Sanka de Mayo

We had a wonderful "Wake Up the Earth Ride" out of Belgrade on Sunday - thanks to Jim Floyd, who set out a splendid new route for us. Now we will head into May - May is "Bike Month" - and the weather had better start to look like May. Sunday is Sanka de Mayo, but you don't have to settle for any decaffeinated ride - we are going to head out over a classic route around Gardiner and West Gardiner - and we may even stop at Frosty's Donuts near the ride's end. Guaranteed to be good to the last drop - for a no-drop ride. Hope you can join us!

Sunday, May 5th - GARDINER

"Coffee Grindstone Crank" - a tour south of the Capitol district through Gardiner and Litchfield.

START:  10:00 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:  28 or 30 miles.

TERRAIN:  Moderately hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  quiet back roads along streams and farmland in West Gardiner and Richmond; possible stop at Frosty's Donuts in Gardiner.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7355770

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.

May is Bike Month!

Here is the KVBC Ride Schedule for May! May is Bike Month, and hopefully we will have warmer weather for some fine riding ahead!

Wake Up the Earth Ride Rescheduled to SUNDAY

A student rides across the campus of the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Me., on an early Spring morning.

UPDATE: we have rescheduled the Wake Up the Earth Ride from Saturday to SUNDAY, in hopes of dryer weather.  Hopefully the rains will finally give us a break!

It's Earth Week!  And what better way to cap it off than with the KVBC "Wake Up The Earth Ride" in Belgrade Lakes!  We will explore a brand new route this year, meeting at the Belgrade Community Center for All Seasons at 10 am on Sunday.  After a long, drawn out Winter with still some residual snow in spots, it will be a pleasure to welcome in Spring.  Hope you can join us - Wake Up the Earth!

April 28th, Sunday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Wake Up The Earth Ride" - celebrate Earth Week and the arrival of Spring with a ride through Belgrade, Mount Vernon, and Wings Mills.

START:  10:00 A.M., at the Belgrade Community Center on Rt. 27, a half mile south of the Village of Belgrade Lakes, on the right (northbound) just past the Great Pond Marina.  Park in the community center parking lot nearest the street (just as you turn in).

DISTANCE:  26 miles with a shorter 17-mile option.

TERRAIN:  rolling to "moderately" hilly (translation: there are hills on this ride).

HIGHLIGHTS: views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Wings Mills - possible post-ride stop at Hello Good Pie bakery in Belgrade Lakes Village.

LEADER:  Jim Floyd, jimfloyd@fairpoint.net..

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7359714
 

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

Wake Up The Earth!

It's Earth Week!  And what better way to cap it off than with the KVBC "Wake Up The Earth Ride" in Belgrade Lakes!  We will explore a brand new route this year, meeting at the Belgrade Community Center for All Seasons at 10 am on Saturday (Rain Date, Sunday).  After a long, drawn out Winter with still some residual snow in spots, it will be a pleasure to welcome in Spring.  Hope you can join us - Wake Up the Earth!

April 27th, Saturday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Wake Up The Earth Ride" - celebrate Earth Week and the arrival of Spring with a ride through Belgrade, Mount Vernon, and Wings Mills.

START:  10:00 A.M., at the Belgrade Community Center on Rt. 27, a half mile south of the Village of Belgrade Lakes, on the right (northbound) just past the Great Pond Marina.  Park in the community center parking lot nearest the street (just as you turn in).

DISTANCE:  26 miles.

TERRAIN:  rolling to "moderately" hilly (translation: there are hills on this ride).

HIGHLIGHTS: views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Wings Mills - possible post-ride stop at Hello Good Pie bakery in Belgrade Lakes Village.

LEADER:  Jim Floyd, jimfloyd@fairpoint.net..

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7359714
 

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

Saturday's Ride Rescheduled One Week

Due to poor weekend weather forecast, the KVBC Wake Up the Earth Ride scheduled for this Saturday, April 20, has been rescheduled for the following Saturday, April 27, in Belgrade Lakes. In the meantime, stay dry and enjoy this Easter - Earth Day weekend, and we'll see you in a week's time!

KVBC 2019 Ride Calendar

Here is the revised KVBC 2019 Ride Calendar!  Our thanks, once again, to all of our volunteer ride leaders, without whom we would be lost (or at least on our own).  There are still a few dates in the calendar to fill in, and there may be some revisions along the way.  In fact, we are looking at some potential wet weather for the ride scheduled for this Saturday, so watch for alerts!  Meanwhile lets hope that these April showers will flower into some great riding in May and beyond.  Hope to see you all out on the road!

