WAKE UP THE EARTH BIKE RIDE

Yes indeed! The weather is finally turning spring-like, and we are one week away from the first KVBC ride of the season, the Wake Up The Earth Ride along the Kennebec River Rail Trail in Augusta! It has been a very long winter, and it is definitely time to wake things up and get out and ride!  Hope to see everyone next Saturday in Augusta at 10:30 am!

April 18th, Saturday - AUGUSTA
"Wake Up the Earth" - an early Spring/Earth Day ride along the Kennebec River Rail Trail through Augusta, Hallowell, and Gardiner.
START: 10:30 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. Probable stop at Slate's Bakery in Hallowell!
LEADER: Jim Floyd.
 
A special note: the CMCC is planning a ride and potluck tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, in Vassalboro - details on their Facebook page.

Greek Law of Cosmic Motion

Helene Alberti Demonstrates the Greek Law of Cosmic Motion (Leslie Jones Collection, Boston Public Library)

Brookline, Mass.: Inventor Helene Alberti of Brookline, Massachusetts, successfully harnessed the Greek Law of Cosmic Motion (or something very close to it) today. It was overcast when Alberti and her team of assistants approached the crown of a nearby hill chosen for its cosmic alignment and gentle slopes. "Already, boys" she cried as they buckled on her harness and affixed her extendable wings. The wings, she explained, were not the primary means of initial lift - that was where the bicycle wheel came in, and she held it aloft and spun it gently to accumulate the cosmic energy in their surroundings. The wings were mainly for gliding in flight and in landing, she said, although they could assist in the launch phase. 

Three times she spun the wheel, faster and faster, to no avail. Looking concerned, she gave it another spin. Again, nothing. As she made ready for a fifth attempt, one of her assistants noticed something. "Hey, I think you got a flat," he said. "Holy crap," cried Alberti. "How did that happen? It was holding air fine when we left the house!" She waited impatiently as her assistants got out their tools and a patch kit (they forgot the spare tube, naturally).

Squared away, she once again took her position, held the wheel aloft and gave it a healthy spin. For a moment nothing happened. Then a strange blue glow began to radiate out from the wheel. It spread out along her wings and radiated in pulses, gaining in intensity. "Ha!" she cried, and began to run down the slope, taking bounding leaps. Two, three, four times she sprang into the air, higher each time. Then with one final bound, she left the mortal ground entirely, and soared off into the heavens.

"Madame Alberti!" called out one of her assistants. "You forgot your CO2 cartridge! What if you get another flat? Will you be able to land?"

"Never you mind, son!" she cried. "Where there's a wheel, there's a way!"

And with that, she vanished from sight. There has been no trace of her since.

(For more on Ms. Alberti, click here.)

2015 Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club Ride Calendar

Spokes and Leaves by Mia Nilsson

We had a great meeting last Sunday (Thank You to David Lipman for his office space and hospitality!) and we put together a full calendar of rides from April to October!  We have another great season of riding ahead, featuring some new rides with apple orchards, steam boats, wineries and breweries, and a weekend getaway to the coast!  Plus many of your favorite rides from years past - everything from hot dogs to apple pie!  Many thanks to all of our intrepid ride leaders who offered to lead rides and keep us moving forward.  If anyone would still like to lead a ride, let me know and I'll see what I can work out.  Meanwhile, have fun in the snow, and start thinking of Spring when the Winter starts getting old.  Our first scheduled ride isApril 18 - We'll see you on the road!

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club 2015 Ride Calendar

April 18, Saturday: “Wake Up the Earth Ride” – Augusta Rail Trail, 11 am, 20-25 mi., Jim Floyd

April 26, Sunday: “Big G’s and Bare Knees” – Winslow Elementary School, 10:30 am, 25-30 mi., Jeanine Libby

May 2, Saturday: “Mid-Morning at the Oasis” – Pike’s Oasis, Livermore, 10 am, 30-35 mi., John Lanoue

May 9, Saturday: “Tour of the Back 40” – Windsor Elementary School, 9 am, 40 mi., Leanne Moll

May 17, Sunday: “Biking with the Alewives” – Vassalboro Elementary School, 9 am, 25-30 mi., Jeanine Libby

May 24, Sunday: “Velo Vassalboro” – 6 Arrowhead Drive, Vassalboro, 9 am, 30-35 mi., David Lipman

May 30, Saturday: “Big Lakes Tour” – Tom’s Bike Boutique, East Winthrop, 9 am, 30-35 mi., Denise Crowell

June 6, Saturday: “Tour de Lacs” – Wayne Elementary School, 9 am, 25 mi., Jim Merrick

June 14, Sunday: “Ken’s Hot Dog Ride” – 49 Marble Point Road, Wings Mills, Mount Vernon, 9 am, 25-30 mi., Ken Louis

