Thursday, July 30th

Ride from Attitash Parking Lot

Since I will be at the Bon Ton Roulet in NY State this week, I am setting up a ride for you for this Thursday, July 30th. Hopefully the weather will be great! (I don't want too many days of camping and riding in the rain in NY!!). When I get back, I hope for some nice Thursdays, as I have a few new rides to try out!!!!

How about meeting at 9:00 am, ready to ride, out of the main parking lot across the street from Attitash Ski Area? The ride can be up Route 302 to the Willey House for a picnic lunch on the pond, or do the Bear Notch Loop. Riders choose!! For a short, easy flat ride option, do the River Road and Stillings Grant option.

Have a nice summer week!

Thursday, July 23rd

Beautiful Brownfield 9:30 start

This ride is a combination of one of Connie Kinsman's favorite rides (used at the Maine Bike Rally: "Brownfield is Beautiful") and a short portion of Steve Swenson's ride from Brownfield to Bridgeton that ThrusdayBike did last summer. The weather forecast looks OK for us to do this ride, and it would be easy to shorten if the sky starts to darken. The ride overlaps for about a mile with the Snowville Loop - a downhill cruise near Asparagus Hill (Does NOT include the hill; just smile as you ride by it!!)

The entire ride is 33 miles. It can be shortened to the "Brownfield is Beautiful" for 18 miles, or continue to East Brownfield and the Saco River, out and back flatly, for about 30 miles. The 33 mile version makes a loop with some rolling hills back onto route 160 near the Brownfield 5 corners. On the return trip, there is a short climb on Sam Brown Hill Road, but the Maine Rally Cue Sheet said it was worth it since it is such a scenic area.

Start: Maine Information Center parking lot, just over the Maine border in Fryeburg, on the right side of Route 302 (the new building that looks like a railroad station). ready to ride at 9:30. We will begin riding from there on Haleytown Road (new pavement!).

Car pool - If you want to carpool from the Bartlett Jackson area, meet at the Grant's parking lot at 8:45. Otherwise, see you at the Maine Info Center!

Map:




Next week I will be in NY State riding the Bon Ton Roulet ... anyone want to host Thursday's ride, July 30th???

Thursday, July 16, 2009

What a great day it was last Thursday! 43 riders were out in the sun in North Fryeburg! This might be a world record for ThursdayBike attendance!!

There were 7 different variations of the ride, designed by riders to suit their time schedule and energy level! We were scattered all over the region!!

This Thursday will be not quite as stellar, or as easy to plan... there is a 50% chance of rain, more likely in the afternoon. So I am thinking the best plan would be to do a local out-and-back ride that can be easily reversed if the weather threatens.

Meet at 9:00, ready to ride at the public parking lot behind the Eastern Slope Inn. We can ride the local classic - West Side Road to Passaconaway to the Kanc and to Rocky Gorge, then back. It is 25 miles round trip to the Albany Covered Bridge, 30 miles round trip to Rocky Gorge.

See you there if it is not raining!!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

A Basin of Blooming 'Taters

I think we should be OK for the ThursdayBike Ride....

Surprisingly, the potato fields in North Fryebug look really good - the plants are blooming! Looks like the potatoes don't mind the wet conditions. The corn and soybeans are suffering, however. Let's go cheer on the potato blooms and ride out to The Basin. It will be so nice there in the sunshine!!? A few days ago I looked at the short road leading up to The Basin - it is nicely packed dirt, better looking than when we rode it last year.

Starting place: The Peace With-Inn Bed and Breakfast. Catherine Kyle has once again offered us the big parking area there (parking area on the left side of the Inn). The Inn is 7 miles from North Conway: Take East Conway Road past Sherman Farms, bear left onto Route 113 North. At Webster's Country Store bear right to continue north on 113, and continue 1 mile north to the Peace With-Inn, on the left. Here is more info on the Peace With-Inn: http://www.peacewithinn.com/directions.htm

Here is a map:

Total distance for the route from the Peace With-Inn to The Basin and return: 37 miles (relatively flat ones!)

Shorter options -- lots of possibilities here... here are some ideas for you:

Start at Peace With-Inn and ride to the Stow Store: 19 miles. Add the North Chatham loop for a total of 25 miles.

