To the Heights, Watson

We had a "Spring tease" ride last Saturday in Vassalboro to start off the season, enjoying some bright sunshine and blue skies despite the rather cool and blustery conditions. The roads were clear although winter-worn, and we had a fine turnout. Many thanks to Paul for leading and getting us out and about! This weekend there are tempting forecasts of 60-degree weather, so we will meet in Kents Hill on Saturday for a ride out through Wayne, Livermore, and Fayette and perhaps a bakery stop. Hope you can join us! Saturday, April 11 - KENTS HILL "Kents Hill to Watson Heights" - a Spring ride through Readfield, Wayne, Livermore and Fayette with a stop at a local bakery START: 10:30am at the parking lot across from the Torsey Memorial (Readfield Methodist) Church by the Readfield Cemetery on Rt. 17 & 41 in Kents Hill DISTANCE: 24 miles TERRAIN: flat to rolling with several long hills HIGHLIGHTS: scenic ridgetops, waterfalls, quiet back roads, and a potential stop at the Apple Shed Bakery LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50087307

April Isn't Really Cruel

Here is the KVBC Ride Line-Up for April! As with most early season rides, weather conditions can cause some delays or postponements. Please watch for updates!

Down to Vassalboro

The weather for Saturday looks favorable for an April ride in Vassalboro, and Paul has offered to lead a KVBC ride starting from the Vassalboro Community School. Here's your chance to get some early group riding in! Please note the 10:30am start. Hope to see you Saturday! Saturday, April 4 - VASSALBORO "Vassalboro Downs" - an early spring tour through the Vassalboro countryside START: 10:30am at the Vassalboro Community School at the junction of Webber Pond Road and Bog Road in Vassalboro DISTANCE: 23 miles TERRAIN: moderately hilly HIGHLIGHTS: great cycling roads past farms, golf courses, rivers and streams LEADER: Paul Mitnik, pjmejm@gmail.com LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/444385216

eBikes and eCyclists?

“It’s not what I expected,” muttered Rolland Peters, describing his reaction to an AI experiment he oversaw recently. Pressed for cash, Peters was hoping to acquire a new eBike to keep up with his cycling friends, but was resigned to picking up a used model as the best he could afford. Then he got an idea: why not direct an AI program to design an affordable eBike made from everyday objects? And then challenge the AI program to craft a finished model using 3-D printers? At first, Peters rejected the idea as too far-fetched, but he eventually warmed to the concept, thinking that it was worth a try. To his wonder, the AI program responded by creating a creditable, working eBike. Rolland thought his problems were solved! But that wasn’t the end of it. The AI got so immersed in the project that it also designed and constructed an eCyclist so that it could ride, too. Peters watched in dismay as the eCyclist rode off on his eBike, leaving him behind to join his friends. His hopes were further crushed when he learned that his cycling buddies preferred to ride with the eCyclist than with him. “He’s really a cool dude,” they said. “He knows where all the best cafes and bike shops are.” At last report, Peters had apparently shifted his attention to working on an AI design of an ePedal Kayak.

KVBC 2026 Ride Calendar

The days are getting longer, the snows are melting into mud season, and here is the preliminary Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club Ride Calendar for 2026! We have a number of openings in the calendar which will hopefully fill up as our ride leaders get their schedules squared away (and to those recuperating from injuries, get well soon!). We have many club favorites as well as some new rides planned! The KVBC Calendar is meant to be flexible and the following rides and ride dates are subject to change. Ride leaders: if I have missed your ride or if you see an open date you can fill, please let me know. Many thanks to all our volunteers! Looking forward to another great season of riding with you all! Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club 2026 Calendar April 19: Turner, “Wake Up the Earth Ride” April 25: Vassaboro, “Through the Mills” - Mitnik May 2: Readfield, “Around Annabessacook” - Chiappetta May 9: OPEN May 16: Manchester, “Manchester United” – Snow May 23: Winslow, “Winsome Winslow” – Michaud May 30: Vassalboro, “Velo Vassalboro” – Lipman June 6: Jefferson?, “Lupine the Lakes” June 13: Chesterville, “Triple Bypass” – Lanoue June 20: Richmond, “Richmond to the Sea” – Lipman June 27: Manchester, “A Cobbossey Odyssey” – Snow July 4: Sidney, “Independence Day Ride” – Merrick July 11: Damariscotta, “To Pemaquid Point” – Lipman July 18: Liberty, “Palermo Beyond the Pale” - Mitnik July 28: OPEN August 1: Chelsea, “Chelsea Chainrings” - McKinley August 8: Readfield, “Maranacook Meander” – Leimbach August 15: Belfast, “Breaking Away to Belfast” – Lipman August 22: OPEN August 29: OPEN September 5: China, “China & Palermo Hills” - Mitnik September 12: Wayne, “Which Way to Wayne?” – Onion September 19: North Augusta, “Summerhaven” – Snow September 28: Readfield?, “Monmouth a la Mode” October 3: Livermore Falls, “Boothby’s Apple Ride” – Lanoue October 10: OPEN October 17: OPEN October 24: OPEN October 31: Wayne, “Wicked Wayne” – Merrick November TBD: North Belgrade, “Ugly Sweater Ride” – Uecker (rides and ride dates subject to change)

KVBC Ride in Chesterville Cancelled

Due to poor road conditions the scheduled KVBC ride this morning in Chesterville has been postponed. We may revisit the ride later in the season, and John has offered to bring maple syrup to a future ride start! Watch for future ride announcements soon!

It May be Maple in March

Yes, once again it is that time of year when maple sugaring enters its seasonal cycle, and so shall we! This weekend brings in Maine Maple Sunday so we will meet in Chesterville on Saturday, weather permitting (stay tuned for updates) for our first ride of Spring past scenic back roads along numerous stands of sugar bush. John has been hard at his work and bottling it to distribute as a sweet start to the riding season. Hope to see you on Saturday! Saturday, March 21: CHESTERVILLE "Maine Maple Sunday (on Saturday)" - an early Spring syrup cycling ride in Chesterville. START: Saturday, 10:30am at the Sand Pond parking area in Chesterville. Follow Borough Road west from its junction with Zion Hill Road for about 1.5 miles and turn right on Sand Pond Road (may be unmarked). The parking area by the beach is about .7 mi down Sand Pond Road with a turnout on the left. See the route map below for a further guide. DISTANCE: approx. 27 miles TERRAIN: mostly flat with one significant hill, roads may be in late winter condition LEADER: John Lanoue, johnlanoue@hotmail.com HIGHLIGHTS: Zion Hill, the Chesterville Esker, and some local maple syrup, of course! LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54223794