June 20, Saturday: “Capitol Breakfast Ride” – Hussey Elementary School, Augusta,8 am, 25-30 mi., Jim Merrick

June 28, Sunday: “Greenville Bike & Boat” – Moosewood Marine Museum,Greenville, 10:30 am, 20 mi., $25 event registration fee, Jeanine Libby

July 4, Saturday: “Go Forth on the Fourth” – Bean Elementary School, Sidney, 9 am, 25-30 mi., Jim Putnam

July 11, Saturday: “Drafting through Damariscotta” – Hannaford Plaza, Damariscotta, 10 am, 30-35 mi., David Lipman

July 12, Sunday: “Biking through Boothbay” – Knickerbocker Boat Landing, Boothbay, 9 am, 25-30 mi., David Lipman

July 18, Saturday: “A Cobbossee Odyssey” – Fielder’s Choice, Manchester, 9 am, 30-35 mi., John Lanoue

July 25, Saturday: “Bowdoinham by Bike” – Laura Richards Elementary, Gardiner, 8 am, 40 mi., Roger Rocque

August 2, Sunday: “Eleven Ponds” – Mount Vernon Post Office, 9 am, 14 or 30 mi., Jim Merrick

August 9, Sunday: “Ups and Downs of Industry” – Hannaford Plaza, Farmington, 9 am, 25-30 mi., Larry Childs

August 16, Sunday: “Wheeling Down to Wiscassett” – Richmond Boat Landing, 9 am, 35-40 mi., David Lipman

August 23, Sunday: “Hills and Beans” – 6 Arrowhead Drive, Vassalboro, 9 am, 30-35 mi., David Lipman

August 30, Sunday: “Out Through the Cellar Door” – Cellar Door Winery, Lincolnville,10 am, 25 or 35 mi., Tammy Jones

September 6, Sunday: “The Oxbow Incident” – Oxbow Brewing Company,Newcastle, 9 am, 28 or 50 mi., Leanne Moll

September 12-13 (Open; Lighthouse Ride and Pedal the Penobscot scheduled)

September 19, Saturday: “Boothbee’s Apple Ride” – Sand Pond, Chesterville, 9 am, 30-35 mi., John Lanoue

September 26, Saturday: “Monmouth a la Mode” – Winthrop Boat Landing, 9 am, 25-30 mi., Jim Merrick

October 3, Saturday: “Three Peaks and a Pontoon” – Sand Pond, Chesterville, 9 am, 30-35 mi., John Lanoue

October 11, Sunday: “A (Wire) Bridge Too Far” – 434 Fredericks Corner Road, Norridgewock, 9 am, 70 mi., Denise Crowell and Brian Bowker

October 17, Saturday: “Route 8 Figure 8” – Smithfield Town Office, 9 am, 19 or 25 mi., Dan Eccher

October 25, Sunday: TBA (Hartland?)

October 31, Saturday: “Wicked Wayne” – Wayne Elementary School, 10 am, 20 mi., Jim Merrick

Ride Plans for Pizza Fans

It's time for our annual KVBC Ride Planning Meeting!  A number of members responded to my poll with a preference of avoiding any conflict if the Patriots were still playing (and after some tense moments last week it looks like they will playing again this Sunday).  So we will meet in Augusta the following week, on Sunday, January 25th, at 6 pm, at the offices of Lipman & Katz at 227 Water Street, thanks to a kind offer from David Lipman.  There is a public parking lot on Water Street just as you come off the circle.  The phone number at the office is 622-3711.

 

The agenda: ride planning, pizza, then followed by more ride planning.  It's fun!  Honest.  We will do our best to put together a full calendar of rides for the new season, and you can help!  If you can't make the meeting, and there is a ride you'd like to lead (or suggest) just let me know.  The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has reconfigured their online events calendar, allowing for additional ride descriptions, photos, etc., so you can get creative with ride promotion.  Their print calendar (probably not so creative) has a deadline of Feb. 6, so we'll try to get our definite rides in to them before then.

 

There is still a possibility for people interested to meet earlier for snowshoeing or x-country skiing in the Arboretum before the meeting.  I've heard from several people who are interested, so I'll try and set something up.  Hope to see you Sunday!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! May your cycling exploits in 2015 meet or exceed all of your expectations!

Don't forget our KVBC Ride Planning Meeting next month. We are looking at either Sunday, January 18, or Sunday, January 25, in Augusta at David Lipman's office on Water Street, around 6 pm. Any preference?

Season's Greetings!

A Happy Winter Solstice leading into the Holiday Season, and Best Cycling Wishes for the New Year!

Safe to Go Back in the Woods?

Tomorrow, Dec. 13, is the last official day of hunting season, so those who are apprehensive of riding in the woods or even in wooded areas, might relax and get out (if the stormy weather ever breaks) and fit in some more riding perhaps. Looking ahead to January, we will be having our annual ride planning meeting - more details to come. Enjoy the holiday season!