Fourth of July Ride in Sidney

We had a wonderful ride from Damariscotta to Pemaquid Point on Sunday, with some spectacular coastal scenery, some great cycling routes, and even some souvenir pins, no less. To top it off, we had a splendid mid-ride stop for lunch courtesy of our gracious hosts, Connie and John Towne, who opened up their seaside home to us, and grilled up some great fare.  Our thanks to the Townes for their hospitality, and to our ride leader, David Lipman, for a superb ride to the coast.  This Saturday sees the return of Jim Putnam's popular 4th of July Ride in Sidney, where the weather is usually outstanding, one way or another, and the ride always is.  Hope to see you Saturday, and if not, have a great holiday weekend!

Saturday, July 5th, SIDNEY:
"Go Fourth on the Fifth" - a tour through the middle of Sidney & the middle of a prime farming district & the middle of Fourth of July preparations.
START:  9:00 AM at the James H. Bean Elementary School on Middle Road in Sidney.
Directions to the Bean School:
From south: I-95 North exit #120. Turn right at end of exit ramp onto Lyons Rd. Follow Lyons Rd. to stop sign. Turn left onto Middle Rd. Bean School is approximately one mile on the right.
From the north: I-95 South exit #120. Turn left at end of exit ramp onto Lyons Rd. Follow Lyons Rd. to stop sign. Turn left onto Middle Rd. Bean
School is approximately one mile on the right.

DISTANCE:  16 or 30 Miles.
TERRAIN:  moderate with a few hills.
HIGHLIGHTS:  some fine back roads and Kennebec River views, and some Fourth of July paraphernalia, most likely.
LEADER:  Jim Putnam.

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.

Pemaquid by the Sea

We had fantastic weather and a splendid ride last Sunday through Wings Mills, Belgrade, No. Augusta and Mount Vernon, and a delightful post-ride party with great food and company.  An outstanding day for Ken's Hot Dog Ride - in every respect!  Many thanks to Ken for leading the ride, hosting the post-ride gathering, and grilling up some great hotdogs.  Thanks, Ken!

This Sunday's KVBC ride will return to the scenic Pemaquid Peninsula with a great ride along the shore.  The route is not only scenic, but also a great trip to the ocean, and there are many great places to stop and see the sights.  We have also been invited to lunch at Connie and John Towne's home on Muscongus Bay just north of Round Pond village on the scheduled return route.  Hope you can join us! 

Sunday, June 29th; DAMARISCOTTA

"A Pedaling Purview of Pemaquid Point" - a tour through Bristol, Bremen, Pemaquid and Damariscotta.

START:  9:00 AM at Hannaford's supermarket, 469 Main Street (Business Rt. 1) in Damariscotta.

DISTANCE:  25-30 miles.

TERRAIN:  Moderately hilly to Hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic roads within the Pemaquid Peninsula, fresh and salt water views abound.

LEADER:  David Lipman. 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club rides are open to members and to the cycling public.  Helmets are required of all riders at KVBC events.  It is also recommended that you bring with you on KVBC rides:  a map of the area in case you stray off route; tools for simple roadside repairs, especially a tire pump, spare tube and/or patch kit; water bottles or hydration systems; personal ID and a small first aid kit; and money for purchasing snacks & drinks en-route.  In case of severe weather, scheduled rides may be postponed or designated as "show & go" rides at the discretion of the ride leader.

We welcome suggestions for improving our rides and encourage active participation of all members.  For more information, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com or check out the KVBC Facebook page. 

The Hot Dogs Have It

We had some fine weather for our ride last Sunday in Mount Vernon, and except for a stretch of "partial pavement" we had some pretty fair roads to explore.  Hopefully the great weather (and the pavement) will continue this Sunday as we explore the "other side" of Mount Vernon during the KVBC's sixth annual Ken's Hot Dog Ride!  Fast becoming a club tradition, we will meet at Ken's house after the ride for grilled hot dogs (veggie burgers also available for those of you who aren't what you eat).  Ken would like folks to email him at klouis17@hotmail.com ahead of next Sunday so he has an idea of how many of us to expect.  We already know we can expect a great ride - and a hot dog, too!  Hope to see you Sunday!

