The Bridge is Wired

We had a very pleasant apple-centric ride last Saturday in Livermore.  Save for an unfortunate flat for one rider right at the ride's beginning, the ride went well (and perhaps it was luck that the flat didn't occur mid-ride).  The roads were in good shape, with some fine new pavement in sections, and it was a great day for apple picking at the orchard at the ride's end!  Our thanks to John for leading!  This Saturday we will revisit our classic Fall ride to the Wire Bridge in New Portland.  Note that the long ride starts at 9:00am in Norridgewock and the short ride starts a half-hour later in Madison.  Sunday marks the annual "Share the Road with Carol" ride in Windsor, and you can still pre-register up till Sept. 28 (or at the day of the event), details here: https://www.bikereg.com/share-the-road-with-carol?fbclid=IwAR1aRg8mC3M2F7_l-P0bZhAPDOEWnCH-u_qoFi54cDEm_lP6-7UOQEn0m3I.  Hope to see you this weekend for some great riding!

Saturday, September 30 - NORRIDGEWOCK and MADISON

"The Wire Bridge Ride" - a Fall Foliage tour along the scenic Carrabassett River, through Norridgewock, Madison, Anson, New Portland and New Vineyard.

START: Long Ride - 9:00 AM at 434 Frederick's Corner Road in Norridgewock; Short Ride - 9:30 AM at the municipal parking lot behind Reny's on Main St. in Madison (access to the lot is via Maple St.)

DISTANCE: Long Ride - approx 64 miles; Short Ride - approx. 37 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Fall foliage along the Carrabassett River, and the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland, a civil engineering landmark built in 1866, perhaps the only one of its kind still in existence; and post-ride treats at the ride leaders' house!

LEADERS: Brian Bowker, 485-6793, bbowk321@yahoo.com; and Denise Crowell, 213-8336, denisemcrowell@gmail.com.

Link to long route (64 miles) starting at 434 Fredericks Corner Road in Norridgewock: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33958007

Link to short route (37 miles) starting from parking lot behind Reny's, Madison: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44540566

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.

Is This Bridge Wired?

We have reportedly some fine riding weather coming up this weekend for our end-of-September KVBC double header.  Saturday, as previously announced, we will ride from the Readfield Elementary School to Winthrop, Monmouth, and Wales, stopping at the Monmouth Apple Festival.  Here are the ride details for Sunday's ride from either Norridgewock or Madison to the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland.  Please join us on either ride, or both!

Sunday, September 25 - NORRIDGEWOCK and MADISON

"The Wire Bridge Ride" - a Fall Foliage tour along the scenic Carrabassett River, through Norridgewock, Madison, Anson, New Portland and New Vineyard.

START: Long Ride - 9:00 AM at the Mill Stream Elementary School, 26 Mercer Road (Rt. 2) in Norridgewock; Short Ride - 9:30 AM at the parking lot across from the former Madison Mill on Main St. in Madison, just before the bridge over the Kennebec.

DISTANCE: Long Ride - approx 53 miles; Short Ride - approx. 37 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Fall foliage along the Carrabassett River, and the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland, a civil engineering landmark built in 1866, perhaps the only one of its kind still in existence.

LEADERS: Brian Bowker, 485-6793, bbowk321@yahoo.com; and David Chiappetta, dlchiappetta@aol.com

Link to long route (53 miles) starting at the Mill Stream Elementary School in Norridgewock: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40981768

Link to short route (37 miles) starting from parking lot across the street from the former Madison Paper Mill, Madison

http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=837129

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.

 

Wire That Bridge, Grill Up Those Hotdogs

Sunday's KVBC ride (part 2 of our weekend doubleheader) will be a revision of our popular Fall ride out to the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland. The Long Ride (62 mi.) will start in Norridgewock at 9 am, and connect up with the Short Ride (37 mi.) starting in Madison at 9:30 am. We will have ride leaders at both starting locations. At the end of the ride we will pay homage to the traditions of Ken's Hot Dog Ride with a post-ride get together. Hope you can join us!

Sunday, September 26 - NORRIDGEWOCK and MADISON

"The Wire Bridge Ride" - a Fall Foliage tour along the scenic Carrabassett River, through Norridgewock, Madison, Anson, New Portland and New Vineyard.

START: Long Ride - 9:00 AM at 434 Frederick's Corner Road in Norridgewock; Short Ride - 9:30 AM at the parking lot across from the former Madison Mill on Main St. in Madison, just before the bridge over the Kennebec.

DISTANCE: Long Ride - approx 62 miles; Short Ride - approx. 37 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Fall foliage along the Carrabassett River, and the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland, a civil engineering landmark built in 1866, perhaps the only one of its kind still in existence; and a post-ride gathering with hotdogs at the ride leaders' house!

LEADERS: Brian Bowker, 485-6793, bbowk321@yahoo.com; and Denise Crowell, 213-8336, denisemcrowell@gmail.com.

Link to long route (62 miles) starting at 434 Fredericks Corner Road in Norridgewock https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=888453

Link to short route (37 miles) starting from parking lot across the street from the former Madison Paper Mill, Madison

http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=837129

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.

Why a Bridge?

 

Sunday's KVBC ride (part 2 of our weekend doubleheader) will be a revision of our popular Fall ride out to the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland. The Long Ride (53 mi.) will start in Norridgewock at 9 am, and connect up with the Short Ride (37 mi.) starting in Madison. We will have ride leaders at both starting locations. Please remember that we are still diligently observing pandemic protocols, so bring masks and be prepared to use them in close quarters, keep a healthy distance apart both at the start and when stopping to regroup enroute, and stay home and get well if you are feeling sick. Hope to see you out on Saturday or Sunday or both!

