Sunday, June 30, 2024

Independence by Bike


 We had a wonderful ride from Readfield last Saturday. We had a great turnout and the weather gods smiled on us and kept the rain at bay. Aside from one tire mishap, everyone finished the ride in great shape. Many thanks to Lydia for leading and Greg for providing roadside assistance! We are coming into July, which means that our ride this Saturday will be our traditional 4th of July ride starting in Sidney. Hope you all can join us!

Saturday, July 6, SIDNEY:
"Independence by Bike" - the traditional KVBC 4th of July tour through Sidney, Augusta and Waterville.
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 29 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 Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784.
For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, check out our blog, Posted Roads at http://postedroads.blogspot.com, or follow us on Facebook. Memberships in the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club provide funds for our club insurance, enabling us to hold rides and events. Membership funds also ensure our club memberships supporting the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and the League of American Bicyclists. Membership forms can be obtained at most club rides, and also online on our club blog: https://www.blogger.com/.../732522356.../1849360075373598671. If you have difficulty accessing the forms, please contact Jim Merrick (email above) or Brian Bowker, bbowk321@yahoo.com, or Denise Crowell, denisemcrowell@gmail.com. Thank you!

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club Membership Application Form

 

KENNEBEC VALLEY BICYCLE CLUB - MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

In consideration of being permitted to participate in any way in the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club (KVBC) sponsored Bicycling Activities (“Activity”) I for myself, my personal representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin:

1. Acknowledge, agree and represent that I understand the nature of Bicycling Activities and that I am qualified to participate in such Activity. I further acknowledge that the Activity will be conducted over public roads and facilities open to the public during the Activity and upon which the hazards of traveling are to be expected. I further agree and warrant that if at any time I believe conditions to be unsafe, I will immediately discontinue further participation in the Activity.

2. Fully understand that: (a) Bicycling Activities involve risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including viral infections, bacterial infections and other communicable diseases and illnesses, permanent disability, paralysis and the risk of death; (b) these risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions, or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place, or the negligence of the other participants; (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I incur as a result of my participation in the Activity.

 

3. Hereby release, discharge, covenant not to sue, and agree to indemnify and save and hold harmless KVBC, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), their respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, members, volunteers, and employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, (each considered one of the “releasees” herein) from all liability, claims, demands, losses, or damages on my account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the “releasees” or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement I, or anyone on my behalf, makes a claim against any of the “releasees”, I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the “releasees” from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which may incur as the result of such claim.

I have read this agreement, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid, the balance, not withstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.

EVERY HOUSEHOLD MEMBER WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN CLUB ACTIVITIES MUST SIGN THIS RELEASE FORM. (Please contact our Membership Coordinator if any individual described on this application is between 16 & 18 years of age.)

Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: ___________________________

Additional Signatures: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Name and Address (Please Print)

Name(s): _________________________________________________ Date of Birth: ________ Sex (circle) M F

__________________________________________________ Date of Birth: ________ Sex (circle) M F

Address: __________________________________________________________

Town: _________________________State: _____________Zip Code: ________

Home Phone: __________________ Cell Phone: ___________________ e-mail: __________________________________

 

KVBC Membership Dues: 1 Year - Individual: $10.00; 1 Year - Household: $15.00

Electronic Payment via Venmo at this link:   https://www.venmo.com/u/Brian-Bowker-4

Or, make check or money order payable to: Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club

Send your payment with this completed form to:

B. Bowker, Treasurer or D. Crowell, Membership Coordinator

434 Frederick Corner Road,    Norridgewock,    Maine 04947

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Meandering, Meandering


Well it was considerably cooler for last Saturday's ride in Winslow, but also a lot damper, and despite all the efforts by the ride leader to squeeze the ride in (and kudos to the 3 souls who showed up) the ride was washed out. Many thanks to Steve!  We'll try again some other day.  While this Saturday will see the start of the Tour de France, we'll be in Readfield for the ever-popular Maranacook Meander.  Hope you can join us!

Saturday, June 29 - READFIELD
"The Maranacook Meander" - a lakeside tour through Readfield, Winthrop, Wayne and Kents Hill
START: 9:00 am at the Maranacook School Superintendent's parking lot, Millard Harrison Drive, off of Rt. 17 about one quarter mile north of Readfield Depot and across the street from the Readfield Town Beach.
DISTANCE: about 27-30 miles.
TERRAIN: moderate to hilly.
HIGHLIGHTS: many lakeside and hill top views; optional stop at the Apple Shed Bakery in Kents Hill..
LEADER: Lydia Leimbach, lydialeimbach@gmail.com


For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub and the KVBC blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

Monday, June 17, 2024

Summer in Vassalboro


We had some splendid weather for our ride from Mount Vernon on Saturday.  There was some nice new pavement (made all the sweeter by stretches of old pavement), some great hilltop views, and the run along the Chesterville Esker was, as always, a treat.  This Saturday we will look for some respite from the heat wave midweek as we set out on the tour of the backroads of Vassalboro.  Hope you can join us!

Saturday, June 22 - WINSLOW
"Tour de Vassalboro" - a summertime exploration of the backroads from Winslow to Vassalboro and back
START: 9:00 am at the Winslow VFW, 175 Veteran Drive, about a quarter-mile off Rt. 32 just south of the junction of Rt.s 32 & 137.
DISTANCE: 27 miles
TERRAIN: rolling with hills & valleys
HIGHLIGHTS: smooth pavement on back roads with river & lakeside views to usher in the start to summer
LEADER: Steve Hall, ridehills@gmail.com

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Eleven Ponds, Give or Take


 Conditions were rather dark and overcast and we had some wet roads at the start of the KVBC ride from Jefferson, but it cleared up and we had beautiful blue skies and sunshine and a fine ride around Damariscotta Lake.  Many thanks to David for leading and getting us out on a day that turned out much better than expected!  This Saturday we will start in West Mount Vernon for the Eleven Ponds tour out to Chesterville.  We hope you can join us, and for those of you riding the Trek, Bon Route! 


Saturday, June 15 - WEST 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, at the boat landings on Echo Lake and Taylor Pond on Rt. 41 at the junction of Sandy River Road; the nearest street address is 1156 ME-41. There is a bridge and a dam and a free-standing brick chimney as landmarks. Park in either boat landing lot on opposite sides of the road.
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.
LEADER:  Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784.

LINK to RIDE MAP (Long): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39591548
LINK to RIDE MAP (Short): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39591616
 
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, check out the KVBC blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com or follow us on Facebook.

Monday, June 3, 2024

Pining for Lupines


 

We had a beautiful day for riding around Vassalboro and China on Sunday.  Lots of sunshine, warm weather, great scenery, and a fine turnout, topped off by a great lunch provided by our hosts, Laura and David.  Thank you once again!  We really appreciate it!  This Saturday we will head out to Jefferson for another very pretty ride, this time around Damariscotta Lake with fields of lupines in bloom.  Hope you can join us!

Saturday, June 8- 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 (hopefully) with a stop at the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder and the Bunker Hill Church overlook of the lake.
LEADER: David Chiappetta, davidchiappetta5@gmail.com
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/275724675