Pedal On

Lend a hand for BCM's annual Maine Women's Ride

Shannon Bryan — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:11:39 GMT

The Maine Women's Ride is just three weeks away and even if you don't plan to pedal along the route through and around Freeport you can still be a part of the event.

The host Bicycle Coalition of Maine is looking for volunteers both during the ride (Sunday, June 2) and for early registration pick-up the evening before the event (Saturday, June 1).

If you want to help celebrate cycling for women and girls of all ages sign up to volunteer on the BCM website. You'll find a list of volunteer jobs that need to be done and both the riders and the BCM members will be very grateful.

Moms can get a free ride Sunday at Quest Cycle

Shannon Bryan — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:47:59 GMT

Most moms are going to want to be pampered on Monther's Day. They'll expect to be treated to a fancy brunch, to be handed a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and to be allowed to skip the cooking and the dishwashing for a day.

But other moms may want to use their day to get some exercise.

Portland's Quest Cycle is offering an opportunity to do just that with a free Sunday ride for Mom.

Book a spot in Quest's 10 a.m. Sunday ride and you'll automatically get a second bike reserved for free. Bring a mother, daughter, wife, sister and they can saddle up and pedal.

After that you can still take Mom out for that brunch she wanted.

Girls and Gears happens Friday at Gorham Bike and Ski

Shannon Bryan — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:59:16 GMT

May is National Bike Month and, as usual, the folks at Gorham Bike and Ski are getting geared up for the season. Once again the Congress Street shop will be hosting the annual Girls and Gears event Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Admission is just $12 and when you sign up online 100 percent of that money will go to the Maine Cancer Foundation.

The evening will be hosted by Q97.9 morning show personality Lori Voornas and includes a cycling-wear fashion show, massages, food, drinks and plenty of info on bikes and biking. Also expect giveaways, a raffle (must be present to win) and special deals on women's items.

The first 100 ladies to sign up online will receive a free T-shirt. But you don't have to sign up in advance. If you decide to drop in at the last minute you can do so by paying $15 at the door.

And guys ... stay home for this one. You know you don't want to get between a girl and her bike.

Best Portland Bike Swap yet for BCM

Shannon Bryan — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:30:19 GMT

Volunteers for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine spent much of last weekend preparing for, running and wrapping up their best-ever Portland Bike Swap on the University of Southern Maine campus.

Bill Hall photos

According to BCM's Brian Allenby, a total of 2,000 people took part and 700 bikes were sold.

All those who made purchases now have a great week of weather to get out and try their new rides. Enjoy the sun, the roads and the trails.

Swap your ride at Gorham Bike and Ski Saturday

Shannon Bryan — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:18:53 GMT

Bike swaps are all the rage this month and Gorham Bike and Ski gets into the act Saturday with one of its own from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you have a bike to sell, get to the 693 Congress St. Portland location by 7 p.m. Friday and the GBS staff will help you determine a selling price. If your bike sells you can take advantage of one of the following offers: 80 percent of the sales price in a check or 100 percent of the sales price in GBS store credit.

If your bike doesn't sell, you'll have to pick it up by 7 p.m. April 22.

And don't forget the Great Maine Bike Swap happens at USM in Portland on April 28 - just in case you're still in the market for a bike. Get to Sullivan Gym early - the swap starts at 10 a.m. but the line will be forming well before that.

Pedal to your next picnic with a carry-all bike

Shannon Bryan — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:09:07 GMT

A friend spotted this very handy "perfect picnic bike" on Facebook, so I thought I'd share.

Just imagine pedaling to your next picnic (and that season is nearly upon us!) with all the supplies you need neatly stored away inside your bike frame.

That's the way the folks at Plano Cycling & Fitness roll. And it looks like all you really need is some decent carpentry skills and a little imagination to make one of your own.

With this sweet custom bike there's even a handy flip out table for more sophisticated dining than you can get from the usual sandy-covered picnic blanket. Add a cooler bag to the luggage rack behind your seat and a chilled drink to the cup holder on the handlebars and you're good to go.

Sebago's supporting the Trek with Pale Ale brew crew

Shannon Bryan — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:23:30 GMT

Sebago Brewing Company has annually been a big supporter of the American Lung Association's Trek Across Maine. This year will be no different.

