Chesterville Maple Sunday Ride Postponed to April 6

 Hello everyone, the latest weather forecasts suggest that road conditions on Saturday & Sunday will not be at all favorable for a group ride, so we are going to postpone the ride in Chesterville until Saturday, April 6, and use it to kick off a full month of riding in April - wahoo!

Saturday, April 6 - CHESTERVILLE

"Pishou's Sucrerie" - a sweet syrup-sampling ride from Chesterville to Farmington Falls.

START: 11:00 am at the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Main Road (about a mile from the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Tower Road).  As you turn onto Main Road (unpaved) there is a small parking area next to a small green dumpster; additional parking roadside. Signs say No Trespassing except with permission - John says we have his permission.

DISTANCE: 23.5 miles.

TERRAIN: flat to hilly; sandy road conditions call for caution on descents.

HIGHLIGHTS: a postride gathering at the ride leader's house for sap boiling and sugar sampling!

LEADER: John Lanoue, johnlanoue@hotmail.com

LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45880277

UPDATE: Saturday's Ride Still On - Sunday's Ride Postponed One Week

 Ride Updates: this Saturday's ride from Livermore Falls to Boothby's Apple Orchard is still on - 10:00 am start at the Mallard Mart at the junction of Rt.s 106 and 133.  Sunday's ride from Norridgewock & Madison to the Wire Bridge has been postponed a week to Sunday, Oct. 3.  Hope to see you tomorrow, and a week from Sunday!

Happy 176th Birthday, Charles E. Pratt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We've had a tantalizing stretch of warm days this week, and I was really hoping it would stretch into the weekend.  But it looks like we are in for some much colder weather on Saturday, which has the potential of turning all the recent snow melt into black ice.  So we will forego our tentatively scheduled pre-season ride celebrating the birthday of cycling pioneer Charles E. Pratt (1845-1898) in Vassalboro.  Instead, we'll keep our fingers crossed for more favorable weather for Maine Maple Sunday.  If you do get in some riding this weekend, think of our man from Vassalboro, Charles Pratt: https://postedroads.blogspot.com/2009/03/happy-birthday-charles-e-pratt.html.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update: This Saturday's Ride Rescheduled to Sunday

The KVBC ride from Vassalboro this Saturday has been rescheduled to Sunday, June 7, at 9:00 am, due to the forecast of thunderstorms.  See you Sunday!

Remotely Retro

For a number of years now we have talked about organizing a Retro Ride, where members could show up with some vintage wheels that aren't often seen in group rides (well, with some exceptions).  We finally scheduled such a ride for April 26, in Waterville, but given the current situation and lockdown, we have to postpone riding in a group, lest we all become retro.  But that doesn't mean you can't venture out with your vintage machines on your own!  Feel free to dust off your old steeds and take a spin, and take a picture, too.  A "vintage" bike is one that is vintage to you.  Those of you who buy a new bike every year, last year's bike might do.  It should at least be roadworthy.  We'll try to compile a gallery of Retro Rides after the fact.  And if we do get to reschedule the ride in the future, the photos will serve as a preview.  Take care, and stay well!

KVBC Ride Postponements

Hello everyone!  I hope you are all well, staying safe and responsible, and getting out and riding.  In case you didn't know, the governor's current "Stay Healthy at Home" executive order does consider outdoor exercise an essential activity, including bicycling:  "Engaging in outdoor exercise activities, such as walking, hiking, running, or biking [ Yay!], BUT, only in compliance with the social gathering restriction in Executive Order 14 and all applicable social distancing guidance published by the U.S. and Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." [Darn.]  That means you can go out and ride, but not in groups larger than ten, which effectively means no group rides while the executive order is in effect - currently through the end of April, and quite possibly beyond.  Some cycling groups have already cancelled all of their scheduled rides for May.  We haven't gone quite that far, but we have postponed indefinitely the "Wake Up the Earth Ride" scheduled for April 19 in Augusta, and most likely the "Retro" bike ride in Waterville on April 26.  We will reappraise the situation for KVBC rides in May as we get more information.

I did try to devise some strategy to allow for social distancing on our social rides (if that isn't a contradiction in terms) such as: signing up in advance, restricting congregating at ride starts and no waiting in groups at turns, staggered starts, avoiding stores and restrooms, staying far enough apart to avoid other riders "respiration zones" (which no one seems to know what that means), and it all comes back to: "What's the point of having a group ride when you can't ride in a group?"  Also, I don't feel it is right to ask our volunteer ride leaders to risk exposure to themselves and their families, so we will abide by the group riding restrictions as long as they are in effect.

I do encourage everyone to go out and ride.  I did go so far as to work up an alternate "Wake Up the Earth" ride that starts at the Belgrade Town Office and doesn't pass any stores, and if you are looking for a spring ride, here it is: https://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7422505.  I hope to scope out some other potential rides during our hiatus, and I'm thinking of doing a 50-mile ride on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day (solo, of course).  Meanwhile, take care everyone, and stay well!