5/29 Saturday Ride

First, we want to thank everyone who made last weekend's rides such a success. Between assistance covering the normal ride and a great turnout for our longer ride around the Raymond hill route significant amount of support went into making everything come together. Thanks!

This week we will return to having one route for the Saturday ride. The specifics are undecided at this point, but will feature something in the 30-mile range. Two options we are mulling over are the familiar ride up Mountain Rd. over to Cumberland (MapMyRide route) and the somewhat flatter route out Middle Rd. and around the Greely/Tuttle loop (MapMyRide route).

For those riders who have been using our longer rides as a way to prepare for Monday's Annual CCCP Memorial Day Ride, this weekend's ride is intended to be an easy, comfortable ride that will provide the opportunity to stretch your legs a bit before heading over to the White Mountains.

Please send me an email with any comments and/or suggestions.

5/22 Saturday Ride

We are within 2 weeks of the CCCP Memorial Day ride, which for those that have been participating in our series of longer rides, means that we have just one more long ride before the big event.

This weekend will be a bit of an adventure. For the first time, we are splitting the group entirely and starting the longer ride from a different location. Here are the details:

The Normal Saturday Ride

Leaving from Back Bay Bikes at 8:00

Diane has graciously offered to lead the ride this week. The ride will be 30 miles, heading through Falmouth and Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

The Longer Saturday Ride (Raymond Hill Route)

Leaving from Cumberland Center at 7:30

This week's longer route will start in Cumberland and tackle the Raymond Hill loop (MapMyRide route).

Given the length and terrain of the route, we are planning an early start. Please plan to meet at 7:30 in the Cumberland Fire Department parking lot located at the corner of Main Street (Rte 9) and Tuttle Rd (google map). For those of you driving to the start, there is ample parking in the Greely school parking lots right across the street from the fire station.

For those of you that need a ride, Bron and I will be at Back Bay Bikes at 7:00 to help shuttle people to Cumberland. We have the capacity to bring 4 riders/bikes, so if you need a ride, please let us know ASAP to reserve your place. In order to make the 7:30 meet in Cumberland, we need to leave at 7:00, so don't be late.

Also, a note about fuel for the ride. the current forecast is calling for sunny skies and 60 degrees. We are expecting that the ride will last 3 1/2 to just over 4 hours. Therefore, everyone should be prepared with at least 2 water bottles, preferably containing sports drink, and some solid food. There are a few potential places to stop if people need to refuel during the trip, but please come prepared for a long day in the saddle.

Please confirm that you need a ride by sending me an email ASAP. Also, if you could be available to help shuttle a rider or two, please let me know just in case we have some overflow that we need to handle.

5/15 Saturday Ride

There are only two more weekends before the CCCP Memorial Day ride. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the weather forecast for this weekend stays favorable because this week's longer ride will take us up Mountain Rd., Dutton Hill and Depot Rd. (MapMyRide route). We will also have a normal Saturday loop for those looking for a ride in the neighborhood of 30 miles. Based on the interest of the group, the normal route will either be the Mountain/Mast ride (MapMyRide route) or the Mountain/Blanchard ride (MapMyRide route).

On May 22, we will have our first "destination" Saturday ride. While the normal ride will leave from the shop as usual, people interested in the longer ride will meet in Cumberland to do the Raymond Hill loop (MapMyRide route). In an attempt to better plan for this ride, we are trying to get an approximate count of people who will be joining us. So, please, drop me a quick email if you are planning on doing the Raymond Hill ride with us on May 22.

5/8 Saturday Ride

This week we will take a break from the split ride routine we have been experimenting with this spring and return to one ride that will head up Mountain Rd. and over to Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

Next week we will return to the split ride format with long routes that include more hills. On May 15, we will be doing a route that includes Mountain Rd., Dutton Hill, and Depot Rd. (MapMyRide route). This ride will utilize the current format where the entire group starts out together and then splits at a designated point (likely Mast Rd.).

On May 22, we will have our first "destination" Saturday ride. While the normal ride will leave from the shop as usual, people interested in the longer ride will meet in Cumberland to do the Raymond Hill loop (MapMyRide route). In an attempt to better plan for this ride, we are trying to get a count of people who will be joining us. So, please, drop me a quick email if you are planning on doing the Raymond Hill ride with us on May 22 so I can get an approximate head count.

If you have any questions or comments on how these split rides have been working, please email me.

Don't forget that the annual CCCP Memorial Day ride (MapMyRide route) is only a few weeks away.

Message from Patrick

Even though I haven't made a ride yet I want to give PROPS, KUDOS, THUMBS UP, GOOD ON YA'S, and sincere thanks to Chris and everyone that works at Back Bay Cycles and the club for going out of their way to help the folks get their bike together that are riding in the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride in May. I'll be riding in this great event and feel good there is someone helping out those folks from out of town.

I'm not a regular but make as many rides as I can with my schedule (I'll miss this years memorial day ride unfortunately. I'll be all primed for Hurricane Rd after riding around 550 miles in 6 days too!) and am proud to ride with such a great group of people. You just made me a lifelong member with this type of hospitality to these folks coming in from "away".

Thanks again and hope to see (ride) with y'all soon.

Take Care, Be Safe
Patrick