Hello Darkness My Old Friend

Here is the latest ride info on the Total Solar Eclipse next Monday afternoon, April 8. Initial plans were to ride to view the eclipse from the Wire Bridge in New Portland, but thanks to one of our members who knows a thing or two about Physics & Astronomy (Hi Duncan!) we've learned that the Wire Bridge falls just outside the Path of Totality. We are going to start in New Portland - be advised that there are at least four villages or hamlets known as "New Portland" - we are starting at the one Google Maps calls "The Town of New Portland" (some other maps may call this "East New Portland.")

We will ride over the Wire Bridge and head 11 miles to Kingfield over a scenic back road along the Carrabasset River. The road is unpaved for 4.5 miles; if it is really muddy we may opt to take Rt. 27 instead.

In Kingfield we will regroup at the Stanley Museum on School Street. I will open the building for folks to use the restrooms and , if there is time, a private tour. Folks opting to drive directly to Kingfield due to time constraints can park in front of the Museum or in the larger lot in back just off Summer Street and join us around 3:00pm.

The ECLIPSE: partial eclipse begins in Kingfield at about 2:18pm with totality at 3:30:30pm. Totality will last for one minute and 33.5 seconds. Think cloud-free thoughts. There is a large open field behind the Museum for unobstructed viewing, with Mt. Abram, a white-capped 4,000 footer as an imposing backdrop. If you plan to take photos remember to have an appropriate eclipse filter for your phone or camera. If you don't have eclipse viewing glasses you may need to make a pin-hole viewer: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/. As a last option, the Webster Public Library just down the street is open at 3:00pm and they may have eclipse glasses to distribute.

There is a remote chance we may get to see Chimney Swifts diving to their roosts in the Stanley Museum's central chimney during the total eclipse. A fascinating sight to see through the summer, it may be too early for the swifts to arrive this far north. But we'll watch for them.

Sorry for this long-winded ride announcement. Don't forget the maple syrup ride in Chesterville on Sunday, and hope to see you either Sunday and/or Monday!

Monday, April 8 - NEW PORTLAND

"Totally Eclipsed" - a special ride to view the total eclipse from New Portland to Kingfield.

START: 1:30 pm at the New Portland Town Offices & Community Library, 901 River Road (Rt. 146) about 4.3 miles east of the jct. of Rt. 27 and Rt. 146. Additional parking next door at the New Portland Fire Department.

DISTANCE: 21 miles, with about 4.5 miles of gravel. There are paved options.

TERRAIN: flat to rolling, with poor lighting at times.

HIGHLIGHTS: the Wire Bridge, a tour of the Stanley Museum, views of the Carrabasset River, and a Total Eclipse of the Sun.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46056671

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.

Saturday the Wire Bridge, Sunday at Bean's

Last Sunday's ride to the Wire Bridge was postponed due to unsettled weather.  Which means we get a do-over this Saturday with better weather and even more resplendent foliage!  And that's not all - we will also have our scheduled ride Sunday in Freeport with some spectacular riding along the Maine coast.  A great double header, and we hope you can join us!

Saturday, October 14th - 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.

Sunday, October 15th - FREEPORT

"Freewheeling around Freeport" - an oceanside tour around Freeport and Brunswick and vicinity.

START: 9:30 AM in downtown Freeport at the lower parking lot across from L.L. Bean's Outlet next to the train station office which has a lighthouse on the building.

DISTANCE: 25-35 miles

TERRAIN: moderate

HIGHLIGHTS: some fine roads with spectacular seashore vistas. Possible post-ride lunch in town with numerous options, such as the Maine Beer Brewery with wood-fired pizza.

LEADER: Ken Louis, klouis17@hotmail.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.

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.

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.