Monday, April 1, 2024

Beware of Greek Bikes


ANCIENT MYTH EXPOSED! The Trojan “Horse” was actually a Bicycle! Scholars from the Institut d’ Columbia today announced a radical new interpretation of the ancient Homeric text that sheds new light on the Fall of Troy. Instead of a large wooden horse, the ancient Greeks fooled their Trojan enemies with a large custom-made bicycle. Professors Vittoria Schwinn and Bianchi Colnago together announced their new discovery at a press conference today. “We had it wrong all these years,” said Prof. Schwinn. “Yes,” agreed Prof. Colnago, who explained that the reinterpretation of the original text, “proves that the clever Greeks constructed an enormous bicycle and left it leaning against the main city gate of Troy.” According to Prof. Schwinn, “the Greek soldiers were secretly hidden inside the top tube.” The two scholars marveled at the Greeks’ brilliance. “No one thinks of looking in the top tube,” said Prof. Colnago. “The seat tube, maybe, but the top tube? Nah.” “Yes,” Prof. Schwinn agreed, “and it appears they also fitted the Trojan Bike with secret hatches in the wheels as they had been setup for tubeless.” Prof. Albert Bontrager of Cannondale College, who was not involved in the new study, was impressed with the new findings. “We’ve always thought the horse story was a bit sketchy,” he said. “This makes much more sense. There’s no way the Trojans would pass up a free bike – n+1, you know.”

 

 

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

April Rides


 Here is the lineup of KVBC rides for April! Some of these may be dependent on the weather (or viewing conditions, in respect to the Total Eclipse ride) but we are hopeful that the snows will melt away and we can get all of these rides in. Watch for ride updates! Also, a reminder that we still have some open dates in May (and October) to fill. See you on the road soon!

Friday, March 22, 2024

Chesterville Maple Sunday Ride Postponed to April 6


 Hello everyone, the latest weather forecasts suggest that road conditions on Saturday & Sunday will not be at all favorable for a group ride, so we are going to postpone the ride in Chesterville until Saturday, April 6, and use it to kick off a full month of riding in April - wahoo!


Saturday, April 6 - CHESTERVILLE
"Pishou's Sucrerie" - a sweet syrup-sampling ride from Chesterville to Farmington Falls.
START: 11:00 am at the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Main Road (about a mile from the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Tower Road).  As you turn onto Main Road (unpaved) there is a small parking area next to a small green dumpster; additional parking roadside. Signs say No Trespassing except with permission - John says we have his permission.
DISTANCE: 23.5 miles.
TERRAIN: flat to hilly; sandy road conditions call for caution on descents.
HIGHLIGHTS: a postride gathering at the ride leader's house for sap boiling and sugar sampling!
LEADER: John Lanoue, johnlanoue@hotmail.com

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

UPDATE: Saturday's Ride in Chesterville Switched to SUNDAY


 Hi Folks, it is Spring on the calendar but Winter is not quite finished with us yet, so we are switching the Maine Maple Sunday ride in Chesterville from Saturday to a Sunday start to try and avoid Saturday's storm.  If conditions are poor on Sunday we may postpone the ride.  But keep your fingers crossed and your tires pumped, and hope to see you Sunday in Chesterville!


Sunday, March 24 - CHESTERVILLE
"Pishou's Sucrerie" - a sweet syrup-sampling ride from Chesterville to Farmington Falls.
START: 11:00 am at the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Main Road (about a mile from the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Tower Road).  As you turn onto Main Road (unpaved) there is a small parking area next to a small green dumpster; additional parking roadside. Signs say No Trespassing except with permission - John says we have his permission.
DISTANCE: 23.5 miles.
TERRAIN: flat to hilly; sandy road conditions call for caution on descents.
HIGHLIGHTS: a postride gathering at the ride leader's house for sap boiling and sugar sampling on Maine Maple Sunday weekend.
LEADER: John Lanoue, johnlanoue@hotmail.com

Monday, March 18, 2024

The 2024 KVBC Ride Calendar


 

