August Awaits

Here is the KVBC ride calendar for August!

Eleven Plus Two

Last Sunday's ride from Gardiner to Bowdoinham was postponed due to heavy rain, despite the ride leader's best efforts to arrange a delayed start and an alternate route, and venturing out to the start in a downpour to check to see if anyone showed up. Thanks to Joe for his efforts - we hope to reschedule the ride later in the season. This Saturday we will gather in West Mount Vernon at "The Chimney" (a free-standing brick chimney from an old tannery - a local landmark) for an expanded version of the old Eleven (now Thirteen) Ponds route. Hope you can join us as we close out the month of July! Saturday, July 31st - WEST MOUNT VERNON "Thirteen 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: 13.5 and 36.5 miles. TERRAIN: Flat to 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 (Long): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7600572 or https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36840577 LINK to RIDE MAP (Short): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7601045 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.

Gardiner Ride DELAYED START at NOON

Due to the forecast of rain for tomorrow, we have shorted the planned route and are rescheduling for a delayed start at noon, hoping that we can get a ride in between showers. If it is pouring at noon the ride will be cancelled. Otherwise, see you tomorrow! Sunday, July 25th - GARDINER "Biking towards Bowdoinham" - a tour of the southern Kennebec Valley through Gardiner, Richmond and Litchfield. START: 12:00 PM, 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: 27 miles. TERRAIN: Moderately hilly. HIGHLIGHTS: quiet back roads along streams and farmland south & west of Gardiner. LEADERS: Joe Renda, geologyjoe@gmail.com LINK to ROUTE MAP (2015): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6800442

Back to Bowdoinham

It was cloudy and somewhat humid on the ride out of Liberty last Saturday, but the rains held off and we had a very nice ride over some unfamiliar roads with great scenery. Those of us who climbed up on Appleton Ridge got in some gravel riding as well. Many thanks to Paul, who was leading his first ride with the club, and to all who turned out. Next Sunday we will revisit one of our club favorites as we ride from Gardiner to Bowdoinham. If you haven't gotten your coronavirus vaccination yet please remember to wear a mask and observe distancing - with the new variants afoot we are not out of the woods yet. Hope to see you Sunday! Sunday, July 25th - 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. LEADERS: Joe Renda, geologyjoe@gmail.com LINK to ROUTE MAP (2015): http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6654861

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite

We had fine weather and a fine ride last Sunday in Winslow over some very pretty back roads and a nice run along the River Road. We had a nice turnout of 21 riders, including some new faces, and 3 or 4 folks biked to the start. Many thanks to Tom for leading (and to Paul for switching ride dates)! Next Saturday we will venture further afield for a ride around Liberty and Palermo and vicinity; please note the 9:30 am start, and a new starting location. Hope you can join us! Saturday, July 17 - LIBERTY "Palermo, Beyond the Pale" - an adventurous ride through Liberty, Palermo, Appleton and Searsport. START: 9:30 am at the parking lot of Revision Energy on Rt. 3 in Liberty, about a half mile east of the junction of Rt.s 3 & 220 (about 1.5 miles past the entrance to Liberty State Park). Revision Energy is on the left, east-bound. DISTANCE: 31 or 34 miles. TERRAIN: rolling to hilly; the Appleton Ridge option is partially unpaved. HIGHLIGHTS: exceptional rural back roads and small hamlets, including the option of traversing Appleton Ridge with its spectacular vistas. LEADER: Paul Mitnik, pjmejm@gmail.com LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7599701 LINK to ROUTE MAP with Appleton Ridge Option: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7599703

Win Some, Win Slow

We had a fine Fourth of July ride in Sidney on July 5th, taking advantage of the long weekend to bypass the cold, wet conditions on Sunday for sunshine, dry pavement, and warmer temperatures on Monday. Many thanks to Peggy for prompt rescheduling, welcomed by the 20 other riders who turned out (especially those of us who wouldn't have been able to make it otherwise). Thank you! Next Sunday we will head out from Winslow along the banks of the Kennebec. Hope you can join us! Sunday, July 11 - WINSLOW "Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton START: 9 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow DISTANCE: 30.8 miles TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills HIGHLIGHTS: Back roads of Winslow, Benton, Fairfield, and Clinton with Kennebec River views. LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com LINK TO RIDE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974