Another China Surprise

We had an outstanding ride in Windsor on Sunday - nineteen riders under bright blue skies as we wound our way around Windsor and Whitefield, Kings Mills and Coopers Mills, and the Roger Majorowicz Sculpture Garden.  And we had a great post-ride pot luck at the ride leader's - many thanks to Bud Newell for leading the ride and opening up his home in hospitality, and to everyone who brought all the great food!  We hope to continue with great riding weather this Saturday in Vassalboro as we ride around China.  Hope you can join us!

 

 

 

Saturday, May 11th, EAST VASSALBORO

"China Surprise" - a delightful tour over the hills and dells of Vassalboro and China.

START: 10:00 AM at the Vassalboro Historical Society parking lot just north of the China Lake boat landing on Rt. 32 in East Vassalboro (not the boat landing in South China).

DISTANCE: 25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with some hills and flat sections.

HIGHLIGHTS: a selection of great, scenic rural Maine roads with great views of China Lake and surroundings, with a surprise thrown in!

LEADER: Jeanine Libby.

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub.

Cinco de Mayo

It is May 1st, the start of National Bike Month, and we have been having exceptional early Spring weather. Last Saturday we had a fine ride in Wayne, thanks to Ray Giglio and the dozen other riders who took part! 

This week's ride will fall on Sunday, May 5 - "Cinco de Mayo" and will feature a post-ride potluck at the ride leaders house in Windsor for all those who are interested.  Bud says to bring what you like - it need not be Mexican (e.g.: the French were also involved in the turmoil at the Cinco de Mayo, although on the losing end this once).  Mexican or French or whatever, we hope to see you at the Windsor Fairgrounds on Sunday!

 

Sunday, May 5th - WINDSOR

"Cinco de Mayo" - we kick off Bike Month with a scenic tour of Whitefield and Windsor.

START: 10:00 am at the Windsor Fairgrounds on Rt. 32 in Windsor - park in the open field across the street from the entrance to the Fairgrounds.

DISTANCE: 25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderately hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: fine touring country around Windsor & Whitefield, and a post-ride potluck at the ride leader's house, about two miles from the start.  Contact Bud with any questions.

LEADER: Bud Newell.

 

 

Wake Up The Earth - Change of Date

Due to rain in the forecast on Saturday, we will change the start of the KVBC Wake Up the Earth Ride to Sunday, when it is forecast to be sunny and in the 50s! Please join us at the Augusta end of the Kennebec River Rail Trial on Sunday, April 21 at 10:00 AM!


April 21st, Sunday - 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.
DISTANCE: 20-25 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. Possible ride stop at Slate's Bakery in Hallowell.
LEADER: Jim Merrick (substituting for the injured Jim Floyd. Get Well, Jim!)

Wake Up The Earth - 2013

 

 

Hello everyone!  While we are waiting to see what this latest "storm" will bring, don't forget the Bicycle Coalition's Great Maine Bike Swaps and see what they will bring!  The Orono Swap is this Sunday, April 14, and the Portland Swap is Sunday, April 28.  Details on the BCM website.

 

 And we are only 8 days away from the first official KVBC ride of the season - the Wake Up The Earth ramble along the Kennebec River Rail Trail from Augusta to Gardiner and back - including a stop at Slate's Bakery in Hallowell - all happening Saturday, April 20!

 

For up-to-date information on KVBC rides be sure to check in on the KVBC page on Facebook!

 

 

 

April 20th, 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.

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. Possible ride stop at Slate's Bakery in Hallowell.

LEADER:  Jim Floyd.

 

Military Working on Pedal-Powered Drone

Mojave Desert, Calif.: MILITARY REPORTEDLY WORKING ON PEDAL-POWERED DRONE.

Scientists working for the U.S. Army Special Ordnance Division are working on a prototype of a new pedal-powered drone. The drone, they say, will be human-powered, but the energy savings will more than make up for the extra cost of recruiting, training, and replacing human pilots.

The actual workings of the new drone are classified, but it is believed to employ a radical new design that amplifies the leg strength of the pilot through advanced biomechanics. The military is also experimenting with PEDs that have been extensively field-tested in professional cycling.

Military spokesmen were not willing to be interviewed on camera, but speaking off-the-record, they claimed they had no problem finding cyclists to volunteer for the dangerous assignment of testing the new machine. Ironically, it is the wide-spread viewing of grainy videos taken by actual drones in the act of vaporizing vehicles driven by suspected insurgents that have inspired many cyclists to volunteer.

"That's right," said one recruiter closely involved in the project. "You can always tell who the hard-core cyclists are. You ask them: 'Why do you want to join the military?' and they say: 'I want to blow up cars and trucks.'"

