It All Henges on One Thing

ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY! Scientists have discovered that Stonehenge was actually designed as an elaborate pump track! "It's amazing!" declared one of the researchers, announcing the historical breakthrough. "We now believe that they moved the giant stones with sophisticated electronic shifting." The ancient designers also carefully aligned the stones with celestial bodies so they would know it was time to upgrade their gear. The scientists say that the early cyclists used the pump track at Stonehenge for perhaps hundreds of years, "or until they got bored and built Machu Picchu instead."

Maine Maple Sidney!

We had spectacular spring weather for our impromptu ride from Manchester to Wings Mills last Sunday. It doesn't look quite as sunny and warm this weekend for Maine Maple Sunday, but Saturday may prove to be a nice day to ride to one of the Maple Sap Houses in Sidney, so we will meet at the James H. Bean Elementary School on Middle Road (not the Oakland Post Office as originally planned for Sunday, when we may get more snow). Please remember to bring and wear masks when congregating at the start and stopping at stores, attend to proper distancing, and stay at home to ride another day if you are feeling sick. Hope we can get a ride in on Saturday! Saturday, March 27th, SIDNEY: "Maine Maple Sidney" - an early Spring ride to a Maple Syrup House. START: 10:30 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: 20 Miles. TERRAIN: moderate with a few hills. HIGHLIGHTS: some fine back roads and Kennebec River views, and a possible stop at one or two local Maple Sap Houses for some syrup sampling. LEADER: Jim Merrick, 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com. RIDE MAP LINK: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6813917

The somewhat frosty conditions last week forced a postponement of our tentative, pre-season ride in Vassalboro, but the forecast for this Sunday is for lots of sun and temperatures in the upper 50s.  And the calendar still says "March."  Next weekend is Maple Sunday, but who knows what the weather will be, so why not take advantage of it while we can?  We'll meet at the Manchester Elementary School for a short, low-key ride out to Wings Mills.  Things are starting to look up a bit, pandemic-wise, but please remember to bring masks to wear at the ride start, be attentive to proper distancing, and stay home if you are feeling sick.  Hope to see some folks on Sunday!

Sunday, March 21st - MANCHESTER

"Manchester United" -  an "almost Spring-like" tour from Manchester to Wings Mills.

START:  10:30 AM, at the Manchester Elementary School parking lot on Rt. 17, near the junction of Rt. 17 & Rt. 202.  The school is on the left just after you turn off Rt. 202 onto Rt. 17 West.

DISTANCE: 19 or 23 miles.

TERRAIN:  moderate, with one long hill.

HIGHLIGHTS:  We'll ride past Lakeside Orchards over back roads along some streams in and out of Wings Mills and take in some hilltop views.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6761462

Time for Pie

 It's 3/14, which means it's Pi Day! Also the start of Daylight Savings Time, and Albert Einstein's birthday! You know Al could appreciate that it's Time for Pie.

Happy 176th Birthday, Charles E. Pratt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We've had a tantalizing stretch of warm days this week, and I was really hoping it would stretch into the weekend.  But it looks like we are in for some much colder weather on Saturday, which has the potential of turning all the recent snow melt into black ice.  So we will forego our tentatively scheduled pre-season ride celebrating the birthday of cycling pioneer Charles E. Pratt (1845-1898) in Vassalboro.  Instead, we'll keep our fingers crossed for more favorable weather for Maine Maple Sunday.  If you do get in some riding this weekend, think of our man from Vassalboro, Charles Pratt: https://postedroads.blogspot.com/2009/03/happy-birthday-charles-e-pratt.html.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KVBC 2021 Ride Calendar

Hello everyone!  Here is the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club 2021 Ride Calendar!  We have a fine line-up of rides in store for this year, weather and social distancing requirements permitting.  Our thanks to all of the volunteers who stepped up to offer to lead rides this year!  We truly could not do this without you.  We are just twelve days away from our first potential "pre-season" ride on bicycle pioneer Charles E. Pratt's birthday in Vassalboro on March 13.

Also, those of you who may have recently ordered KVBC jerseys and accessories, I am informed that they have been shipped and should be arriving soon!

KVBC 2021 Ride Calendar

 

March 13 - VASSALBORO: Pratt’s Birthday Ride (Jim Merrick) [tentative]

March 28 – OAKLAND: Maine Maple Sidney (Jim Merrick) [tentative]

 

April 18 – WINSLOW: Nice Out or Ice Out (Jeanine Libby)

April 24 – BELGRADE: Wake Up the Earth Ride (Jim Merrick)

 

May 1 – CHINA: Albion My Way (Duncan Tate)

May 8 – EAST VASSALBORO: China Surprise (Jeanine Libby)

May 16 – READFIELD: Maranacook Meander (Lydia Leimbach)

May 22 – CHESTERVILLE: No Place Like Home (John Lanoue)

May 30 – JAY: May in Jay (Jim Merrick)

 

June 6 –NORRIDGEWOCK- (Brian Bowker & Denise Crowell)

June 13 – JEFFERSON: Lupine the Lakes (Bryan and Holly Griffin)

June 19 – VASSALBORO: Velo Vassalboro (David Lipman)

June 26 – MOUNT VERNON: Eleven Ponds (Jim Merrick)

 

July 4 – SIDNEY: Independence Day Ride (Peggy Horner)

July 11 – PALERMO: Beyond the Pale (Paul Mitnik)

July 17- WINSLOW Winsome Winslow (Tom Michaud)

July 18 – (Lobster Ride)

July 25 – GARDINER: Biking to Bowdoinham (Joe Renda)

July 31 - MANCHESTER: Cobbossee Odyssey (Jim Merrick)

 

August 8 – RICHMOND: Wheeling to Wiscassett (David Lipman)

August 14 – WHITEFIELD: Tour de Whitefield (Bryan and Holly Griffin)

August 21 – SMITHFIELD: Looping the Lakes (Larry Childs)

August 22 – LINCOLNVILLE: Moping Around Moody Mountain (David Chiappetta)

August 29 – OAKLAND: Barreling Through Oakland (Tammy Jones)

 

September 5 – DAMARISCOTTA: Drafting to Damariscotta (David Lipman)

September 12 –WAYNE: Which Way to Wayne? (Fritz and Susan Onion)

September 18 – AUGUSTA: Capitol maybe Breakfast Ride (Duncan Tate)

September 19 – (WINDSOR: Share the Road with Carol)

September 26 – NORRIDGEWOCK: The Wire Bridge Ride (Denise Crowell and Brian Bowker)

 

October 2– LIVERMORE FALLS- Boothby’s Apple Ride (John Lanoue)

October 9 – NEW SHARON: Sandy River Gravitas (Jim Merrick)

October 17 – WATERVILLE: Somerset Sortie (David Chiappetta)

October 23 – FARMINGTON: Ups and Downs of Industry (Jim Merrick)

October 31 – WAYNE: Wicked Wayne (Jim Merrick)