Ramblers, pretty much by definition, bloom on last year's growth.

So a rambler that freezes to the ground most winters won't bloom much.

Been there, done that with Alexandre Girault. It grew like crazy, seemed totally reliable regarding survival, but put out one decent flush in ten years, and a handful of flowers twice. For the most part it was big, green, and flowerless.

I think I did read that about blooming on old wood and that's why I wondered how it could bloom if it froze to the ground. Well, thanks that I don't have to have a rose for ten years with one flush of roses, to learn that. I appreciate your experience.

I wonder if there are any ramblers that are hardy enough in New England to produce bloom reliably every year? Did you try another one that worked for you?

There are a lot of cold hardy ramblers. I personally avoid the multiflora types because they have horrible chlorosis/death issues with my soil. That includes Dorothy Perkins, even though it is usually described as a wichurana hybrid. The setigeras do well, Baltimore Belle in particular. They do get big, so make sure they get plenty of room. Twenty foot canes are not out of the question.