I’m going to go out on a limb and say we’re not going to be out on the road Saturday, so perhaps it’s finally time to call it a season. We made it into December, so that’s pretty good!
Enjoy your holiday seasons and your winter activities—it was a great year!
I think winter is finally arriving: we won’t even break 30° until 1:00 tomorrow, and we’ll only have that for about 15 minutes; wind chills will be less than half that. I think that might be a little too cold for 90+ minutes on the road creating even more wind.
I have to work tomorrow, so can’t ride anyway, but I am posting no official course because of the temps. The choice is yours, of course; if you’re determined, I would suggest a course with a coffee shop along the way.
I can’t see us staying dry with any route other than maybe the MNR to Cousins, which doesn’t appeal to me this morning. For those interested, I would recommend that, but I’m going to step out. Maybe next week.
Well, the weather woobies appear to be in disagreement about tomorrow's forecast, so it's best to post something, in case it all works out.
Let's try the Pineland ride that we didn't do a few weeks back—if we do get caught by rain, we can be warm and enjoying coffee and muffins while we wait for rides home. There's the skinny way or the hilly way, depending on your whim and the rain. An 8:00 start gives us the best chance for success, I think, but, fair warning, if I wake and find rain expected by 9:00, I'm rolling over and pulling up the covers. See you at the school.
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UPDATE: I was not satisfied with the previous courses, so I've created some new variations on an old reliable.
Gobble, Gobble, Pedal, Pedal—it's time for the 7th Annual Black Friday Ride!
We've had an extra day of turkey sandwiches and pie, so let's get to it! I have 3 distances for Saturday: a base of 42, an extra jog up to Limington for 52, and an extra loop down to OOB for 70. The weather will be sunny but breezy, so dress a little warmer than the 37°-44° might indicate.
This follows the typical SMR moderate pace, but if you have a group that likes a quicker pace, or a slower one, we don't mind—many groups make for more fun! We'll see you at the end for coffee and a muffin (we'll be starting near The Daily Grind, and the Frog & Turtle and Roots Café are nearby).
Start time is 9:00 a.m. from the public parking lot on the corner of Bridge and Main Streets in Westbrook.
| 42 Miles | 52 Miles | 70 Miles |
So there I was getting ready to post a noon ride for tomorrow since it's going to be cold in the morning. I was going to suggest Pineland, so at least we know there's a hot coffee/cocoa waiting. And then Theresa reminded me the PVC Doppio Ciclo and Fondo are tomorrow.
Well, now I'm befuddled.
I do like the Fondo, there's still coffee, and you can quit after one loop or do both if you need the miles--just bring a non-perishable donation for the Preble Street Food Bank. I'm thinking this is where I'll be. Fair warning: it starts at 7:30 from Cyclemania, so dress warmly!
If you're looking for the noon ride, I still suggest Pineland for all the reasons mentioned above. Theresa says she might do both. There's the skinny way or the hilly way--you can choose up at ride time.
12:00 at the school.
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Saturday is looking soggy, so I’m going to take advantage of a day off and join the Coffee Ride tomorrow morning, with an option for more miles after the coffee! Feel free to join and respect the more relaxed pace, leaving from Gorham Bike & Ski at 8:00. I’ll check the weather tomorrow to see if Saturday looks any better.
Tomorrow looks like a beautiful fall day. I've been wanting to do the Saco loop for a while now, but it never seemed to work out—so how about tomorrow?
I am still off my game a bit and will likely fall off the back (hint: it's a perfect day for the not-so-swift of us to join!), but it's all good: riding is the only thing I do now that doesn't hurt (much)!
Let's keep with the 9:00 start time; we should have a temperature window of 40°-53°.
It was a glorious reunion last Saturday, but the hard ground, old boots, and lack of foot-pounding activity for 9 years served to leave me a bit hobbled. The Old Girls are still undefeated, but the feet are not. 😕
I will not be riding in the Oxbow Metric this weekend, but am up for something a little more relaxed while I heal up. Seems wise to see who shows up and pick a course then, so think of something you’d like to do.
It's October now, so we can push the start times back to 9:00 and let the temps rise a bit for the rest of the season. If you're in for a tame ride tomorrow, I’ll see you at the school.