KVBC 2019 Ride Calendar

March 24 – Sunday, OAKLAND: Maine Maple Sidney (Jim Merrick)

April 20 – Saturday, BELGRADE: Wake Up the Earth Ride (Jim Floyd)

May 5 – Sunday, GARDINER: Coffee Grindstone Crank (Jim Merrick)

May 11 – Saturday, READFIELD: Maranacook Meander (Lydia Leimbach)

May 18 – Saturday, NORRIDGEWOCK: Bigelow by Bike (Brian Bowker & Denise Crowell)

May 26 – Sunday, JAY: May in Jay (Jim Merrick)

June 1 – Saturday, VASSALBORO: Velo Vassalboro (David Lipman)

June 9 – Sunday, NORRIDGEWOCK: Over the Colby Loop (Brian Bowker & Denise Crowell)

June 15 – Saturday, JEFFERSON: Around Damariscotta Lake (Bryan & Holly Griffin)

June 22 – Saturday, TBD, WAYNE?: Property Pedal Tour (Jean-Luc Theriault and Jim Floyd)

July 6 – Saturday, SIDNEY: Independence Day Ride (Jim Putman)

July 13 – Saturday, DAMARISCOTTA: Drafting through Damariscotta (David Lipman)

July 20 – Saturday, TBD, KENTS’ HILL

July 28 – Sunday, GARDINER: Biking to Bowdoinham (Joe Renda)

August 3 – Saturday, RICHMOND: Wheeling to Wiscasset (David Lipman)

August 10 – Saturday, WHITEFIELD: Tour de Whitefield (Bryan & Holly Griffin)

August 17 – Saturday, WAYNE: Which Way to Wayne? (Fritz Onion)

August 25 – Sunday, LINCOLNVILLE: Out through the Cellar Door (Tammy Jones)

August 31 – Saturday, SMITHFIELD: Looping the Lakes (Larry Childs)

September 14 – Saturday, PITTSTON: Benedictine Pathways (Joe Renda) 

September 21 – Saturday, LIVERMORE: Boothby’s Orchard Ride (John Lanoue)

September 28 – Saturday, WINTHROP: Monmouth a la Mode (Jim Merrick)

October 13 – Sunday, CHESTERVILLE: Three Peaks and a Pontoon (John Lanoue)

October 19 – Saturday, EAST WINTHROP: Bicycle Repairman (Brian Bowker & Denise Crowell)

October 27 – Sunday, WAYNE: Wicked Wayne (Jim Merrick)

November 3 – Sunday, WATERVILLE: (Camille Chamberland)

Hie Onto Hussey's

Sorry for the late notice - checking the weather closely for optimum weekend riding conditions, and with temperatures into the 60s forecast for Saturday, Saturday it is!  We'll meet at Cony High School in Augusta and head out to Windsor past Hussey's General Store and the Windsor Fairgrounds and return through Chelsea.  We might make a late breakfast (brunch?) stop at Rebecca's Cafe.  Hope to see you tomorrow - Spring may actually be coming!

Saturday, April 13 - AUGUSTA

"Hie onto Hussey's" - a precursor of Spring rides to come, out through Augusta, Windsor, and Chelsea.

START: 10 am at Cony High School, 60 Pierce Street off of Rt.105 in Augusta.

DISTANCE: 24 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate.

HIGHLIGHTS: back roads past melting ponds and lakes, Hussey's General Store, 60-degree weather, and a possible stop at Rebecca's Cafe.

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

LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7354718

April in Hallowell

Yes, it's April, and yes, it's still snowing - but hey, Sunday is supposed to be sunny and maybe in the 50s, so lets try for another early season ride, starting in Hallowell at the Hall Dale School.  We'll head out toward Litchfield and West Gardiner and return via the Kennebec Rail Trail with a potential stop at Slate's Bakery!  See you Sunday!

Sunday, April 7 - HALLOWELL

"Over Hill and Hall-Dale" - an early Spring ride through Hallowell, Litchfield, and West Gardiner.
START: 10:00 am at the Hall-Dale Elementary School at 26 Garden Lane off of Winthrop Street in Hallowell.
DISTANCE: 23 miles.
TERRAIN: rolling with some good climbs; flat along the rail trail.
HIGHLIGHTS: a bike ride in April; the Kennebec Rail Trail; possible stop at Slate's Bakery.
LEADER: Jim Merrick, 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com.
LINK TO RIDE MAP: http://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6763231

Cars of the Future

Errol McCarthy in CARtoons Magazine, circa 1973.

It was 1973. Geopolitical turmoil and fossil fuel dependency had led to a world-wide fuel shortage. In response some forward-thinking inventors and visionaries proposed that future cars should be human-powered or run on passive energy systems. Politicians, world leaders, and industry pace-setters quickly adopted these designs with unbridled enthusiasm, and the planet was saved!
And that's how we got to where we are today.