12/26 Saturday Ride

I am out of town for Saturday, but the weather looks to be pretty good for December 26, so who's showing up at 9:00?

12/19 Saturday Ride

Well, I guess we finally have to admit it's December: it will stay 32°-40° during ride time tomorrow. This in mind, a shorter ride should be in order...35-ish miles? I know--what a piker! We can go to Westbrook, out to the Fairgrounds, Cape... bring your ideas.

Wheels roll at 9:00

BTW: who has a fat bike and is waiting for the snow to fall? Or a mountain bike and is still ready to ride in the woods? I have the most wonderful trails by my house, and they are getting an expansion...

12/12 Saturday Ride

I have to get in just 70 more miles to reach 5000 for the year: who wants to help me shatter my Personal Best by rolling 40 or 50 miles this Saturday? It's December 12th, the roads are clear, and it's supposed to be about 44°-50° at ride time: what can you say about that except "WOO-HOO! Let's go!"

OOB? Pinelands via the back roads? Brunswick? We missed the Raymond hills this fall, but I'm pretty ok with that. I'm open to suggestion, I just want another good day on the bike. Who's with me?

12/5 Saturday Ride

I will be having more fun than humans should be allowed tomorrow: starting my 24-hour road trip back home from the Midwest. As such, whoever is riding tomorrow's Dealer's Choice will be having a better day than I! I look forward to next weekend and just hope that it still rideable!

11/27 Friday Ride?

I don't know about you folks, but I can only get away with one ride this weekend, and Bruce's Post-Turkey Calorie Burner on Friday at 10:00 looks to be a lot warmer than Saturday at 9:00 (52° as opposed to 40°). Who's in?

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Black Friday Ride
10 a.m. Friday
Approx. 50 miles, moderate pace
Meet in parking lot behind Back Bay Bike

In the 1890's, the Maine Historical Society reports, the bicycle was "the perfect fit for the new American fashion," especially after the "safety" bike replaced the "boneshaker" in the 1890s.
Temperance advocate Frances E. Willard wrote in 1895, "... the bicycle was perhaps our strongest ally in winning young men away from public-houses, because it afforded them a pleasure far more enduring, and an exhilaration as much more delightful as the natural is than the unnatural."
Thus the members of the Portland Wheel Club gathered for the first annual Thanksgiving Friday Ride in 1997. That was before the day became known as "Black Friday." Indeed, it was normally a work day for Americans, except that many stayed home due to "illness." In Portland, however, those who did not work traditionally took a long bicycle ride as a digestive aid after over-indulging at the Thanksgiving table. The photo below is believed to depict just such a gathering.
The annual tradition has continued uninterrupted for over a century, except for a brief 116-year hiatus, and all are invited to participate in this great tradition. Help keep our young men out of the publick houses!

11/21 Saturday Ride

I am traveling again this weekend, friends, so it's another Dealer's Choice ride. It looks to be a little cool tomorrow, but maybe Thursday's rain will prove inspiring: it's November in Maine and we're still riding! Wheels roll at 9:00.

11/14 Saturday Ride

I have the great good luck to be working on Saturday, so this will be a dealer's choice. Meet at the shop for a quick vote and wheels roll at 9:00.

I have just learned that Cranksgiving is also this weekend, so there's an alternative.

11/7 Saturday Ride

It looks like it's going to be around 50° tomorrow, so let's take a ride!

On the table are Brunswick (a solid 55 miles, or the shorter Freeport loop for those wanting just 35), or perhaps Pinelands via Pownal, following Bruce's lovely backroads (though we don't have to do all that climbing on the way home!)

Let's call it in the morning; wheels roll at 9:00.

10/31 SMR Time Change

Given the cooler temperatures, we've decided to move the SMR ride time back to 9:00, so enjoy the extra hour of sleep and think warm thoughts!

Meanwhile, I have Mitchell Hill in mind...

10/24 Saturday Ride

Go west, young man (and woman)!

Let us turn our wheels towards Westbrook and enjoy bucolic byways and the silky-smooth new pavement of Mountain and Albion Roads!

10/17 Saturday Ride

I'm a schmuck: I was called out of town and completely lost track of time! Please enjoy you choice of rides and I will try to make up for this next week!

10/10 Saturday Ride

Pinelands

I still have a century left to ride, so I'm up for a little mileage or an easy spin. Let's assume we're heading to Pinelands: we could go the easy way or we could go Bruce's way. Or we could go to Westbrook: we'll take a vote. It should be cool but sunny tomorrow; see you in the morning.

10/3 Saturday Ride

Well, if you're not planning to do the AppleCycle or the Cadillac Challenge on Sunday, then I don't know why you have a bike at all!

Given that I'm relatively certain most of us are pedaling one of these two outings, I'm planning nothing more aggressive than Freeport tomorrow, and an easy spin, at that. Feel free to dust me; I won't mind.

