Sculptures on the Back 40

May is Bike Month, and we got off to a fine start last Saturday in Livermore, led by John Lanoue (thanks John!). We had great weather - and there's more in store for this week, they say. Hopefully it will last right into the weekend when we have another great ride planned for Saturday in Windsor. One of the highlights of the Windsor ride is a stop at the "Iron Horse" to view the sculpture gardens of Roger Majorowitz, who passed away late last year at age 83 - his massive steel sculptures are definitely worth a visit while they still stand in his open field. Hope to see you Saturday!

May 9th, Saturday:  WINDSOR
"Tour of the Back 40":  a tour up and down the banks of the Sheepscot River from Windsor to Alna.
START:  9:00 A.M., at the Windsor Elementary School on Rt. 32, about a mile north from the junction of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32.  The school is on the left, northbound.
DISTANCE:  40 miles.
TERRAIN:  moderate to hilly.
HIGHLIGHTS:  scenic back roads with fine straight runs, the R. Majorowitz Sculpture Garden, and nice views of the Sheepscot, one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast.
LEADER:  Leanne Moll.

BCM Ride Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-tour-of-the-back-40
 

KVBC Membership dues: if you haven't sent in your current dues this year, you can download the KVBC membership form on our Facebook page (it is in the "About" section, hidden under "Products" - you don't need a Facebook account to access it). Your dues help pay for our Club insurance, and support local and national bike advocacy through our membership in the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and the League of American Bicyclists. As always, we thank you for your support!

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

Tour of the Back Forty

We had a really fine ride in Vassalboro last Saturday, followed by a wonderful post-ride lunch and get-together presented by our gracious hosts, David and Laura Lipman.  Our thanks to the Lipmans for the ride and their hospitality!  If today was any indication, the weather in June has taken quite an upswing, just in time for Leanne Moll's "Tour of the Back 40" in Windsor this Saturday.  Please note that we will be meeting at the Windsor Elementary School, about a half-mile north of the advertised ride start at the Windsor Fairgrounds, where they are hosting the Fibre Frolic this weekend (worth a visit if you have the time).  Hope you can take advantage of the great riding weather!

 

June 7th, Saturday:  WINDSOR

"Tour of the Back 40":  a tour up and down the banks of the Sheepscot River from Windsor to Alna.

START:  9:00 A.M., at the Windsor Elementary School on Rt. 32, about a mile north from the junction of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32.  The school is on the left, northbound.  NOTE: this starting location is about a half-mile north of the previously-advertised start at the Windsor Fairgrounds.

DISTANCE:  40 miles.

TERRAIN:  moderate to hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  scenic back roads with fine straight runs (definitely), the R. Majorowitz Sculpture Garden in Alna (maybe), and nice views of the Sheepscot (for sure), one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast.

LEADER:  Leanne Moll.

 

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

 

Tour of the Back 40

A stop along the Sheepscot River

We had another fine ride on Saturday in Winthrop and Monmouth, with 15 riders taking part.  It was cool, but sunny, and we weren't plagued with black flies when we stopped and regrouped.  Many thanks to Denise, who treated us to a great route and a great batch of "healthy" cookies at the ride's end.  We'll take "healthy" cookies like those any day!  This Saturday's ride will return to Windsor for a "Tour of the Back Forty."  Just the thing to kick off the long weekend.  Hope to see you then!

 

 

May 25th, Saturday:  WINDSOR

"Tour of the Back 40":  a tour up and down the banks of the Sheepscot River from Windsor to Alna.

START:  10:00 A.M., at the Windsor Fair Grounds on Rt. 32, about a half mile north from the junction of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32.  Park in the lot across from the entrance.

DISTANCE:  40 miles.

TERRAIN:  moderate to hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  scenic back roads with fine straight runs (definitely), the R. Majorowitz Sculpture Garden in Alna (maybe), and nice views of the Sheepscot (for sure), one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast.

LEADER:  Leanne Moll.

 

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

 

 

A Tour of the Back Forty

Cruising by one of the large dairy farms in Whitefield

We had an outstanding ride along the Sheepscott River on Saturday, May 19th. Beautiful weather - warm, calm, with a sparkling, cloudless blue sky. After a long, rainy spring, it felt like summer had finally arrived.

One of the few flat stretches on the route

 

 

Leanne led us out of the Windsor Fairgrounds as we headed south towards Whitefield. We rode along some great back roads past some large, prosperous dairy farms set back from the river  among lush, verdant hillsides.

One of a seemingly endless series of hills

As the ride continued south down towards Alna and Head Tide we encountered a challenging series of short hills. The rains had nurtured an abundance of greenery, and the roads were often lined with wildflowers. We stopped to admire the many metal sculptures at the Iron Horse, the sculpture garden of Roger Majorowitz set in a pastoral setting. Continuing along, we came to the endgame of dairy country: the large manure processing outfits of "Cowshit Corner."