For the fourth time, Sebago will be hosting Brewing For A Cause to raise funds for the Trek, a 3-day, 180-mile bike ride, and the team of Sebago employees who will ride. The event takes place April 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and allows those who purchase $100 tickets to spend the day brewing Trekker Pale Ale.

Tickets are available to the general public on the Sebago Brewing Company website. Be warned that only 20 spots are availblee and they sold out very quickly last year.

In addition to participating in all stages of the brewing process, the brew crew will also get to taste samples, be treated to lunch with their expert teaches and will get to take home a case of their creations.

Bicycle Coalition wants your help for upcoming swaps

Shannon Bryan — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:08:43 GMT

Maine cyclists annually looks forward to the two days in April when the Bicycle Coalition of Maine holds its Great Maine Bike Swaps. This year's dates have the Orono swap set for Sunday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Maine New Balance Student Recreation & Fitness Center and the Portland event on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine gym.

BCM is looking for volunteer help to make both events go as smoothly as possible. Volunteer shifts at both swaps run from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you're interested in helping out in Orono click here to sign up.

If you'd like to volunteer for the Portland event click here to sign up.

Tour de Cure training rides kick off March 30

Shannon Bryan — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:45:07 GMT

Maybe your tires are still soft from a winter of storage. Maybe your cycling shorts are still shoved way in the back of your closet. Maybe you haven't even thought about getting the bike out on the road yet.

Well ... time to start that thought process.

The first Kennebunks Tour de Cure training ride of the season happens Saturday starting at Eastern Mountain Sports (87 Marginal Way) in Portland. The ride begins at noon, but get there early for EMS' pre-ride bike-fit clinic.

If you're already registered for the Tour, which takes place June 9 at Wells Reserve at Laudholm, you'll get an entry for a chance to win a 2012 Jamis Coda Sport from EMS. The winner will be drawn at the end of the bike-fit clinic.

If you want to register you can do so here. You can also register at the training ride.

The ride is free and open to the public but parking at EMS is limited. Riders instead should park in the garage across the street on the third level (follow the signs to Drummond Woodsum Client and Guest Parking).

You're invited to Bicycle Coalition's Portland open house

Shannon Bryan — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:39:50 GMT

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine moved into its new office in Portland on the same weekend as that first February storm - you know, the one now known as the Blizzard of 2013.

So cut the non-profit a little slack for waiting for nicer weather before propping open the doors for an open house. The BCM folks are now ready to welcome members and others interested in cycling to their digs at 34 Preble St. for an open house on Wednesday, March 20 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Expect the office warming to also include the drawing of the 2013 Super Raffle, light refreshments and libations from the friendly folks at nearby Shipyard.

If you haven't yet bought a ticket for the Super Raffle, you can do so here. Prizes include a bicycle trip to Europe, a Trek road bike, a Specialized Body Geometry fitting, a Thule rack and a CycleOps trainer.

USM's free 6-week bike mechanics workshops start Wednesday

Shannon Bryan — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:55:16 GMT

Maybe you ride a bike because you enjoy it. Maybe you ride a bike because it's your way of being good to your environment.

Whatever the reason, if you ride a bike you need to know at least a little bit about that frame and those two wheels. So how does a free six-week bicycle mechanics workshop work for you?

The University of Southern Maine is offering the program beginning Wednesday, March 13 as part of the school's push toward sustainability. Join the USM Cycle Club from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sullivan Gym spin room (Portland campus).

Come once, or come to all six of the workshops. Here's what you'll learn:

March 13: Intros and common tools for repair and maintenance.
March 20: What you need to know about tires, tubes and wheels.
April 3: The basics of brakes.
April 10: Shifting, derailleurs and adjustments for both.
April 17: Lube points and front hub overhaul.
April 24: Bottom bracket and wheel truing.

Bring your bike, a friend and your tools. Or, if you have none of the above, just show up and use the demo bikes and tools provided by the club. And consider giving a donation to the program so these events can continue on.

Need more info? Get in touch with Tyler Kidder at tkidder@usm.maine.edu.

Get tix soon for Maine debut of Dempsey-produced 'Peloton Project'

Shannon Bryan — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:31:35 GMT

The Lewiston Auburn Film Festival (April 4-7) may seem like a long ways off, but cyclists - and cancer survivors - need to put the event in their Google calendars now.

The major event of the festival is the world premiere of "The Peloton Project" on Friday, April 5. The 7 p.m. screening at Lyceum Gallery (49 Lisbon St., Lewiston) features pre-event ceremonies and a post-film reception and is highly likely to sell out.

