Still Winsome in Winslow

We had a great apple ride from Livermore last Saturday. Our first "official" Fall ride featured some great weather, good roads, and some first-rate apple picking at the end! Many thanks to John for leading, and to everyone who turned out. This coming Saturday we will revisit a popular ride in Winslow that was rained out in the spring. Please note the 10:00 o'clock start. Hope you can join us! Saturday, October 4 - WINSLOW "Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton START: 10:00 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow DISTANCE: 30.8 miles TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills HIGHLIGHTS: Scenic back roads with Kennebec River views in Fall colors LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com LINK TO RIDE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974

Smoked Alewives

We had a splendid, sunny ride on Mothers' Day from South China to Albion. The newly-revised route was outstanding, with many scenic hilltop vistas. Our thanks to Duncan for leading and to all who turned out! We have another fine ride lined up for this Saturday in Winslow, winding its way through Benton, Fairfield and Clinton. The ride coincides this year with the Benton Alewife Festival - an optional stop near the ride's end: https://tockify.com/wabi.calendar/detail/2369/1747494000000. Hope you can join us! Saturday, May 17 - WINSLOW "Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton START: 9:00 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow DISTANCE: 30.8 miles TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills HIGHLIGHTS: Scenic back roads with Kennebec River views and an optional stop at the Benton Alewife Festival LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com LINK TO RIDE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974

Sorting Out Somerset

 

We had a beautiful Fall day for our ride from Boothby's Orchard in Livermore on Saturday.  The roads were in good shape, we had a fine run on the Chesterville Esker, an abundance of apples for picking at the end!  Many thanks again to John for leading.  This Saturday we will head north from Waterville to check out some early Fall foliage from several great ridgetop vantage points in Somerset County.  Hope you can join us!

Saturday, October 5 - WATERVILLE

"A Somerset Sortie" - an early foliage tour through Somerset County.

START: 9:30am at Colby College, visitor parking at the Lower Athletic Center Parking Lot, corner of Mayflower Hill and Campus Drive, beside the roundabout and across from the baseball fields. See aerial view attached. Follow detour signs around construction on Rices Rips Road and Mayflower Hill Drive.

DISTANCES: 29 or 39 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: country roads up and down the Kennebec and inland from Canaan to Benton, ushering the Fall season.

LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Long): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48498707

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Short): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48498777

 

Aerial View of Ride Start Location

 

Winslow's a Winner

Despite another grey, cloudy day, the KVBC ride last Sunday from Smithfield went very well.  We had a nice turnout and our intrepid ride leaders, Brian & Denise, routed us around the ever present road construction, and we had a very pleasant ride.  Our thanks to Denise & Brian and to all who took part!  This week promises to be a lot sunnier and warmer, if predictions hold up, and we may have some early summer-like weather for our ride in Winslow on Saturday.  Hope you can join us!

Saturday, May 25 - WINSLOW

"Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton

START: 9 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow

DISTANCE: 30.8 miles

TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Back roads of Winslow, Benton, Fairfield, and Clinton with Kennebec River views.

LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com

LINK TO RIDE MAP: 

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974

 

Winslow and the River

We had a great turnout for our annual Independence ride from Sidney on Saturday.  The weather turned out to be much more favorable than expected, and we even had some sunshine - a rarity these days!  Let's hope for more nice weather for the ride this Saturday from Winslow.  And have a safe and happy 4th!

Saturday, July 8 - WINSLOW

"Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton

START: 9 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow. NOTE: if the school parking lot is blocked off for resurfacing please park in the adjacent Superintendent's lot.

DISTANCE: 30.8 miles

TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Back roads of Winslow, Benton, Fairfield, and Clinton with Kennebec River views.

LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com

LINK TO RIDE MAP: 

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974

 

Loopy Colby

We had fair weather for the Wake Up the Earth ride in Turner on Saturday. A bit cloudier and cooler than expected, but the roads were mostly in good shape, and the stop at the Nezinscot Farm store on Earth Day was a treat. This Saturday we will revisit a classic tour over the Colby Loop, starting at the same location as in pre-Covid days, although the location has since been transformed quite a bit, so we've included a drone's view of the ride start. Hope to see you there!

