Looping Colby

We had a nice sunny day for the Wake Up the Earth ride in Turner on Saturday. We took on some early season hill climbing. and were rewarded with some spectacular views of distant snow-capped mountains. This Saturday we will revisit a classic tour over the Colby Loop, starting at the same location as in pre-Covid days, although the location has since been transformed quite a bit, so we've included a drone's view of the ride start. Hope to see you there!

Saturday, April 30 - WATERVILLE

"Over the Colby Loop" - a classic circuit from Waterville to Oakland, Smithfield, and Norridgewock

START: 9:00 am at Colby College, visitor parking at the Lower Athletic Center Parking Lot, corner of Mayflower Hill and Campus Drive, adjacent to the new roundabout and across from the baseball field (see attached view).

DISTANCES: 34 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate with some hills

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic farmland, lakes and streams, and good roads with hopefully little traffic

LEADER: Duncan Tate, datateme@gmail.com

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7481935 

Wake Up the Earth!

 We got lucky on last Saturday's KVBC ride from Augusta. The rains held off until we were packing up and leaving, and the six of us who gambled a bit with conflicting forecasts managed to get in a fine ride. After a bit of snow early this week we should all be ready for Spring to make an appearance, and we will hold our annual Wake Up the Earth ride this Saturday to top off Earth Week! This year we will meet at the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park and ride to the Nezinscot Farm Store in Turner. Hope you can join us!

Saturday, April 23 - TURNER

"Wake Up the Earth" - an Earth Week ride celebrating the coming of Spring, parklands, local organic farm producers, and biking of course!

START: 10:30 am at the north parking lot of the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park on Center Bridge Road in Turner. Detailed directions (and a nifty downloadable map of the park) can be found on their website: https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=98

DISTANCE: 22 or 24 miles

TERRAIN: moderate with several long hills

HIGHLIGHTS: a scenic ride along rivers and ridgetops through Turner and Leeds, celebrating Earth Week and the coming of Spring, with a stop at the Nezinscot Farm Store.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP (longer): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39005991

LINK to ROUTE MAP (shorter): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39006194

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.

Big Knees

We had a really nice ride out of Manchester on Sunday, with an impressive turnout (for early April) of 19 riders. The day was sunnier than expected and the winds were calm, making for a very pleasant ride. It looks like we might have another nice forecast in store for this coming Sunday's ride in Winslow. Will it be warm enough for bare knees? Who knows, but we may have a post-ride get-together at Big Gs for lunch. Hope to see you then!

April 10th, Sunday - WINSLOW

"Big G's and Bare Knees" - a riverside tour through Winslow, Benton, and Clinton.

START: 10:30 AM at Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow.

DISTANCE: 25-30 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate.

HIGHLIGHTS: an early Spring ride along the Kennebec and Sebasticook rivers. Optional lunch stop at "Big G's" in Winslow.

LEADER: Jeanine Libby, jjlibby13@roadrunner.com.

LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4932699574

(Bicycle Chain Sculpture: "Nirvana 180" by Seo Young Deok, 2018.)

The International Bike Swallowing competition is set to get underway today in Salisbury, UK, after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid outbreak. Eager contestants from more than 30 nations have gathered to vie for the coveted crown. Interest has been especially keen due to the relaxation of some of the contest’s earlier rules, and the organizers predict a lively contest.

Not all “bike swallowers” are happy with the new rules. Three-time former champion William “Deep Throat” Simpson could not hide his disdain. “You gotta be kidding me,” he declared. “No external cables? No rim brakes? No front derailleur? Tubeless tires?” He turned away and spat on the ground. “Man, these fellas would probably choke on a full Campy gruppo!”

The new rules did not dampen the enthusiasm of the spectators, however. After the first round of competition, some of the onlookers were ready for more. “I want to be a cyclist when I grow up,” vowed little Susie Wilkins of Salisbury. “Cyclists can eat anything!”

We Are United in Manchester

 We had a nice "Maple Sunday" ride last Saturday in Chesterville. We had some nice warm sunshine at times, and a mostly flat route. John gave us a great tour of his maple syrup operation, and topped it off with some expert pancakes, themselves topped off with some expert maple syrup! Our thanks to John! This coming weekend is looking good, weather-wise, and we will take advantage and run one of our traditional rides from the past 20 years as we head out to Wings Mills from Manchester. Hope you can join us!

Sunday, April 3rd - MANCHESTER

"Manchester United" - an "almost Spring-like" tour from Manchester to Wings Mills.

START: 11:00 AM, at the Manchester Elementary School parking lot on Rt. 17, near the junction of Rt. 17 & Rt. 202. The school is on the left just after you turn off Rt. 202 onto Rt. 17 West.

DISTANCE: 19 or 23 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with one long hill.

HIGHLIGHTS: We'll ride past Lakeside Orchards over back roads along some streams in and out of Wings Mills and take in some hilltop views.

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

LINK to ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6761462

A Full Slate of Rides for April!

 Here are the KVBC Bike Rides in April! These early rides may be cancelled due to weather or road conditions. Think Spring!

Don't be a Sap

Welcome to Spring everyone!  The sap is running and we are approaching Maine Maple Sunday.  If the weather is cooperative we will have a ride Saturday in the backwoods of Chesterville, with a special maple syrup tasting at the ride leader's house.  We are not under any specific COVID restrictions, but it is a good idea to keep up with distancing and staying home if you are feeling sick.  Hope you can join us!

Saturday, March 26 - CHESTERVILLE

"John & Karen's Sugar Shack" - a sweet syrup-sampling ride from Chesterville to Farmington Falls.

START: 11:00 am at the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Main Street (about a mile from the junction of Egypt Pond Road and Tower Road).  As you turn onto Main Street (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, john.lanoue@avid.com.

LINK TO ROUTE MAP: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7642740