CCCP

New Year's Ride

2011-12-27T10:41:00.003-05:00

UPDATE

Just when everything was going great, I had to pick up bronchitis as an extra Christmas present. I'm afraid my throat and chest won't do well tomorrow. Bruce wants to ride at 11:00 and, with the likely freezing tonight, I can't disagree. So meet at the shop by 11:00, and ride safe.
Happy New Year!

I was going to see if anyone was interested in a Day Before New Year's ride (one last chance to get your miles in before the end of the year), but the weather is looking icky for Saturday. So how about Sunday, and what time? The football game is at 1:00, so I'm leaning towards a 10:00 start. Any takers? Comment or send email to bron@cyclemaine.com.

2011-12-01T21:04:00.003-05:00

The temperatures are cooling off and the holidays are heating up: I'm thinking the season may finally need to come to a close, but let's make one last start time at 9:00.

I think a New Year's Ride is a moral imperative, but since the football game is on at 1:00 on Sunday, how about a New Year's Eve ride? A noon start time from the shop on Saturday should be post-cold and pre-hangover, right? Provided we aren't fighting rain, snow, or freezing temps, do folks want to ride?

If we get lucky enough to have more freakishly warm weather after the New Year, be sure to check in to see if we call an impromptu ride. If you plan to ride, we're happy to advertise it here; just email sean@cyclemaine.com or bron@cyclemaine.com.

2011-11-29T09:02:00.003-05:00

4th Annual Reindeer Ride

December 2nd for the First Friday Art Walk
Meet at Back Bay Bike at 5:00
(for costuming)
Ride starts at 5:30

11/26 Saturday Ride

2011-11-22T16:34:00.005-05:00

Well, it could be an interesting weekend, beyond the weather. Could I get a show of hands from those who think they'd like to ride this weekend? If everyone's going to be out of town, I might as well be, too. Please leave a comment.

Also, let me know if you think we should keep going or wind down for the season. If we do wind down, but you want to ride some weekend, you can simply email me at bron@cyclemaine.com and I'll put up an entry to help find ride buddies.

Let me know what you think, on both counts, and have a great holiday.

UPDATE: It looks to be a lovely day on Saturday, and Bruce's suggestion of a later start seems a fine idea. Let's plan to leave the shop at 9:00. See you there!

11/19 Saturday Ride

2011-11-17T10:05:00.003-05:00

Saturday looks to be sunny and clear, so the riding should be fine. Unfortunately, I will be in NJ enjoying the riding there. We will maintain our default routes for the day, regardless (Falmouth, Mountain Rd., Blanchard, Rte 88 [MapMyRide route]; or Mountain, branch off to Dutton Hill, Hunts & Long Hill, Sligo, Rte 88 [MapMyRide route]). I'm counting on someone to step up to lead. We should also discuss starting the ride a little later (9:00?) to let the chill burn off. Please post a comment or email bron@cyclemaine.com

American League of Cyclists Petition

2011-11-15T09:15:00.002-05:00

This blog is usually devoted entirely to ride details, but every now and then we have other issues that crop up.

For those of you who are politically minded and interested in maintaining cyclists' right to use the roads, the American League of Bicyclists has created a petition directed to a draft of the Senate's transportation authorization bill. In short the draft bill would introduce a mandatory sidepath law in National Parks and other Federal lands.

Currently, cyclists are not required to use bike paths and may elect to ride on the road. This bill, if passed in its current form, would end that policy on Federal land (including areas such as Acadia National Park). If you have a minute, check out the Bike League's petition and decide for yourself whether you want to sign.

11/12 Saturday Ride

2011-11-11T22:00:00.001-05:00

If you post on Friday at 10:00 will anyone read it? Who knows...

There will be a ride tomorrow for those looking to get out and enjoy the crisp fall morning.

10/22 Saturday Ride

2011-10-20T22:33:00.004-04:00

Now that we are through the fall century rides and looking at winding things up as fall turns to winter, we are going to switch things up from our traditional Saturday rides. Rather than varying the route, for the rest of the season, we are going to have a regular ride and a long ride that will start together and then break off.

The routes are well-known to ride regulars. The regular route will head out to Falmouth, up Mountain Rd., over to Cumberland and then back into town via Rte 88 (MapMyRide route). The longer route will also head up Middle Rd, but will branch off to do Dutton Hill, Hunts and Long hills and then Sligo before also returning to town via Rte 88 (MapMyRide route).

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to drop me an email.

10/15 Saturday Ride

2011-10-14T13:55:00.001-04:00

The ride will leave the ship at 8:00 am tomorrow. Bring suggestions for a route.

10/8 Saturday Ride

2011-10-07T20:35:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delayed post. I got sidetracked traveling to meet my new niece.

Since I'm out of town and Bron is riding the Dempsey Challenge, I will leave it up to the group to pick a route. If you want a suggestion, the Freeport ride (MapMyRide route) would be one option.

10/1 Saturday Ride

2011-09-29T17:52:00.002-04:00

This Sunday is the Cadillac Challenge, so we are going to have a relatively short ride up toward Freeport (MapMyRide route).

For those not riding on Sunday and wanting a few extra miles before the Dempsey Challenge, fee free to break off when we hit S. Freeport Rd. and travel on up to Brunswick.

9/24 Saturday Ride

2011-09-23T07:54:00.003-04:00

We need some help this weekend. Bron is tied up with work and I remain in the throws of a series of weddings, so we need a leader for this week's ride. Please drop me an email if you are willing to take the reins.

The weather looks like it may be a bit on the wet side, but I know there are people targeting the Cadillac Challenge and the Dempsey Challenge, so I am happy to throw out a 60+ mile route if folks are interested. Once I get some feedback from a leader and get a sense of where he/she is interested in heading this weekend, I will post a route.

9/17 Saturday Ride

2011-09-16T12:32:00.004-04:00

First, a final pitch for riders to head up to the Loon Echo Trek. The weather looks to be absolutely perfect for the ride this year and includes some classic stretches of New England roads. For those of you still building toward other rides, like the Cadillac Challenge or the Dempsey Challenge, the 50-mile ride is a nice route and the turnaround point is pretty much at the base of Evan's Notch. If you wanted to add a few more miles and a lot more climbing, the 50 mile loop with a trip up and over Evans Notch might be a good choice. You would head up the steep side and then have the option to cruise down and come back over again on the more gradual approach.

As for our Saturday ride, we are going to take another shot at last week's route, which didn't pan out too well since I didn't realize that the Lobsterman Tri would have the roads closed. The route will head up Mountain Rd., over to Cumberland, down the new pavement on Tuttle and then split. Those looking for a short ride can simply head back to town via 88, and those looking to get extra miles for the Cadallac and the Dempsey can head out toward Brunswick for a loop that will end up being about 65 miles (MapMyRide route).

9/10 Saturday Ride

2011-09-07T14:29:00.004-04:00

The fall century rides are basically upon us. The Loon Echo Trek is next weekend, Sept 17, the Cadillac Challenge is October 2 and the Dempsey Challenge is October 9. To help folks get some additional miles with the group, we are going to head out on a longer ride this week. The route will head up through Falmouth and then loop over to Freeport and toward Brunswick (MapMyRide route).

For those riders not inclined to do the full 65 mile ride, there is a fairly natural split point when the group hits the end of Tuttle Rd. and turns left to head out toward Freeport. Anyone interested in keeping the ride closer to 30 miles can simply head straight to 88 at this turn and follow 88 back into town.

9/3 Saturday Ride

2011-09-02T13:51:00.001-04:00

This week the ride will head out over Mountain Rd. and Dutton Hill (MapMyRide route).

