Happy First Day of Spring! It may not look much like it, but the calendar indicates that today marks the Vernal Equinox, so that must be the vernal truth. Depending on conditions, we will attempt to coax Spring along with a short ride on Saturday as part of Maine Maple Sunday. Join us on the road, or just stop in at the Sugar House and sample some of their wares. Otherwise, Think Spring!

Saturday, March 24 - SIDNEY

"Maine Maple Sidney" - a sweet ride to mark the alleged arrival of Spring and Maine Maple Sunday with a stop at a Sugar House on Goodhue Road in Sidney.

START: 10:00 AM, at Bacon Farm Maple Products at the corner of Goodhue Road and Rt. 23 (Pond Road) in Sidney. Parking may be limited to streetside, although there may be additional parking available at the New England Music Camp on Rt. 23 just north of the Sugar House.

DISTANCE: about 17 miles

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: It's Spring! Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar, Maple Sidney!

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

LINK to RIDE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7214025

KVBC 2018 Ride Calendar

Here is the 2018 Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club Ride Calendar. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who volunteered to lead rides this year!  We have some very interesting rides planned, with many popular routes, some intriguing revisions, and some all new rides to offer!  There are still a couple of openings in the calendar, so if you still want to lead or co-lead a ride, let me know.  We are now less than 30 days til Spring!

Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club

2018 Ride Calendar

March 17, Saturday – Vassalboro: St. Patrick’s Day (tentative)

March 25, Sunday – Sidney: Maine Maple Sunday (tentative)

April 15, Sunday, 10 am – Winslow: Big G’s and Bare Knees; Jeanine Libby

April 22, Sunday, 10 am – Augusta: Wake Up the Earth Ride; Jim Floyd

April 29, Sunday, 9:30 am – East Vassalboro: China Surprise; Jeanine Libby

May 6, Sunday, 10 am – Readfield: Maranacook Meander; Lydia Leimbach

May 12, Saturday, 10 am – Skowhegan: Acorns and Ales; John Lanoue

May 20, Sunday, 9:30 am – Vassalboro: Biking with the Alewives; Jeanine Libby

May 26, Saturday, 9 am – Manchester: Cobbossee Odyssey; John Lanoue

June 3, Sunday, 9 am – Vassalboro: Velo Vassalboro; David Lipman

June 9, Saturday, 9 am – Jefferson: The Jefferson Jaunt; Bryan Griffin

June 16, Saturday, 9 am – Wayne: Property Pedal Tour; Jim Floyd and Jim Merrick

June 22-23-24 – Greenville: Bike and Boat; Jeanine Libby

June 24, Sunday, 9:30 am – MidCoast (TBD): All’s Well that Harpswell: Ken Louis

July 1, Sunday, 9 am – Sidney: Independence Day Ride; Jim Putnam

July 7, Saturday, 10 am – Damariscotta: Drafting through Damariscotta; David Lipman

July 8, Sunday, 9 am – Boothbay: Biking through Boothbay; David Lipman

July 15, Sunday, 9 am – Mount Vernon: Ken’s Hot Dog Ride; Jim Merrick

July 21, Saturday, 8:30 am – Augusta: Capitol Breakfast Ride; Jim Merrick

July 29, Sunday, 9 am – Gardiner: Biking to Bowdoinham; Joe Renda

August 4, Saturday, 9 am – Wayne: We’ll Always Have Paris; Jim Merrick

August 11, Saturday, 9 am – Whitefield: Tour de Whitefield; Bryan Griffin

August 18, Saturday, 9 am – Wayne: Which Way to Wayne?; Fritz Onion

August 26, Sunday, 10 am – Lincolnville: Out Through the Cellar Door; Tammy Jones

September 2, Sunday, 9 am – Richmond: Wheeling to Wiscassett; David Lipman

September 9, Sunday, 9 am – Smithfield: Route 8 Figure 8; Larry Childs

September 15, Saturday, 9 am – Livermore: Boothby’s Apple Ride; John Lanoue

September 22 or 23 – OPEN

September 30, Sunday, 9 am – Norridgewock: Bingham’s Not Brigham’s C’est Bon; Denise Crowell & Brian Bowker

October 6 or 7 – OPEN

October 13, Saturday, 10 am – Chesterville: Three Peaks and a Pontoon; John Lanoue

October 20, Saturday, 9 am – Farmington: Ups and Downs of Industry; Jim Merrick

October 28, Sunday, 9 am – Wayne: Wicked Wayne; Jim Merrick

Not-So-Early Bird

After a few false starts, we managed to get in a nice ride to finish off November last Saturday in Belgrade Lakes.. We'll see if the moderate weather continues into December, as we'll try for another group ride on Sunday in Oakland.  I still have a few jerseys to distribute, so if you haven't picked yours up yet let me know if you can on Sunday, or let me know how I can get yours to you.  Otherwise, see you Sunday!

