Industrial Cycling

A hearty thanks to all of our substitute ride leaders (six at last count!) who offered to stand in and lead rides the past two weeks, as we dealt with last-minute scheduling conflicts, illnesses, and other unforeseen miscues. Your offers and efforts are truly appreciated!  We are getting deep into Fall, the foliage is near peak and the frost is on the pumpkin, so this week we will venture out from Farmington to Industry and Clearwater Pond, returning via an optional run along the Whistle Stop Rail Trail. Hope you can join us!

Saturday, October 20th:  FARMINGTON

"The Ups and Downs of Industry":  a ride through the picturesque hills and hollows of Farmington, New Sharon, and Industry.

START:  9:30 A.M., at the Hannaford Plaza on Rt. 4 in Farmington, about a mile south from the junction of Rt. 4 and Rt. 27, towards Wilton.  Park near the entrance to the shopping plaza.

DISTANCE:  approx. 30 miles, including an optional 3.5 miles of hard-packed gravel which can be bypassed on pavement.

TERRAIN:  rolling to hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  quiet back roads along the Sandy River, spectacular panoramic views from the ridge tops of New Sharon & Industry, Clearwater Pond at Allens Mills, and an optional run along the Whistlestop Rail Trail.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick, 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com.

LINK to ROUTE MAP: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6874732

 

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

Roll Out the Barrels

Our thanks to David Lipman for leading the ride last Saturday in Augusta, and kudos to the KVBC contingent who tackled the Cadillac Challenge on Sunday. The Fall foliage is really starting to come out locally, and what better way to experience it than revisiting a splendid ride from Oakland this Sunday! Meet at the Oakland Post Office at 9:30 am. There is lots of great Fall riding ahead!

Sunday, October 14 - OAKLAND

"Barreling through Oakland" - a tour around Oakland, Norridgewock, New Sharon, and Smithfield.

START: 9:30 am at the Oakland Post Office at the corner of Oakland Road and East School Street.

DISTANCE: about 40 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: fine back roads with lakeside views and near peak foliage.

LEADER: Tammy Jones, tjjones@colby.edu.

LINK to ROUTE MAP (2017): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7130262

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

Paths, Off Beaten

We started off October a bit cold and damp on the ride in Chesterville on Saturday and on the Cadillac Challenge on Sunday. Both rides were quite nice, regardless, and special thanks are due to John Lanoue for leading Saturday's ride and hosting a post-ride gathering after he and his compatriots finished the first leg of a lengthy tour the previous day. Kudos also to the nine (count 'em, nine) KVBC members on the Cadillac contingent - a fine showing for so far afield. The tentatively planned KVBC ride this weekend in Freeport has had to be postponed due to the unexpected absence of the leader (Get Well Ken!) and may be rescheduled at another time. Thanks to David Lipman, we have a new KVBC ride this Saturday in Vassalboro - please note the 10 am start to allow an extra hour for the morning to warm up. Hopefully the weather will follow suit, and we can all warm up to some great Fall cycling!

Saturday, October 8th - VASSALBORO

"Off the Beaten Path, or, The Paths that Can't be Beat" - a hitherto unexplored (by us) tour around Vassalboro and environs.  

START: 10 am at the home of David and Laura Lipman. Condo is after Natanis Golf Course at 6 Arrowhead Drive heading north. (Not to be confused with Fairway Drive. Use Barrows Road on your GPS and we are the next road on the left after that) Please park after the garages in the large dirt parking lot after the condo buildings.  

DISTANCE: approx. 25 miles.

TERRAIN: Moderate hills  

HIGHLIGHTS: Fall foliage along an assortment of fine back roads in and around Vassalboro, including a mile-long descent.  

LEADER: David Lipman.

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, or keep up to date via our Facebook page.

Peaks and Pontoons

We had a beautiful Fall day for the ride last Saturday from Winthrop to the Monmouth Apple Fest. Crisp temperatures, bright sunshine, and some superb apple pie, doughnuts, and other treats at the festival in Monmouth. And the ride wasn't too bad, either!  Hopefully we'll have more of the same this Saturday (if the weather cooperates) as John has another great ride in Chesterville planned for us.  Hope to see you Saturday!

Saturday, October 3rd - CHESTERVILLE

"Three Peaks and a Pontoon" - an early fall foliage tour of the ponds and ridges around Livermore, Fayette, and Chesterville.

START: 9:00 am at the Sand Pond Parking Lot; from Chesterville Center (by the "Chesterville Mall" at the junction of Ridge Rd, Dutch Gap Rd, and Zions Hill Rd) take Zions Hill Rd north for 1/4 mile, turn left on Borough Rd for approx. one mile, then turn right on Sand Pond Rd; the parking lot is about 1/2 mile in.

DISTANCE: 30-35 miles.

TERRAIN: moderately hilly with several good hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: some fall foliage viewpoints on scenic back roads including the famed Ridge Road along the Chesterville Esker, and a post-ride gathering at the ride leader's camp, followed by a potential pontoon boat ride on the lake.

LEADER: John Lanoue, john.lanoue@avid.com.