I am officially in need of a bunny wrangler, as I am most decidedly out of town for the weekend: |
| That’s right, sports fans, my collegiate rugby club—one of the oldest in the nation—is celebrating its 50th anniversary tomorrow when those of us still of sound body (if not mind) will take the field again in a match against the current collegiate side. 1989 or so  As usual, I will post the preferred route of any volunteer leader, so let me know if you’re interested. Also, think happy thoughts: we will be playing against 18-20-somethings in their athletic prime, two of which will be the daughters of one of the Olde Girls playing with me! |
National Championships Amherst, MA 1994  |
MERRYMEETING METRIC CENTURY on October 8th @ 9:00 AM.Start/finish at Flight Deck Brewery in Brunswick. The ride is a clockwise loop of Merrymeeting Bay with a coffee-and-muffin stop in Richmond and an out-and-back climb of Blinn Hill at the far point. This is a beautiful ride—don’t miss it.
CAN YOU BELEVE IT'S OCTOBER?
First weekend of October, and here we are. But you know what happens the first weekend of October every year? The Cadillac Challenge. Know what I've done the first weekend of October for the last 15 years? Yup; that.
But I learned last weekend that my training this season is insufficient to support me riding 35 miles the day before a century (the Dempsey Challenge was a bit more challenging than it should have been). Therefore, I will be spending my time off the bike tomorrow. If anyone has a preference, I am happy to post, but we have plenty of options from throughout the season to choose from. I can say that only two of us rode last weekend, so both of those courses are on the table.
DATES TO KEEP IN MIND:
Oct 8: Merrymeeting Metric Century
Oct 22: Oxbow Metric
I posted earlier in the week that I'm doing the Dempsey on Sunday, so I will be riding short and sweet Saturday. I offered the Saco loop and asked if anyone was willing to helm, but got crickets, so I'll offer the following. We'll keep the Saco loop (54 miles) as an option, but it's looking pretty windy. I'm favoring the Highland Lake loop (32 miles) for my short & sweet--we can do either or both, but I'll be doing Highland Lake. See you at 8:00.
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It's Theresa's birthday! I'm not going to say how old she is (that would be rude) but, as you know, we have to go a certain number of miles to celebrate, so I offer you a shell game, of sorts: three variations of our Roads Less Traveled route: 44, 53, and 61-miles. Pick the route that suits your legs or your time constraints. I can't tell you which is the Birthday Route, but there might be cake at the end of it!
Wheels roll at 8:00.
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I will be out of town tomorrow and in need of a bunny wrangler, but I suggest something towards Pineland, as we did Brunswick last week and will want to steer clear of the coast, both today (last blast of Tourist Season) and next weekend (Lighthouse Ride). Here are two variations:
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Tomorrow is supposed to be perfect: mid-70s, low humidity, partly cloudy. I feel like we should go inland while it's cooler, but have this feeling that there might be interest in Freeport/Brunswick, so I'll post a pair and we can pick in the morning. See you at 8:00.
 map |  map |
I’m a little indecisive today, so I’ll offer a couple of options. First choice is a quick loop toward Highland Lake (@ 32 miles) or up to Sebago (@ 45). Or overrule me--whatevs. See you at 8:00.
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It's been a week. Someone asked how my day was going and I answered, "Well, my hair's on fire and my ass is catching, but the creek's still rising, so it still might all work out."
I will post the Buxton-Bar Mills kidney but freely state that I am highly susceptible to peer pressure--if you want something different in the morning, feel free to say so then.
I will be riding in the Bike MS event tomorrow, so Bruce has volunteered to take the lead again. We have a new one for tomorrow—some sections you know, some are new, and there are a number of shortcuts if anyone needs to reduce mileage. It’s going to be a warm one, so have two bottles and some snacks, but there are a few refueling spots along the way to help. Wheels roll at 8:00.
Sorry, friends: I just got done at work and can finally call and end to a completely craptastic Friday. I have no energy left for thought, so tomorrow is officially Spontaneous Saturday! Think about where you’d like to ride and we’ll take a vote in the morning. See you at 8:00.
🥱
First and foremost: The Four Notches Ride is also this Saturday, starting from the Attitash Ski parking lot in Bartlett, NH, rolling at 9:00. FMI, contact jatabb66 at yahoo dot com.
For those not making that selection, we have a sojourn out to Salmon Falls. It's 45 miles, and a little under 2000' of climbing, but it will be hot, so be sure to have two bottles and sunscreen. Bruce Jacobs is going to take the reins this weekend--thanks, Bruce! Remember: OUR wheels roll at 8:00.