 

Sunday, June 22nd - WINGS MILLS (Mount Vernon)

"Hot Dog! - The Hot Dog Ride" (not because we'll ride like one but because we will want one) - a tour through Mount Vernon, Belgrade, North Augusta, and Manchester

START: 9:00 AM at 49 Marble Point Rd., Mount Vernon

      Directions to Start:

           From Augusta, take #27 North to Belgrade and turn left onto #135 (Christy's store and blinking light)
           Go 3 miles and right onto Wings Mill Rd; go 2.5 miles and right onto Marble Point Rd. which is just
           after crossing Belgrade Stream; it is a hard pack dirt road and we are the log home on the right)

           From Mount Vernon, Readfield: Take North Rd to Wings Mills Rd and go about 3 miles to Marble Point Rd;
           just after passing Bartlett Rd on the right, turn left onto Marble Point

           Delorme Maine Atlas Map 12; A-4. Just west and across the stream from the intersection of Dunn Rd and
           Wings Mill Rd. (Marble Point is not listed by name on the map).
DISTANCE: 29 miles
TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills
HIGHLIGHTS: Views of Belgrade Stream, Hamilton Pond, Stuart Pond, Messalonskee Lake, Doctor Pond, Silver Lake, Gould Pond, with a Hot Dog cookout lunch following the ride - swimming available also.  
LEADER: Ken Louis, klouis17@hotmail.com.

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club and its rides contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.

Eleven Ponds, Three (or more) Hills

Finally, June has brought us some warm cycling weather!  It actually got a bit hot on Leanne's splendid "Tour of the Back 40" Saturday in Windsor, but the scenery on the ride is so spectacular, who could complain?  Many thanks to Leanne who had good luck with the weather for once. Sunday we will meet at the post office in the village of Mount Vernon, as we head out to Fayette and Chesterville for a nice ride along the Chesterville Esker (a really pretty route if you haven't ridden it yet).  Looks like we might have some nice weather for a stretch.  See you Sunday!  For all those doing the Trek this weekend, Bon Route! 

Sunday, June 15 - MOUNT VERNON

"Eleven Ponds" - a tour past many of the hidden ponds and lakes in Mount Vernon, Fayette, Chesterville, and Vienna.

START:  9:00 AM, Mount Vernon Post Office, just off Rt. 41 on Main Street in Mount Vernon.

DISTANCE:  14 and 29 miles.

TERRAIN:  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.  Possible post-ride get-together at the cafe in Mt. Vernon village.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com.

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, follow us on Facebook.

 

Tour of the Back Forty

We had a really fine ride in Vassalboro last Saturday, followed by a wonderful post-ride lunch and get-together presented by our gracious hosts, David and Laura Lipman.  Our thanks to the Lipmans for the ride and their hospitality!  If today was any indication, the weather in June has taken quite an upswing, just in time for Leanne Moll's "Tour of the Back 40" in Windsor this Saturday.  Please note that we will be meeting at the Windsor Elementary School, about a half-mile north of the advertised ride start at the Windsor Fairgrounds, where they are hosting the Fibre Frolic this weekend (worth a visit if you have the time).  Hope you can take advantage of the great riding weather!

 

June 7th, Saturday:  WINDSOR

"Tour of the Back 40":  a tour up and down the banks of the Sheepscot River from Windsor to Alna.

START:  9:00 A.M., at the Windsor Elementary School on Rt. 32, about a mile north from the junction of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32.  The school is on the left, northbound.  NOTE: this starting location is about a half-mile north of the previously-advertised start at the Windsor Fairgrounds.

DISTANCE:  40 miles.

TERRAIN:  moderate to hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  scenic back roads with fine straight runs (definitely), the R. Majorowitz Sculpture Garden in Alna (maybe), and nice views of the Sheepscot (for sure), one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast.

LEADER:  Leanne Moll.

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, or keep up to date via our Facebook page.