8/27 Saturday Ride

2011-08-25T14:57:00.002-04:00

It looks like Saturday morning might be the only reasonable window to get out for a ride this weekend. We'll take a familiar route up Mountain Rd, and then wind around a bit in Westbrook and Falmouth (MapMyRide route).

On a separate note, we are quickly getting toward fall and there are a host of local rides coming up, including the Loon Echo, the Cadillac and the Dempsey. I'd like to hear from people that may want longer routes as a way to get some extra miles in before these rides. Unfortunately, while I'm more than willing to help suggest routes, I am unlikely to be able to actually lead the longer rides. If you're interested in taking the reins for one of these longer rides, please drop me an email.

8/13 Saturday Ride

2011-08-12T10:38:00.002-04:00

This week we will head out toward Freeport (MapMyRide route).

8/6 Saturday Ride

2011-08-03T21:20:00.004-04:00

UPDATE

Well, nobody contacted me about leading, so I'm just going to let the group that shows up tomorrow morning figure out where it wants to go. Have a good ride.

------------

I'm posting a bit early this week because it turns out that Bron and I both have other commitments this weekend and can't lead the Saturday ride. If someone wants to step up to lead, please drop me an email and let me know.

I'll leave the route open for now, so if you are interested/willing to take the lead please let me know where you would like to take the group and I will update the blog.

Also, I keep mentioning it, but one of the few products I actually suggest people consider is a RoadID. Check out the site and the various product options. I have both a Wrist ID Sport and a Fixx ID and personally I prefer the original version to the interactive. If you are looking to pick up one of the IDs, drop me an email and I can forward you a coupon code that should be good for $1 off.

7/30 Saturday Ride

2011-07-29T14:44:00.004-04:00

This week we will head out on a new pavement tour (MapMyRide route). Leaving Back Bay Bicycle at 8:00.

7/22 Saturday Ride

2011-07-22T15:13:00.001-04:00

We'll have a ride this weekend. Most likely some variation of the Prout's Neck loop (MapMyRide loop).

7/16 Saturday Ride

2011-07-15T12:34:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow looks to be a gorgeous day and it has been some time since we did any hills, so this week we will head back out over to Falmouth up over Mountain Rd. and Dutton Hill (MapMyRide route).

We keep mentioning the group riding guidelines. please review them. They are online at the bottom of the CCCP Rides page.

7/9 Saturday Ride

2011-07-07T21:17:00.003-04:00

It looks like things might be a little wet on Saturday morning and there is even the threat of some thunder storms. I'm not inclined to cancel the ride for rain showers, but please be aware that if thunder storms are in the area we will not ride.

Since the weather is up in the air, we'll pick a ride on Saturday morning before we head out, so bring your suggestions.

7/2 Saturday Ride

2011-07-01T20:30:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the late post. There will be a ride tomorrow, but we haven't set on a route yet. Feel free to show up with your suggestions.

6/25 Saturday Ride

2011-06-23T10:12:00.003-04:00

This week we are going to head out on a "butterfly route" through Falmouth and Westbrook (MapMyRide route).

We have been mentioning the group riding guidelines at the start of each ride recently and, generally speaking, people seem to be following them, so we'd like to thank you for your cooperation. If you need a replacement card, we usually have some to hand out on the ride, but they are also available at the shop, on the CCCP website (at the bottom of the page) and as a PDF from the BCM.

6/18 Saturday Ride

2011-06-16T22:58:00.001-04:00

This week we will head out toward Freeport (MapMyRide route).

6/4 Saturday Ride

2011-06-02T20:29:00.002-04:00

Congrats to all who completed the CCCP Memorial Day ride.

This week we'll do a bit of a traditional route meandering out to Pinelands and then heading back via Yarmouth (MapMyRide route). There will be a shorter route as well, but we'll pick a route on the fly.

For our loyal female riders, don't forget that this Sunday is the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's Women's Ride. If you aren't already signed up to participate, you can get all the ride info from the event website.

Baby News

2011-05-29T21:09:00.003-04:00

Congratulation to Jim Lawlor and his wife on the birth of their son, Owen!

Owen was born last night, weighing in at a healthy 8 lbs 11 oz.

Mom and baby are doing well and Jim has asked me to pass along his thanks to everyone for all the support they've offered over the past few months.

5/28 Saturday Ride

2011-05-27T08:37:00.004-04:00

Well it's finally Memorial Day weekend, which means that the CCCP Memorial Day ride is finally here. The forecast is for a mostly sunny day and temps touching 80—a perfect day for a ride.

With the Memorial Day ride in mind, we don't want to do anything too long or hilly, but we still want to do a few hills a some mileage to keep people loose. Heading out to Mountain Rd. and coming back over the backside of Dutton HIll seems like a nice compromise (MapMyRide route).

There have been some rumblings about the possibility of a ride around here on Monday for those who aren't planning to do the Memorial Day ride. There isn't a local ride planned for Monday morning, but I will likely be heading out to do some variation on a route out past Pinelands (MapMyRide route). If there's enough interest, I wouldn't mind coordinating a departure time that would turn this into a group ride.

5/21 Saturday Ride

2011-05-19T18:03:00.003-04:00

We've been hemming and hawing about this week's ride. While we had hoped to have a long, hilly ride for those prepping for the CCCP Memorial Day Ride, the weather on Saturday just doesn't look like it will cooperate. So, we had to make a decision and here's what we've come up with:

Since Sunday looks to be a nice day, we are going to do a fairly easy ride on Saturday through Falmouth and Cumberland (MapMyRide route). The thinking is that doing a relatively short and easy ride on Saturday will save some energy so folks can do a longer ride on Sunday. We won't be doing an official ride on Sunday, but I would suggest the following route as a good way to get in a bunch of miles with a fair number of decent hills (MapMyRide route).

5/14 Saturday Ride

2011-05-13T13:18:00.004-04:00

Well, blogger deleted the post about this week's ride, so here's a quick redo.

This week the long route is going to head up to Brunswick (MapMyRide route).

The short route will head out to S. Freeport road along the same route and then head back to the shop (MapMyRide route).

5/7 Saturday Ride

2011-05-05T21:36:00.003-04:00

There's a chance of rain this week, but since the CCCP Memorial Day ride is only a few weeks away, the plan will be to head out for a longer route through Cumberland, Falmouth and Yarmouth (MapMyRide route).

Please, please, please review the map to get a sense of where the ride will be going. The route is a collection of sections that we travel frequently, just arranged in a somewhat different order. Recently, the group has been stretching out a bit and separating into smaller sub-groups. We're fine with this development, but would like to try to limit the possibility of people getting lost.

For those not interested in doing the full 53 miles, there will almost certainly be a shorter loop. Please speak up at the start if you are interested in a shorter ride. My suggestion would be that the group head out together and then split at the end of Greely with the shorter loop heading over to Sligo (MapMyRide route).

I've mentioned it in the past few posts and Kris mentioned it in his most recent email, but if you drive to the ride, please try not to park in the "shop" spaces in the lot.

Finally, don't forget that in addition to this blog, you can also get updates via twitter (@cyclemaine) or the new Cyclemaine Facebook page.

4/30 Saturday Ride

2011-04-29T09:54:00.004-04:00

Somehow, there's only a few weeks until the Memorial Day ride. Seems hard to believe given that spring has yet to really make an appearance.

Anyway, this week is supposed to be beautiful, so we'll add a few more hills into the mix, heading out over Dutton Hill (MapMyRide route).

I expect that there will be a shorter route as well. The most likely candidate is our standard route back through Cumberland via Blanchard (MapMyRide route). If you are not sure you want to do the longer route, PLEASE make sure you know the shorter route. It is very likely that we will not have someone willing to lead a shorter ride given how nice the weather is supposed to be tomorrow.