9/26 Saturday Ride

OOB!

It's time to fly down to Old Orchard and out towards Gorham. I have two options for tomorrow. Having just come off of Loon Echo and headed towards Cadillac next weekend, I'm thinking a long and flattish 50 miles (in red). If, however, you want at least one hill and a little more mileage, we can bang a right off Burnham Road and head up Mitchell Hill and out towards Cape--people can take a longer or shorter route back from Cape (55 or 67 miles). We can pick in the morning but, either way, bring two bottles and some snacks, and we'll plan to stop at the Saco Bay Variety.

It will be 50° at start time and 60° by noon, so dress appropriately. Wheels roll at 8:00.

9/19 Saturday Ride

Sorry for the late post, but better late than never (I hope). I'm going to be off doing the Loon Echo Trek tomorrow, as will a number of other Saturday riders, so we'll have to leave the SMR as a dealer's choice. The weather looks to be perfect for riding, so here's to a great day for all!

Don't forget your opportunity to let Acadia know what you think about future plans for the roads (see previous post). Plus, I think Adam is still looking for a good used bike (below below).

New Tranportation Plan for Acadia National Park

From the Bicycle Coalition of Maine:
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No doubt you will agree that Acadia National Park has some of the best bicycling and walking in Maine. But you may also agree that the Park has some traffic problems. Right now, you have a chance to tell the National Park Service your thoughts about bikes, traffic and transportation in Acadia!
The National Park Service is seeking comments from the general public as they develop a new Transportation Plan for Acadia National Park. Comments will be only be accepted through Wednesday September 30th. Please take action today to help make one of Maine's most special destinations safer and more welcoming for bicycling and walking by submitting your comments online.
This is your chance to let the Park Service know that making Acadia National Park a better experience when biking, walking, and using transit is important to you and your family.
We think the new transportation plan should work to reduce motor traffic congestion and improve safety for bicyclists and walkers on the roads and trails. Below are some sample comments and ideas for improving transportation in the park. Feel free to customize or add to them!
Please let the Park Service know why making Acadia better for biking and walking should be key parts of the transportation plan. Comment window closes Sept 30th.

Submit Comments

Seeking Good Used Road Bike

Adam is looking for a good used bike for his wife who is just starting. He's hoping for something with a 105 group set. She fits a 52 frame in a Giant (that's a men's small or woman's medium). Any leads?

9/12 Saturday Ride

Well, I've had no input as to course for tomorrow, so we'll make the choice in the morning. Come prepared for anything: two bottles, one with sports drink, and some snacks. Whether Saco, a long Pinelands, or something else, we'll be sure to make a refill stop.

Future Rides

We're riding head-long into Century Season, and the timing is making it a little difficult to plan our rides. Two weekends from now is Loon Echo, on Sept 19th, then two weeks later is the Cadillac Challenge, and two weeks after that is the Dempsey Challenge. Typically, we'd do the Raymond Hills about now, but I'm not sure our legs need another 4000 ft of climbing tucked between these rides.

Bruce has been doing a pretty good job of keeping our legs in climbing mode for the last few weeks, so I pose the question: is it better to keep the legs loose and head to Saco/Gorham, or make this a real climbing weekend? Let me know what you think.

9/5 Saturday Ride

Well, since Bruce has everyone enjoying extra miles the last few weekends, do we go for Mitchell Hill, for a shorter change of pace, or Brunswick, for some more long, hilly fun? Come prepared, and we'll find out in the morning! Wheels roll at 8:00.

8/29 Saturday Ride

Well, since I have no idea where the ride went last week, let's choose a route in the morning. Be sure to have two bottles and a snack: if Bruce is there, we'll be going long!

8/22 Saturday Ride

I will be out of town this weekend, so I am, again, looking for a stand-in for those not doing the Boothbay Ramble. I am happy to post the ride of your choice... Just let me know.

Evening Rides Time Change

 

Just a heads-up that all evening rides will start at 5:30 as of next week. Dust off your bike lights and finish up at the office a little earlier!

8/15 Saturday Ride

I'm actually here for a weekend, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow! I have two rides in mind for tomorrow: we haven't been to Westbrook in a while (38 miles), so I wanted to throw that one in there, but then I also kinda got the Old Orchard/Gorham ride (52 miles) in mind. I'm not enthusiastic about the stretch down in OOB in August, but we haven't done this one in a long time (unless you did the Lighthouse or Parkinson's ride).

My conflict, however, stems from Sunday: Gritty's Triple is in its fourth year and I think it's calling my name again, so I shouldn't go too long on Saturday. Do we have any votes?

8/8 Saturday Ride

It's time for the BikeMS event, so I'll be down in Biddeford and parts south for the weekend. How about one we haven't done in a while, but which everyone should know: 35 miles up Mountain and out to Dutton, with the option to tack on Hunt's Hill and Long Hill?