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.

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.

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.