The military hopes to have these new drones in operation by the end of the year, or as soon as they figure out the placement of water bottle mounts. Meanwhile the intensive training of cyclist-pilots continues. "It's so friggin' awesome," said one trainee who agreed to talk off-camera. "I can't wait to use this on my daily commute!"
 

Maine Maple Sunday

 

 

Spring is just about upon us, the Posted Roads signs are out, the sap is running, and the weather is turning nice (finally).  Time for a short bike ride!  The weather tomorrow looks to be sunny, warmer, and not so windy.  And it is Maine Maple Sunday, with small local sugarhouses open to the public and giving out free samples.  All those interested can meet at the Manchester Elementary School on Rt. 17 and we will set out on a short 12-mile ride in search of some syrup!

 

Sunday, March 24th - MANCHESTER

"Maine Maple Sunday in Manchester" - a syrupy, posted roads tour around Manchester.

START:  11:00 AM, at the Manchester Elementary School parking lot on Rt. 17, near the junction of Rt. 17 & Rt. 202.  The school is on the left just after you turn off Rt. 202 onto Rt. 17 West.

DISTANCE:  12 miles.

TERRAIN:  moderate, with one long hill.

HIGHLIGHTS:  We'll ride some paved (albeit sandy) back roads to the Hilltop Farm on Prescott Road for some maple syrup sampling as we tap into Spring.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick.

KVBC 2013 Ride Calendar

We had a great ride planning meeting last Monday - in spite of the last-minute snow squall.  Thanks to all who ventured out in the slick driving conditions, and to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine for our "one last time" use of their Augusta offices (and good luck on your move to Portland).  Here, below, is what we came up with for the KVBC 2013 Ride Calendar.  Many, many thanks to all who volunteered to lead rides!  For those of you who signed up for rides, please check the listing below and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's EVENTS Page to verify the accuracy of your ride: start time, location, distance, etc.  Please get back to me by Friday, February 8, with any corrections.  If you are not on the list and you would like to lead a ride, please note the OPEN dates on the calendar and get back to me.  We have some great rides planned for this year, including the Kennebec River and Jay-Farmington Rail Trails, a return of the Camden Vineyard tour, and a few rides out near the coast.  Can hardly wait!

 

Jim Merrick

hjmerrick@gmail.com

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club

2013 Ride Calendar

4/20 – 10 AM – Wake Up The Earth Ride, Kennebec Rail Trail, Augusta – Jim Floyd

4/27 – 9 AM – Wayne Refrain, Wayne Elementary School – Ray Giglio

5/5 – 10 AM – Cinco de Mayo – Windsor Fair Grounds, Windsor – Bud Newell

5/11 – 10 AM – China Surprise – Vassalboro Hist. Soc., East Vassaboro – Jeanine Libby

5/18 – 9:30 AM – Big Lakes Tour – Tom’s Bike, Ea. Winthrop – Denise Crowell

5/25 – 10 AM – Tour of the Back 40 – Windsor Fair Grounds, Windsor – Leanne Moll

6/1 – 9 AM – Velo Vassalboro – 6 Fairway View Drive, Vassalboro – Dave & Laura Lipman

6/8 – 9 AM – Readfield Roundabout – Readfield Post Office, Readfield – Ray Giglio

6/15-16 – OPEN (Trek Weekend)

6/23 – 9 AM – Eleven Ponds – Mount Vernon Post Office, Mount Vernon – Jim Merrick

6/29 – 9 AM – 4^th of July Ride – Bean Elementary School, Sidney – Jim Putnam

7/6-7 – OPEN

7/13 – 9:30 AM – Camden Vineyard Tour – Cellardoor Winery, Camden – Ray Giglio

7/20 – OPEN

7/27 – 9 AM – Biking to Bowdoinham – Richards Elementary School, Gardiner – Joe Renda

8/3-4 – OPEN

8/10 – 9 AM – Ken’s Hotdog Ride – Wings Mills (Mount Vernon) – Ken Louis

8/17 – 9 AM – Whistle Stop Rail Trail – Jay – Bud Newell

8/24-25 – OPEN

8/31 – 9 AM – Rt. 8 Figure 8, Smithfield – Jim Merrick

[9/7 – TBD – Idyllic Islesboro – Larry Childs]

9/14-15 – OPEN

9/21 – Ups & Downs of Industry – Farmington Plaza, Farmington – Larry Childs

9/28/29 – OPEN

10/5-6 – OPEN

10/12 – 9 AM – Tour de Lacs – Wayne Elementary School, Wayne – Ray Giglio

10/19-20 – OPEN

10/26-27 - OPEN