Independence Day

We had a great ride last Saturday with a great turnout. It was overcast and gray, but dry (finally!). Many thanks to Connie for the great route, which she rearranged at the last minute due to an event conflict on the Kennebec Rail Trail, and for the wonderful breakfast at the end of the ride. We had some discussion about making this mandatory on all future rides, but at the very least we may plan a variety of breakfast rides in the near future. This week we return to a tradition - the Fourth of July ride in Sidney. I can't say where June went but July is finally upon us, and Jim Putnam has a great ride for us to start the month with. If we don't see you on Saturday, have a great holiday weekend.

Saturday, July 4th, SIDNEY:
"Independence along the Middle Road" - a tour through the middle of Sidney & the middle of a prime farming district, transforming a middlin' Fourth of July into four times as fun.
START: 9:00 AM at the James H. Bean Elementary School on Middle Road in Sidney.
Directions to the Bean School:
From the 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 30 Miles.
TERRAIN: moderate with a few hills.
HIGHLIGHTS: some fine back roads and Kennebec River views, and some 4th of July paraphernalia, perhaps.
LEADER: Jim Putnam.

Capital, Capital!

Taking advantage of a break in the wet weather, we had an impressive group of riders assemble at the Hussey Elementary School parking lot on Quimby Street in Augusta at 8 AM last Saturday. After the usual pre-ride routine of unloading bikes, attaching wheels, adjusting quick releases, pumping tires, distributing maps, etc., the first question on everyone's mind was: "Where's breakfast?" The answer was: "A couple of blocks up the street, about 27 miles away." A rather roundabout approach, and just about perfect.

First, we had to ride. Connie had laid out a fine route exploring the back roads of Augusta and Windsor, all the more impressive because she had had to re-route part of the tour to avoid a conflict with a major event on the Kennebec River Rail Trail. The route took us north along the Kennebec for a stretch, and then back down to Rt.3 West. Traffic picked up a bit on Rt.3, but the shoulders were wide and debris-free, and the run along the highway passed quickly. Soon we were back on lightly traveled roads through West Windsor and Chelsea.



We rode as a group for the most part, and there were frequent stops to regroup and let stragglers catch up. A good portion of the route was remarkably flat and thickly wooded - and quite pretty, considering the odd absence of ponds and lakes enroute. We are fortunate indeed, to be able to ride out of our capital city and find ourselves out in the country in a distance that barely registers on our cyclometers.




As we approached the Augusta city limits on our return, we began to pick up some more traffic and signs of urban infrastructure. Undaunted, we pressed on, for breakfast was awaiting. Soon we were relaxing on Connie's porch, dining on muffins and juice, fruit salad and eggs - a capital breakfast indeed! Kudos to Connie for a fine breakfast ride and a great route.

Join us next week, if you can, for a Fourth of July ride in Sidney. Have a happy Fourth!

Rain? What Rain??

Kirsten Harris of Bath, Trek Across Maine 2009. Jose Leiva Photo, Sun Journal.

As soon as I saw this photo in last weekend's coverage of the Trek Across Maine in the Lewiston Sun Journal, I was convinced I had to get it on the blog somehow. Coming in the midst of a glum, dark stretch of dreary weather, it definitely was a boost to the spirit and reminded me of many fun times riding in the rain - something always useful to be reminded of from time to time. Identified by the paper as Kirsten Harris of Bath (number 1243 on your program), she was captured on film by Jose Leiva coming into Farmington, dampened in everything but spirit. Mr. Leiva graciously granted me permission to use the photo with proper attribution and credit, and thanks to him, here it is.

KVBC member John Schooley reports that "about 2500 of us had a very adventurous albeit a bit wet TREK last weekend. It sure felt great to get that medal at the finish line! As usual , We were all inspired by the volunteers who just did a wonderful job. Our bicycle community is TOPS!"

Geology Joe did even better - you can read his daily journal of his Trek on his blog, Sling Shot Thought.

If any of you other folks have additional Trek adventures to share, send 'em along and I'll get them posted when I get a chance. I may even wring out a few memories of my long-ago Boston-Montreal-Boston adventure, where I swear it rained four straight days (and almost all 1,200 kilometers). My fingers and toes are pruning up just thinking of it. On second thought, maybe I'll skip that until we have drought conditions (assuming we ever have such a thing). Right now, I'll settle for dry pavement. Let's hope the rain gods start to give us a break.

