Bicycle Repairman! But How?

We had a rather cold, dark, and drizzly day for the Belgrade Lakes Harvest Festival ride last Saturday, but the Fall colors brightened the day (and the hot food at the many vendors in the village also hit the spot). Thanks to Ellen Wells for helping set up the ride and getting us outside! This Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the classic Monty Python sketch, "Bicycle Repairman," and if you missed it 50 years ago, here it is again: https://dai.ly/x2howud.  See you Saturday!

Saturday, October 19th - EAST WINTHROP

"Bicycle Repairman" - If only we knew where to find him! Or her. A ride along the shorelines of Lakes Maranacook, Annabessacook, and Cobbosseecontee, in search of some Monty Pythonesque heroes.

START: 10:00 AM at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Monty Python's "Bicycle Repairman" with some nice lakeside runs along back-roads in near peak Fall foliage through Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester, and ending (where else?) at a bicycle repair shop.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6799677

 

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

Big Lakes, Big Lakes!

 

Oh, we had a great ride around Vassalboro and China last Sunday.  Beautiful weather, a fine group, and a splendid post-ride gathering!  Our thanks to the Lipmans for leading the ride and opening up their home to us and providing a wonderful meal.  Hopefully the fine cycling weather will continue into this Saturday as we close out Bike Month with a classic tour around the Big Lakes, starting from Tom's Bike Boutique in East Winthrop.  As always, we hope you can make it!

Saturday, May 30th - EAST WINTHROP

"The Big Lakes Tour" - a ride along the shorelines of Lakes Maranacook, Annabessacook, and Cobbosseecontee.

START: 9:00 AM at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Some nice lakeside runs along backroads through Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester.

LEADER: Denise Crowell, denisecrowell@roadrunner.com.

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-big-lakes-tour

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick, 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.

Big Lakes, Many Colors

After manning a booth at the Fryeburg Fair on Friday, I camped overnight at the fairgrounds and awoke to dark, rainy conditions, and no chance to make it to the KVBC Ride in Chesterville.  But I was feeling my oats (or maybe it was the fried dough) and I decided to get in a ride anyway, heading out to No. Conway and tackling Hurricane Mountain Road, said to be one of the toughest climbs in the White Mountains - and definitely a bit challenging in a cold rain.  But I survived the cardiac stress test of the climb, and the constant braking on the descent, and now I can say, "Been there, done that."  Turns out that despite John Lanoue's gracious planning and efforts to lead a Fall foliage tour, the weather wouldn't cooperate and the KVBC ride was washed out.  This Saturday we will hope for a bit dryer conditions when we meet in East Winthrop for the Big Lakes Tour at 9:00 AM.  If we don't get a lot of heavy rain before then, the foliage may be near peak, and it should be a great ride.  See you then!

 

Saturday, October 11th - EAST WINTHROP

"The Big Lakes Tour" - a ride along the shorelines of Lakes Maranacook, Annabessacook, and Cobbosseecontee.

START: 9:00 AM at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Some nice lakeside runs along backroads in near peak Fall foliage through Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester.

LEADER: Denise Crowell.

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com or check out the KVBC blog at: http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

Back for the Big Lakes Tour

Heading Out from East Winthrop

It was raining about as hard at the ride start in Vassalboro last Saturday as on the start of any bike ride I've seen - no doubt the weathermen who forecast "100% chance of rain" were muttering, "I told you so." But as the 10 o'clock ride start rolled in, so did Marty and Scott (who rode from Waterville, no less) so Jeanine and I decided we had a quorum, and off we went.  Within 4 miles the rains tapered off, the skies cleared a bit, and the pavement started to dry out.  Not quite trusting our good fortune (and with a nod to our co-riders who had to ride back to Waterville) we cut the ride short to about 15 miles after a fascinating tour of some historic graveyards.  Many thanks to Jeanine for leading the ride (and making the rains hold off for the better part of the tour).  This Saturday we will hope for a bit dryer conditions when we meet in East Winthrop for the Big Lakes Tour at 9:30 AM.  It's another great ride and I hope you can join us!

