We'll Always Have Paris

We had a great ride last Sunday from Gardiner to Bowdoinham that was wonderfully marked and ably led by Joe Renda (Thanks, Joe!). We had a good group turn out, no one got lost, and we even encountered another large group of cyclists passing in the opposite direction, leading to a spirited exchange of greetings. Those of you who were disappointed in the cancellation of the Lobster Ride and looking for another challenge may find this Saturday's KVBC ride from Wayne much to your liking. We have a challenging but doable metric century that will venture out to Paris by way of Buckfield and return through Hebron, Turner, and Leeds. Lots of beautiful countryside, and if you haven't done Streaked Mountain you can soon cross it off your list.  There is a shorter route of 40 miles with a turn-around in Buckfield, and both rides are fully arrowed.  See you Saturday!

Saturday, August 4th - WAYNE

"We'll Always Have Paris" - an all-new, fully-arrowed metric century out to Paris and Buckfield.

START: 9:00 am at the Wayne Elementary School, 48 Pond Road in Wayne.

DISTANCE(S): 40 or 63 miles

TERRAIN: Challenging, with numerous hills and distance.

HIGHLIGHTS: Streaked Mountain, Paris Hill, Hebron Academy, lots of scenic back roads, and a possible stop at the Nezinscott Farm Cafe in Turner.

LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784.

LINK to LONG RIDE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7008015

LINK to SHORT RIDE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7217238

We welcome suggestions for improving our rides and encourage active participation of all members.  For more information, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook or check out "Posted Roads" - our club blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

The Gardiner of Delights

This week we will close out our KVBC rides for July with our ever-popular tour to Bowdoinham. The ride starts at the Laura Richards School in Gardiner and takes many of the roads less-traveled down to Richmond and Bowdoinham. It's a ride that features quiet roads and great scenery, and should serve as a great prelude for our rides coming up in August! Hope you can join us!

Sunday, July 29th - GARDINER

"Biking to Bowdoinham" - a tour of the southern Kennebec Valley through Gardiner, Richmond and Bowdoinham.

START:  9:00 AM, at the Laura Richards School, Rt. 201 in Gardiner, 1.5 miles south of the junction of Rt. 201 and Rt.s 126/9 (the junction near the A-1 Diner).  The school is a modern brick building with a "spiked ball" sculpture, on the west side of Rt. 201, on the left past the Gardiner Armory (just as you enter the "thickly settled" area).  Park in the lot on the north side of the school.

DISTANCE:  40 miles.

TERRAIN:  Moderately hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  quiet back roads along streams and farmland south & west of Gardiner.

LEADER:  Joe Renda, geologyjoe@gmail.com.

LINK to ROUTE MAP (2015): http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6654861

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club rides are open to members and to the cycling public.  Helmets are required of all riders at KVBC events.  It is also recommended that you bring with you on KVBC rides:  a map of the area in case you stray off route; tools for simple roadside repairs, especially a tire pump, spare tube and/or patch kit; water bottles or hydration systems; personal ID and a small first aid kit; and money for purchasing snacks & drinks en-route.  In case of severe weather, scheduled rides may be postponed or designated as "show & go" rides at the discretion of the ride leader.

 

We welcome suggestions for improving our rides and encourage active participation of all members.  For more information, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook or check out "Posted Roads" - our club blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

KVBC Rides for August

And here is the KVBC Ride Schedule for August, featuring an all-new Metric Century, Ken's 10th Annual Hot Dog Ride, the Cellar Door Winery, and much, much more! As always, hope you can join us!

Augusta, Scrambled, Poached, or Fried

We had a really nice ride on the Tour de Whitefield on Sunday. It was cloudy but cool, the rains held off, and we had some great food at the ride leaders' afterwards. Many thanks to the Griffins for another fine ride! This Saturday we will meet early for a mostly scenic 27-mile ride before enjoying a Capital Breakfast in Augusta. And don't forget: this Sunday is the BCM Lobster Ride at the Camden Snow Bowl - the last year that BCM will be organizing the ride. They are also looking for volunteers, if you would like to help out and take part in the food and festivities. Either way, hope to see you this Weekend!