4/23 Saturday Ride

2011-04-20T14:58:00.004-04:00

Saturday isn't looking like the best weather day, but since Sunday is Easter, moving the ride isn't really an option.

We'll head out from the shop at 8:00 and hope to beat the rain (although I don't have much faith that we will). This week's map is a general guide only. We're picking this route out through Falmouth and Cumberland specifically because there are so many options to shorten or lengthen the ride based on weather changes (MapMyRide route).

Another brief reminder that the shop has asked that we not park in the first few spots.

Don't forget that in addition to this blog, you can also get updates via twitter (@cyclemaine) or the new Cyclemaine Facebook page.

If you have any questions please feel free to drop me an email.

4/16 Saturday Ride

2011-04-13T20:42:00.003-04:00

It looks like the morning is going to be the better part of the day this Saturday, so we'll move things back to the normal start time and plan on heading out at 8:00. We'll also continue adding some hills by heading up Mountain Rd. and then over to Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

A quick housekeeping note. The folks at the shop have asked me to pass along a request that riders not park in the first few spaces next to the shop.

Don't forget that in addition to this blog, you can also get updates via twitter (@cyclemaine) or the new Cyclemaine Facebook page.

4/9 Saturday Ride

2011-04-07T21:31:00.003-04:00

It finally looks like Saturday will be the better weekend day. But, since the weather is going to warm up into the 50s, we'll give the sun some time to warm things up before we head out.

We'll head out at 9:00am from Back Bay Bikes and take our first turn at some hills this week, meandering up Mountain Rd. and then over toward Yarmouth (MapMyRide route). Since this route is a bit longer and some riders have already been out for a few weeks, we will gauge how things are going and may split the group when we hit Mountain Rd.

A couple of notes:

The first is to make sure you are giving your bike the TLC it deserves. After a long winter, a drivetrain cleaning and adjustment is almost certainly in order, if not a full tune-up.

Second, I mentioned the possibility of a clinic on bike repair and I guess i need to be more specific. What I'm thinking is that everyone needs to know how to check you bike for safety issues (tires, brakes, headset, cranks, etc.); how to clean your drivetrain; how to adjust shifting performance; and how to check and adjust brakes (including replacing brake pads). I'm not sure where you all place those task in the beginner/intermediate/expert spectrum, but I get the sense that many people would benefit from gaining some familiarity with these skills. As for timing, weekday evenings are pretty much out for me given the family situation, so either after a ride or possibly on a Sunday are the only times that would work for me. Alternatively, I will talk to Kris and see if this is something the shop could put together.

Finally, I don't pitch products much, but I think it's worth giving a plug for RoadID. For those of you unfamiliar with the product it is basically a necklace, bracelet, anklet or shoe tag with emergency contact information listed. The truth of the matter is that accidents can happen when we're out on the road and products like RoadID can be invaluable in the event of something serious. Many people rely on their cell phones to provide valuable contact information in an emergency, but most smart phones are password protected and would be useless in an emergency situation. An ID is always accessible. If anyone is interested in ordering a RoadID, drop me a line and I will pass along a $1 off coupon code. Also, if you do order, remember that even though RoadID offers ankle and shoe products, emergency responders are trained to look for necklaces and bracelets so those products are likely to be discovered more readily in the event of an emergency.

See you Saturday.

4/2 Saturday Ride (Sunday again...)

2011-03-31T10:03:00.004-04:00

I'm reluctant to continue to switch the ride to Sunday morning, but the weather seems to be pushing us that way each week. There is a chance that the rain and snow will be out of here early Saturday morning, but to be honest, I'd prefer to ride on Sunday when it's a dry and sunny.

So...once again we will do a Sunday ride, leaving the shop at 9:00am to give the sun a little time to warm things up. This week we are going to wander up to Freeport (MapMyRide route).

Don't forget that in addition to this blog, you can also get updates via twitter (@cyclemaine) or the new Cyclemaine Facebook page.

Another reminder that now is a great time to get your bike(s) tuned. To that end, I'm curious whether there is any interest in a brief cleaning/adjusting "clinic." I was thinking of an informal gathering after a ride where we could go through the basics of what to clean, how to clean it, and how to make adjustments to braking and shifting to keep everything safe and efficient.

Finally, here's a comic from yehudamoon.com that should resonate with anyone who cycles in Maine this time of year.

3/26 Saturday Ride

2011-03-25T11:53:00.003-04:00

Apologies for the sparse post. Apparently my phone doesn't play with blogger all that well. We will head out tomorrow at 9:00 and head out through Falmouth and a bit of Westbrook (MapMyRide route).

Rescheduled Ride - 12:00 Sunday

2011-03-19T09:51:00.003-04:00

Well, when I looked last night the weather was calling for a dry day. Then I woke up this morning and there's snow everywhere. Oh well, I guess that's spring in Maine.

If the weather is to be believed, tomorrow looks to be a nice day. However, it's gonna be below freezing for much of the morning. I'm happy to ride at 9:00 (it should be about 28°) or we can start at 12:00 when the temps should be in the upper 30s. Personally, I'd rather ride at noon.

If folks would like to ride and 9:00 would work better than noon, please leave a comment here, hit me via twitter (@cyclemaine) or comment on the new Cyclemaine Facebook page.

The route will be a bit different than the one I posted for today, taking us over to Falmouth, through Cumberland and back (MapMyRide route).

3/19 Saturday Ride (9:00am)

2011-03-17T20:55:00.007-04:00

RIDE POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW DUE TO SNOW. DETAILS ON TOMORROW'S RIDE WILL BE POSTED LATER THIS MORNING.

It looks to be clear this Saturday, so we will be heading out to do the same route as last week—out to Cumberland over to Sligo and back (MapMyRide route).

It promises to be a bit chilly in the early morning, so we will head out a tad later - 9:00 am - to give the sun a little time to warm things up a few degrees.

A few notes we want to bring to people's attention:

We have some social media contacts for you this year. We will be posting ride routes on the CCCP facebook page and you can get cycling-related tweets from me by following @cyclemaine on twitter.

Diane and Christine have coordinated a bike maintenance class for women. For those of you that want to gain some familiarity with general bike maintenance tasks, the class will take place at Back Bay Bicycle at 6:00pm, Wednesday, March 23. Best of all, the class is free!

For those of you (like me) who aren't the right sex to attend the women's maintenance class, now's the time to get your bike in for its pre-season service. After last week's creaky drivetrains and squeaky brakes, it's obvious that there are plenty of bikes that need some TLC.

Finally, here's an appropriate early season cartoon compliments of Yehuda Moon.

3/12 Saturday Ride

2011-03-10T21:22:00.003-05:00

The title may be a little deceiving since I'm inclined to push the ride to Sunday this week. I'm just not sure the rain will be out of here early Saturday morning and the standing water is likely to be a bit of a safety concern. Sunday, however, looks to be a pretty good day.

So, let's plan to ride on Sunday, leaving the shop at 9:00. We'll start the season with a nice leisurely ride out to Cumberland, over to Sligo and back (MapMyRide route).

There are some changes to the route maps this year based on feedback to my earlier post. Not that we tear out of the gate by any stretch, but we will plan to ride out as a group until the spot marked with the green marker on the map (where Middle Rd. bears right this week). I don't think it will matter much this week, but in future weeks, this phase of the ride will be to ensure that the A and B portions of the ride stick together and to give people a chance to warm up before they commit to one route or another.

There are also some red check checkered markers on the route. These mark the planned regroup points.

Hope to see you Sunday morning. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email me.

2/19 Saturday Ride

2011-02-18T19:34:00.002-05:00

Not surprisingly, there wasn't much response to my suggestion for a ride tomorrow. But, there was one lone person interested, so I figured I would post my route. I'm planning on doing the Middle Rd. Greely-Tuttle loop (MapMyRide route).