Saturday, May 18th - EAST WINTHROP

"The Big Lakes Tour" - a ride along the shorelines of Lakes Maranacook, Annabessacook, and Cobbosseecontee.

START: 9:30 AM at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Some nice lakeside runs along backroads in Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester.

LEADER: Denise Crowell.

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

Cobbossee, Cobbossee

Taking a Break near Monmouth

We had a nice ride Sunday in Belgrade Lakes.  It was cloudy and quite cool at the start, but it stayed dry and the sun did finally come out as we were climbing the hills on Rt. 226 into Rome.  It is definitely starting to feel like Fall, and we have a beautiful stretch of weather ahead.  This Saturday we'll meet in East Winthrop in front of Tom's Bike Boutique where Cynthia has a great route planned around Lake Cobbossee.  Hope you can make it!

September 15th, Saturday:  EAST WINTHROP

"A Cobbossee Odyssey":  a tour around Cobbosseecontee Lake.

START:  9:00 A.M., at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE:  30 miles.

TERRAIN:  rolling with some challenging hills.

HIGHLIGHTS:  views of Cobbossee Lake, back roads of Winthrop, Manchester, West Gardiner, Litchfield, and Monmouth.

LEADER:  Cynthia Snow.

East Of Winthrop

Cruising Down Memorial Drive

We had a great ride from East Winthrop on June 2nd. The predicted rains, aside from a few sprinkles, held off and we were able to get the entire ride in without getting wet. Denise has organized a popular ride from Tom's Bike Boutique, so she had a fine turn-out despite the forecast. The delicious home-made molasses cookies after the ride didn't hurt either.

Heading Out of Monmouth

For most of the ride, we stuck together as a group, expecting the rains to fall. As luck would have it, we wound up with good company and dry pavement.

Regrouping at the Crossroads

Heading into the Hills and the Return on Rt. 135

The return route added some challenging hills, but we were beginning to think we were actually going to beat the rain. Feeling ambitious, Denise took us back around on the shore of Lake Maranacook a second time for good measure.

One of the Great Roads Between the Lakes

Our thanks to Denise for another great ride (and the cookies!).

Hope you can join us this Saturday, June 16, at Kents Hill for the next Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club ride!

The Large Lakes

Heading into Winthrop

We had another really fine ride last Saturday, stringing together a remarkably flat route through three towns (Livermore, Fayette, and Chesterville) and three counties (Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Franklin), including a delightful run along the Chesterville Esker and back again.  We'll see if three's a charm this Saturday when Denise takes us on a tour of the three big lakes in Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester - another great route.  And BCM's popular Womens' Ride is Sunday in Freeport, so we have some great riding in store!

Saturday, June 2nd - EAST WINTHROP

"The Big Lakes Tour" - a ride along the shorelines of Lakes Maranacook, Annabessacook, and Cobbosseecontee.

START: 9:00 AM at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Some nice lakeside runs along backroads in Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester.

LEADER: Denise Crowell.

The Cobbossee Odyssey

Finally some beautiful weekend weather! I hope you all were able to get out and enjoy it. Since I had to work at Colby for reunion weekend, I went out Saturday morning on an alumni ride with members of the Colby Cycling team. Not only was I the oldest one there (by far) I also had the oldest bike (by far). I dusted off my 1975 Raleigh, since I was representing the Class of '75. Both the bike and I held up OK. I brought it out again for the ride Sunday with the Central Maine Cycling Club, and again it rode really well. Would've been better if I hadn't gotten lost, but that's another story. It did get me back to the start where we had a great post-ride barbecue put together by Dave Richard and his crew, who have offered to do it again later this summer. My thanks to them all.

I hope we are in for a stretch of good weather, because Cynthia has a great ride set for this Saturday around Cobbossee Lake, followed by the Trek weekend, and Connie's breakfast ride in Augusta on June 25. Lots more to come!

JUNE 11th, Saturday: EAST WINTHROP

"A Cobbossee Odyssey": a tour around Cobbosseecontee Lake.

START: 9:00 A.M., at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 30 miles.

TERRAIN: rolling with some challenging hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: views of Cobbossee Lake, back roads of Winthrop, Manchester, West Gardiner, Litchfield, and Monmouth.