Saturday, April 29 - WATERVILLE

"Over the Colby Loop" - a classic circuit from Waterville to Oakland, Smithfield, and Norridgewock

START: 9:30 am at Colby College, visitor parking at the Lower Athletic Center Parking Lot, corner of Mayflower Hill and Campus Drive, adjacent to the new roundabout and across from the baseball field (see attached view).

DISTANCE: 34 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic farmland, lakes and streams, and good roads with hopefully little traffic

LEADER: Duncan Tate, datateme@gmail.com

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7481935

LINK to GPS MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42640947

 

Sortie, Sortie

 We had a nice Fall ride from Farmington to Industry on Sunday.  The early morning fog burned off and we saw lots of peak foliage.  More great foliage is in store for this Saturday as we head out from Waterville to Canaan on a route originally laid out by Camille Chamberland who, as many of you know, set out on his own sortie earlier this year.  We're happy he left us this route - you may still find memories of him along the way - and we hope you can join us on Saturday (or Sunday in case of rain).

Saturday, October 22 - WATERVILLE (Rain Date: Sunday, Oct. 23)

"A Somerset Sortie" - a scenic tour through Somerset County in near-peak Fall season.

START: 9:00am at the Alfond Youth & Community Center, 126 North Street, Waterville.

DISTANCES: 33 or 39 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: country roads along the Kennebec and inland from Canaan to Benton, with some fine ridge-top views.

LEADER: David Chiappetta, dlchiappetta@aol.com.

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Short Ride): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41235305

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Long Ride): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41172993

Winsome Roads

We have been enjoying a nice streak of fine riding weather of late, including last Sunday's ride in Sidney, for which we also had a nice turnout!  Thanks to all of the 21 riders who turned out on the holiday weekend.  A special thanks to Bill Marsh Sacks who kindly gave a tour of his perennial greenhouses nearby in Sidney for a group after the ride.  Join us this Sunday if you can for a ride out of Winslow northward along the river.  More great riding in store for July!

Sunday, July 10 - WINSLOW

"Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton

START: 9 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow

DISTANCE: 30.8 miles

TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: Back roads of Winslow, Benton, Fairfield, and Clinton with Kennebec River views.

LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com

LINK TO RIDE MAP: 

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974 

Win Some, Win Slow

We had a fine Fourth of July ride in Sidney on July 5th, taking advantage of the long weekend to bypass the cold, wet conditions on Sunday for sunshine, dry pavement, and warmer temperatures on Monday. Many thanks to Peggy for prompt rescheduling, welcomed by the 20 other riders who turned out (especially those of us who wouldn't have been able to make it otherwise). Thank you! Next Sunday we will head out from Winslow along the banks of the Kennebec. Hope you can join us! Sunday, July 11 - WINSLOW "Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton START: 9 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow DISTANCE: 30.8 miles TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills HIGHLIGHTS: Back roads of Winslow, Benton, Fairfield, and Clinton with Kennebec River views. LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com LINK TO RIDE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974

The Old Colby Loop

We had a wonderful ride last Saturday from Vassalboro to kick off the month of June. Still rather cool - the long-sleeved club jerseys and arm warmers came in handy - but we had a great turnout, and a great post-ride lunch. Many thanks to David and Laura! This Sunday we will head back up to Norridgewock for a popular training ride over the old Trek Colby Loop. See you Sunday!

Sunday, June 9th - NORRIDGEWOCK

"Over the Colby Loop" - a seemingly impossible yet surely accomplished tour of Norridgewock, Fairfield, Waterville, Oakland and Smithfield.

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

DISTANCE: approx 40 miles

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: the old Colby Loop from the Trek Across Maine, and perhaps some of the ride leader's famous cookies!

LEADERS: Brian Bowker, bbowk321@yahoo.com; and Denise Crowell, denisemcrowell@gmail.com.

A Link to the Colby Loop Map (Waterville, 2012): https://www.mapmyride.com/us/waterville-me/trek-across-maine-2012-colby-loop-route-103523017

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.