Merry Christmas!

High-Wheel Santa (Louis Prang)

Merry Christmas to Everyone from the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club!  May you all have a fine year of cycling ahead!

This past year we had a terrific calendar of rides, most of which had fine weather and were really well-attended - one of our best years ever!  Many, many thanks to everyone who volunteered to lead rides and who helped out in many other ways - we couldn't have done it without you.  I also want to note that several of our "regulars" - due to circumstances unforeseen and otherwise - were unable to ride with us this year: I want you to know we missed you all, and we hope you can make it back and ride with us again in the coming year!

Winter Events coming up: we will once again schedule a Ride Planning Pizza Party sometime in late January or early February, most likely at the offices of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine in Augusta.  If you could send along to me any preference for evenings that you could (or could not) make a meeting, I'll try and sort through the responses and arrange a date fro us to meet.  If the Old Farmer's Almanac predictions are correct and we get substantial snow this Winter, we might also try to schedule a snowshoe/x-country ski event, too - just to keep your cross-training honest!  And if the OFM is full of baloney, and we have a few opportune mild days, we may try to stir up a club ride or two at the last minute.

Facebook: as I already administer two other work-related Facebook pages, I'm considering whether it would be manageable to set up a KVBC Facebook page to help get ride notices out and attract new riders.  If you are already on Facebook, please let me know, so I know what kind of member participation might result - I wouldn't want our "outreach" to exclude our current membership.

Club Dues: there is a concern that the League of American Bicyclists might be forced to raise next year's club insurance rates for member clubs (such as KVBC) but right now it looks as if the club can absorb the increase without raising our membership dues.  We had some good fortune that the insurance fees have been quite modest and have held steady over the past few years - and that we've never had to draw on the insurance!

May you all have a safe and enjoyable year a'wheel next year!

Veterans' Day

 

 

 

We had a great ride last Saturday in Wayne, taking advantage of some nice late-season riding weather.  A good group of nine of us rode in crisp, sunny late-Fall conditions, stopping at the Wing & Kent round cemeteries, the Home Nest Farm scenic overlook, and the warm confines of the Wayne General Store.  The weather this weekend looks favorable for a Veterans' Day ride on Sunday in Mount Vernon - for all you KVBC veterans this may be your last chance to get in a group ride this year!  We will reprise part of the arrowed Mount Vernon ride from last June - there is a hilly 14-mile option, and a more ambitious 29-mile option that also takes in a delightful run along the Chesterville Esker.  We may also get together after the ride at the cafe in Mount Vernon (which closes at 2pm).  Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

Sunday, November 11th - MOUNT VERNON

"Veterans' Day" - a KVBC veterans' ride past many of the hidden ponds and lakes in Mount Vernon, Fayette, Chesterville, and Vienna.

START:  10:30 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.

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

LEADER:  Jim Merrick.

 

 

Hallows and Gallows

"Bring out your Dead" - Cycling Undertaker, Netherlands

I hope everyone stayed high and dry during the past storm.  The weekend is looking much better - cool and dry - so it's time for a final, post-Halloween, pre-Election, apocalyptic ride!  We'll meet in Wayne at the Elementary School and work our way past the historic "Wing Ring" cemetery and up to Kents Hill, scene of an unsolved murder many years past, and we may stop at the Apple Shed and talk about what life will be like next Wednesday.  Will there be a turnover?  Apple or raspberry?  Even if your taste by now may lean to hermits, come find out!  We'll see you then!

Saturday, November 3rd - WAYNE

"Hallows and Gallows" - a post-Halloween ride featuring some historic cemeteries.

START:  10:30 AM at the Wayne Elementary School, 48 Pond Road, Wayne.

DISTANCE:  15-20 miles.

TERRAIN:  moderate, creepy in spots.

HIGHLIGHTS:  the Wing family cemetery, the Kents Hill orchard, perhaps a notorious historic crime scene, and other local haunts.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick.

Goodbye Columbus

Stopping at the Cemetery on Watson Pond Road

I reluctantly missed the last ride from Farmington to Industry, but Larry made a detailed ride report (below):

Hi Jim,

I was hoping the forecast for better weather toward the north and west would hold, and it seemed to be improving as I drove up with the rain stopping and pavement looking drier around Farmington Falls, but when I got to Hannaford’s at 8:30 it was not looking good. By 9:00 we had eight brave cyclists getting geared up for the ride, but then a steady drizzle ensued and the group decided we should go somewhere to wait awhile to see if things would improve. So bikes were repacked and we drove into town and had second (or third) breakfast at the Homestead Bakery for close to an hour, but when we left it was still drizzly so four cyclists decided they didn’t want to ride in the rain and headed home. That left four of us who decided to go anyway.

We modified the ride and started from where we parked in town and did the loop clockwise so we could cut the ride short by returning back on Route 2 for those who had time commitments. As we progressed toward Clearwater Pond, with a gaggle of geese flying over us headed south, there was a steady drizzle and poor visibility but we were all dressed for the conditions and we were actually quite comfortable while doing our usual social chatting as we rode with our lights blinking away brightly. When we got to New Sharon we met two other diehard cyclists riding on Route 2  in the mist and drizzle. At that point the four of us decided to cut a few miles off the ride and headed directly back to Farmington passing all the activity at the Farmington Fair.

Although it would have been nice to have dry weather and good visibility to see the early leaf colors and ridge top views, all four of us were in high spirits and really enjoyed the 23 miles that we rode. You just can’t keep us intrepid cyclists down with a little uncooperative weather. Sorry you couldn’t make it, but you can chalk this up to another completed ride by the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club.