Get $35 tickets to the screening here.

The big draw, besides it just being a great film combining cycling with the fight against cancer, is that Maine's most famous actor/doctor, Patrick Dempsey, is the executive producer. Ramsey Tripp, owner of Trademark R Productions in Lewiston, is the director. He lost his mother to cancer and he's doing what he can to fight the disease.

Here's a clip from the movie:

Tripp's documentary follows 40 cyclists in the 2012 Cancervive Peleton Project, which rolled from Alberta, Canada to Lewiston last October. Riders pedaled relay-team-style, 24 hours a day, for 10 days as they covered the more than 2,500 miles.

Along with the cyclists' journey along North American roadways, film-goers will also learn the stories of cancer survivors, those who are caregivers and one person who has just been diagnosed.

The film is informative and inspiring, and it's bound to make you want to get out and ride.

Read more about the Cancervive program here.

It's time for Red Riders to sign up for Tour de Cure

Shannon Bryan — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:53:49 GMT

March has arrived and that means time is running out for Red Riders to register and be guaranteed a jersey for the Kennebunks Tour de Cure.

The event that begins and ends at Wells Reserve at Laudholm takes place June 9. Red Riders are the reason for the Tour. They are people with diabetes who raise money for the American Diabetes Association and ride for their cause.

If you hope to be a Red Rider, register by March 20 and then raise at least $200. Those who raise $1,000 by May 1 will also earn a pair of Red Rider cycling shorts.

Tour de Cure participants can choose from a 5K, 25K, 50K, 100K metric century or 100-mile century ride.

Photos: Portland's Quest Cycle ready to welcome riders

Shannon Bryan — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:28:56 GMT

The new Quest Cycle opened its doors for an open house event Thursday at 132 Marginal Way.

Visitors had a chance to see the LifeCycle bikes that will be used for classes and view the huge HD screen that will display virtual rides.

General Manager Richard Evans took time out to demonstrate one of the bikes while others enjoyed food and drinks in the cycling room.

For riders that need it, there's plenty of inspiration to be found on the walls of the facility.

Today through Thursday, riders can sign up for free demo classes by setting up an account at qfcycle.com.

Quest Cycle in Portland: Open house tonight, opening day Friday

Shannon Bryan — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:04:34 GMT

Despite all the snow and slush, the outdoor cycling season will be upon us before you know it. And now there's a new place in Portland to get yourself ready to hit the pavement or trails.

Quest Cycle, at 132 Marginal Way, will hold an open house tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and opens its doors Friday for classes on 25 brand new bikes.

"Starting Friday through next Thursday we're running free rides every day," says Richard Evans, managing partner of Quest Fitness, which also has an indoor cycling studio in Kennebunk.

The freebies will be run on a shortened schedule - one class each day - and riders need only set up an account on the QFCycle.com website and sign up for a class.

Riders will find that classes are a little different at Quest than at other spinning and indoor cycling venues. Think hi-def virtual rides and light shows that lean toward a dance club atmosphere.

"Music is a main thing for us but we use some really creative lighting that integrates with the music so it kind of creates a really kind of dancy atmosphere," Evans says. Add to that virtual riding on a large screen with classes that are entire projection image riding. "For example, you can ride the Sedona National Park roads, we have wine country, or through the Cascades. There's hi-definition video rolling out in front of you as you're riding."

After the start-up week, Quest will offer indoor cycling classes seven days a week with no membership required. Single classes are $15 or riders can select a five-pack, 20-pack or 30-pack of rides.

"They can schedule online and when they come in and take a class takes it comes off their account," Evans says. Quest also offers a mobile app for purchasing and scheduling transactions.

Quest will also offer corporate group classes with five-day advance bookings. According to Evans, Idexx Labs, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have already signed up.

"Exercise, at the end of the day, you get out what you put in, and it can be hard," Evans says. "If we can motivate people and distract them to some extent, the results going to better."

Welcome to Portland: Bicycle Coalition move to Preble Street

Shannon Bryan — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:16:41 GMT

While most Mainers were hunkered down indoors during last Friday's Blizzard of 2013, employees of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine were making their move: To Portland.

The Coalition - which recently announced the route for its other big endeavor for this year, BikeMaine - had spent its life until Feb. 8 in Augusta but now calls 34 Preble St. home.

