Lovely Lovell Loops

Lovely Lovell Loops

Thursday, June 8th, 2023



Lovely Lovell Loops

I will be gone this week, but Dave Kinsman agreed to host this weeks ride.  It is a great ride, hilly but not too hilly, quiet roads  It is not a long ride so we should be able to get it done before any afternoon showers.  Short in mileage, but long on workout and scenery.

Start at the park next to the North Fryeburg Saco Valley Fire Station (corner or Route 113 and South Chatham Road). Park away from the fire station, leave that area open for the firefighters.

We head out on Harbor Road all the way to Lovell, then go up Christian Hill Road, head out by Ebenezer's Restaurant and then cross Route 5. We go up Old Waterford Road and do a scenic quiet but thrilling loop on Eastman Hill and Old Stage Road. Return is back by Ebenezer's, but then we head out to the Kezar Lake Narrows for a lakeside lunch and/or ice cream break and maybe a swim. Head back via Shave Hill (sometimes called Swamp Road) and Harbor Road.

This is a 24 mile ride. It can be lengthened if desired adding in Fish Street/MacNeil or MacNeil, up Fish, down Cornshop.

Here is the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28020504

 

Four Lighthouse Tour (Ride codes A/2/22) Meet at Marina Parking next to Bistro
North 43 in South Portland at 10:00 AM!

 Thursday May 25, 2023

For this Thursday... We will ride in the Casco Bay area, starting near Bug Light Park in South
Portland.
We will be traveling through South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough, Maine. The ride
will travel by 4 lighthouses and will include a return trip that skirts the Rachael Carson Preserve.
Lots of wildlife opportunities. There will be plenty of time to stop for photos. NOTE: The ride is
mostly on pavement, there is a short section on Cape Elizabeth that is hardpacked dirt, and
some soft sand that should be OK for a road bike.
After the ride, we will have lunch at Bistro North 43, which is in Spring Point Marina. Because
parking spaces are limited, and we need a count for lunch, can you please RSVP to Vince as
soon as possible if you want to ride and to get a lunch seat?  First come first served.
Info on the ride:
The ride is 22 miles, 95% pavement, with some rolling hills.
Bring snacks, sunscreen, and an appetite for lunch.
Meet at the Bistro North 43 parking lot at 10:00 am, Ready to Ride. There is a changing room
with showers that we have access to. When you RSVP, Vince will send the code for the
changing rooms. Bistro North is located at Spring Point Marina near Bug Light in South
Portland, the address is:  
1 Spring Point Drive, South Portland, ME
The website is:  https://north43bistro.com
RSVP to Vince:  vpelote@davinci-consulting.com

Bear Notch Loop 9:00 am B/3.5/38

Bear Notch Loop 9:00 am B/3.5/38

Thursday, May 11, 2023

This week Bob will host ThursdayBike!  The ride will the Bear Notch Loop, anticlockwise, starting at 9:30 am Attitash parking lot in Bartlett.  We will go west on 302, then up and over Bear Notch, down the Kanc and Passaconway Road. Then back up West Side Road and Route 302 to the start.  Hopefully we will get lucky and both Bear Notch and Passaconway Road will still be closed

Ready to Ride at 9:30 am!!  Bring food and water.

The loop is about 37 miles, and is rated a B/3.5/38.

Here is the map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1307

 

Thursday Dirt and Pavement Ride in Conway and Albany

Thursday, September 15th, 2022

This ThursdayBike Ride will be a Dirt and Pavement Adventure hosted by Helle. No Road Bikes, bring a Gravel or Mountain Bike to enjoy this ride.

Ready to Ride at 9:00 am at the Marshall Property Parking area off of West Side Road.

Mileage? 18 miles, some walking will be included.

The ride will take us to the Albany Covered Bridge, logging road "connector" to High Street (USFR380). From High Street we will ride on USFR379 all the way our to West Side Road and back to the Marshall Property Parking lot.

See you out there!

Ride Host needed for Thursday

Thursday, September 8, 2022 

I need a ride host for this Thursday, Anyone interested? I actually need ride hosts for all of the Tuesday and Thursday rides for the fall season.