Saturday, July 21st - AUGUSTA

"Capital Breakfast Ride" - a tour through the stately residential areas and outlying farms of our capital city.

START: 8:30 AM at the parking lot of the Hussey Elementary School on Quimby Street in Augusta. Quimby is right off Rt. 100 at the traffic light across from Auclair's Cycle heading north. The school is up the hill about a quarter mile on the left. 

DISTANCE: 27 miles. 

TERRAIN: moderate with a few hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: An optional breakfast stop at Rebecca's on Rt.17, some really fine touring roads east of the capital, some interesting and unexpected farm scenery - and did we mention breakfast?

LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784.

LINK to RIDE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7270679

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook or check out the KVBC blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

Tour de Whitefield

We had some great riding weather over the weekend, and David Lipman and company did not let it pass by without taking full advantage of the opportunity, and we had a great ride from Damariscotta to Pemaquid on Saturday. Many thanks to David! The Tour de France is in full swing, and this Sunday we will counter with the Tour de Whitefield! If you haven't picked up your yellow jersey yet (the pre-ordered KVBC version), see Jim before or after the ride.  See you Sunday!

Sunday, July 15 - WHITEFIELD

"Tour de Whitefield" - a rural tour through the rolling hills and farms of Whitefield, Pittston, Jefferson and Windsor.

START: 9:00 am, at 184 Hunts Meadow Road in Whitefield, about 2 miles south of the junction of Rt. 17 and North Hunts Meadow Road. Park near the garage or on the grass along the driveway.

DISTANCE: about 32 miles.

TERRAIN: rolling hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: lots of scenic rural roads around the Sheepscot River Valley, and a post-ride gathering at the ride leaders'; if you plan to stay for a while after the ride, please RSVP to the ride leader below - thanks!

LEADER: Bryan Griffin, bjgriffin@roadrunner.com, 207-332-1775 (cell).

For more information about the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the KVBC blog, Posted Roads, at http://postedroads.blogspot.com, or follow our Facebook page.

Coastal Cool

We've had some hot weather lately, but it was no deterrent to a wonderful ride last Sunday from Sidney.  We had some great roads with new pavement and a fine group out - many thanks to Jim Putman for leading this ride for 16 straight years! This Saturday we will try to beat the heat with a cool ride along the coast from Damariscotta to Pemaquid Point.  The scheduled follow-up ride on Sunday from Boothbay will be a leaderless show-and-go ride for anyone staying over in the area who is looking for a ride to do on Sunday.  See you Saturday, and have a Happy Fourth!

Saturday, July 7th; DAMARISCOTTA

"Drafting Through Damariscotta" - a tour through Bristol, Bremen, Pemaquid and Damariscotta.

START:  10:00 AM at Hannaford's supermarket, 469 Main Street (Business Rt. 1) in Damariscotta.

DISTANCE:  approx. 38 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@lipmankatz.com.
LINK TO RIDE MAP (2015): http://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6791021

Sunday, July 8th: BOOTHBAY

"Bicycling Through Boothbay" - a seaside tour around Boothbay, Barter, Sawyer, and Southport.

START: 9:00 AM or at your convenience at the Knickerbocker Boat Landing, off of Knickerbocker Road just north of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

DISTANCE: 22 miles.

TERRAIN: easy to moderate.

HIGHLIGHTS: more ocean views and seaside villas, plus a potential stop for lobster rolls at the Trevitt General Store.
LEADER:  No leader - this will be a show and go, leaderless YOYO ride (You're On Your Own)

LINK TO RIDE MAP (2015): http://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6802082

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club rides are open to members and to the cycling public.  Helmets are required of all riders at KVBC events.  It is also recommended that you bring with you on KVBC rides:  a map of the area in case you stray off route; tools for simple roadside repairs, especially a tire pump, spare tube and/or patch kit; water bottles or hydration systems; personal ID and a small first aid kit; and money for purchasing snacks & drinks en-route.  In case of severe weather, scheduled rides may be postponed or designated as "show & go" rides at the discretion of the ride leader.

 

We welcome suggestions for improving our rides and encourage active participation of all members.  For more information, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com or check out the KVBC Facebook page, or visit the KVBC blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.