Independence! Independence!

We had a really pretty ride around the 5 Boros of Vassalboro last Sunday, thanks to Jeanine, who put together the ride on short notice to substitute for the event in Greenville that was cancelled. The ride was well attended and well appreciated! This week we will "go forth on the Fourth" and revisit one of our popular, traditional rides on Independence Day in Sidney. We cannot emphasize enough that we are still following pandemic protocols, so riders should carry masks and use them when appropriate, maintain social distancing, and stay at home if feeling sick. We look forward to seeing you all, and if you cannot make the ride on the Fourth, have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Saturday, July 4th, SIDNEY:
"Independence along the 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

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.

July Rides

Here are the KVBC rides scheduled for July:

July 4, Saturday - SIDNEY - "Independence Day Ride"
July 11, Saturday - MANCHESTER - "Cobbossee Odyssey"
July 18, Saturday - VASSALBORO - "The Martyr's Ride"
July 26, Sunday - GARDINER - "Biking to Bowdoinham"

Pandemic Protocols are still important, and still in effect! Clean Hands, Clean Masks, Clean Bikes! Stick Together but Stay Apart!

Boros and Burros

We had another fine turnout on Father's Day in Mount Vernon for our first official ride of the summer.  The weather was hot, but mitigated by cooling shades lakeside, and on some fine descents.  This Sunday we have a new ride in Vassalboro to substitute for the annual event in Greenville that was postponed this year.  We are still observing social distancing and we strongly recommend riders bring and use masks when close together, spread out on the road, and please stay home if you are feeling sick.  Cycling is great medicine, so long as you take precautions.  Hope to see you Sunday! 

Sunday, June 28 - VASSALBORO

"The Five Boros of Vassalboro" - a thoroughly enjoyable tour of the boroughs of Vassalborough

START: 9:00 am at the Vassalboro Town Office Building, 642 Main Street (Rt. 32) in Vassalboro.

DISTANCE: approx. 30 miles.

TERRAIN: flat to rolling

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic summertime views east of the Kennebec over some fine back roads in Vassalboro.

LEADER: Jeanine Libby, jjlibby13@roadrunner.com.  

One Summer Solstice, Eleven Ponds

We had a record turnout and a superb ride last Sunday from Jefferson around Damariscotta Lake, with great weather and spectacular views, and fields full of lupines. Our thanks to Bryan and Holly for another great ride. The weather is heating up as summer officially approaches (5:44pm Saturday) and our first ride of the summer will be on Sunday, starting at a new location in West Mount Vernon. In case you have forgotten, we are still contending with a pandemic, so please remember to maintain distancing, bring a mask and use it in close quarters especially if you have to stop at a store, and stay home if you are feeling sick. Hope to see you Sunday!

Sunday, June 21st - WEST 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, at the boat landings on Echo Lake and Taylor Pond on Rt. 41 at the junction of Sandy River Road; the nearest street address is 1156 ME-41. There is a bridge and a dam and a free-standing brick chimney as landmarks. Park in either boat landing lot on opposite sides of the road.

DISTANCE:  14 and 29 miles.

TERRAIN:  Rolling with a few good hills (and one memorable one).

HIGHLIGHTS:  rural back roads winding through many small ponds and lakes, and across the top of the Chesterville Esker.

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

LINK to RIDE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7490421

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club rides are open to members and to the cycling public.  Helmets are required of all riders at KVBC events.  In case of severe weather, scheduled rides may be postponed or designated as "show & go" rides at the discretion of the ride leader.  For ride updates and reports, check out the KVBC blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com or follow us on Facebook.

Lupines and Fish Ladders

We started out June with a great turnout last Sunday in Vassalboro.  Our thanks to the Lipmans, who not only organized another fine ride, but also adapted to the COVID-19 limitations and figured out a way to "socialize at a distance" after the ride.  This Sunday we will head out to Jefferson for a great loop around Damariscotta Lake.  Please remember that we are still working to "flatten the curve." Maintain a healthy distance between each other while riding and stopping, bring masks to use when in close quarters, and please stay home if you are sick.  Stay well, and see you Sunday!

Sunday, June 14 - JEFFERSON

"Lupine Damariscotta Lake" - a most colorful circumnavigation of Damariscotta Lake.

START: 9:00 am at the Jefferson Village School, 48 Washington Road, Jefferson.

DISTANCE: 27 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic back roads in full flower with a stop at the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder and the Bunker Hill Church overlook of the lake.

LEADER: Bryan Griffin, bjgriffin@roadrunner.com.

LINK to ROUTE MAP (2018): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7254743

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, or check out our club blog, "Posted Roads" at http://postedroads.blogspot.com, or keep up to date via our Facebook page.

Update: This Saturday's Ride Rescheduled to Sunday

The KVBC ride from Vassalboro this Saturday has been rescheduled to Sunday, June 7, at 9:00 am, due to the forecast of thunderstorms.  See you Sunday!

Bike Rides in June

Here are the KVBC Bike Rides for JUNE:

Saturday, June 6: Vassalboro - "Velo Vassalboro"
Sunday, June 14: Jefferson - "Lupine the Lakes"
Sunday, June 21: Mt. Vernon - "Eleven Ponds"
Sunday, June 28: Vassalboro - "Five Boro's of Vassalboro"

Please remember that pandemic protocols are in effect! Clean Masks - Clean Hands - Clean Bikes!

Back to Vassalboro

We had a fine ride around the Colby Loop on Saturday. There were 15 of us, so we broke into two riding groups, and the weather and the roads were better than expected.  Many thanks to Duncan, who was leading his first KVBC ride, although hardly anyone would've noticed.  This Saturday we have rescheduled one of our favorite club rides in Vassalboro.  We are permitted to ride in larger numbers, but pandemic protocols are still in effect.  Maintain social distancing, bring a mask for use in close quarters, and do not attend if you are feeling sick or have recently been in contact with anyone who has. There will be an opportunity for distant socializing outside after the ride - please bring a lawn chair and your own beverages.  Hope to see you behind your mask Saturday!

Saturday, June 6th- VASSALBORO

"Velo Vassalboro" -  a scenic tour around the China Lake region

START:  9 am  at the home of David and Laura Lipman.  Condo is after Natanis Golf Course on ARROWHEAD DRIVE off of Webber Pond Road heading north. (Not to be confused with Fairway Drive. Use Barrows Road on your GPS and we are the next road on the  left after that)  Please park wide apart after the garages in the large dirt parking lot after the condo buildings.

DISTANCE: approx. 18 or 31 miles, with 1,200 or 2,000 feet of climbing respectively

TERRAIN:  Moderate to Hilly

HIGHLIGHTS: Views of China Lake and Webber Pond,  gentleman farms and country homes along the Neck Road.  If desired, stay afterwards to socialize (distantly) with fellow bikers over light snacks.  Please bring a lawn chair and your own beverages.

LEADER:  David Lipman, dlipman@lipmankatz.com

LINK to ROUTE MAP (2018): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7254750