Pemaquid, Pemaquid

We had a splendid ride last Saturday through Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester, and a delightful post-ride party with great food and company. Many thanks to Denise for leading the ride and opening up her house for us - and providing the great food afterwards. Thanks, Denise!

This Sunday's KVBC ride will return to the scenic Pemaquid Peninsula with a great ride along the shore. The route is not only scenic, but also a great trip to the ocean, and there are many great places to stop and see the sights. Hope you can join us! (Photo: Maine Office of Tourism.)

Sunday, September 26th; DAMARISCOTTA

"Drafting through Damariscotta, Pedalling to Pemaquid" - a tour through Bristol, Bremen, Pemaquid and Damariscotta.

START: 9:30 AM at the landing at the North end of Biscay pond. From the north, take Belvedere Road east off of Rt. 1. The Miles Hospital Hospice Building is on the corner. At the stop sign turn right onto Business Rt. 1 and at the traffic light by McDonald's turn left onto Biscay Road. From the south, turn off Rt. 1 onto Business Rt. 1, pass thru town & turn right at the light by McDonald's onto Biscay Road. Follow Biscay Road until you come to a small beach and landing on the right (the water is close to the road). Park on the wide shoulder on either side of the beach.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: Moderately hilly to Hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic roads within the Pemaquid Peninsula, fresh and salt water views abound.

LEADER: Sandi Hodge.

Bohemian Winthrop

Hi Everyone! Hope you have been able to enjoy some of the great cycling weather of the past few weeks. After a short hiatus we will take up where we left off, and return to one of our favorite ride locales, leaving from Tom's Bike Boutique in East Winthrop. Not only has Denise a great ride for us, she has also arranged for a post-ride pot luck at her house in Manchester, about two miles from the start. Denise says she will have some chili, cornbread, fruit salad, and cookies - bring what you like to share. If you have things that need to keep warm or cool, contact Denise about dropping things off before the ride. And if you need to keep warm or cool after your sojourn through bohemian Manchester, Denise says she'll have her hot tub fired up and at the ready. There you go! Just don't forget to bring your bike.

Saturday, September 18th - EAST WINTHROP

"Wandering Around Winthrop" - a tour through the bohemian environs of Winthrop and vicinity.

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 Winthrop, Monmouth, and Manchester. Post-ride gathering at the ride leader's house.

LEADER: Denise Crowell.

Roman the Hills

We had a very pleasant ride on Sunday morning in Wings Mills despite the light rain that was supposed to fall in the afternoon, and the hot dogs and hospitality at the Lewis' post-ride spread were absolutely first rate! Many thanks to Ken, who is already thinking of a date for his ride next year. This Saturday our roads lead to Rome with its multiple hills - and an optional long loop around Great Pond. The weather looks like it will be clearing up for this weekend - hope to see you then!

Saturday, August 28th: ROME

"The Seven Hills of Rome" - a roadside tour of the many hillside trails through Rome and Belgrade.

START: 9:00 AM, Rome Town Hall at the corner of Rt. 225 and Mercer Road, about 0.3 mi from the junction of Rt. 27 and Rt. 225.

DISTANCES: 20 - 35 miles.

TERRAIN: Moderate to Hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: the route passes 5 trailheads, Blueberry Hill and the Kennebec Highlands. There is an optional short hike up French's Mountain to a spectacular scenic vista.

LEADER: Jim Merrick.

Hot Dog!

We had great weather - sunny and cool - for our ride last week in Readfield. Many thanks to Frank for the great route, and the great ride stop at the Kents Hill Orchards - the raspberry turnovers were a real treat. This Sunday Ken is leading us on a ride exploring the other side of the Belgrade Stream in Mount Vernon, followed by a hot dog roast at his house overlooking the water. We have openings in the KVBC ride calendar for leaders in September and October. If you can lead a ride, contact Jim at hjmerrick@gmail.com. Fall is coming - more great riding ahead!

Sunday, August 22nd - WING'S MILLS (Mount Vernon)

"Hot Dog! - The Hot Dog Ride" (not because we'll ride like one but because we will want one) - a tour through Mount Vernon, Belgrade, North Augusta, and Manchester

START: 9:00 AM at 49 Marble Point Rd., Mount Vernon

Directions to Start:

From Augusta, take #27 North to Belgrade and turn left onto #135 (Christy's store and blinking light)
Go 3 miles and right onto Wings Mill Rd; go 2.5 miles and right onto Marble Point Rd. which is just after crossing Belgrade Stream; it is a hard pack dirt road and we are the log home on the right)

From Mount Vernon, Readfield: Take North Rd to Wings Mills Rd and go about 3 miles to Marble Point Rd; just after passing Bartlett Rd on the right, turn left onto Marble Point

Delorme Maine Atlas Map 12; A-4. Just west and across the stream from the intersection of Dunn Rd and Wings Mill Rd. (Marble Point is not listed by name on the map).