 

Here’s the route: http://bikeroutetoaster.com/BRTWebUI/Course/728937

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-three-peaks-and-a-pontoon
 

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

Leaf Peepers on Wheels

We had a great Fall foliage ride last Saturday around Winthrop and Monmouth, despite it being cooler and darker than forecast.  Our thanks to Denise for leading, and for all the hardy folks who came out for the ride.  The Fall weather has been spectacular of late, and this Saturday Ken Louis will be leading his ride from Belgrade that got washed out a few weeks ago.  And David Lipman will be leading a Sunday afternoon ride from his house in Vassalboro.  The weather hopefully will be fine, with lots of great scenery still to enjoy!

 

Saturday, October 18th - BELGRADE

"Once Again, Take it or Leaf it" - Belgrade, Mount Vernon and Rome Late-Foliage Tour.

Start: 9:30 am, Belgrade Community Center on Rt. 27, a half mile south of the Village of Belgrade Lakes, on the right (northbound) just past the Great Pond Marina.  Park in the community center parking lot nearest the street (just as you turn in).

Distance: 28 miles

Terrain: Generally hilly with some nice stretches to recover

Highlights: Views of Long Pond, Castle Island, Minnehonk Lake and some nice back roads to include Bean Rd, Watson Pond Rd and Belgrade Rd.

Leader: Ken Louis.

 

Sunday, October 19th - VASSALBORO

"More Hills and More Beans" - a scenic tour around the China and Vassalboro.

START:  1:00 pm at the home of David and Laura Lipman.  Condo is after Natanis Golf Course at 6 Arrowhead Drive heading north. (Not to be confused with Fairway Drive. Use Barrows Road on your GPS and we are the next road on the  left after that)  Please park after the garages in the large dirt parking lot after the condo buildings.

DISTANCE: approx. 30 miles.

TERRAIN:  Moderate to Hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: an assortment of fine back roads in China and Vassalboro, with a stop at a fine local coffee shop or two.

LEADER:  David Lipman.

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club and its rides contact Jim Merrick, 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.

Bikes and Pontoons, with an Esker Thrown In

We had balmy summer-like weather Saturday with temperatures pushing 80 on the KVBC ride from Winthrop to Monmouth.  Great weather for apple pie a la mode (actually any weather would be great for apple pie a la mode) and we made an obligatory stop at the "Pie Cafe" at the Monmouth AppleFest, where some of us had pie, some of us had apples, some of us had cider, and some of us had all three.  Somewhat satiated in the pomology department, we headed out for some more great riding and some early Fall foliage.  We have more foliage and great riding ahead this Saturday, as John Lanoue will take us on a tour around the unique features of Chesterville, including the scenic ridge top of the Chesterville Esker (in Fall colors, no less) followed by a post-ride get-together at his camp.  Please note the 10 am start, as it is not likely to be 80 degrees in the morning everyday in October in Maine.  Hope you can make it!

 

Saturday, October 4th - CHESTERVILLE

"Three Peaks and a Pontoon" - an early fall foliage tour of the ponds and ridges around Livermore, Fayette, and Chesterville.

START: 10:00 am at the Sand Pond Parking Lot; from Chesterville Center (by the "Chesterville Mall" at the junction of Ridge Rd, Dutch Gap Rd, and Zions Hill Rd) take Zions Hill Rd north for 1/4 mile, turn left on Borough Rd for approx. one mile, then turn right on Sand Pond Rd; the parking lot is about 1/2 mile in.

DISTANCE: 30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderately hilly with several good hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: some fall foliage viewpoints on scenic back roads including the famed Ridge Road along the Chesterville Esker, and a post-ride gathering at the ride leader's camp, followed by a potential pontoon boat ride on the lake.

LEADER: John Lanoue, john.lanoue@avid.com.

 

SPECIAL NOTE: the Cadillac Mountain Challenge is scheduled for Sunday, October 5th, and we'd like to know if anyone wants to get together and go up Saturday night and camp nearby.  If you are interested, let Jim know - contact info below.  Thanks! 

 

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

Le Tour de Lacs

Passing the base of an early windmill on Morrison Heights

 

 

We had a great ride in Freeport on Saturday, despite the overcast and cool weather.  The roads were first rate and the traffic was light (except for Rt. 1 in Freeport on the return, although not as bad as in mid-summer).  We had a nice, long, flat run out to the end of Merepoint, and some great ocean views with fall foliage along the way.  Many thanks to Ken Louis for setting up the joint ride with MOAC.  This week we will return to Wayne for the "Tour de Lacs" with a great climb up Morrison Heights - ought to be great for foliage views!  Hope to see you Saturday!

Saturday, October 12th - WAYNE

"The Tour de Lacs" - a loop of Androscoggin Lake, with a couple detours for special Wayne sights. 

START: 9:00 AM, at the Wayne Elementary School, Pond Rd (turn north from Rt. 133, just west of Wayne village; go 1/4-mile, park in lot at north end of bldg.)

DISTANCE: 26 miles

TERRAIN: Moderately hilly

HIGHLIGHTS:  beginning loop goes by the Wayne Ring cemetery (Pond Rd) and the Wayne Desert (Berry Rd).  Great views eastward in Leeds (Rt. 106).  A detour near the end climbs Morrison Heights for a beautiful view westward over Lake Androscoggin.  Food and ice cream at Tubby's at the finish?

LEADER:  Jim Merrick.

 

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