Coffee is Grown on Hills

We had a great ride from Richmond to Wiscasset last Sunday, despite the heat and humidity.  Due to the heat, we started promptly at 9 am, and took advantage of every shady thoroughfare on the route - splendidly scoped out by our leader, David Lipman.  We also got to ride over the new bridge on Rt. 197 which had some great scenic views of the river from the top.  David has another great route - and another fine coffee shop - in store for us this Sunday.  Hope you can join us!

Sunday, August 23rd - VASSALBORO

"Hills and Beans" - a scenic tour around China and Vassalboro.

START:  9am  at the home of David and Laura Lipman.  Condo is after Natanis Golf Course at 6 Arrowhead Drive heading north. (Not to be confused with Fairway Drive. Use Barrows Road on your GPS and we are the next road on the  left after that)  Please park after the garages in the large dirt parking lot after the condo buildings.

DISTANCE: approx. 25 miles.

TERRAIN:  Moderate to Hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS: an assortment of fine back roads in China and Vassalboro, with a stop at a fine local coffee shop or two.

LEADER:  David Lipman, dlipman@lipmankatz.com

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-hills-and-beans

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, or keep up to date via our Facebook page.

Trick or Treats in Wiscasset

We had a nice ride with a great group last Sunday in Mount Vernon - mostly cool, dry, with little wind.  And many of us stayed after the ride for Lunch at the Post Office Cafe in the village.  That served as a two-fold warmup for next Sunday's ride which will travel from Richmond down to Wiscasset, where we will stop at Treats - another fine store with a superb bakery.  Hope you can join us!

Sunday, August 16 - RICHMOND

"Wheeling Down to Wiscasset" - a tour along the river through Richmond, Dresden, and Wiscasset.

START: 9 AM at the public landing in Richmond (also known as Fort Richmond Park or Peacock Beach State Park, depending on what map you're looking at) at the junction of Front Street (Rt.24) and Main Street (Rt.197). Park in the public lot next to the landing.

DISTANCE: approx. 35-40 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with one or two significant hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic views along the river and Wiscasset, with a possible stop at Treats in Wiscasset and the Richmond Coffee Shop at the ride's end.

LEADER:  David Lipman, dlipman@lipmankatz.com.

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-wheeling-down-to-wiscassett

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club rides are open to members and to the cycling public.  Helmets are required of all riders at KVBC events.  It is also recommended that you bring with you on KVBC rides:  a map of the area in case you stray off route; tools for simple roadside repairs, especially a tire pump, spare tube and/or patch kit; water bottles or hydration systems; personal ID and a small first aid kit; and money for purchasing snacks & drinks en-route.  In case of severe weather, scheduled rides may be postponed or designated as "show & go" rides at the discretion of the ride leader.

 

We welcome suggestions for improving our rides and encourage active participation of all members.  For more information, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com or check out the KVBC Facebook page. 

Climate Ride Northeast - Bar Harbor to Boston

Hot enough for you? Maybe you should check out the Climate Ride! They are looking for another two dozen riders for the inaugural Climate Ride Northeast from Bar Harbor to Boston, coming up just six weeks away. Sounds like fun, and you likely get a chance to explore sections of the East Coast Greenway, too!

Climate Ride Northeast-Bar Harbor to Boston, a five-day 320-mile charitable bike-a-thon, is seeking at least 22 more riders to help fundraise and meet it’s $400,000 goal.... Climate Ride is a one of a kind ride that benefits hundreds of regional and national nonprofits across the country to raise money and awareness for the environment and bicycle advocacy.

Calling All Cycling Enthusiasts
Climate Ride Needs Your Help to Better the Environment
Inaugural Climate Ride Northeast – Bar Harbor to Boston
Thursday, Sept. 17 to Monday, Sept. 21
Are you passionate about the environment or are seeking safer cycling roadways? Take action and register now for the inaugural Climate Ride Northeast – Bar Harbor to Boston to raise money and awareness for regional and national nonprofits that work to create a more green and sustainable future. Use your bicycle as a vehicle to create change!
Set for Sept. 17 through Sept. 21, the five-day charitable bike-a-thon will take participants 320 miles down the scenic coast of New England to support more than 100 sustainability, cycling advocacy, active transportation and environmental causes. Climate Riders have the ability to direct the funds they raise to up to five beneficiaries of their choice. The event goal is to raise $400,000.

Climate Ride Northeast –Bar Harbor to Boston is a fully supported bike-a-thon that provides meals, snacks, bike support, luggage transport, and lodging for participants along the route. On the road, the Climate Ride support team will assist riders to each day’s final destination, exploring the beautiful national parks and the outdoors they are helping to protect along the way. At night, business, policy, public health, and environment experts will engage in conversations with riders. “Ignite Nights,” a networking opportunity with representatives from some of Climate Ride’s 2015 beneficiaries, will be available to riders this year.
Climate Ride is the first adventure travel nonprofit to raise funds for environmental causes and awareness about the importance of bike advocacy and active transportation that will dramatically reduce the carbon emissions that plague the environment. To date, Climate Ride has raised and contributed $2.28 million.
For more information, to register to ride or to support a cyclist of team, visit www.climateride.org or call 406-552-0708. Participants can enter the discount code climateride2015 for $25 off their registration fee

Ponds and Eskers

Weather is warming up nicely for August - with some storms thrown in - but hopefully the weekends will stay clear.  Hope everyone had a great ride last Sunday from Farmington to Industry, and thanks again to Larry Childs for leading.  This Sunday we will return to Mount Vernon for a nice flat ride along the Chesterville Esker, with some significant hills and downhills before and after!  We may regroup after the ride at the Post Office Cafe in Mount Vernon Village.  Hope you can join us!

