10/11 Saturday Ride

Century season is finally over, so we can return to our trypical Saturday morning rides! Cadillac featured a pouring rain start, but a beautiful end, so well worth the wet!

 

So, on to this week: I feel like I haven't ridden the SMR in a month (mostly because I haven't), so I'm just going to be happy to see everyone. Let's plan to decide on a route in the morning, but feel free to leave a comment with your picks so you can get others' minds thinking about them. Let's shoot for 40-ish, but less than 60, please. It should only vary about 5° from the 48° when we start, so dress accordingly. Afterwards, you can help me work on my Halloween costume:

9/27 Saturday Ride

It's Dempsey Challenge weekend, and it's going to be a winner! Unfortunately, I've been pressed into labor tomorrow at the office. I'm really rather put out.

But let's not let that spoil the fun! As beautiful as it's going to be (and the tourists being gone), I'd be tempted to head to the coast, but I'll have to leave this to the group to decide.

9/20 Saturday Ride

The Loon Echo Trek is this weekend. This is a great ride in a gorgeous part the state and the weather looks to be about perfect for it. If you want to head up there, but didn't bother to register, it looks like walk-ups are welcome.

As for our ride, for what seems like to millionth time this summer Bron and I are both unavailable to lead (Bron has a good excuse, I don't). So, we are looking for one of our trusty regulars to step into the role. We'd appreciate a quick comment from someone acknowledging that they will play the shepherd.

With a number of folks likely at the Loon Echo ride, we're thinking it makes sense to keep the route familiar and head up to Freeport (Ride route). For those looking to add a few more miles, the Flying Point loop up to Brunswick is always an option (Ride route).

If you have trouble accessing the route maps, make sure you are signed into Garmin's connect website. If you don't have a login for Garmin Connect, you'll need to create a free account.

9/13 Saturday Ride

Okay, let's try this again:

The tourists are gone and I need some miles, so let's head down to Saco. It will be on the coolish side tomorrow, so dress accordingly.

There is really no shortcut to this once we head down Rte 1, so for those interested in a shorter day, we'll split you off at Black Point Road for the Prout's Neck loop. Bring two bottles tomorrow, but we'll plan to stop at the Saco Bay Variety.

NOTE: I'm doing the Loon Echo next weekend, so we're going to need a volunteer cat herder. Operators are standing by...

9/6 Saturday Ride

UPDATE:
Both the Parkinson's ride and Lighthouse ride are covering the same ground east and south as I'd initially posted; it's going to get awfully crowded out there. I think it's best if we save this one for another day. I'm going back to my original thought: we'll head over to Westbrook.

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Enough north already! The tourists are gone, it will be in the 70s, and we should be able to beat the rain, so let's head down to Saco. I'm doing the Loon Echo next weekend (going to need a cat herder, hint-hint), and I need some miles. There is really no shortcut to this once we head down Rte 1, so for those interested in a shorter day, we'll split you off at Black Point Road for the Prout's Neck loop. Bring two bottles tomorrow, but we'll plan to stop at the Saco Bay Variety.

8/30 Saturday Ride

It's a long weekend and the weather looks nearly perfect for cycling on Saturday. To celebrate we will head out to Pineland (Ride route). On the way out we are going to use Sligo Rd. The good news is that Sligo was recently resurfaced. The maybe not so good news is that the town/contractor chose a chip seal for the paving job. There has been some interest in how this surface is for cyclists, so we are going to head out that way to check it out first hand.

For those (like me) who need to be back a bit earlier, I am planning to head back to town after Sligo, which should make about a 30 mile trip instead of the 40+ out to Pineland.

The ride will leave at the usual 8:00 from the shop.

8/23 Saturday Ride

This week we will do a split ride that will head up Mountain Rd. and down Blackstrap, with a shorter loop heading back home Blanchard/88 (ride route) and a longer loop heading over Dutton Hill (ride route). I need to be on the shorter loop, so we'll need some help shepherding people on the longer route.

8/16 Saturday Ride

This seems to be the summer of absent leaders. Once again, we are looking at a great day to ride, but Bron and I are both unable to lead. Please leave a comment if you are willing to step up and generally point the group in the right direct.

As fro a route, I was thinking that this route over Dutton Hill via Cumberland would be a good choice (Ride route).

A quick note about these ride route maps. They are currently being made using Garmin's connect website, primarily so that riders with Garmin devices can easily load the maps. However, Garmin seems to have made a change recently where only members of the site can view maps. I'm generally not a huge fan of forcing people to join websites, so I have created a poll to the right. Please check it out and let us know your mapping preferences.

8/9 Saturday Ride

Yeah, ok--I, too, am horrified at how many times I've been unavailable this season, but at least this weekend I can't be faulted: I'm doing the BikeMS event down in Biddeford, and should have 175 miles by the end of Sunday.

That said, it's going to be beautiful, and the MS event will be staying south of the Portland area. All our regular routes should be available, and the road cut outs have all been filled. I'm going to throw out the Freeport Loop for comfort's sake but, well, Cape is going to be gorgeous. Clearly, it's up to the group, so enjoy the ride!

8/2 Saturday Ride

Saturday looks to have rain in the afternoon, but the morning should be fine for riding! Sean and I are unavailable, so Rob has volunteered to be Guest Cat Herder for the day. We'll be heading out toward Pinelands via Rte 231, with temps between 65-70*.

The BikeMS event is next weekend, so I will be tied up for that. We'll need to make a route choice for that day, too, so feel free to leave a suggestion in Comments.