The temperature looks to be steady all day and the winds will only increase, so I will be leaving from the intersection of Ledgewood Dr. and Ocean Ave. (Rte. 9) at 8:30am. If you're interested in a nice relaxed ride, come on out and join me.

2011 Season

2011-02-16T16:34:00.002-05:00

Perhaps I'm just rushing things, but it's starting to feel like winter is on the way out and spring is headed our way.

As we look forward to the 2011 cycling season, we would like some help crafting the atmosphere of the year's Saturday rides. This will be the third season where Bron and I have led the ride and we are trying to make sure that the ride is developing in a manner that is consistent with our regular riders without completely losing the good-natured atmosphere that we believe has been a huge reason that people join the ride. Last year we toyed with a slightly more structured approach, piecing together series of rides to prepare for the CCCP Memorial Day ride in the spring and then for the Loon Echo Bike Trek, Dempsey Challenge and Cadillac Challenge Century in the fall.

We thought this approach was well-received and we are considering a similar structure to this season's rides. However, as we prepare, we would like to hear from you about how you would like to group to develop. For example:

How did you enjoy the longer rides last year? Would you like to see them continue this year?
What did you think of the split routes, where there was both a long and a short option?
The group's pace was quite variable, everything from 16 up to the low 20's depending on the group and the route. How slow do you think is too slow and how fast is too fast?
We feel strongly about maintaining a cohesive group atmosphere, but we also want rides to focus on riding, not regrouping. Do you have any thoughts on regrouping strategies?
What targets do you think the group should shoot for this year? We will once again do some training geared at the CCCP Memorial Day Ride and we will attempt to prepare people for the fall century rides, but the summer is generally open. How would people like us to use the summer rides?
How do we deal with remaining as inclusive as possible? What approach should the group take when mechanical issues arise? When new riders who are slightly outmatched join the group?
When should we officially start rides this year?

These are just a few of the things that we are trying to wrap our head around. If you have other thoughts or concerns please let us know.

Given that there is a decent core of riders that join the ride each week, we are considering the possibility of setting up a gathering of some sort—perhaps drinks after work or maybe lunch on a weekend. If you think it would useful for us to arrange a gathering to discuss what the group should look like this year drop me an email or post a comment.

One thing that everyone should be aware of is that over the winter a group of cyclist from local groups and representatives from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine have been working to develop a set of group riding guidelines that should be in place for this upcoming season. The guidelines are intended to promote cyclist safety, encourage behavior that respects motorists, and adhere to Maine's cycling laws. We plan to follow these guidelines on our rides this year and will post a copy of them here as soon as they are finalized.

Finally, I'm considering riding this Saturday and would enjoy some company. It isn't forecast to be quite as nice as tomorrow's 45°, but it's time for me to get back on the road. Drop me an email if you are interested and I will update this post by Friday at 7:00 pm if we'll be leaving from the shop.

Saturday Ride Update

2010-12-03T10:22:00.004-05:00

Given that the holidays are now upon us, the weather has turned colder and less predictable and even on "good" days morning temps are hovering just above freezing, it's time to call the end of the 2010 Saturday ride season. Hopefully the winter hiatus won't be too long. As was the case last year, we will start regular rides again as soon as winter weather allows. I think we started back up in late February or early March last year. We will periodically post to the blog throughout the winter, so check back in occasionally to see when we'll be starting up again.

Looking back on the year, we are prepared to call the season a rousing success. We saw a marked increase in the number of riders joining us weekly, we were able to integrate several longer rides and we successfully trained for the Memorial Day ride and several centuries. All in all it was a great season and we are grateful for your participation and support.

For those of you not yet ready to suffer the pain of indoor riding and looking for some holiday fun, the Reindeer ride is tonight. People are meeting at Back Bay at 6:00 and heading out for a loop around town. Light yourself up, dress in holiday garb and join the fun if you have time.

Although we are calling an end to the season, if we get a spectacular day, or if people want to ride on a given weekend, I am happy to post a general message here in the blog. Just drop me an email and let me know what time you plan to head out.

Again, thanks to everyone for a great season. Have a happy holiday and a great New Year.

11/26 & 27 Rides

2010-11-24T18:21:00.004-05:00

---- UPDATE ----

Although it looks to be pretty nice tomorrow afternoon, temps will be below freezing much of the morning. Given the precipitation we've had around, we're going to cancel the ride due to the distinct possibility that there will be icy spots.

------

The weather is calling for 100% chance of "wintry mix" on Friday, so there will be no ride Friday morning.

Saturday looks like it could start cloudy and/or with snow showers, but that things should brighten up as the day goes on. At this point, we'll plan on riding at 9:00 on Saturday morning and heading out for about 30 miles. However, if it looks like there will be snow around or ice on the roads we'll have to bail on Saturday as well. I'll update the blog by midday Friday with a final decision.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

11/20 Saturday Ride

2010-11-18T14:16:00.005-05:00

UPDATE

Looks like only the hearty souls made it for this week's ride.

-----------

Well, it's looking like another cold windy day, but we'll be leaving from the shop for a ride again this week. The route is TBD, based on the temperature and wind direction.

For those of you looking to give the sun a chance to warm things up before you head out, there is a Cranksgiving ride leaving from AllSpeed Cyclery and Snow on Auburn St. (right across from Shaw's) at 10:00am. In a nutshell, Cranksgiving is a scavenger hunt for a good cause. Folks get a list of pantry items that they need to ride around town to purchase. After the event, the items get donated to charities. Apparently the stuff on the list will cost about $20. If you want more info, drop Bron an email.

Finally, there has been some talk of a Black Friday ride (aka "the turkey burner"). There's another one of those polls over there to the right asking who's interested. I'd be open to riding Friday, Saturday or both, so vote and let me know what folks want. The poll is open until Tuesday night and I'll be posting detail on next week's riding on Wednesday.

11/13 Saturday Ride

2010-11-11T20:34:00.002-05:00

It looks to like it will be a great late fall day on Saturday, so there will be a ride. The only hitch is that I can't be there. Any volunteers to lead? Drop me an email if you're interested.

11/6 Saturday Ride

2010-11-04T20:02:00.008-04:00

------ UPDATE ------

There are more than enough folks interested, so we'll plan on heading out from the shop at 8:00am tomorrow morning. For those of you planning to join us en route, we will head out Middle Rd. to Freeport (MapMyRide route).

-------

Hmmm, 40 degrees and a chance of showers. I'm open to the idea that we ride regardless of the weather, but I'll need a show of support, so drop me an email and let me me know if you are interested in riding this week. Alternatively, you could try out the shiny new poll I posted over there to the right of this post.

If there are more than 3 yes votes by 7:00 Friday night, we'll ride. The route will be an on-the-fly decision, but I'm thinking it would be nice to head out toward Freeport (MapMyRide route).

10/30 Saturday Ride

2010-10-29T11:59:00.004-04:00

It's going to be a bit chilly, but we'll plan on heading out on a nice easy loop through Falmouth and Cumberland this week (MapMyRide route).

10/23 Saturday Ride

2010-10-21T20:02:00.003-04:00

This week we will be heading out toward Cumberland and Yarmouth (MapMyRide route).

10/16 Saturday Ride

2010-10-15T11:07:00.003-04:00

We're looking for a contingent leader this week since Bron is out of town and I am trying to get over a cold. The hope is that I will be ready to ride in the morning, but we would appreciate hearing from anyone willing to take the reins if I can't make it. Please just email me if you are interested.

As for a route, we will wait to see what the weather does. It looks like the day will start out windy, wet and cold, so odds are that we will do something in the 30-35 mile range.

Saturday Ride Question...