A Capital Breakfast

We actually managed to get a short ride in last Sunday (all two of us) between showers in Mount Vernon - between the two of us we probably saw 11 ponds (or maybe it was just one big pond). Connie has a new ride planned for Saturday in Augusta, and hopefully the weather will clear by then. Please note that if it is raining at the start this ride will be postponed. Think positive - have your sunscreen ready!

Saturday, June 27th - AUGUSTA

"Capital Breakfast Ride" - a tour through the streets and past the features of our capital city.

START: 8:00 AM at the parking lot of the Hussey Elementary School on Quimby Street in Augusta. Quimby is right off Rt. 100N at the traffic light across from Auclair's Cycle; detailed directions to the start here.

DISTANCE: 25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some flat stretches riverside.

HIGHLIGHTS: breakfast, the capital, the Kennebec close up, new and intriguing routes - and did we mention breakfast?

LEADER: Connie Brown.

Eleven Ponds Redux

The ride last Sunday was rained out, so we'll just wait for the puddles to dry out and try it again this Sunday! We may have a Father's Day brunch (if there is such a thing) at the Post Office Cafe in town after the ride. And for those of you heading out to do the Trek across Maine, may your roads be puddle-free. Bon Route!

Please join us in Mount Vernon this Sunday to count ponds and have fun on multiple 50 mph descents (there are potentially three). Whether that has any benefit to cardio-vascular training I'll leave for experts to judge. After last year's ride I was informed that this ride has 3,230 feet of climbing (by one rider's electronic calculations) and there are several 15% grades (short ones, though) on Sandy River Road. The ride also has some unique scenery, with a delightful (and flat) run along the Chesterville Esker - part of the route was laid out by glacier! We may also get together after the ride at the cafe in Mount Vernon. Let's hope for drier weather this time.

Sunday, June 21st - MOUNT VERNON

"Eleven Ponds" - a tour past many of the hidden ponds and lakes in Mount Vernon, Fayette, Chesterville, and Vienna.

START: 9:00 AM, Mount Vernon Post Office, just off Rt. 41 on Main Street in Mount Vernon.

DISTANCE: 14 and 29 miles.

TERRAIN: Rolling with a few good hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: rural back roads winding through many small ponds and lakes, and across the top of the Chesterville Esker. Possible post-ride get-together at the cafe in Mt. Vernon village.

LEADER: Jim Merrick.

Eleven Ponds

Please join us in Mount Vernon this Sunday to count ponds and have fun on multiple 50 mph descents (there are potentially three). Whether that has any benefit to cardio-vascular training I'll leave for experts to judge. After last year's ride I was informed that this ride has 3,230 feet of climbing (by one rider's electronic calculations) and there are several 15% grades (short ones, though). The ride also has some unique scenery, with a delightful (and flat) run along the Chesterville Esker - part of the route was laid out by glacier! We may also get together after the ride at the cafe in Mount Vernon. Hope to see you there!

Sunday, June 14th - MOUNT VERNON

"Eleven Ponds" - a tour past many of the hidden ponds and lakes in Mount Vernon, Fayette, Chesterville, and Vienna.

START: 9:00 AM, Mount Vernon Post Office, just off Rt. 41 on Main Street in Mount Vernon.

DISTANCE: 14 and 29 miles.

TERRAIN: Rolling with a few good hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: rural back roads winding through many small ponds and lakes, and across the top of the Chesterville Esker. Possible post-ride get-together at the cafe in Mt. Vernon village.

LEADER: Jim Merrick.

4 Lakes + 2 Ponds + 2 Waterfalls = Great Ride

Ride Start - Readfield Center

It was, as one rider noted, a "spectacular" ride from Readfield last Saturday. Beautiful weather: sunny, cool & dry, with little wind. The route took a very interesting path through Readfield, Winthrop, Wayne, Fayette, and Kents Hill. Quiet back roads with lots of great scenery.

Coming in to Winthrop along Maranacook Lake

Once again we had a great group of people, and we kept together for the most part. One late arrival cleverly leap-frogged ahead to join us mid-route. Perhaps we will continue to pick up more riders as the season progresses.

Stopping at a crossroads to regroup

The route was really exceptional. The roads were in fine shape for the most part - some with new pavement. And the scenery was as advertised, with nice runs alongside lakes & ponds & waterfalls. The stops at Tubby's Ice Cream in Wayne and the Kents Hill Orchard Bakery were just about equal to the scenery.

One of many scenic back roads with no traffic

Many thanks to Frank for leading another great ride, and to all the participants who made it special. Next week's ride will be Sunday, June 14, in Mount Vernon with more ponds (and an esker) in store.