Down By The River

The 2012 KVBC Wake Up The Earth ride started out overcast and cool. The weather forecast indicated that the rain would hold off until the afternoon, qualified by the actual conditions as "maybe." As for riding the Kennebec River Rail Trail, there was no "maybe" about it, and the ten of us took off.

In truth, there was more auto traffic on Earth Day than I would have liked, but for a stretch through Hallowell the way was fairly clear. Once back on the Rail Trail we were again car-free.

An Earth Day information booth crew welcomed us at the Gardiner end of the Rail Trail.

We continued down river to a private boat landing, then regrouped for the return - to Slate's Bakery.

As we returned, the skies began to clear and the sun broke out. We took our place out in the bakery's courtyard as the Earth woke up, and planned our rides to come.

Join us in Wayne on Saturday, April 28, for the next Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club ride!

Wake Up the Earth!

Time for our first ride of the year! (Well, actually our second ride, as Larry & I broke in the year early with a Leap Day Ride to Slate's Bakery in Hallowell in February.) We will likely have warmer weather this Saturday, if the remarkably Spring-like weather we've been having will hold for next weekend. Jim Floyd will be leading our "Wake Up the Earth" ride along the Kennebec River Rail Trail in Augusta as we kick off another year with the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club. We might note that we should be passing by the Slate's Bakery on Saturday, too - in case you feel you missed out on something last February (which you did). In any case, I hope you can join us! And take note that this weekend the Bicycle Coalition of Maine will host the first of two Great Maine Bike Swaps: the first on Sunday, April 22 in Bangor; followed by one in Portland on Sunday, April 29. Let's get rolling!

Illustration: The Luckhursts on their tandem pass through downtown Hallowell on a KVBC breakfast ride along the Kennebec River Rail Trail. This particular rendering came out looking rather Mediterranean. Still, I have yet to hear from any Italian touring company seeking to use the image in their advertising.

April 21st, Saturday - AUGUSTA

"Wake Up the Earth" - an early Spring/Earth Day ride along the Kennebec River Rail Trail through Augusta, Hallowell, and Gardiner.

START: 10:00 AM at the Augusta trail head of the rail trail - the municipal parking lot off of Water Street adjacent to the Maine State Housing Authority (353 Water St.) in the shadow of Memorial Bridge:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=kennebec+river+rail+trail&sll=44.311274,-69.77447&sspn=0.028006,0.055189&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Kennebec+River+Rail+Trail,+Kennebec,+Maine&ll=44.311497,-69.774309&spn=0.003501,0.006899&t=h&z=17&lci=bike

DISTANCE: 20 miles

TERRAIN: flat (and we mean flat)

HIGHLIGHTS: the first ride of the season, a pleasant run along the Kennebec River, with some great natural scenery mixed with some urban vistas, kicking off another great year of cycling.

LEADER: Jim Floyd.

Maine Town Believed Part of Southwestern France

Researchers in Europe have determined that a town in Maine is actually part of Southwestern France.

By just what mechanism a thousand or so hectares of French soil wound up occupying what was once the Town of Leeds, Maine, is still a mystery. Researchers believe that some sort of powerful space-time event was involved, probably in the middle of the night, or during High School Basketball week, when no one was paying attention.

This mysterious transvergence eventually came to light last year when a group of cyclists taking part in something called the "Tour de Lacs" passed through the town of Leeds, Maine, and stopped to admire fields of sunflowers - much like those that dot the French countryside.

Some time later, a French bicycle tour operator, looking on the internet for the perfect cycling image to promote his new touring company in Southwestern France, came upon the sunflower image and quickly contacted the group's weblog, seeking permission to use their photo. He even sent along a mock up of his ad, promising his customers "stunning countryside."

The cyclists briefly considered holding out for an offer of a free tour, or perhaps a 15 lb wheel of cheese, but finally relented and granted their permission for the use of the image. Curiously, Leeds has noticed an increase in the number of foreign bicycle tourists, stopping to puzzle over their maps and ask directions.

The French team of researchers has taken this into account, and they are looking for evidence that the town of Leeds, Maine, or its cosmic counterpart, has been transported in turn to the French countryside. To date, they have begun to focus their efforts on a small village on the outskirts of Manzac-sur-Vern, where, it is said, the residents speak with a strange accent, and the village store prepares popular sandwiches in bagettes that they call "les Italiens." They promise to have more information on this puzzle as it becomes known.

It's American Bicycler Day!

I hope you were able to take advantage of the delightful mild weather we have been enjoying to get out and ride your bike (I was actually out in shorts!).

For today is March 13th, the birthday of Charles Eadward Pratt, born in Vassalboro, Maine, in 1845. Pratt was an early pioneer and advocate of cycling, and wrote one of the earliest cycling guidebooks, The American Bicycler, in 1879. Pratt served as the first president of the League of American Wheelmen, and is considered by some as the Father of American Bicycling.

Not to mention that he is a native-born Mainer (I did mention it, didn't I?) and that certainly qualifies him as one of our patron saints hereabouts. Here is an 1879 photo of the man himself (courtesy of the Smithsonian) with his wheel, taken in a studio most likely prior to quick jaunt out into the countryside.

Happy Birthday, Charles E. Pratt!