2010-10-10T19:18:00.007-04:00

UPDATE

We are NOT going to do the proposed loop over in the White Mts. since most of the responses were that people were not able to make a long ride this weekend given the short timeframe.

We will go ahead with the "normal" Saturday ride instead and will post the route later this week.

*****

During the ride this weekend, there was some discussion about doing one final longer ride. The runaway favorite route was the loop that includes Bear Notch, the Kanc, Franconia and Crawford Notch over in New Hampshire (MapMyRide route). We'd like to get a sense of whether people would be interested in heading over there for a ride this coming Saturday, October 16.

I would like to hear from as many people as possible by Tuesday morning so I can make a decision before Kris sends out his club-wide end-of-season email, so please email me and let me know if you want to join the stroll through NH.

Depending on the interest of the group, we will decide whether there will be a "normal" Saturday ride as well.

10/9 Saturday Ride

2010-10-08T08:26:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to all who took part in the various century rides last weekend!

Now that the "training" period is over, we need to regroup a bit and figure out what people would like the Saturday rides to look like for the rest of the year, including how much longer the rides should head out.

This week we are mulling over a few different routes and don't have anything specific planned, so we'll just meet at the shop at 8:00 and come up with something.

10/2 Saturday Ride

2010-09-30T20:33:00.002-04:00

Good luck to everyone planning on doing the Dempsey Challenge and the Cadillac Challenge Century this weekend!

For those looking to join the Saturday ride this week, Jim will be taking the lead on a route out through Falmouth, Cumberland and Yarmouth (MapMyRide route).

9/25 Saturday Ride

2010-09-23T08:55:00.003-04:00

The Saturday ride will be leaving at the normal time this week.

See you at the shop at 8:00am.

This week is a final jaunt before many folks head off to tackle the Dempsey Challenge or the Cadillac Challenge Century next weekend. Since the summer folks have all headed home, we are planning a long-contemplated route down through Old Orchard Beach and Gorham (MapMyRide route). While the route is shorter and flatter than the past few weeks, the hope is that we can take advantage of some long, uninterrupted sections to maintain a decent pace without the need for many stops.

Like the past two weeks, we do not have a specific shorter loop planned. However, since the ride starts by heading over the bridge, it will be relatives simple to break off and do some permutation of the Prout's Neck Loop (MapMyRide route).

9/18 Saturday Ride

2010-09-16T10:35:00.004-04:00

Given the length of this week's ride, we will be starting a bit early and leaving the shop at 7:30. Plan on a chilly start to the day, with temps hovering just above 50° when we head out.

This week's route will be an 86 mile jaunt up through Raymond (MapMyRide route). In addition to the length, there's also a fair bit of climbing with a touch over 6,000' of total elevation gain. We will try to incorporate two stops along the way to provide people with the opportunity to grab a snack, but please plan ahead and bring extra fluids, some solid food and cash to cover any drinks or snack. Speaking of solid food, I got a fair bit of grief for bringing waffles the last time we did the Raymond loop. It turns out I'm not alone in considering them a great biking snack: Honey Stinger Waffle review.

Like last week there is no "normal" Saturday route planned. However, for those not interested in riding the full loop, there are several opportunities to break off and head back to the shop. We'll check in with people before we head out and figure out what makes the most sense.

For those of you looking to do more than 86 miles this week, the Loon Echo Hike n' Bike Trek, which claims to be the "toughest century ride in Maine," is this weekend.

9/11 Saturday Ride

2010-09-09T09:34:00.005-04:00

After a great ride last Sunday, we will stretch things out a bit more this week with a jaunt up toward Brunswick (MapMyRide route). For those interested in a shorter loop that is more in line with the normal Saturday ride, there are several options, so we will work something out as the ride develops.

As for our plans on 9/18, we would like to get some feedback on the idea of starting at 7:30. With an 86 mile ride that includes over 6000' of climbing scheduled (MapMyRide route), starting early seems to make a lot of sense. Please drop me an email or leave a comment if you are either for or against a slightly earlier start. Also, before I get a deluge of responses that there is less than 3000' of climbing according to MapMyRide, you should be aware that MapMyRide significantly underestimates the elevation gain.

Fall is obviously a great time of year to bike around here, and there are a bunch of rides in the coming weeks in addition to the Dempsey Challenge and the Cadillac Challenge Century on October 3. Two local options worth considering are the Lighthouse Ride this weekend and the Loon Echo Hike n' Bike Trek next weekend.

9/4 Saturday Ride

2010-09-02T12:08:00.010-04:00

- UPDATE -

Ride Moved to SUNDAY at 8:00am this Week

Thank you for all the responses. It was nearly unanimous that we move this week's ride to Sunday morning, so we will leave the shop on Sunday at 8:00am for the planned longer route through Cumberland, Falmouth and Yarmouth (MapMyRide route).

In the event that the weather moves through faster than expected and things dry out by Saturday morning, I will probably head to the shop since we are not sure how many people actually follow the blog. So, if it isn't raining steadily tomorrow morning and people show up at the shop to ride, I'm happy to do something relatively flat and easy in the 25-30 mile range (probably the Monday night loop going counterclockwise).

____________

First, thanks to Eric for stepping up and leading the ride last week. All reports were that it was a great ride.

The story for this week is Earl. According to the NOAA forecast, we are looking at a chance of showers and 15mph winds for Saturday. However, the weather.com projected track looks to have the storm somewhere right off our coast, which could potentially mean some seriously heavy rain and winds. Not that anyone would be likely to show up, but we are not going to have the ride in the midst of a tropical storm.

Ordinarily, we would head out in light rain and light winds and if there was no lightening anywhere in the area. However, since we have a fairly long ride planned for this weekend (MapMyRide route) and since this week's ride is part of a progression intended to help people prepare for the Dempsey or the Cadillac century rides, I am open to discussing the option of moving the ride to Sunday morning.

Please drop me an email and let me know if you would prefer to ride on Sunday. Not surprisingly, these pleas for input often go ignored, but please take the 10 seconds to drop me your thoughts. Since people need to know what we are doing, we will make the decision no later than Friday at 7:00 pm. Please check back here after then for an update.

As for the rest of the longer training rides, we will stick with the original plan:

9/11 - Brunswick loop (66 miles)
9/18 - Raymond Hill from Portland (86 miles)
9/25 - Old Orchard Beach (52 miles)

8/28 Saturday Ride

2010-08-26T20:48:00.003-04:00

We're looking for a brave soul to lead the normal ride this week. So, if you're interested, please let me know.

For the longer ride this week, Eric has agreed to lead the group on a route out to Pineland (MapMyRide route).

I didn't get much feedback on the proposed plan for getting ready for the two century rides the first weekend in October, so we'll go forward with the following plan:

9/4 - Gray loop (55 miles)
9/11 - Brunswick loop (66 miles)
9/18 - Raymond Hill from Portland (86 miles)
9/25 - Old Orchard Beach (52 miles)

Please drop me an email with any comments, questions or complaints.

8/21 Saturday Ride

2010-08-19T22:00:00.003-04:00

This week we make another attempt at heading out in a bit of a new direction and tackling the Mitchell Hill route (MapMyRide route). It's supposed to be a gorgeous morning, so we will plan on having a slightly longer version of the ride that will include a trip down to Prout's neck and around Shore Rd. for those that want to add a few extra miles (MapMyRide route).

If you have any questions about the ride, please drop me an email.

8/14 Saturday Ride

2010-08-11T20:21:00.005-04:00

It looks like another great week for riding. This week the normal route is going to head over through Falmouth (MapMyRide route) and for those of you interested in putting on a few extra miles, we are also going to have a longer ride that will head up toward Gray and over to Yarmouth (MapMyRide route).

If you have any questions about the ride, drop me an email.

