Charlie and I at Weskeag River on our way to “Owls Head” light house. I loved my new Soleil jersey and had so many complements.
Terry customer Debra Hoover, and her husband, Charlie, recently completed a week’s tour through some of Maine’s most interesting cycling country. The BikeMaine event is now an early Fall tradition, each year exploring a different part of a state with very diverse regions.
This year the tour centered on Maine’s mid-coast region, with a loop encompassing the valley where the state’s organic farming tradition took root, and plenty of picturesque coastal villages. As Debra put it, “We had a great trip, but who knew the mid-coast could have soooo many hills…The countryside and seaside were beautiful as we expected!”
Lisa W., our customer service lead, also has fond memories of cycling in Maine: “In 2011 I had the pleasure of riding the Maine Women’s Ride out of the LL Bean parking lot, and out into the beautiful Maine countryside. It was early spring (for the Northeast) and the trees and flowers were bright spring green with splashes of vibrant purples and yellows. But more colorful and wonderful were the women I met along the route. Great tales of cycling, family life, LL Bean connections and of course The Way Life Should Be!”
Sunrise on the waterfront, Belfast, ME
Bales of Hay – idyllic pasture in Monroe, Maine
Great lunch and beautiful sea view at Anchor Inn, Round Pond, Maine
Colorful collection of tents at the waterfront park in Belfast, Maine
Leaving Owls Head Lighthouse – we had to stop for pic of lobster buoys on Lobster Lane Road, Owls Head, Maine
Start of ride: Head of Falls Park, crossing the Kennebec River to start the ride, Waterville, Maine
450 cyclists plus staff participated in BikeMaine this year, so the tour is quite an undertaking. The organizers provide tents and logistics, and there are options for guests to camp with riders but make their own way around the route, so non-cycling friends and family can share the fun. The focus is on providing great cycling routes with an authentic experience in each host community, plus an emphasis on good food and drink.
It’s always a popular tour, so if you’re interested, book early!
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is one of the most effective bicycle advocacy groups in the country. Since its founding in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition has helped improve bike safety education, advocate for better bike laws, increase funding for bike trails and other biking infrastructure, and open up more areas for cycling. The Coalition also has launched several successful events such as the Great Maine Bike Swap, and BikeMaine.
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