Sunday, December 3 - OAKLAND
"The Messalonskee Meander" - a backroads tour through Oakland and Sidney.
START: 10:00 AM at the Oakland Post Office at the corner of Oakland Road and East School Street.
DISTANCE: 25 miles.
TERRAIN: flat to rolling, a short section of unpaved surface.
HIGHLIGHTS: quiet back roads along the shore of Messalonskee Lake and the Kennebec River.  Possible pre-ride and/or post-ride get-together at the Early Bird Cafe in Oakland.
LEADER: Jim Merrick, 293-2784, hjmerrick@gmail.com.
LINK TO RIDE MAP: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6753840

NOTE: in case of wet and cold weather conditions, the ride may be cancelled.

Post-Thanksgiving

Well, we definitely got rained out last Sunday (although I have to give an honorable mention to David, who rode over to my house afterward to pick up his jerseys). We'll try again this Saturday and hope for better conditions to work off all the extra calories taken in on Thursday.. For those who have yet to pick up their new KVBC jerseys I will again have those at the start. Meanwhile, have a great Thanksgiving, and see you Saturday!

November 25th, Saturday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Post-Thanksgiving Ride" - a tour through Castle Island, Belgrade, and Rome.

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:  15 or 24 miles.

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 - possible post-ride stop at the bakery in Belgrade Lakes Village.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP (short loop): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7167541
(longer loop): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7167543
 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, or check out our blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

Blueberry Thrill

November has been wild and woolly, with power outages, downed trees, frozen pipes, and some occasional snow flurries. We may see a break this Sunday if the rains clear out, and since this is our 15th year lets try another 15-mile ride (with an optional longer route) in Belgrade Lakes. We'll head out through Castle Island, up Watson Pond Road to Blueberry Hill, and finish with a stop at the bakery at Hello Good Pie in Belgrade Lakes Village. If it is raining and in the 40s at the start we won't ride. Those of you who ordered new KVBC jerseys will have an added bonus, as the jerseys have been shipped and should arrive in time for Sunday's ride. Even if you don't ride, you can pick up your jerseys at the start and join us at the bakery! Hope to see you Sunday!

November 19th, Sunday:  BELGRADE LAKES

"Blueberry Thrill" - a tour through Castle Island, Belgrade, and Rome.

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:  15 or 24 miles.

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 - possible post-ride stop at the bakery in Belgrade Lakes Village.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP (short loop): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7167541

(longer loop): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7167543
 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, or check out our blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

Winthrop at the Gazebo

We had an interesting ride from Wayne last Sunday.  The weather forecast was about as accurate as CMP power restoration estimates, and the roads were quite wet. Still, we had a nice ride - kudos to those who turned out and especially those who wore creative costumes - they made quite a hit at the stop at the Apple Shed in Kent's Hill. Saturday's weather "looks" favorable, and it will look absolutely outstanding if we get power back, so let's plan for our first ride in November this Saturday in Winthrop - we may have a new cafe to check out!

Saturday, November 4th - WINTHROP
"Winthrop by the Gazebo" - a tour around Winthrop and Monmouth.
START: 10:00 AM at the Winthrop Town Boat Landing on Maranacook Lake, near the gazebo on Coady Street, off of Memorial Drive. If the boat landing parking lot is full, there are additional spaces around the corner on Summer Street, lakeside.
DISTANCE: 18 or 24 Miles.
TERRAIN: Rolling, with a few stiff hills.
HIGHLIGHTS: Back roads beside rolling orchards, lakeside summer camps, small hidden hamlets, and a possible cafe stop in Winthrop at ride's end.
LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com.
LINK to RIDE MAP: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6721791
 

For more information about the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the KVBC blog, Posted Roads, at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

All Hallows, All Felloes

We had a wonderful Fall day last Sunday on the ride from Farmington to Industry.  Started out a bit cool and cloudy, but the skies cleared and we had lots of bright sunshine on Fall colors out around Clearwater Pond, where the fish were jumping and the cyclists were looking a bit lively as well.  Let's hope they look better than undead on this Sunday's Halloween ride in Wayne!  Costumes optional (we had some clever ones last year) - helmets still required and loose, chain-catching garments discouraged. You still have some time to prepare, but Sunday will be here quicker than you can say "Boo."  See you then!

Sunday, October 29th - WAYNE

"Wicked Wayne" - a Halloween ride featuring some historic cemeteries along some quiet back roads (maybe too quiet). 

START: 9:30 AM at the Wayne Elementary School, 48 Pond Road, Wayne.

DISTANCE: about 20 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, creepy in spots.

HIGHLIGHTS: at least five local cemeteries, including the circular Wing family cemetery and the Kent family cemetery; the Kents Hill orchard, a notorious, unsolved historic crime scene, and other local haunts. 

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6976062

For more information about the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784, or check out the club blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.