Bring Us Your Lupines

We are starting to see some high summer temperatures and summer is still 12 days away. We had another great turnout last Sunday in Norridgewock featuring scenic views, smooth pavement, some pretty descents, and a great post-ride gathering at the ride leaders'! Many thanks to Brian and Denise for another great club ride! Also, a shout-out to Laura and David Lipman for leading a successful Women's Ride with BCM in Augusta on Saturday - the ride was well-attended and well-appreciated! Next Sunday we will meet in jefferson for a ride around Damariscotta Lake. Will the summer heat bring out the fields of lupines around the lake? Come find out on Sunday - see you then! Sunday, June 13 - 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.

Not for Naught

We had a fine turnout for last Sunday's ride around Lake Cobbossee despite the cool, cloudy, and threatening conditions. We did manage to avoid the rain, and got in a nice ride and even a nice ice cream stop at the end. This week we may see a return to summer temperatures, just in time for our ride Sunday in Norridgewock. Don't forget to bring a mask should you have to stop at a place that requires them, and stay home and get well if you are feeling sick. Hope to see you Sunday! Sunday, June 6 - NORRIDGEWOCK "Not for Naught, Norridgewock" - a tour through Norridgewock, Smithfield, and Mercer. START: 9:00 am at the ride leaders' house at 434 Fredericks Corner Road, about two miles from the junction of Rt.2 in Norridgewock. Please park on either side of the driveway. DISTANCE: about 32.5 miles. TERRAIN: rolling with a few hills. HIGHLIGHTS: scenic roads around North and East Ponds in Smithfield, and the not to be undone wiles of Norridgewock. LEADERS: Denise Crowell, denisemcrowell@gmail.com, and Brian Bowker, bbowk321@yahoo.com. LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36223920 For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the KVBC blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com, or the KVBC Facebook page.

June Rides

Here is the KVBC Ride Calendar for June! A reminder: the KVBC ride in Manchester is still on for tomorrow, Sunday, May 30, at 9:00 am. The KVBC-BCM joint Women's Ride in Augusta on June 5 is currently at capacity (there are still openings at many of the other rides around the state). Lots of great riding ahead - hope you can join us!

Odysseys around Cobbossee

We had a very pretty ride last Saturday from Chesterville along some scenic back roads, some good climbs and exhilarating downhills, and special post-ride and mid-ride stops thanks to our gracious hosts at the ride leader's house on Parker Pond. Many thanks to John and his crew who kept us moving to avoid being dined on ourselves by an armada of insects. This Sunday we will meet in Manchester near Fielders' Choice Ice Cream for one of our traditional rides around Lake Cobbosseecontee. This will be our first ride with the new Maine CDC guidelines in place, so fully vaccinated people (not partially vaccinated or unvaccinated) can carry on outdoors without masks. You will still need a mask to go indoors in many places, and it might be prudent to have a mask while waiting in line for ice cream, so use your best judgement. Hope to see you Sunday, and if not, have a great Memorial Day! Sunday, May 30th - MANCHESTER "A Cobbossee Odyssey": a tour around Cobbosseecontee Lake. START: 9:00 A.M., at the parking lot on McArdle Street, just off Rt. 202W past the junction of Rt. 202 & Rt.17, between the Manchester Grange Hall and Fielders' Choice Ice Cream Stand. The parking lot is the first right after you turn on McArdle Street. DISTANCE: 28.8 miles. TERRAIN: rolling with some challenging hills. HIGHLIGHTS: views of Cobbossee Lake, back roads of Winthrop, Manchester, West Gardiner, Litchfield, and Monmouth, and a potential ice cream stop conveniently at the end! LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com Link to Ride Map (2015): http://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6801528 For more info on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, check out the club blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com, or follow us on Facebook.

Hill Topping

We had a really nice ride out to the Nezinscot Farm on Sunday, with a near record turnout of 28 riders, about a half-dozen or so actually stayed on the planned route, but everyone got back OK and in good spirits. Thanks to all who came out and kept their cool in the face of going astray and dealing with hostile truckers (dealt with admirably, I should note).. With luck, we will have more fine riding in store for this Saturday in Chesterville. Please remember that we are still in an on-going pandemic, despite mixed signals from public health authorities, so keep up with social distancing and bring a mask for times when you can't (especially if you are still waiting on vaccination), and please stay home if you are feeling unwell. Hope to see you Saturday! Saturday, May 22 - CHESTERVILLE "There's No Place Like Home" - a tour around Chesterville, Farmington Falls, New Sharon and Vienna. START: 9:00 am at the ride leader's new home at 192 Hilltop Road (aka Hill Top or Hill-Top) in Chesterville. Please park along the roadside. DISTANCE: 28 miles. TERRAIN: flat to rolling with some significant hills. HIGHLIGHTS: the scenic Chesterville Esker, Zion Hill, Cape Cod Hill, and a bunch of no-name hills. Possible post-ride get-together at the ride leader's house. LEADER: John Lanoue, john.lanoue@avid.com. LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.strava.com/routes/2821566370865323008

Not for Naught by the Nezinscot

We had a wonderful Mothers' Day ride out of Vassalboro last Sunday under exceptionally clear, sunny skies. We had a great group of 20 riders as we explored some of the prime roads around Vassalboro and China. Many thanks to Jeanine for again leading another fine ride. This Sunday we will start in Wayne and head out to Turner and Leeds and explore some new roads, taking us past the Nezinscot Farm. Please remember to bring masks and use them at the ride start and when stopping at stores, maintain social distancing, and stay home and get well if you are feeling sick. Hope to see you Sunday! Sunday, May 16 - WAYNE "A Nezinscot Necessary" - a tour across the Androscoggin to the Nezinscot, through Wayne, Turner and Leeds. START: 9:00 am at the Wayne Elementary School on 48 Pond Road. DISTANCE: 30 miles. TERRAIN: some flat, some hilly. HIGHLIGHTS: scenic riversheds and ridgetop views, Androscoggin Riverlands State Park, and a possible stop at the Nezinscot Farm Store. LEADER: Jim Merrick, 293-2784, hjmerrick@gmail.com. LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7422519

Surprise, Surprise!

We had a very pretty ride last Saturday from China to Albion, and we had 15 lucky riders take part, even though it was cloudy, cool, and blustery. The route was exceptional, and even traversed some historic Maine Narrow Gauge Railway crossings still tracked by train buffs. Many thanks to Duncan for another great ride! This Sunday we will head out on Mother's Day for a ride around the other side of China where we may see the other side of history. Please remember to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start so we can leave reasonably on time, and remember to bring masks to wear when distancing is difficult. Please stay home and get well if you are feeling sick. Hope to see you Sunday! Sunday, May 9 - NORTH VASSALBORO "China Surprise" - a bucolic tour around China Lake with an intriguing surprise. START: 9:00 am at the North Vassalboro Town Office, 682 Main Street, Rt. 32. DISTANCE: 25 miles. TERRAIN: rolling with some hills. HIGHLIGHTS: some delightful back roads and lakeside views with hidden histories. LEADER: Jeanine Libby, jjlibby13@roadrunner.com LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4348780987