The Not-So-Blime

The Sublime: Roger Majorowitz's Sculpture Garden

Photo-Op at the Dam on the Sheepscott

We stopped at the dam on the Sheepscott River with a number of old mills in the background. We watched dense schools of alwives cluster at the face of the dam, working their way up the fish ladder at the far side. There were a pair of fish-monitoring traps set downstream of the dam, and a number of canoes were being launched from the river landing. Leanne gathered us together on the dam for a group photo before we headed back on the return trip. You couldn't ask for a nicer 40-mile ride.

A velo study in primary colors

Windsor au Couture

Stopping at Roger Majorowitz's Sculpture Garden in Alna

 

We had a simply splendid ride last Saturday from Vassalboro around China Lake, with great weather and a great turnout.  Jeanine led us on great tour around the lake, and even took us down a little-traveled back road to an historic cemetery in China, the last resting place for a former slave, who was as far away from his home as...well, China.  And in keeping with the theme of near and far, Jeanine had us gather for a group photo in front of the International Signpost in So. China - a nice touch.  Thanks, Jeanine!  And if you are near this Saturday, you don't have to go far to find another great ride, as Leanne will take us on a tour of the Sheepscot River valley from Windsor to Alna.  As always, see you then!

 

 

May 19th, Saturday:  WINDSOR

"Windsor au Couture":  a tour up and down the banks of the Sheepscot River from Windsor to Alna.

START:  10:00 A.M., at the Windsor Fair Grounds on Rt. 32, about a half mile north from the junction of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32.  Park in the lot across from the entrance.

DISTANCE:  35 miles.

TERRAIN:  moderate to hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  scenic back roads with fine straight runs (definitely), the R. Majorowitz Sculpture Garden in Alna (maybe), and nice views of the Sheepscot (for sure), one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast.

LEADER:  Leanne Moll.

Be Prepared (to Change this Week's Ride Start)

NOTICE: KVBC RIDE START CHANGE. We will be meeting for the KVBC ride this Sunday at the Windsor Elementary School, about a half mile north of the Windsor Fairgrounds, as it has been pointed out to me that there is a major three-day event involving several thousand Boy Scouts scheduled at the fairgrounds this weekend. Everyone of them, I'm sure, is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. But they'll also be armed with lasers and fireworks, so to be on the safe side, we'll shift the start of the ride to the school instead. See you there!

OCTOBER 10th, Sunday: WINDSOR

"Sheepscot River - China Lake Tour": a tour up and down the banks of the Sheepscot River, through Windsor, Whitefield, Pittston, and Coopers Mills, plus an optional half-century or metric century around China Lake, adding the towns of China, Vassalboro, and Palermo.

START: 9:00 A.M., at the Windsor Elementary School on Rt. 32, about a mile north from the junction of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32. The school is on the left, northbound.

DISTANCE: 27, 56, or 63 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with no big hills on the short ride; moderate to hilly on the long routes.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic back roads with fine straight runs, the R. Majorowitz Sculpture Garden in Alna, and nice views of the Sheepscot, one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast; the long routes include ridgetop vistas and views of China Lake. Also lots and lots of Boy Scouts. Be prepared.

LEADER: Jim Merrick (former Star Scout).

Windsor and the Guardians of Rust

We had a beautiful ride to Pemaquid the last weekend of September, thanks to Sandi Hodge, and last weekend the Dempsey & Cadillac Challenges had great weather, too. Can we make it three in a row? Why not? The weather this Sunday looks very nice, and may be one of the last weekends to get a good ride in, so come on out and join us on one of our favorite trips along the Sheepscot River. We'll meet at the Windsor Fairgrounds for the pretty Sheepscot loop, and I'll bring maps for the optional 56 and 63 mile routes. If you are not doing the Tour de Farmington, this is a great alternative to get in a great metric century with fall foliage. If you can't make it, have a great Columbus Day weekend, and as always, stay tuned for some further rides ahead.

October 10th, Sunday: WINDSOR

"Sheepscot River - China Lake Tour": a tour up and down the banks of the Sheepscot River, through Windsor, Whitefield, Pittston, and Coopers Mills, plus an optional half-century or metric century around China Lake, adding the towns of China, Vassalboro, and Palermo.

START: 9:00 A.M., at the Windsor Fair Grounds on Rt. 32, about a half mile north from the junction of Rt. 17 and Rt. 32. Park in the lot across from the entrance.

DISTANCE: 27, 56, or 63 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with no big hills on the short ride; moderate to hilly on the long routes.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic back roads with fine straight runs, the R. Majorowitz Sculpture Garden in Alna, and nice views of the Sheepscot, one of the most pristine rivers in the Northeast; the long routes include ridgetop vistas and views of China Lake.

LEADER: Jim Merrick.