August Rides

Here is the KVBC ride line-up for thew month of August! Lots of summertime riding ahead!

Down to Scotty

We had a beautiful day for our KVBC ride from Oakland on Saturday. The bright sun warmed things up to the point where we were thankful for any shade we could find, and the post-ride stop for ice cream was much appreciated. Our thanks to Tammy for another great ride (and some creative snacks!). Next Sunday we will meet at Hannaford's in Damariscotta (note 9:30 am start) for our annual ride down the coast to Pemaquid. Hope to see you all on Sunday! Sunday, July 27; DAMARISCOTTA "To Pemaquid Point" - a tour through Bristol, Bremen, Pemaquid and Damariscotta. START: 9:30 AM at Hannaford's supermarket, 469 Main Street (Business Rt. 1) in Damariscotta. DISTANCE: approx. 39 miles. TERRAIN: Moderate to rolling with no major hills. HIGHLIGHTS: scenic roads within the Pemaquid Peninsula, fresh and salt water views abound. LEADER: David Lipman, dlipman@lkblawmaine.com LINK TO RIDE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37338970

Adjust Your Cones

We had a fine ride from Liberty on Saturday despite some overcast skies and some fog and drizzle. The route traversed some really pretty back roads with little traffic over some scenic and challenging terrain. This Saturday's ride starts in Oakland and features an optional ice cream stop near the end. Hope to see you on Saturday! Saturday, July 19 - OAKLAND "A Cone or a Dish" - a rewarding tour around Oakland, Norridgewock, New Sharon, and Smithfield. START: 9:00 am at the parking lot of the Atwood Elementary School at 19 Heath Street in Oakland. DISTANCE: about 38.5 miles or 40 miles with ice cream stop option TERRAIN: moderate with some hills; some short sections of well-maintained gravel. HIGHLIGHTS: fine back roads with lakeside views and a potential ice cream stop with many options. LEADER: Tammy Jones, tjjones@colby.edu. LINK TO ROUTE MAPS: Ride with a trip to the Ice Cream Place: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/181031119 Ride without the Ice Cream Stop: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/74606596

Libertarian Cycling

We had a nice sunny, warm day for our annual Independence Day ride from Sidney on Saturday. The roads were in great shape for the most part, stretched over a fine route laid out more than 20 years ago, thanks to Jim Putnam. This week we will head out to Liberty for another adventurous ride over some great roads with an optional climb up Appleton Ridge. Please note the 9:30am start time. Hope you can join us! Saturday, July 12 - LIBERTY "Palermo, Beyond the Pale" - an adventurous ride through Liberty, Palermo, Appleton and Searsmont. START: 9:30 am at the parking lot of ReVision Energy on Rt. 3 near the Liberty/Montville line, about a half mile east of the junction of Rt.s 3 & 220 (about 1.5 miles past the entrance to Liberty State Park). ReVision Energy is on the left, east-bound. DISTANCE: 31 or 34 miles. TERRAIN: rolling to hilly; the Appleton Ridge option is partially unpaved. HIGHLIGHTS: exceptional rural back roads and small hamlets, including the option of traversing Appleton Ridge with its spectacular vistas. Possible post-ride stop at John's Ice Cream in Liberty. LEADER: Paul Mitnik, pjmejm@gmail.com, ride sweep TBD. LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7599701, https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36795930 LINK to ROUTE MAP with Appleton Ridge Option: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7599703, https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36795947

Assert Your Independence

We had a very pleasant mixed surface ride from Readfield on Sunday. The recent rain kept the dust down on the gravel sections, and the paved roads dried up nicely in the sunshine. As an added plus, we had another stop at the Apple Shed Bakery near the end of the ride. Many thanks to David for leading us on a fine route! This week we will head into July and we will gather in Sidney for our annual Independence Day ride on Saturday. Please join us as we go Fourth on the Fifth! See you then! Saturday, July 5, SIDNEY: "Independence by Bike" - the traditional KVBC 4th of July tour through Sidney, Augusta and Waterville. START: 9:00 AM at the James H. Bean Elementary School on Middle Road in Sidney. Directions to the Bean School: From south: I-95 North exit #120. Turn right at end of exit ramp onto Lyons Rd. Follow Lyons Rd. to stop sign. Turn left onto Middle Rd. Bean School is approximately one mile on the right. From the north: I-95 South exit #120. Turn left at end of exit ramp onto Lyons Rd. Follow Lyons Rd. to stop sign. Turn left onto Middle Rd. Bean School is approximately one mile on the right. DISTANCE: 16 or 29 Miles. TERRAIN: moderate with a few hills. HIGHLIGHTS: some fine back roads and Kennebec River views, and some Fourth of July paraphernalia, most likely. LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784. LINK TO RIDE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39964070 For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, check out our blog, Posted Roads at http://postedroads.blogspot.com, or follow us on Facebook. Memberships in the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club provide funds for our club insurance, enabling us to hold rides and events. Membership funds also ensure our club memberships supporting the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and the League of American Bicyclists. Membership forms can be obtained at most club rides, and also via email by contacting Jim Merrick (email above) or Brian Bowker, bbowk321@yahoo.com, or Denise Crowell, denisemcrowell@gmail.com. Thank you!

July with Bikes

Here is the KVBC Ride Lineup for July!

At Least Four Different Grinds

We had a fine ride from Norridgewock on Sunday despite threatening skies and a few sprinkles. Fittingly for our first club ride of summer, the sun came out and temperatures climbed past 80 degrees by the ride's end. Many thanks to Denise and Brian for leading, and for the great cookies to finish the day! This Saturday we will have a new "gravel grinder" ride starting in Readfield that will take us over some roads that are normally closed in winter and have only recently opened for travel and should be in great shape. The route features some great pavement as well, and a potential local coffee/bakery stop. Hope you can join us! Saturday, June 28 - READFIELD "Readfield Fresh Ground" - a backroads tour over paved and unpaved roads around Readfield, Mt. Vernon and vicinity, with a potential coffee/bakery stop in Kents Hill. START: 9:00 AM at the Maranacook School Superintendent's Lot, Millard Harrison Drive off of Rt. 17 across from the Readfield Town Beach. DISTANCE: about 23 miles TERRAIN: Hilly, with at least four sections of gravel roads, mostly well-maintained, but with some uneven portions of washboard. Wide tires (32-42mm) and low gearing recommended. HIGHLIGHTS: some great back roads off the beaten track, with a potential stop at the Apple Shed Bakery in Kents Hill. LEADER: David Chiappetta, davidchiappetta5@gmail.com LINK TO ROUTE MAP: ttps://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/371461923