LEADER: Cynthia Snow.

A Memorable Memorial Day Ride

As part of our countdown to Spring, here is the first of a series of ride reports from last Summer, starting with the Memorial Day weekend ride on May 29, 2010, starting in East Winthrop at Tom's Bike Boutique on Rt.202.

We had a fine turnout, considering that the ride was scheduled at the last minute on a long holiday weekend. The weather was dry, although mostly cloudy.






It's usually a good sign when the ride leader is smiling! (Or perhaps that's the trademark of a professional dental hygienist?).














The route took us over the back roads of Winthrop and into Litchfield and Monmouth.
















We rolled past historic cemeteries and many lakes and ponds.



As customary, we often stopped to chat while we waited for others to catch up.












And once everyone had caught up, we more often than not, continued to chat.












But there were more fine roads to explore, so we were soon on our way.

If you missed this ride, don't miss it twice - Denise will be leading it again on April 30th! Thanks, Denise!

Bohemian Winthrop

Hi Everyone! Hope you have been able to enjoy some of the great cycling weather of the past few weeks. After a short hiatus we will take up where we left off, and return to one of our favorite ride locales, leaving from Tom's Bike Boutique in East Winthrop. Not only has Denise a great ride for us, she has also arranged for a post-ride pot luck at her house in Manchester, about two miles from the start. Denise says she will have some chili, cornbread, fruit salad, and cookies - bring what you like to share. If you have things that need to keep warm or cool, contact Denise about dropping things off before the ride. And if you need to keep warm or cool after your sojourn through bohemian Manchester, Denise says she'll have her hot tub fired up and at the ready. There you go! Just don't forget to bring your bike.

Saturday, September 18th - EAST WINTHROP

"Wandering Around Winthrop" - a tour through the bohemian environs of Winthrop and vicinity.

START: 9:00 AM at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Some nice lakeside runs along backroads in Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester. Post-ride gathering at the ride leader's house.

LEADER: Denise Crowell.

Readfield Mt. Pisgah

We had splendid weather for the China Lake-Palermo-Vassalboro ride last week, with picture perfect views from Mo's Mountain (which I'm told has a story about it, though I haven't been told what it is yet. Probably something involving cursed chainrings, judging from some technical problems one of our riders had to endure - and I think everyone else had cursed chainring tattoos.) This week's adventure involves Mount Pisgah - and maybe some ice cream and apple turnovers ("turnovahs" for those of you who are natives). What more could you want? See you there!

Sunday, August 15th; READFIELD

"Mount Pisgah Turnovah" - a tour from Readfield to Winthrop to Wayne and back to Readfield.

START: 8:30 AM, at the Readfield Elementary School on South Street, a half-mile from the junction of Rt. 17 and South Street at Readfield Depot. Readfield Depot, where there is a small market and a RR crossing, is about a mile south of Readfield Center.

DISTANCE: approx. 30 miles.

TERRAIN: Rolling with a few hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Readfield and its surrounding towns are interwoven with fine cycling roads and scenery, and the ride may feature stops at Tubby's Ice Cream in Wayne and the re-opened Apple Shed in Kents Hill, before returning to Readfield where the town's "Heritage Days" events are in full swing.

LEADER: Frank Rosen.

Big Lakes Tour

We had a splendid tour of Litchfield last Saturday - great roads, fine weather, beautiful scenery, and a happy group of ten riders. Many Thanks to George for leading the ride and marking the route, and to Chris for the wonderful cookie stop. We have a fine stretch of weather forecast ahead and Denise has planned a new ride for this Saturday starting in East Winthrop. If you are going to be around for the long weekend, come on out! Otherwise have a great holiday weekend, and we'll see you in June (Vassalboro ride on Saturday the 5th).

Saturday, May 29th - EAST WINTHROP

"The Big Lakes Tour" - a ride along the shorelines of Lakes Maranacook, Annabessacook, and Cobbosseecontee.

START: 9:30 AM at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Some nice lakeside runs along backroads in Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester.

LEADER: Denise Crowell.