The Jersey Deliberation

If you haven't already done so, you have about 24 hours to enter the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's 20th Anniversary Cycling Jersey selection contest to select their new jersey. Out of all the votes they will have a drawing for one winner of a new jersey (whichever design that will be). I suppose if you win you can always say you had that design picked out from the start. Or that it was one of your top three choices. Something like that.

Which brings up the subject of a KVBC jersey! We need some ideas and cool designs. Maybe we can have a contest to see who can design the best jersey? Or even a jersey. Then we can have our own jersey contest! So, if your tastes run from contemporary to retro to somewhere in between, grab some crayons or markers and go to it. Send in your designs and we'll take it from there!

KVBC 2012 Ride Calendar

We had a great ride planning meeting last week at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's Augusta office. We have almost a full calendar of rides for the year, with 15 people offering to lead rides for the club, many for the first time! And with new ride leaders come new routes, so we should have a great season ahead. Many thanks to all who contributed, and to the BCM for again offering us the use of their space for the planning meeting. There are still a few open dates available, so if you have a ride in mind, speak up! Contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com.

Ride Regrouping, Blueberry Hill, Watson Pond Road, Rome

KENNEBEC VALLEY BICYCLE CLUB 2012 RIDE CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

2/29 – “Leap Day Ride” - Hallowell Boat Landing, Hallowell, 11 AM, 15 mi., Jim Merrick

APRIL

4/21 – “Wake Up the Earth Ride” – Kennebec Rail Trail, Augusta, 20 mi., 10 AM, Jim Floyd

4/28 – “The Wayne Way” – Wayne Elementary School, Wayne, 25 mi., 9:30 AM, Ray Giglio

MAY

5/5 – “Cinco de Mayo in Manchester” – Manchester Elementary School, Manchester, 25 mi., 9:30 AM, Jim Merrick

5/12 – “China Surprise” – Vassalboro Historical Society, East Vassalboro, 25 mi., 10 AM, Jeanine Libby

5/19 – “Windsor au Couture” – Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, 35 mi., 10 AM, Leanne Moll

5/26 – “Single Chainring Tour” – Lunch Pad Restaurant, Livermore, 25-30 mi., 8:30 AM, Frank Rosen

JUNE

6/2 – “Big Lakes Tour” – Tom’s Bike Boutique, East Winthrop, 25-30 mi., 9 AM, Denise Crowell

6/10 – “Eleven Ponds Ride” – Mt. Vernon Post Office, Mt. Vernon, 30 mi., 9 AM, Jim Merrick

6/16 – “Kents Hill Ramble” – Torsey Church, Kents Hill, 25-30 mi., 8:30 AM, Ray Giglio

6/23 – “Capitol Breakfast Ride” – Hussey Elementary School, Augusta, 25-30 mi., 8 AM, Connie Brown

6/30 – “Independence along the Middle Road” – James H. Bean Elementary School, Sidney, 16 or 30 mi., Jim Putnam

JULY

7/7 – open

7/15 – “Biking to Bowdoinham” – Laura Richards Elementary School, Gardiner, 40-45 mi., 9 AM, Joe Renda

7/28 – “The Wayne Refrain” – Wayne Elementary School, Wayne, 25-30 mi., 8:30 AM, Ray Giglio

AUGUST

8/4 or 8/5 – open

8/11 – “Explore the New Merrymeeting Trail Interim On-Road Route: Gardiner to Richmond and Back” – Gardiner Waterfront Park, Gardiner, 30-35 mi., 9 AM, Dave Wood

8/18 –"Ken's Hot Dog Ride" - Wings Mills, 25-20 mi., 9 AM, Ken Louis

8/25 – “Explore the New Merrymeeting Trail Interim On-Road Route: Richmond to Topsham and Back” – Richmond Waterfront Park, Richmond, 30-35 mi., 9 AM, Dave Wood

SEPTEMBER

9/1 – “Route 8 Figure 8” – Smithfield Fire Station, Smithfield, 25-30 mi., 9 AM, Larry Childs

9/9 – “Belgrade Lakes and Highlands” – Belgrade Community Center, Belgrade Lakes, 15-28-35 mi., 9 AM, Jim Merrick

9/15 – “A Cobbossee Odyssey” – Tom’s Bike Boutique, East Winthrop, 25-30 mi., 9 AM, Cynthia Snow

9/22 – “Ups and Downs of Industry” – Hannaford Plaza, Farmington, 25-30 mi., 9 AM, Larry Childs

Additional rides with dates not determined yet:

May – Kennebec River Rail Trail Ride, David Auclair

Merry Christmas and Holiday Greetings!

Best Wishes for the Holidays and the New Year to all of you from the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club! We had a great year for cycling in 2011 (although from a non-cycling perspective, I'm really looking forward to 2012)!

Coming up in January we will plan for our annual ride planning pizza party - stay tuned for details. I am also amenable for organizing another New Year's Day Ride - perhaps along the rail trail in Hallowell, if the weather remains rather mild - although I recovering from a (non-cycling) calf injury, and may not be able to ride by then. I certainly hope to be ready for my 6th quadrennial Leap Day Ride - which will be Wednesday, Feb. 29th - more details as we get nearer to the date. These winter rides are subject to weather, but we have had pretty good luck with them in the past.

And I'm sure that when we get into March, we'll all start to look forward for the spring rides to start up again in April! Perhaps we'll get to see each other before then!

Happy New Year!