Start at the North Fryeburg Fire Station or the White Church at the corner of Fish St and Route 113, to The Basin and back: 26 miles (ride out to McNeil via Fish St and meet the rest of the riders out there on their way to The Basin).

Start at the Stow Store, meet the riders and go to The Basin: 18 miles

Ready to Ride at 10:00 am (I really want to start our summer riding time of 9:00 am, but the weather forecast looks better if we wait until 10)

Carpool? Those form the Bartlett/Jackson area: Meet at Grant's Supermarket parking lot in Glen at 9:00 am

Bring a lunch and snacks to enjoy in The Basin
Other news: The Maine Bike Rally is this weekend!

For the list of rides on Friday late afternoon, Saturday and Sunday, click here: http://www.cascobaybicycleclub.org/rallyrides.htm


This site has the list with start times, maps, leaders/sweeps and cue sheets. Local riders ride free. Just go to the Fryeburg Academy Gym, sign up and ride! Try something new!


And last but not least -- From Ralph -- an article he found on what we are missing down in the Boston area cycling scene...


http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2009/07/07/the_sun_is_barely_up_when_a_group_of_doctors_lawyers_and_other_professionals_hit_the_road_for_their_weekly_cycle?s_campaign=8315


I hope to see you Thursday in the sunshine!!

Ride Cancelled for Thursday, July 2nd

If we can't ride because of the rain, at least we can dream about upcoming ride events!!

Here is a list for you!

Betsy Kent invites all cyclists to this event sponsored by the Jackson Library:

Cyclist Marty Basch to spin his stories at Whitney Center in Jackson on July 18

Join author Marty Basch for an entertaining look at life from the seat of a bicycle on Saturday, July 18 at 7 PM at the Whitney Center in Jackson.
Basch has logged thousands of miles on his bicycle, pedaling his way to adventures on rides from Maine to Alaska, the Arctic Circle, and Canada to Mexico. Hear about his face-to-face encounter with an Alaskan grizzly bear or what it’s like to sample wild native cuisine like reindeer. His storytelling program serves up tall tales, experienced first-hand from his travels.
Basch is a writer, lecturer and adventurer who has written widely on the outdoors, sports, travel and food. He is the author of several books and will spin his stories right from the pages of his work: Against the Wind, Above the Circle and Twenty-nine Hills. Recently, Basch published a second edition of the popular The White Mountain Ride Guide which includes both road bicycling trips and mountain bike trails.
Basch, who lives in the Mount Washington Valley, has won several writing awards including the prestigious gold Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers and is a member of the Explorers Club. He is a Conway Daily Sun bicycle and ski columnist, Boston Globe correspondent, syndicated columnist and contributor to several publications.
For more information of this Friends of Jackson Public Library program, call 383-9731

Next weekend, Fri, Sat, Sun July 10,11,12: Maine Bike Rally - locals ride free!! Get all the info on http://www.bikemaine.org/mainebikerally/index.html Many ThursdayBikers and Velo Club folks are leading rides, sweeping rides or helping out throughout the weekend. Volunteers still needed.

Saturday July 18: Mt Washington Velo Club BBQ Ride hosted by Steve Blum with a BBQ at his house after the ride http://www.mwvveloclub.org/

Saturday July 25: Maine Lobster Ride in Rockport, 16, 30, 50 or 100 mile routes with lobster rolls and lighthouses http://www.bikemaine.org/lobsterride

July 25 - August 1: Bon Ton Roulet, a one week supported bike tour around the Finger Lakes in NY State. There is still time to join in! (at last count, 6 ThursdayBikers are going!) http://www.bontonroulet.com/

Saturday August 1: Tin Mountain Century Ride 50 or 100 miles http://www.tinmtn.org/century.cfm

Saturday August : Mt Washington Velo Club BYOB3 Ride with free BBQ at Echo Lake http://www.mwvveloclub.org/

Saturday August 29: Mad River Valley Century, Waitsfield, VT 50 and 100 mile rides

(7 ThursdayBikers are riding it, so far! Surprisingly easy century - great for 1st timers! call or email Marianne if you want to join in on the ride and lodging plans) http://www.mrvcenturyride.com/

Saturday September 12: Lighthouse Ride hosted by the Eastern Trail Alliance, South Portland, Maine 25, 40 62 or 100 mile rides http://www.easterntrail.org/

The weather has to be great for all of these events. We have had enough rain!