gravel stretches effortlessly, the suspension setup kept things plush the entire 30+ miles, and New Hampshire’s fall scenery did not disappoint.