8/7 Saturday Ride

2010-08-06T08:22:00.005-04:00

This week we will head back through Falmouth and Cumberland (MapMyRide route). There is no formal longer ride this week, but if some people are interested, there are options to branch out on a longer ride by including Dutton Hill, Sligo Rd. etc.

I have been giving some thought to the prospect of putting together a series of longer Saturday rides geared to help prepare people for one of the century rides in early October. The plan is still very much in flux, but I would like to get people's feedback on the following schedule for September's longer routes:

9/4 - Gray loop (55 miles)
9/11 - Brunswick loop (66 miles)
9/18 - Raymond Hill from Portland (86 miles)
9/25 - Old Orchard Beach (52 miles)

Please drop me an email with any comments, questions or complaints.

7/31 Saturday Ride

2010-07-29T20:53:00.005-04:00

This week we will head out in a bit of a new direction and tackle the Mitchell Hill route (MapMyRide route). It's supposed to be a gorgeous morning, so we will plan on having a slightly longer version of the ride that will include a trip down to Prout's neck and around Shore Rd. for those that want to add a few extra miles (MapMyRide route).

If you have any questions about the ride, please drop me an email.

UPDATE

We wound up changing the route at the last minute. For those of you that use the blog to keep track of ride options in the area, we went over to Cumberland, headed up toward Gray, hopped over toward Pineland and then headed back into Portland (MapMyRide route).

7/24 Saturday Ride

2010-07-22T19:22:00.002-04:00

This week we are going to head out toward Freeport (MapMyRide route). Depending on how the group feels, we may offer the option to split the group when we hit S. Freeport Rd, with those looking for a longer ride heading up toward Brunswick.

If you have any questions about the ride, please feel free to email me.

7/17 Saturday Ride

2010-07-15T19:27:00.003-04:00

After a few weeks off, we will head back over toward Falmouth this week and take a jaunt up Mountain Rd. From there, I think we will head over to Cumberland and possibly even Yarmouth (MapMyRide route), but depending on the interest of the group we may make things a bit longer or shorter.

As we move toward August, there has been some suggestion of starting another series of training rides for the folks interested in riding either the Dempsey or the Cadillac challenge. But, we would really like your input on whether there would be interest in a more structured series of rides, so PLEASE, drop me an email or post some comments on whether you would be interested and if so, which event you would like to tackle.

7/10 Saturday Ride

2010-07-09T00:28:00.002-04:00

The weather looks a bit questionable for this Saturday. If it's a little wet, we'll plan to head out. But, if there's thunder or lightening in the area, we'll call things off.

If the weather cooperates and we get to head out, we'll be doing a new route with a bunch of familiar sections through Falmouth and Cumberland (MapMyRide route). After a few weeks of generally flat rides, this route adds some hills back into the routine.

If you are new to the ride or have any questions, please feel free to email me.

7/3 Saturday Ride

2010-06-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

This week the Saturday ride will continue the rolling rides of the past few weeks, with a trip out through Cumberland and Yarmouth (MapMyRide route).

6/26 Saturday Ride

2010-06-24T21:03:00.003-04:00

This week we will be heading over to Cape Elizabeth to head around the Prout's Neck loop (MapMyRide route).

6/19 Saturday Ride

2010-06-17T22:19:00.002-04:00

Rob has graciously agreed to take the lead this weekend and will be following the familiar route up Mountain Rd and over to Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

6/12 Saturday Ride

2010-06-10T19:33:00.005-04:00

After last week's complete washout, it looks like this Saturday morning could be about the only reliable window for a dry ride this weekend. We'll be attempting a slight variation of some common routes this week as we tour Falmouth, Cumberland and a bit of Yarmouth (MapMyRide route).

Also, we are looking for comments/feedback on this spring's attempt to train people for the Memorial Day ride. If there is enough interest, we are considering creating a similar training schedule that would help people prepare for either the Cadillac Challenge or the Dempsey Challenge—both century rides taking place on October 3.

Finally, we are looking for some backup leaders for the Saturday ride. Please drop us an email if you are willing and able to help us out on occasion.

6/5 Saturday Ride

2010-06-03T20:15:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to all who successfully completed the Memorial Day ride. It was a great day and a great event.

This week the weather looks to be heading downhill fast for our Saturday ride. We are still planning to head out unless it is really raining, but we are going to hold off on picking a route until Saturday morning.

If you have any questions about the ride, please drop me an email.

5/29 Saturday Ride

2010-05-27T17:48:00.003-04:00

First, we want to thank everyone who made last weekend's rides such a success. Between assistance covering the normal ride and a great turnout for our longer ride around the Raymond hill route significant amount of support went into making everything come together. Thanks!

This week we will return to having one route for the Saturday ride. The specifics are undecided at this point, but will feature something in the 30-mile range. Two options we are mulling over are the familiar ride up Mountain Rd. over to Cumberland (MapMyRide route) and the somewhat flatter route out Middle Rd. and around the Greely/Tuttle loop (MapMyRide route).

For those riders who have been using our longer rides as a way to prepare for Monday's Annual CCCP Memorial Day Ride, this weekend's ride is intended to be an easy, comfortable ride that will provide the opportunity to stretch your legs a bit before heading over to the White Mountains.

Please send me an email with any comments and/or suggestions.

5/22 Saturday Ride

2010-05-19T09:09:00.008-04:00

We are within 2 weeks of the CCCP Memorial Day ride, which for those that have been participating in our series of longer rides, means that we have just one more long ride before the big event.

This weekend will be a bit of an adventure. For the first time, we are splitting the group entirely and starting the longer ride from a different location. Here are the details:

The Normal Saturday Ride

Leaving from Back Bay Bikes at 8:00

Diane has graciously offered to lead the ride this week. The ride will be 30 miles, heading through Falmouth and Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

The Longer Saturday Ride (Raymond Hill Route)

Leaving from Cumberland Center at 7:30

This week's longer route will start in Cumberland and tackle the Raymond Hill loop (MapMyRide route).

Given the length and terrain of the route, we are planning an early start. Please plan to meet at 7:30 in the Cumberland Fire Department parking lot located at the corner of Main Street (Rte 9) and Tuttle Rd (google map). For those of you driving to the start, there is ample parking in the Greely school parking lots right across the street from the fire station.

For those of you that need a ride, Bron and I will be at Back Bay Bikes at 7:00 to help shuttle people to Cumberland. We have the capacity to bring 4 riders/bikes, so if you need a ride, please let us know ASAP to reserve your place. In order to make the 7:30 meet in Cumberland, we need to leave at 7:00, so don't be late.

Also, a note about fuel for the ride. the current forecast is calling for sunny skies and 60 degrees. We are expecting that the ride will last 3 1/2 to just over 4 hours. Therefore, everyone should be prepared with at least 2 water bottles, preferably containing sports drink, and some solid food. There are a few potential places to stop if people need to refuel during the trip, but please come prepared for a long day in the saddle.

Please confirm that you need a ride by sending me an email ASAP. Also, if you could be available to help shuttle a rider or two, please let me know just in case we have some overflow that we need to handle.

5/15 Saturday Ride

2010-05-12T10:22:00.003-04:00

There are only two more weekends before the CCCP Memorial Day ride. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the weather forecast for this weekend stays favorable because this week's longer ride will take us up Mountain Rd., Dutton Hill and Depot Rd. (MapMyRide route). We will also have a normal Saturday loop for those looking for a ride in the neighborhood of 30 miles. Based on the interest of the group, the normal route will either be the Mountain/Mast ride (MapMyRide route) or the Mountain/Blanchard ride (MapMyRide route).