Wow--do you realize we haven't gone for coffee since May 7th? I say it's high time (plus, with the Four Notches coming right up, we could use a good stretch of the legs)!
The current trip to Little Dog Cafe logs in at 61 miles, but there are plenty of smaller loops; if you turn back at:
But what about the Yarmouth Clam Festival?
Already got it handled! Spoke to the Yarmouth PD and they aprove this route, turning onto High St thence to 88--it's all good.
See you at 8:00!
Saturday looks to be cooler and have lower humidity, so let's head inland. We'll head out towards Sebago lake and roll back thru Gorham, for 44 miles. If anyone is short on time (or miles in the legs) they could cut across on Albion Road and get a quick 31-mile loop.
See you at Glickman Academy; wheels roll at 8:00.
Well, that was a big nothing-burger. 😑
We have just one request for a route, and it's a revisit of our newest one; wheels roll at 8:00:
Let's try something a little different. 52 miles, climbing front-loaded, and a few pathways we don't normally visit.
Wheels roll at 8:00.
I tried--I did--I wanted to come up with something new, but it's been a hell of a week, So the official post will feature the Highland Lake Loop that we never got to, but I am feeling susceptible to peer pressure if the group has other thoughts by morning.
Wheels roll at 8:00.
We are back to normal days, friends--the mountains were calling, and we went, but now we're back, and I need a break from hills! So how about we go out to Salmon falls? There are two options for the day, one is 49 miles and one is 43 (the start point keeps getting farther away, so the miles increase). We follow the same route for 32 miles, so you have a good 90 minutes to decide.
We start from 587 Ocean Ave; wheels roll at 8:00
I only got two replies, so there is no official ride this weekend. I will leave this available for anyone who wants it.
Monday, however, is looking simply wonderful for our mountain ride! It was pointed out to me that I was only publishing the Hurricane Bypass route; allow me to correct that error; here is the extra 600' of climbing on a Cat 2 hill:
| Hurricane Bypass | Hurricane Road |
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Memorial Day Tune-up Ride 5
This weekend we have the ever-challenging Raymond Hills loop, featuring six Cat-5 climbs totaling 4000' of climbing. The temps look to top out around 86° in Raymond, but the breezes will increase with the temps (at press time, @ 10 mph). Plan well, as refueling stops are few and far between. The Intervale Market at New Gloucester Rd and the Dunkin before we climb White Oak Hill Rd (small detour down Rte 26) are the best options I have.
You May Now Freak Out
Ok, not really. This is a destination ride (we have to drive there), so I don't have vetted alternate routes, but this appears to be a possibility. It is untested and offered without warrantee, either expressed or implied, but it offers 44 miles, 2200 ft of climbing, and you still get to tackle Valley Road.
Be sure your phone is charged—I have no idea what's out there (Outlet/Quarry Rds).
If you have not been with us on our recent series of longer and hillier rides (or just want something shorter/flatter this week), you should take a look at the rides we did in May/June 2015--there are a lot here (in old-school MapMyRide format), and something should spark your interest.
Wheels roll at 8:30 from Mabel Wilson School in Cumberland Center.
See the Tech Tips link above for help downloading maps to your Garmin.
Memorial Day Tune-up Series
5 Rides to Legs of Steel!
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May 21 |
Alternate |
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Memorial Day Tune-up Ride 4
We have another 61-mile ride this weekend, going the hilly way to Pinelands and wandering back via Freeport (map below--the 64 on the image reflects the old starting point). We’ve had a great turnout the last few weeks, but the B group kinda got shelled out the back and broken into 3 separate pods last weekend, so we’ll have the A group start out first and the B will follow. If you start with the As and feel overmatched, just dial it back a bit—the B group will be along shortly.
Again, Don't Freak Out
You can select a 44-mile or 50-mile loop if you’re short on time. Most of the climbing is front-loaded on this course, so you’ll still get the hills in on the shorter options.
Wheels roll at 8:00.
All rides depart from Payson Park, except Raymond Hills and Memorial Day.
See the Tech Tips link above for help downloading maps to your Garmin.
Memorial Day Tune-up Series
5 Rides to Legs of Steel!
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May 7  |
May 14  |
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May 21 |
May 28  |