Sunday, August 9th - MOUNT VERNON

"Eleven Ponds" - a tour past many of the hidden ponds and lakes in Mount Vernon, Fayette, Chesterville, and Vienna.

START:  9:00 AM, Mount Vernon Post Office, just off Rt. 41 on Main Street in Mount Vernon.

DISTANCE:  14 and 29 miles.

TERRAIN:  Rolling with a few good hills (and one memorable one).

HIGHLIGHTS:  rural back roads winding through many small ponds and lakes, and across the top of the Chesterville Esker.  Possible post-ride get-together at the cafe in Mt. Vernon village.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784.

BCM CALENDAR LINK: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-eleven-ponds

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club rides are open to members and to the cycling public.  Helmets are required of all riders at KVBC events.  In case of severe weather, scheduled rides may be postponed or designated as "show & go" rides at the discretion of the ride leader.  For ride updates and reports, follow us on Facebook.

The Cycles of Industry

We had a nice, brisk, 40-mile ride from Gardiner to Bowdoinham on Saturday.  Brisk in more ways than one.  Still unseasonably cool (at least I hope it is "unseasonably") but temperatures are supposed to warm up this week.  Many thanks to Joe Renda for leading the ride on Saturday, and to everyone who turned out.  This Sunday's ride starts in Farmington and heads out over the scenic terrain along the back roads to Industry and Clearwater Pond in Allens Mills.  Note that this ride was originally scheduled for August 9th, but has been moved up a week.  Hope you can join us!

Sunday, August 2nd:  FARMINGTON

"The Ups and Downs of Industry":  a ride through the picturesque hills and hollows of Farmington, New Sharon, and Industry.

START:  9:00 A.M., at the Hannaford Plaza on Rt. 4 in Farmington, about a mile south from the junction of Rt. 4 and Rt. 27, towards Wilton.  Park near the entrance to the shopping plaza.

DISTANCE:  25-30 miles.

TERRAIN:  rolling to hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  quiet back roads along the Sandy River, spectacular panoramic views from the ridgetops of New Sharon & Industry, and Clearwater Pond at Allens Mills.

LEADER:  Larry Childs.

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-ups-and-downs-of-industry

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club and its rides contact Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, or check out the KVBC Facebook page

Back to Bowdoinham

We had a rather unseasonable ride around Lake Cobbossee on Saturday, and the cool, wet conditions kept our numbers down. But the weather wasn't all that bad, considering, and we had a good ride, thanks to John Lanoue, who actually rode to the start!  As a bonus, we had a surprise visit from Roger Rocque at the ride start (he later cheered us on when we passed his house) and we look forward to seeing Roger back on the road.  This Saturday, Joe Renda has volunteered to sub for Roger and lead the Gardiner to Bowdoinham ride - a club favorite.  Please note the 8:30 am start.  Also a heads up: we have swapped dates for the next two rides coming up in August - Larry Childs will be leading the Farmington ride on August 2 (not August 9 as originally scheduled) and Jim Merrick will be leading the Mount Vernon ride on August 9 (instead of August 2).  Lots of great riding ahead - see you Saturday!

Saturday, July 25th - GARDINER

"Back Roads to Bowdoinham" - a tour of the southern Kennebec Valley through Gardiner, Richmond and Bowdoinham.

START:  8:30 AM, at the Laura Richards School, Rt. 201 in Gardiner, 1.5 miles south of the junction of Rt. 201 and Rt.s 126/9 (the junction near the A-1 Diner).  The school is a new brick building with a "spiked ball" sculpture, on the west side of Rt. 201, on the left past the Gardiner Armory (just as you enter the "thickly settled" area).  Park in the lot on the north side of the school.

DISTANCE:  40 miles.

TERRAIN:  Moderately hilly.

HIGHLIGHTS:  quiet back roads along streams and farmland south & west of Gardiner.

LEADER:  Joe Renda.

BCM CALENDAR LINK: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-back-roads-to-bowdoinham

 

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club rides are open to members and to the cycling public.  Helmets are required of all riders at KVBC events.  It is also recommended that you bring with you on KVBC rides:  a map of the area in case you stray off route; tools for simple roadside repairs, especially a tire pump, spare tube and/or patch kit; water bottles or hydration systems; personal ID and a small first aid kit; and money for purchasing snacks & drinks en-route.  In case of severe weather, scheduled rides may be postponed or designated as "show & go" rides at the discretion of the ride leader.

 

We welcome suggestions for improving our rides and encourage active participation of all members.  For more information, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.

The Cobbossee Odyssey - The Fielder's Choice

We had a great ride Saturday from Damariscotta to Pemaquid.  Beautiful weather to ride along the ocean, with some nice sea breezes to offset the summer heat in the sun.  Our thanks to David Lipman for another fine ride!  This week's ride will tackle some of the challenging terrain around Lake Cobbossee - with a stop at Fielder's Choice ice cream at the end!

Saturday, July 18th - MANCHESTER

"A Cobbossee Odyssey":  a tour around Cobbosseecontee Lake.

START:  9:00 A.M., at the parking lot on McArdle Street, just off Rt. 202W past the junction of Rt. 202 & Rt.17, between the Manchester Grange Hall and Fielders' Choice Ice Cream Stand.  The parking lot is the first right after you turn on McArdle Street.

DISTANCE:  27.5 miles.  A map of the route can be found here: http://bikeroutetoaster.com/BRTWebUI/Course/667369

TERRAIN:  rolling with some challenging hills.

HIGHLIGHTS:  views of Cobbossee Lake, back roads of Winthrop, Manchester, West Gardiner, Litchfield, and Monmouth, and an ice cream stop conveniently at the end!

LEADER:  John Lanoue, john.lanoue@avid.com.

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-cobbossee-odyssey

For more info on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.