For Sweater Frends

 

It was quite November-like and cold for our cemetery ride around Wayne and Fayette on Saturday. It did warm up in the sun, which we actually saw for a few minutes, and we had a nice stop at the Apple Shed Bakery even though they had already stored their outdoor seating away. Such is life this late in the year. This Saturday at 11:00am we will see our last scheduled ride of the season as we head out to North Belgrade for a short ride to Great Pond where we hope to have a campfire with refreshments! If you have an ugly or seasonal sweater, feel free to model it for everyone! If you or someone you know would prefer not to ride, we could use a volunteer to get the campfire going - let Anne or Jim know. Hope to see you Saturday!

Saturday, November 9 - NORTH BELGRADE

"Ugly Sweater Ride" - a questionably-stylish ride around North Belgrade and Oakland.

START: 11:00 am at the North Belgrade Community Center, 508 Smithfield Road, Route 8. (Not to be confused with the Belgrade Community Center on Rt. 27.)

DISTANCE: 17 miles.

TERRAIN: flat to rolling; some short gravel sections to sights along Great Pond.

HIGHLIGHTS: a possible stop at an unusual WWI memorial on Great Pond, and a post-ride get-together around a campfire at the lakeside, with refreshments! Feel free to bring something to share if you wish, as this may be our last gathering of the year.

LEADER: Anne Uecker, anuecker@gmail.com

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44924531

Armistice Day

We had a really nice ride last Sunday in Readfield. The chill in the November air was tempered by the bright sunshine, and no one seemed to mind that we had a head wind no matter which way we turned. The weather ahead looks like it intends to turn cold and even snowy way too soon, but Sunday looks clear - which is fortunate, because it is the Centennial of Armistice Day! Hopefully we will spend a part of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month at an almost forgotten WWI monument on the shore of Great Pond at the historic Camp Merryweather in Belgrade. The monument is at the end of a dirt road which is rideable, but you might want some wider rubber underneath you. We will determine the distance of the ride at the start, dependent on conditions. Hope to see you Sunday!

Sunday, November 11 - SMITHFIELD
"Armistice Obelisk" - an adventurous back road jaunt on the Armistice Day Centennial to an obscure WWI monument on Great Pond.
START: 10:00 am at Sweet Dreams Convenience Store at the junction of Rts.8 and 137 in Smithfield. Park in the far end of the lot adjacent to the store.
DISTANCE: 19 miles, with longer and shorter options.
TERRAIN: moderate with a few hills. The road to the WWI monument is approx. six tenths mile of gravel (1.2 mi round trip).
HIGHLIGHTS: a visit to the Camp Merryweather WWI Memorial on Great Pond to commemorate the end of the War to End All Wars.
LEADER: Jim Merrick, 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com.
LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7314491

Great Ride, Great Pond

We certainly lucked out on the weather for the KVBC ride last Saturday in Whitefield - the rains dried up, and we had a great ride through "Amish Country" and a great post-ride stop at the Griffins.  Many thanks to Bryan and Holly!  This Saturday we will meet in Belgrade lakes for a tour of the lakes region, and the newly repaved Watson Pond Road.  Last ride in August - the Fall is coming up fast!  Hope you can get out and join us!

August 26th, Saturday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Great Pond Go Round" - a tour around Great Pond through Belgrade, Rome, and Smithfield.

START:  9:00 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:  23 or 30 miles, with a short option of 15 miles.

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

HIGHLIGHTS: views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Castle Island, and Blueberry Hill - possible post-ride stop on Belgrade Lakes Village.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6800290

 

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.

The Lakes Are Full Of It

Blueberry Hill, Belgrade Lakes

We managed to dodge the worst of last weekend's storm, and we were able to work in a really nice ride around Lake Maranacook.  Many thanks to Ray Giglio for leading the ride despite the stormy forecast.  The weather looks like it will finally break this weekend - "Bon Route!" to all you Trek riders!  For the rest of us, we'll check out how high the lakes are, as we ride from Belgrade Lakes.  Hopefully we will find dry pavement and visible arrows from last fall.  See you then!

 

 

 

June 15th, Saturday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Belgrade Lakes and Highlands" - a tour around Great Pond through Belgrade, Rome, and Smithfield.

START:  9:00 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:  23 or 30 miles, with a short option of 15 miles (all arrowed).

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

HIGHLIGHTS:  views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Castle Island, and Blueberry Hill.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com.

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, check our page on Facebook.

The Belgrade Lakes

Hey, we actually lucked out weather-wise on last Saturday's ride in Manchester. All the forecasts of rain, thunderstorms, high wind and hail, managed to evade us - at least on the ride itself - and the ten of us who rode had a pleasantly storm-free ride. May is National Bike Month, so we'll take advantage of an open date in the calendar to revisit one of our club favorites and ride around some of the fine roads in the Belgrade Lakes this Saturday. Help kick off Bike to Work Week (or Commute Another Way Week) and come join us in Belgrade. Hope to see you there!

May 14th, Saturday: BELGRADE LAKES

"Great Pond Go 'Round" - a tour around Great Pond through Belgrade, Rome, and Smithfield.

START: 9:30 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: 23 or 30 miles, with a short option of 15 miles.

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

HIGHLIGHTS: views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Castle Island, and Blueberry Hill.

LEADER: Jim Merrick.

Great Pond Go 'Round

We had another great ride in Wayne last Saturday - spectacular weather, another great route and another great crowd. Many thanks to Frank Rosen who revised his planned route and put together another great ride for us. This Saturday's ride will tour through the Belgrade Lakes, with three challenging routes of varying distances. Hope you can make it!

May 8th, Saturday: BELGRADE LAKES

"Great Pond Go 'Round" - a tour around Great Pond through Belgrade, Rome, and Smithfield.

START: 9:30 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: 23 or 30 miles, with a short option of 15 miles.

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

HIGHLIGHTS: views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Castle Island, and Blueberry Hill.

LEADER: Jim Merrick.