Monday, June 26, 2017

Independence Ride

We will start off July with our popular "Fourth of July Ride" starting from the Bean School on Middle Road in Sidney on this Saturday, July 1. Celebrate your Independence! And join us if you can!

Saturday, July 1st, SIDNEY
:
"Independence along Middle Road" - a mainstream  tour through the middle of Sidney & the middle of a prime farming district & the middle of Fourth of July preparations.
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 30 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 Putnam, put@roadrunner.com.

LINK TO RIDE MAP: http://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6799304
LINK to BCM CALENDAR: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-independence-day-ride-2
For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Damariscotta Lake - Jefferson

We have a number of ride opportunities this weekend - on Saturday, we have an all new club ride planned starting in Jefferson and traveling around Damariscotta Lake (details below). Please note the 9:30 am start time.  On Sunday, there is the annual Greenville Bike and Boat Ride (details in previous post).  Hope you can get out and join us on the first bike rides of summer!

Saturday, June 24 - JEFFERSON
"Down Around Damariscotta" - a circumnavigation of Damariscotta Lake.
START: 9:30 am at the Jefferson Village School, 48 Washington Road, Jefferson.
DISTANCE: 27 miles.
TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.
HIGHLIGHTS: scenic back roads with a stop at the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder and the Bunker Hill Church overlook of the lake.
LEADER: Bryan Griffin, bjgriffin@roadrunner.com.

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, or keep up to date via our Facebook page.

Greenville Hike, Bike, and Boat

There are several ride opportunities as we head into the first weekend of Summer!  On Sunday there is the Greenville Bike & Boat Ride - note that there is a $25 registration fee for this ride.  You can register online via the link below, or at the start of the event on Sunday - just show up early to register.  You can also make it a weekend trip as Jeanine still has space at the AMC Lodge - details below.  Contact Jeanine directly to sign up for the extended trip!

Sunday, June 25 - GREENVILLE
"Greenville Boat & Bike" - a tour from Greenville to Rockwood with a return trip across the lake on the historic steamboat Katahdin!
START: 10:30 am at the Greenville boat landing (earlier if registering on the day of the event)
DISTANCE: 19.5 miles
TERRAIN: moderate

REGISTRATION: $25 fee to benefit the Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital; http://cadean.org/About-Us/News/2017/Annual-Bike-and-Boat-Ride-benefits-care-for-patien.aspx
HIGHLIGHTS: scenic 20-mile ride, followed by a lake cruise back to the start on the historic steamboat "Katahdin" including food and live music, and t-shirts for pre-registrants. There is also a weekend trip option at the AMC Lodge in Little Lyford - details below.
LEADER: Jeanine Libby, jjlibby13@roadrunner.com

 
WEEKEND TRIP DETAILS: http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/95714&act=2
Hike, Bike and Boat Weekend June 23 - June 25.
Come join in on a fun filled weekend of hiking, biking and
boating.  We will be staying in the bunk house at Little Lyford for the
weekend’s events.  Friday night arrive in time to meet everyone prior to
sitting down for dinner – served at 6:00 p.m.  Saturday we will plan to hike
Gulf Hagas during the day and view the breathtaking waterfalls.  This is
known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.”  Then we may close the day with an
evening paddle on the pond followed by some storytelling around the camp
fire.  More fun to come as we rise the next morning to prepare for the 19.5
mile Bike and Boat ride to benefit Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital patient
care.  The bike ride will begin in Greenville and go to Rockwood and then we
will return aboard the historic Katahdin vessel.  While on the boat we will
enjoy lunch and music on our way back to Greenville.
To register for the weekend trip e-mail Jeanine Libby at jjlibby13@roadrunner.com
Weekend Trip at the Lodge totals: $160 per person plus tax to say in the co-ed bunk house.  Meals included.  Fun is Free.
Bike and Boat Benefit Ride: $25 pre-registration fee and must be done separately at: http://cadean.org/About-Us/News/2017/Annual-Bike-and-Boat-Ride-benefits-care-for-patien.aspx

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

KVBC Jerseys

 Are you feeling left out? Outside looking in? Not part of the "in crowd"? Lacking that one thing that will show the World that you belong - that you have arrived?

Well, money can't buy you happiness, but 44 bucks can get you a new KVBC jersey, and that might do the trick! Several people have asked about acquiring jerseys, and if we can get orders for about ten items together, we can submit a new order. We have designs for two jerseys: one mostly yellow and one mostly black, and we have in the past been able to combine orders for both. The entry-level (or least expensive) jersey is the CS Tech Lite at $44 each (minimum order of ten). There are a lot of jersey options, fabrics, and styles - men's jerseys are either "Club Cut" or "Race Cut." For descriptions and details refer to the Champion System website and their updated sizing charts 
A product price list can be downloaded here. In the past, some of our women members have ordered men's jerseys that best matched their size, as they preferred a longer cut. If you have questions it might be best to ask one of the women on a club ride for advice.

If you would like to order a jersey, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com.
KVBC Yellow Jersey
KVBC Black Jersey

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Property Pedal Tour with the Kennebec Land Trust

We had a superb ride from Brunswick to Cundy's Harbor last Sunday, with great scenery and an impressive turnout with really fine weather (turned out not as hot along the coast). We did have some adventure amidst the unmarked gravel roadways out on Cundy's Point, but everyone got back safely, and we had a great lunch stop at Wild Oats in Brunswick. Many thanks to Ken Louis for adapting the ride for us! This week we will explore many of the local conservation areas of the Kennebec Land Trust, expanding on the loops of the KVBC Eleven Ponds Ride. The KLT sponsors this free tour to publicize and promote their worthy conservation efforts - and they appreciate support in the form of new memberships. Hope you can join us!

Saturday, June 17 - FAYETTE
"Kennebec Land Trust Property Pedal" - a tour of some of the most scenic conservation properties of the Kennebec Land Trust.
START: 9 am at the KLT field at the corner of Sandy River Road and Fellows Farm Road in Fayette (see maps below).
DISTANCES: 13 and 35 miles.
TERRAIN: moderately hilly to hilly.
HIGHLIGHTS: scenic back roads of Fayette, Chesterville, Vienna, and Mount Vernon (with Readfield and Wayne added on the long route) passing by many conservation properties of the Kennebec Land Trust.
LEADERS: Jim Floyd, jimfloyd@fairpoint.net, and Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com.

Monday, June 5, 2017

Cundy's on Sundaes

Last Saturday Steve Robe took us on a fun ride going counterclockwise (for a change) around China Lake.  Had to dodge a few raindrops at the start, but the sun came out and it did warm up to the point that it seemed like summer-like weather will soon be here (for a change). Perhaps this Sunday!  Ken Louis has an all-new ride in store for us, starting in Brunswick and stopping in Cundy's harbor.  Forecast says sunny and mid-70s, and we won't take issue with that.  Hope to see you Sunday!
Sunday, June 11 - BRUNSWICK
"Cundy's and Sundaes" - a scenic coastal tour around Brunswick and Cundy's Harbor.
START: 9:30 am at Merrymeeting Plaza, 142 Bath Road (Rt. 24) in Brunswick.  Park to the left, facing Shaw's, in the outer area of the parking lot.
DISTANCE: approx. 27 miles.
TERRAIN: moderate.
HIGHLIGHTS: scenic Cundy's Harbor with an optional stop at Holbrook's Lobster Wharf (where they have ice cream); on the return, a stretch along the Androscoggin River Trail and a lunch option at Wild Oats in Brunswick.
LEADER: Ken Louis, klouis17@hotmail.com.

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, or keep up to date via our Facebook page.