On May 22, we will have our first "destination" Saturday ride. While the normal ride will leave from the shop as usual, people interested in the longer ride will meet in Cumberland to do the Raymond Hill loop (MapMyRide route). In an attempt to better plan for this ride, we are trying to get an approximate count of people who will be joining us. So, please, drop me a quick email if you are planning on doing the Raymond Hill ride with us on May 22.

5/8 Saturday Ride

2010-05-06T08:39:00.004-04:00

This week we will take a break from the split ride routine we have been experimenting with this spring and return to one ride that will head up Mountain Rd. and over to Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

Next week we will return to the split ride format with long routes that include more hills. On May 15, we will be doing a route that includes Mountain Rd., Dutton Hill, and Depot Rd. (MapMyRide route). This ride will utilize the current format where the entire group starts out together and then splits at a designated point (likely Mast Rd.).

On May 22, we will have our first "destination" Saturday ride. While the normal ride will leave from the shop as usual, people interested in the longer ride will meet in Cumberland to do the Raymond Hill loop (MapMyRide route). In an attempt to better plan for this ride, we are trying to get a count of people who will be joining us. So, please, drop me a quick email if you are planning on doing the Raymond Hill ride with us on May 22 so I can get an approximate head count.

If you have any questions or comments on how these split rides have been working, please email me.

Don't forget that the annual CCCP Memorial Day ride (MapMyRide route) is only a few weeks away.

Message from Patrick

2010-05-04T09:05:00.000-04:00

Even though I haven't made a ride yet I want to give PROPS, KUDOS, THUMBS UP, GOOD ON YA'S, and sincere thanks to Chris and everyone that works at Back Bay Cycles and the club for going out of their way to help the folks get their bike together that are riding in the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride in May. I'll be riding in this great event and feel good there is someone helping out those folks from out of town.

I'm not a regular but make as many rides as I can with my schedule (I'll miss this years memorial day ride unfortunately. I'll be all primed for Hurricane Rd after riding around 550 miles in 6 days too!) and am proud to ride with such a great group of people. You just made me a lifelong member with this type of hospitality to these folks coming in from "away".

Thanks again and hope to see (ride) with y'all soon.

Take Care, Be Safe
Patrick

5/1 Saturday Ride

2010-04-28T20:07:00.004-04:00

This Saturday we we will have another split ride. The normal ride is a loop we did last fall that heads up to Freeport (MapMyRide route). The longer route is the next ride in our series intended to help people prepare for the CCCP Memorial day ride. This week the longer route will also head up to Freeport, but will then continue on up toward Brunswick (MapMyRide route). Both rides will leave the shop together around 8:00 am and then split once we get to S. Freeport Rd.

At a bit over 51 miles, the loop toward Brunswick is one of the longer rides that we do. The total time for the 51 miles will likely be in the neighborhood of just over three hours, so please plan accordingly. In three hours on the bike, the weather is certain to change during the ride, so make sure you are dressed appropriately. In addition, it is important to have enough liquids and preferably some solid food to consume. We highly recommend bringing two full water bottles and something to munch on like an energy bar or a bagel. We pass the Bow St. Market in Freeport at about mile 32, which will provide people a chance to refuel if needed.

Next week we will be taking a break from these longer rides to give people a chance to rest. But, the following two weeks will include lots of hills and then Memorial Day will be upon us. If you are interested in using the longer Saturday routes as way to prepare for the Memorial Day ride, here is the tentative ride schedule:

5/1 Saturday Ride: Brunswick Loop (MapMyRide route)
5/8 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd. and Mast Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/15 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd, Dutton Hill and Depot Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/22 Saturday Ride: Raymond Hill loop - leaving from Cumberland (MapMyRide route)
5/29 Saturday Ride: Middle Rd, Tuttle and Greely (MapMyRide route)
5/31 MEMORIAL DAY RIDE (MapMyRide route)

Please email me if you have any questions.

4/24 Saturday Ride

2010-04-22T09:17:00.007-04:00

It has been a bit of a roller coaster for spring weather so far. Kudos to Nathan and Richard for making last week's somewhat wintery ride:

Luckily, the snow from last Saturday seems to be behind us and things are looking good for Saturday, so this week we will head up Mountain Rd. and through Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

As we mentioned in last week's post, we are trying to incorporate the option of a longer route to allow people to prepare for the annual CCCP Memorial Day ride. So, when the group reaches Forest Lake Rd., riders interested in taking a longer ride can break off and head over Dutton Hill and up to Grey (MapMyRide route). Although, the longer route currently includes Sligo Rd., please note that we may shorten things a bit depending on time and other factors by cutting out Sligo.

As always, we will all leave the shop at just about 8:00 and will ride as one group until we reach the designated split point.

If you are interested in using the longer Saturday routes as way to prepare for the Memorial Day ride, here is the tentative ride schedule:

4/24 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd., Dutton Hill and Sligo Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/1 Saturday Ride: Brunswick Loop (MapMyRide route)
5/8 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd. and Mast Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/15 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd, Dutton Hill and Depot Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/22 Saturday Ride: Raymond Hill loop - leaving from Cumberland (MapMyRide route)
5/29 Saturday Ride: Middle Rd, Tuttle and Greely (MapMyRide route)
5/31 MEMORIAL DAY RIDE (MapMyRide route)

Please email me if you have any questions.

4/17 Saturday Ride and Proposed Training Schedule

2010-04-15T19:48:00.006-04:00

There has been some discussion about the prospect of using the Saturday morning rides as a training vehicle for the CCCP Memorial Day ride through the White Mountains. The good news is that the level of interest has convinced us that it's worth given the idea a try. The bad news is that in order to be effective, we really need to start adding some hillier terrain starting this week. The really bad news is that weather forecast for Saturday is not pretty.

I have convinced a very small contingent of folks to head out rain or shine. Therefore, I am planning on being at the shop on Saturday morning regardless of the weather. The route will be about 35 miles and include both Mountain Rd. and Dutton Hill (MapMyRide route). I'm not going to pretend that 40 degrees, 15 mph winds and rain/drizzle ranks high on my list of enjoyable biking conditions, but if you have a jacket and are willing to brave the elements I can promise it will be an adventure.

As for the rest of the training program, we are going to try to incorporate a long ride each Saturday for the folks interested in preparing for the Memorial Day ride. The tentative plan is as follows:

4/24 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd., Dutton Hill and Sligo Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/1 Saturday Ride: Brunswick Loop (MapMyRide route)
5/8 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd. and Mast Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/15 Saturday Ride: Mountain Rd, Dutton Hill and Depot Rd. (MapMyRide route)
5/22 Saturday Ride: Raymond Hill loop - leaving from Cumberland (MapMyRide route)
5/29 Saturday Ride: Middle Rd, Tuttle and Greely (MapMyRide route)
5/31 MEMORIAL DAY RIDE (MapMyRide route)

Each of these longer Saturday rides (with the exception of the Raymond Hill loop on 5/29) will be an extension of a regular route that is more in-line with the traditional Saturday rides. As we have done in the past, we will all ride out together and at a designated point the folks interested in the longer ride will break off.

We would like as much feedback as possible regarding this plan so we can anticipate exactly how many people are interested and tweak the schedule if need be. So, please either leave a comment or drop me and email with your thoughts.

4/10 Saturday ride

2010-04-08T15:42:00.002-04:00

In an attempt to switch things up a bit, this week we will be heading up Mast and down Mountain (MapMyRide route). We will leave the shop at 8:00.

4/3 Saturday Ride

2010-04-02T15:45:00.000-04:00

After more than our share of rain, this weekend looks to be perfect riding weather. The route this week will have two options. The "standard" route will be the now familiar route up Mountain Rd, over to Cumberland and back Tuttle Rd. (MapMyRide route). However, we are also going to have a longer route that will break off in Cumberland Center and head over to Sligo Rd. in Yarmouth (MapMyRide route). Both rides will start out together and will stay together as a group until Cumberland Center. At Rte 9 in Cumberland, we will split.