Here is the 2024 KVBC Ride Calendar! Thank you to all of our ride volunteers who have helped put together this schedule! We have a number of new rides in store, as well as many past favorites. Please note that this is subject to change, as rides scheduled for a Saturday may be shifted to Sunday due to conditions. There are also a few openings still available - please contact Jim at hjmerrick@gmail.com if you would like to help out.
Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club 2024 Ride Calendar
February 29: HALLOWELL, “Take A Leap”
March 23: CHESTERVILLE, “Pishou’s Sucrerie”
April 8: NEW VINEYARD, “Totally Eclipsed”
April 14: AUGUSTA, “On the Rail Trail”
April 21: TURNER, “Wake Up the Earth”
April 27: VASSALBORO, “Through the Mills”
May 4-5: vacant
May 11: JAY, “May in Jay”
May 18-19: vacant
May 25: WINSLOW, “Winsome Winslow”
June 2: VASSALBORO, “Velo Vassalboro”
June 8: JEFFERSON, “Lupine the Lake”
June 15: MOUNT VERNON, “Eleven Ponds”
June 22: WINSLOW, “Tour of Vassalboro”
June 29: READFIELD, “Maranacook Meander”
July 6: SIDNEY, “Independence Day Ride”
July 13: OAKLAND, “A Cone or a Dish”
July 20: LIBERTY, “Beyond the Pale”
July 27: TURNER, “Streaking Up Streaked Mountain”
August 3: SMITHFIELD, “Looping the Lakes”
August 10: PALERMO, “Ambling to Albion”
August 17: RICHMOND, “Richmond to the Sea”
August 24: SMITHFIELD, “Father Rasle Ride”
September 1: DAMARISCOTTA, “Pedaling to Pemaquid”
September 7: CHELSEA, “Chelsea Chainrings”
September 14: WAYNE, “Which Way to Wayne?”
September 21: WINSLOW, “Tour of Sidney”
September 28: LIVERMORE FALLS, “Boothby’s Apple Ride”
October 5: AUGUSTA, “Beyond Summerhaven”
October 12: MOUNT VERNON, “Triple Pastry Ride”
October 19-20: vacant
October 26: FARMINGTON, “Ups and Downs of Industry”
November 2: WAYNE, “Wicked Wayne”
November 9: NORTH BELGRADE, “Ugly Sweater Ride”
See insights and ads
Like
Comment
Share


Saturday, March 16, 2024

In the Sugarbush with Pishou



 

We are just days away from the first day of Spring!  Hopefully the last gasps of Winter will hold off and let us get in a ride this weekend for Maine Maple Sunday.  We'll meet in Chesterville on Saturday (or Sunday, if the weather is more favorable) for a 23-mile ride out to Farmington Falls and back to the ride leader's to check out his Maple Syrup operation - with some sampling in store!  Stay tuned for last-minute updates, and hope to see you this weekend!

Saturday, March 23 - CHESTERVILLE (Rain Date: Sunday, March 24)
"Pishou's Sucrerie" - a sweet syrup-sampling ride from Chesterville to Farmington Falls.
START: 11:00 am at the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Main Road (about a mile from the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Tower Road).  As you turn onto Main Road (unpaved) there is a small parking area next to a small green dumpster; additional parking roadside. Signs say No Trespassing except with permission - John says we have his permission.
DISTANCE: 23.5 miles.
TERRAIN: flat to hilly; sandy road conditions call for caution on descents.
HIGHLIGHTS: a postride gathering at the ride leader's house for sap boiling and sugar sampling on Maine Maple Sunday weekend.
LEADER: John Lanoue, johnlanoue@hotmail.com
LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45880277

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Take A Leap


The weather for the Leap Day ride tomorrow is looking to be clear but quite windy & cold with wind chills in the single digits.  I plan to be at the start in Hallowell at 11:00 am, but I may opt to ride to the end of the rail trail in Gardiner and then return, about 9 miles.  Others are welcome to continue and do the 20-mile route.  Dress warmly!

Well look at this! Another Leap Year is upon us, which means we have an extra day for bike riding this year - time to schedule another quadrennial Leap Day Ride! Last time we did this ride there was a lot of chatter about a new virus discovered in China. We didn't know it at the time, but it was to be our last pre-Covid ride. Hopefully nothing so dramatic is in store for us this year (fingers crossed). If you are free next Thursday please join us - we hope to stop at Slate's bakery afterwards. See you then!
 
Thursday, February 29 - HALLOWELL
"Take a Leap" - the 6th Quadrennial KVBC Leap Day Ride, through Hallowell, Gardiner, Litchfield, and West Gardiner.
START: 11:00 am at Granite City Park, 94 Water Street in Hallowell.
DISTANCE: 9 or 20 miles.
TERRAIN: rolling with some good climbs; flat along the rail trail.
HIGHLIGHTS: riding on Leap Day; the Kennebec Rail Trail; possible stop at Slate's Bakery.
LEADER: Jim Merrick, 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com.