I will be busy with meetings over the next few weeks, LOTs of really good progress on the xNHAT and associated rails-to-trails projects is happening. I want this momentum to keep going strongly.  One of the projects: a NH connection to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail via Whitefield and Dalton to St Johnsbury! This is a collaboration with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, we are now a part of their New England Rail Trail Network, 1100 miles of interconnected rail trail in our 6 states. 

I will take a break from the Tuesday and Thursday bike ride planning and weather worrying for the rest of this season, but will resume ThursdaySki when the snow falls and the Tuesday and Thursday bike rides in the spring.  

I request some help in order to try to keep the rides going into the fall. If you can lead a ride, let me know. The rides will be posted on the MVW Bike Club calendar on the website. So, instead of looking for the ride info on this blog, go to:  https://ridewithgps.com/organizations/549-mount-washington-valley-bicycling-club/events.

Let me know if you can hit a ride!  This Thursday needs a host! 

Lancaster to DeBanvilles General Store 9:30 am in Lancaster B/3/49

Thursday September 1, 2022

One of the ThursdayBike Group's favorite places is the Vermont side of the Connecticut River. Vermont Route 102 is a quiet rural road that is very scenic, plenty of Holstein cows along the way. ...very Vermont and very green!

This ride follows the southern section of VT102, starting from Lancaster and ending at DeBanville's General Store in Bloomfield, VT. Get food and ice cream at the lunch stop, but bring some food to have on the bike to fuel you along the way. The store opens at 11:00 am.

Weather: Looks great! 

Ride Starts: 9:30, ready to ride, from the parking lot of Shaw's Supermarket in Lancaster, on the right side of Route 3 North, just north of the town center. The drive takes about an hour to Lancaster from the traffic light in Glen. Dave Sias will be your host for the ride.

Carpool if you like: Meet in the Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts, 8:15 am. Otherwise see you in Lancaster.

Terrain: Lots of flat and some very gradual ups and downs, a couple of rolling hills requiring some work. MWV Bike Club Ride Code: B/3/49

How far: 49 miles. See map below. (If you just have to get that 50 mile ride in for your record books - just continue up Route 102 from DeBanville's until your odometer says 25.00 then turn back!!)

Shorter Option?!!! Drive up a bit further up Route 3 north and cross the CT River via the bridge into Guildhall, VT and start from there. Park alongside the Town Green (bear right after you cross the bridge, then make a left alongside the green). This will take 18 miles off and give you a great 31 mile ride. 

Directions: Take Route 302 to the Twin Mountain 4-corners stoplight. Take a right onto Route 3 north. Follow Route 3 though Whitefield, then continue on Route 3 into Lancaster. Shaw's Supermarket is on the right, approximately 0.5 mile north of the center of Lancaster on Route 3. It is across the street from Dunkin Donuts. Park at the part of the lot closest to the road, furthest from the store entrance.

Bring: Snacks and water. 

Map:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13189233

Ride to The Basin 9:30 am B/2/29

Thursday, August 25th, 2022

How about a ride to The Basin?  It is always a beautiful, fun ride, roads are quiet and the weather looks good! 

Meet in North Fryeburg at the corner of South Chatham Road and Route 113, in the park next to the Saco Valley Fire Station. As you already know, please do not block the fire station parking area. There is no porta potty there, but there is one at the Little White Church, so stop there on the way, or, we will bike by it on our way out for another opportunity. 

Start, Ready to Ride, at 9:30 am

We will head to Fish Street first and MacNeil, then out on Union Hill and Meadow to the Stow Store and do the loop section the counterclockwise way then up 113 to The Basin.

Heading back will be a good ride, a few uphills, but mostly downhill, hope for a tailwind!

Total mileage: 29.   This ride allows for many options to shorten or lengthen the ride and choice of route to get from place to place. 

If you want a longer ride, start at the Maine Visitor's Center to add a total of 18 more miles (9 miles each way), for a total of 47 relatively easy miles. If you start riding from the Visitor's Center by 8:40 you should easily meet the group at the Fire Station or at the little white church as they turn onto Fish Street to head to MacNeil. 

Here is a map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30519118