April Fools!

 We had a fine ride last Saturday from Chesterville for Maine Maple Sunday weekend. A bit cloudy and cool, but the roads were mostly dry, and once we warmed up the temperatures stayed rather steady.  Best of all, we were treated to pancakes and fresh maple syrup at the ride leader's after the ride.  Many thanks of the day to John for hosting us!  We had hoped to kick off our April rides on April Fools Day this Saturday, but Mother nature isn't fooling around, so we are switching the ride start to Sunday which is forecast to be much drier.  Hope you can join us!

Sunday, April 2nd - MANCHESTER

"Where Fools Ride In" -  an "almost Spring-like" tour from Manchester to Wings Mills.

START:  11:00 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

April is the Coolest Month

 Here is the KVBC ride lineup for April! We have a full slate of rides to start off the season, and we hope you can join us!

Pishou Pishou

 Welcome to the first day of Spring!  We had splendid weather for our ride from Vassalboro on Charles Pratt's birthday two weeks ago.  Hopefully the last gasps of Winter will hold off and let us get in a ride this weekend for Maine Maple Sunday.  We'll meet in Chesterville on Saturday (or Sunday, if the weather is more favorable) for a 23-mile ride out to Farmington Falls and back to the ride leader's to check out his Maple Syrup operation - with some sampling in store!  Stay tuned for last-minute updates, and hope to see you this weekend!

Saturday, March 25 - CHESTERVILLE (Rain Date: Sunday, March 26)

"Pishou's Sucrerie" - a sweet syrup-sampling ride from Chesterville to Farmington Falls.

START: 11:00 am at the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Main Street (about a mile from the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Tower Road).  As you turn onto Main Street (unpaved) there is a small parking area next to a small green dumpster; additional parking roadside. Signs say No Trespassing except with permission - John says we have his permission.

DISTANCE: 23.5 miles.

TERRAIN: flat to hilly; sandy road conditions call for caution on descents.

HIGHLIGHTS: a postride gathering at the ride leader's house for sap boiling and sugar sampling on Maine Maple Sunday weekend.

LEADER: John Lanoue, john.lanoue@avid.com.

LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7642740

2023 KVBC Ride Calendar

 Here is the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club Ride Calendar for 2023!  Many thanks to all those who volunteered to lead rides!  There are still a few dates to fill in, so if you would like to lead a ride, please let me know and I will do my best to fit you in.  Also let me know if there are any corrections to be made to this list.  It looks like we will have a fine year of riding ahead! - Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com

KVBC 2023 RIDE CALENDAR

 

March 12, Sunday – Vassalboro: Pratt’s Birthday Ride; Jim Merrick

March 25, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Chesterville: Pichou’s Sucrerie; John Lanoue

 

April 1, Saturday – Mount Vernon: Where Fools Ride In; Jim Merrick

April 15, Saturday – Winslow: Big Gs and Bare Knees: Jeanine Libby

April 22, Saturday – Turner: Wake Up the Earth Ride; Jim Merrick

April 29, Saturday – Waterville: Over the Colby Loop; Duncan Tate

 

May 6, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Jay: May in Jay; Jim Merrick

May 13, Saturday – Vassalboro: China Lake; Jeanine Libby

May 20, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Chesterville: Triple Bypass; John Lanoue

May 27, Saturday – Vassalboro: Velo Vassalboro; David Lipman

 

June 3, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Readfield: Maranacook Meander; Lydia Leimbach

June 10, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Jefferson: Lupine the Lake; David Chiappetta & Tammy Jones

June 17, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Winslow: Somewhat Near Sebasticook; Steve Hall

June 24, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Mount Vernon: Eleven Ponds; Jim Merrick

 

July 1, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Sidney: Independence Day Ride; TBD

July 8, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Winslow: Winsome Winslow; Tom Michaud

July 15, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Liberty: Palermo Beyond the Pale; Paul Mitnik

July 22, Saturday – Whitefield: Tour de Whitefield; Bryan & Holly Griffin

July 29, Saturday – Oakland: A Cone or a Dish; Tammy Jones

 

August 5, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Chelsea: Chelsea Chainrings; Fred McKinley

August 12, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – China: Ambling Towards Albion; Paul Mitnik

August 19, Saturday – Damariscotta: Drafting Through Damariscotta; David Lipman

August 26, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Winslow: Training with a Fleury; Kathy Fleury

 

September 2, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – TBD: Love’s Labor Day Lost; Steve Hall

September 9, Saturday – Richmond: Wheeling to Wiscassett; David Lipman

September 16, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Wayne: Which Way to Wayne; Fritz & Susan Onion

September 23, Saturday – Readfield: Monmouth a la Mode; Jim Merrick

September 24, Sunday – Livermore: Boothby’s Apple Ride; John Lanoue

September 30, Saturday – Madison/Norridgewock: Wire Bridge Ride; Brian Bowker & Denise Crowell

 

October 7, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Waterville: Somerset Sortie; David Chiappetta

October 14 or 15 – TBD

October 21, Saturday – Farmington: Ups & Downs of Industry; Jim Merrick

October 29, Sunday – Wayne: Wicked Wayne; Jim Merrick

 

November 18, Saturday (alt. Sunday) – Belgrade: Ugly Sweater Ride; Anne Uecker

 

ReplyReply allForward

Happy Birthday to Charles E. Pratt!

 We had an excellent ride planning meeting in Waterville on Wednesday, and we will be putting the finishing touches on the KVBC calendar shortly.  Many thanks to the folks who attended the meeting and those who offered to lead rides.  Believe it or not, it's time to kick off the KVBC's pre-season rides!  We've long wanted to have a short ride in Vassalboro to celebrate the birth of Charles E. Pratt (on March 13, 1845 in Vassalboro) a prominent, influential cyclist and son of a Quaker minister in East Vassalboro. More on Pratt here: POSTED ROADS: Happy Birthday, Charles E. Pratt!  Sunday's weather forecast looks very nice, for March, with bright sun and temperatures in the 40s, so we'll see if we can't get a short group ride in with Spring just a week away!  Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead an hour, as we will be on Daylight Savings Time on Sunday.

Sunday, March 12 - VASSALBORO

"Pratt's Birthday Ride" - a ride around Vassalboro to celebrate the birthday of Charles E. Pratt, an early cycling visionary and "Father of the League of American Wheelmen."

START: 10:30 am (Daylight Savings Time) at the Vassalboro Town Office Building, 682 Main Street (Rt. 32) in Vassalboro.

DISTANCE: 16 miles.

TERRAIN: flat to rolling

HIGHLIGHTS: a pre-Spring ride along some fine back roads in Vassalboro.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38733279