We will be leaving the shop at 8:00. If you have any questions about the ride, please drop me an email.

3/27 Saturday Ride

2010-03-25T14:39:00.005-04:00

It promises to be a bit cold to start the day on Saturday. Therefore, we will give the sun some time to do its magic with a

9:00am START FOR THIS WEEK'S RIDE.

For a route, we will head up Mountain Rd. and then wander through Falmouth for a bit (MapMyRide route).

3/20 Saturday Ride

2010-03-18T09:26:00.004-04:00

The weather this weekend looks to be about as perfect as you could expect from March in Maine. To celebrate, we will head out on one of the old standby Mountain Rd. loops that heads over through Cumberland (MapMyRide route). We'll leave the shop at 8:00 as usual.

3/13 Saturday Ride

2010-03-11T10:12:00.002-05:00

After a nice start to the year last week, the Saturday rides are officially back. This week we are doing a variation of the Monday night ride that will take us through Falmouth and Cumberland (MapMyRide route). It will probably be a bit chilly at 8:00, but starting early should help us beat any chance of rain.

3/6 Saturday Ride

2010-03-03T12:04:00.004-05:00

With the forecast calling for sun and 44 degrees on Saturday, it looks like it's time to start back in on the Saturday rides. This week we will start of with a relatively short jaunt to get everyone back in the swing of things. We are considering two different routes: a 20 mile trip out Middle Rd. (MapMyRide route) or a 22 mile ride that incorporates Falmouth Rd. and Woodville (MapMyRide route). Let us know your preference by leaving a comment or sending me an email.

We will leave the shop at 8:00 as usual.

2/27 Saturday Ride

2010-02-25T15:50:00.003-05:00

The weather looks horrible for Saturday, so we won't try to go for a ride this week. However, there seems to be some interest in getting out sooner rather than later, so to the extent that the weather cooperates, we'll start things in the next few weeks.

Saturday Rides - - It's Not Too Early, Is It?

2010-02-10T14:11:00.004-05:00

The lack of any significant precipitation has us wondering whether it's time to start heading out on Saturday mornings. Our thinking was that provided it is above freezing at the designated start time and the roads are clear of snow/ice we would start the Saturday rides back up beginning February 27.

The plan would be to get things started with some easy trips of 20-25 miles just to get out on the roads again. If you have thoughts, please post a comment or drop me an email so we know whether there is any interest.

Movie Night - 02/04

2010-02-01T17:58:00.002-05:00

Community Cycling Club of Portland Presents

BICYCLE DREAMS

An award winning documentary about the most insane cycling
event in the world - The 3000 mile Race Across America.

Thursday, Feb. 4th
7:00 pm social / 7:30 pm film
Zero Station
222 Anderson Street, Portland, ME

All are welcome. No charge.
Snacks and beverages encouraged. (BYOB)

Free Physical Therapy Testing

2010-01-17T15:52:00.004-05:00

Tracey Merrill wants everyone to know that Back In Motion Physical Therapy is offering free 30 minute screenings. If you have a nagging ache that won't go away and you are not sure what to do about it, go see Back in Motion to help you figure out what to do. It may be as simple as:

suggesting exercises you can do at home,
making a referral to your doctor for PT, or
suggesting activity modifications.

Locations are in South Portland just behind Shaw's Millcreek (161 Ocean Street) and in Gorham (94 Main Street). Just call Back in Motion and mention the free screen when scheduling your appointment.

SoPo tel: 799-8226,
Gorham tel: 839-5860.

Trek Across Maine Recruitment

2010-01-10T17:49:00.002-05:00

Hey folks!

It is that time of year for Tracey to start recruiting for the CCCP Trek Across Maine team. For those of you who don't know, it is a 3 day bike ride from Sunday River to Belfast that raises money for the American Lung Association of Maine. It is a blast and Tracey is always looking for more riders!

Anyone interested, please email her at: wanttocycle@gmail.com

Saturday Ride 12/26

2009-12-25T16:43:00.002-05:00

Anyone riding Saturday morning? If so, what time. Just checking.

Dana

776-1453

2nd Annual Reindeer Ride

2009-12-14T18:44:00.002-05:00

And you can see all the photos on Don and Dana's Flickr page.

Merry Christmas! Hope Santa brings you that new bike on your list.

12/12 Saturday Ride

2009-12-11T09:23:00.003-05:00

The Saturday ride is in limbo this week. Bron and I are considering participating in the reindeer ride, which now starts at 10:00, so we would need to head out at 8:00. However, the temperature and wind forecast is looking prohibitive for a 8:00 start (temps around 15 and winds around 20). Top it all off with icy road shoulders and it's not looking good.

If you are dead set on braving the cold and the wind or if you are interested in riding on Sunday instead, post a comment with your thoughts or drop me an email.

Novare Res Gathering 12/10/09

2009-12-10T13:31:00.001-05:00

6pm gathering of the politburo at Novare Res in Portland. Who's going?? Come join us for some holiday cheer! Dana

Reindeer/Santa Ride 12/12

2009-12-04T22:12:00.001-05:00

Santa is looking for a few good reindeer! I was wondering if anyone would like to participate in a second annual Reindeer Ride on Sat, Dec 12th. I am thinking of meeting at BBB at 11:00 AM so we can don antlers and such and then we can ride around the Back Cove and into the Old Port and where ever our hearts desire! Please let me know if you are interested! I already have a few folks that have answered my discussion board post, but not nearly enough for a full team! I would also be happy to relinquish my "Santa" role for a reindeer (though I did put on some weight this year...). If anyone would like to possibly help out with a music source, that would also be great!

Thanks!

Tracey

baxter35@myfairpoint.net

12/5 Saturday Ride (Updated)

2009-12-04T13:28:00.004-05:00

We will meet at the shop at 9:00 tomorrow morning and head out up Mountain Rd. and over through Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

___________

Is anyone interested in riding tomorrow morning?

Of the three comments responding to my post below, it appears that nobody is available.

If you are planning to ride, please post a comment so I can make a call as to whether there will be a ride. Thanks.

Saturday Ride

2009-12-03T12:30:00.003-05:00

I have had a few conversations with folks about the fate of the Saturday ride now that winter is almost upon us. There seems to be interest in riding for as long as the roads are clear and there also seems to be support for shifting the ride to a "base-building" ride of approximately 1.5 - 2 hours at a relatively low intensity. Please post your comments or email me directly with your input on whether you would like the ride to continue as long as the weather permits and whether you would be interested in transitioning to more of a base building ride.

In addition to the format of the ride, we are also wondering about the start time. 8:00 is great because it keeps the ride from consuming the entire morning. However, it's a bit chilly at 8:00 these days, so if you have a preference for an 8:30 or even a 9:00 start, let us know.

This Saturday I am planning to leave from the shop at 8:00. It looks to be chilly but otherwise great for riding. Unless there are objections, I was thinking that we would follow one of the standard rides up Mountain Rd. and through Cumberland (MapMyRide route).

Saturday Morning Ride?

2009-11-13T06:58:00.001-05:00

Anyone up for riding at 8am tomorrow?

Dana
C: 776-1453

11/7 Saturday Ride

2009-11-05T14:53:00.003-05:00

The Saturday ride will be going out again this week, leaving the shop at the usual time. Rather than posting a planned route, we are open to your suggestions. Please post a comment and let us know where you would like to go.

10/31 Saturday Ride

2009-10-30T09:21:00.003-04:00

There will be a Saturday ride again this week. We will plan to do the loop that got washed out with the bad weather last week (MapMyRide route).

2009-10-29T22:08:00.001-04:00

Anyone riding Saturday morning?