Good show!  Kudos to all who showed up and to Larry for leading the ride!  This weekend's forecast is looking like it is going to clear up a bit on Monday, which is Columbus Day.  Let's go discover some dry roads in and around the Kennebec Highlands.  The route(s) are already arrowed, so you can spend more time looking at the scenery and the fall colors than looking at your cue sheet.  Since the mornings are getting cooler, lets aim for a 10 am start to let things warm up a bit.  If you're going to be around (and for those who would like a tune-up for the Dempsey Challenge) I hope you can join us.  Otherwise, have a great holiday weekend!

October 8th, Monday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Goodbye Columbus" - a discovery tour around Great Pond through Belgrade, Rome, and Smithfield.

START:  10:00 A.M., at the Belgrade Community Center on Rt. 27, a half mile south of the Village of Belgrade Lakes, on the right (northbound) just past the Great Pond Marina.  Park in the community center parking lot nearest the street (just as you turn in).

DISTANCE:  23 or 30 miles, with a short option of 15 miles (all arrowed).

TERRAIN:  rolling to "moderately" hilly (translation: there are hills on this ride).

HIGHLIGHTS:  prime foliage views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Castle Island, and Blueberry Hill.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick.

 

Off to Industry

Clearwater Pond

We had a nice turn-out under cloudy skies for our ride last Saturday around Lake Cobbossee.  Managed to avoid any serious rain, as we just had to contend with some wet roads for a time (and for one member of our group, a couple of flat tires).  Thanks to Cynthia Snow for volunteering to lead the ride, and showing some of us an unfamiliar route.  Please join us Saturday morning in Farmington for a pretty ride to Clearwater Pond in Allens Mills and some great ridgetop views as we head into the Fall Season.

 

 

Saturday, September 22nd:  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 - includes an optional short (1/4 mi.) section of hard-packed dirt road, which can be circumvented by adding a mile to the overall route.

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

LEADER:  Larry Childs.

 

 

Cobbossee, Cobbossee

Taking a Break near Monmouth

We had a nice ride Sunday in Belgrade Lakes.  It was cloudy and quite cool at the start, but it stayed dry and the sun did finally come out as we were climbing the hills on Rt. 226 into Rome.  It is definitely starting to feel like Fall, and we have a beautiful stretch of weather ahead.  This Saturday we'll meet in East Winthrop in front of Tom's Bike Boutique where Cynthia has a great route planned around Lake Cobbossee.  Hope you can make it!

September 15th, Saturday:  EAST WINTHROP

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

START:  9:00 A.M., at the parking lot of Tom's Bike Boutique, 2208 Rt.202 in East Winthrop, across from D.R Struck's Nursery.

DISTANCE:  30 miles.

TERRAIN:  rolling with some challenging hills.

HIGHLIGHTS:  views of Cobbossee Lake, back roads of Winthrop, Manchester, West Gardiner, Litchfield, and Monmouth.

LEADER:  Cynthia Snow.

Grading on the Bel(grade) Curve

Blueberry Hill Overlook

We had beautiful weather last Saturday for the ride in Smithfield, and we had a nice turnout for a holiday weekend.  We has some really nice runs through Smithfield, Rome & Mercer, and we even got to the Ice Cream Place in Smithfield before it closed for the season.  Many thanks to Larry Childs for leading the ride, and to all who turned out.  This Sunday's ride will see a return to the site of our very first club ride in May 2002, at the Belgrade Community Center.  The records show we had 17 people turn out in cold, raw, blustery conditions for a 15 mile ride (still one of the route options for Sunday, hopefully in nicer conditions).  Just for kicks, I dug out the original email announcement for the "First Bike Ride" sent out ten years ago:

 

First Bike Ride - Saturday, May 11th, 9:30 AM

Ride Start: Belgrade Community Center, Rt. 27, a half mile south of the village of Belgrade Lakes, on the right (southbound) next to the Great Pond Marina.  Park along the road in front of the Community Center.

Ride Description: "The Long and the Short of It" - a short ride around Long Pond.  This will be a 15 mile road ride around Long Pond in Belgrade, with an optional climb up Blueberry Hill (.4 mi. of dirt).  Helmets required.

Terrain:  rolling with a few hills.

Highlights:  the village of Belgrade Lakes, Blueberry Hill Scenic Area, Castle Island.

Special Note:  there will be an opportunity for a post-ride get together at a restaurant in Belgrade Lakes, to socialize and discuss upcoming rides, and club organization.

For more information, contact: Jim Merrick.

You'll note that we didn't have a club name (or even any actual members yet) and that I was just as bad at giving directions.  It was very strange leading a ride when I really didn't know anyone there, but I was just glad that anyone showed up.  It certainly never occurred to me that ten years later I would be back in Belgrade Lakes leading my 100th KVBC ride.  I guess that means I'm still glad anyone shows up.  Anyway, the ride Sunday is a nice one - scenic with some challenging hills - and hopefully the rain will clear out by the weekend.  I did manage to get out and arrow the routes before the rain, so the route is freshly marked.  Hope to see you there!

 

September 9th, Sunday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Belgrade Lakes and Highlands" - a tour around Great Pond through Belgrade, Rome, and Smithfield.

START:  9:00 A.M., at the Belgrade Community Center on Rt. 27, a half mile south of the Village of Belgrade Lakes, on the right (northbound) just past the Great Pond Marina.  Park in the community center parking lot nearest the street (just as you turn in).

DISTANCE:  23 or 30 miles, with a short option of 15 miles (all arrowed).

TERRAIN:  rolling to "moderately" hilly (translation: there are hills on this ride).

HIGHLIGHTS:  views of the Belgrade Lakes, some roller coaster hills, Castle Island, and Blueberry Hill.

LEADER:  Jim Merrick.