DISTANCE: 29 miles
TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills
HIGHLIGHTS: Views of Belgrade Stream, Hamilton Pond, Stuart Pond, Messalonskee Lake, Doctor Pond, Silver Lake, Gould Pond, with a Hot Dog cookout lunch following the ride - swimming available also.
LEADER: Ken Louis.

Readfield Mt. Pisgah

We had splendid weather for the China Lake-Palermo-Vassalboro ride last week, with picture perfect views from Mo's Mountain (which I'm told has a story about it, though I haven't been told what it is yet. Probably something involving cursed chainrings, judging from some technical problems one of our riders had to endure - and I think everyone else had cursed chainring tattoos.) This week's adventure involves Mount Pisgah - and maybe some ice cream and apple turnovers ("turnovahs" for those of you who are natives). What more could you want? See you there!

Sunday, August 15th; READFIELD

"Mount Pisgah Turnovah" - a tour from Readfield to Winthrop to Wayne and back to Readfield.

START: 8:30 AM, at the Readfield Elementary School on South Street, a half-mile from the junction of Rt. 17 and South Street at Readfield Depot. Readfield Depot, where there is a small market and a RR crossing, is about a mile south of Readfield Center.

DISTANCE: approx. 30 miles.

TERRAIN: Rolling with a few hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: Readfield and its surrounding towns are interwoven with fine cycling roads and scenery, and the ride may feature stops at Tubby's Ice Cream in Wayne and the re-opened Apple Shed in Kents Hill, before returning to Readfield where the town's "Heritage Days" events are in full swing.

LEADER: Frank Rosen.

Almost Alna

Greetings everyone! Hope you all had a splendid weekend and were able to get out and ride. Mnay thanks to Frank Rosen for volunteering to lead the ride in Fayette on short notice. I had a great time down in Standish volunteering at the MS-150 ride - beautiful routes and great weather. Things are looking a bit dreary for this week, but better for the weekend. If we need the rain, better to see it fall midweek or at night!

If you haven't heard by now, the KVBC ride, "The Alna Alternative," scheduled for Sunday in Alna has been postponed and will be rescheduled for some other date in the future. Meanwhile we will have an alternative ride around China Lake on Saturday. It's "almost Alna," so I hope you can all make it!

Saturday, August 7th; EAST VASSALBORO

"Almost Alna" - a tour around China Lake, with Palermo and Windsor added on the longer loop.

START: 9:00 AM at the Vassalboro Historical Society on Rt. 32 in East Vassalboro. From Augusta take Rt. 3 East 9.5 miles to Rt. 32 North for 4.4 miles. The Vassalboro Historical Society is in a red shingle schoolhouse on the right, lakeside.

DISTANCE: 18 and 36 miles.

TERRAIN: Rolling with a few hills (short ride); moderately hilly to Hilly (long ride).

HIGHLIGHTS: Fine back roads and views of China Lake, ridgetop views and the village of Palermo (watch for Elk).

LEADER: Jim Merrick.

All Along the Esker

We had a wonderful ride to Bowdoinham, courtesy of Geology Joe. Beautiful roads with little traffic, and lots of shade to beat the heat. Many thanks to Joe (and Melinda, too!).

We will have some changes to the ride calendar for August. The Alna ride scheduled for Sunday, August 8, will have to be postponed while the ride leader recovers from surgery. Sandi vows that she will be ready for her Pemaquid ride in September. Good luck, Sandi!

This Saturday we will return to a club favorite: the Ridge Road along the Chesterville Esker in Fayette and Chesterville. And stay tuned for the return of Two Wheels Over Easy, the KVBC's popular breakfast ride series, as we roll into August.

Saturday, July 31st - FAYETTE

"All Along the Esker" - a bike ride back to 'the land before time' in Fayette and Chesterville.

START: 8:30 AM at the Fayette Community School on Rt.17, about two miles west of the junction of Rt.17 and Rt.41N in Kents Hill.

DISTANCE: about 24 miles.

TERRAIN: mostly moderate with no big hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: A nice flat run along the scenic Chesterville Esker - good roads and good people.

LEADER: Frank Rosen.