Sunday, September 27 - NORRIDGEWOCK and MADISON

"The Wire Bridge Ride" - a Fall Foliage tour along the scenic Carrabassett River, through Norridgewock, Madison, Anson, New Portland and New Vineyard.

START: Long Ride - 9:00 AM at Mill Stream Elementary School on Rt.2 in Norridgewock; Short Ride - 9:45 AM at the parking lot across from the former Madison Mill on Main St. in Madison, just before the bridge over the Kennebec.

DISTANCE: Long Ride - approx 53 miles; Short Ride - approx. 37 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Fall foliage along the Carrabassett River, and the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland, a civil engineering landmark built in 1866, perhaps the only one of its kind still in existence.

LEADERS: Brian Bowker, 485-6793, bbowk321@yahoo.com; and Denise Crowell, 213-8336, denisemcrowell@gmail.com.

Link to long route (53 miles) starting at Mill Stream Elementary School in Norridgewock

http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=837127

Link to short route (37 miles) starting from parking lot across the street from the former Madison Paper Mill, Madison

http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=837129

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.

Why A Bridge? Why Not!

Quite a change in the weather with temperatures one week near 90 dropping to the low 50s the following week. Still exceptional riding - we had a great ride last Saturday in Smithfield - Thanks Larry! - and some of us took part in beautiful (if chilly) conditions Sunday on the Cadillac Challenge and the Share the Road with Carol Ride. More great Fall riding ahead this Sunday as we really kick off the Autumn riding season with our first October ride: the Wire Bridge Metric! Hope you can join us! 

Sunday, October 8th - NORRIDGEWOCK
"The Wire Bridge Metric" - a Fall Foliage Metric Century plus, along the scenic Carrabassett River, through Norridgewock, Madison, Anson, New Portland and New Vineyard.
START: 9:30 AM at 434 Fredericks Corner Road, about two miles from the junction of Rt.2 in Norridgewock.
DISTANCE: approx 65 miles
TERRAIN: moderate with some hills
HIGHLIGHTS: Fall foliage along the Carrabassett River, and the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland, a civil engineering landmark built in 1866, perhaps the only one of its kind still in existence.
LEADERS: Brian Bowker, 485-6793, bbowk321@yahoo.com; and Denise Crowell, 213-8336, denisemcrowell@gmail.com.

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.

The Hot Dogs Return

This Sunday's ride will be the ninth annual Ken's Hot Dog Ride, starting from an all new location. A bit of ride history:

2008 - Ken Louis suggests a ride from his house in Wings Mills with a post-ride hot dog roast, inspired (he says) by a running feature on the Weather Channel. The 1st year's turn-out is modest but appreciative.

2009 - The Weather Channel reacts with disdain to Ken's intrusion on their turf; the weather is cold and threatening, only two people show up, and neither are sure why they did.

2010-2012 - Ken does "something" and conditions and turn-outs improve. He eventually prints up a 5th anniversary t-shirt (some say it makes a great painting shirt - we'll have a hot dog for you, Roger).

2015 - Another setback, as the ride is officially condemned by the World Health Organization. Notwithstanding, the ride turnout increases.

2016 - Ken's ride hits a record number of riders, and runs out of hot dogs. Perhaps as a result, the Louis's sell their house and move to an undisclosed location in Portland. Does this spell the end of Ken's Hot Dog Ride? Not a chance!

2017 - we will hold the 9th annual Ken's Hot Dog Ride in Norridgewock.

Sunday, July 16th - NORRIDGEWOCK

"Hot Dog! - The Hot Dog Ride" (not because we'll ride like one but because we will want one) - a tour through New Sharon, Starks, Anson, Madison and Norridgewock.

START: 9:00 AM at 434 Frederick Corner Road in Norridgewock,
about two miles from the junction of Rt.2 in Norridgewock. Park along the sides of the driveway wherever you can.

DISTANCE: 43 miles
TERRAIN: Moderately hilly.
HIGHLIGHTS: Little traveled back roads along the Sandy River, and a post-ride hot dog BBQ!
LEADERS: Brian Bowker, 485-6793, bbowk321@yahoo.com; and Denise Crowell, 213-8336, denisemcrowell@gmail.com.

LINK to BCM Calendar: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-kens-hotdog-ride

 

For more information about the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook, or check out the KVBC blog, Posted Roads, at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

Why A Bridge?

19th Century stereoscopic view of the Wire Bridge in New Portland, by E.F. Locke (N.Y. Public Library).

Fall is here!  We had a fine introduction last Saturday in Chesterville, thanks to John Lanoue and company, and we have more in store for this Sunday, starting in Norridgewock.  Sunday's adventure will be a special 70-mile ride along the scenic Carrabassett River, and will feature a crossing over the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland, one of my favorite spots in all of Maine.  You won't want to miss it!

Sunday, October 11th - NORRIDGEWOCK

"A (Wire) Bridge Too Far" - a Fall Foliage Metric Century plus, along the scenic Carrabassett River, through Norridgewock, Madison, Anson, New Portland and New Vineyard.

START: 9:00 AM at 434 Fredericks Corner Road, about two miles from the junction of Rt.2 in Norridgewock.

DISTANCE: approx 70 miles

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Fall foliage along the Carrabassett River, and the historic Wire Bridge in New Portland, a civil engineering landmark built in 1866, perhaps the only one of its kind still in existence.

LEADERS: Brian Bowker and Denise Crowell.

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-a-wire-bridge-too-far

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the KVBC Facebook page.