According to Executive Director Nancy Grant, the foot traffic has already been encouraging as passersby stop in to chat or learn about the organization.

"There's huge visibility here, which is completely new," Grant said.

BCM's former space in Augusta required 24 steps to get to, which made it difficult for folks to just stop in and for employees to bike in. Most of BCM's employees live in the Portland area and Communications Director Brian Allenby has already taken to cycling to work.

The hope is to get a bike rack positioned outside in front of the space for visitors and employees to use.

According to Allenby, the new space, which was vacant for a couple years, will allow for BCM to host more bike/pedestrian organizations and events. There's even enough room for workshops, bike mechanics classes or safety classes to be held at the Preble Street location.

Allenby said that the move to Portland should actually help BCM serve more of the state. When based in Augusta, many of the employees spent too much time each day commuting to and from work. Now that their commutes are shorter, they will be more willing and able to spend time traveling to other communities during the work day.

Though the BCM staff hasn't had much time yet to decorate, BikeMaine Ride Director Kim True already has a map of the 2013 route in her office.

And in addition to the friendly BCM employees there are a few little bike-themed curios to see.

Stop in and check them out and also watch this blog for information on a BCM open house coming up soon.

Portland could be getting Bikeshare program

Shannon Bryan — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:07:44 GMT

Good news for Portlanders who think bikes are the best way to get around.

Last week the city was selected as one of just five communities in the country that will receive technical assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency to explore the pros and cons of a Bikeshare program in Portland.

Portland was selected from a list of 121 applicants and joins Bridgeport, Conn., Fort Collins, Colo., Denver and New Orleans as 2013 picks.

If you're not familiar with Bikeshare, it's exactly what it sounds like: a program that makes cycles available for shared use. The bikes are either free or very affordable for short-distance trips and they help decrease the number of motorized vehicles on city streets.

EPA staff and national experts will plan to visit Portland for a one- or two-day workshop to determine how a Bikeshare program would work locally.

The end result could be a bike just when you need it.

Bicycle Coalition announces route for 1st BikeMaine ride

Shannon Bryan — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:13:53 GMT

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine this afternoon announced the route for the debut BikeMaine event during a press conference in Bangor. Riders, whether from here or away, won't be disappointed in the 400 miles they'll pedal from Sept. 7-14 along a route that includes Orono, Dover-Foxcroft, Belfast, Castine, Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.

"We had to start somewhere," said Mark Ishkanian, chair of the BikeMaine Ride Committee. "We wanted to build a route that would build momentum quickly for the ride and make people say, "Wow, I really want to ride that route."

Registration for the 2013 event is limited to 350 riders, with half the spots reserved for cyclists from out of state. The cost is $875 per rider and includes 18 meals, beverages, snacks, baggage transport, mechanical and medical support, daily entertainment and a nightly camping site.

"Everyone at BikeMaine is beyond thrilled that two years of planning and countless volunteer hours have led us to the point where we can share the details, reality and scope of BikeMaine with the rest of the state," said Kim True, BikeMaine ride director.

BCM members can begin registering (www.bikemaine.org) at 7 a.m. Feb. 12. Registration for the general public begins at 7 a.m. Feb. 13. The ride is expected to sell out.

"I think the real strong motivation behind BikeMaine is to take people to places they've never been, whether we're talking about residents of Maine or out-of-staters," Ishkanian said. "We fully expect to truly go off the beaten tourist path each year for at least some of the days."

Riders will start and finish in Orono. The 70 miles of pedaling for Day 1 will bring the group to Dover-Foxcroft. Day 3 offers the longest mileage as it winds from Belfast out around Blue Hill and into Castine at 73 miles. Riders will have a rest day (Day 5) in Bar Harbor.

"Over the years, BikeMaine will explore every corner of Maine and involve many Maine towns as host communities to welcome riders," the Maine Office of Tourism's Phil Savignano said in a press release. "This is a real winner for Maine."

The debut route has a cumulative elevation of 24,000 feet and is not a ride for beginners.

Ishkanian describes it as challenging, but the route shouldn't be overwhelming for riders who have trained well through the summer. He emphasized that this event is for experienced riders who are comfortable changing their own tire on the side of the road and who can get back on the bike day after day.

"There will be hills," he said, "not like the hills you experience in the Rockies, but enough of them that you know you rode them at the end of the day."

BikeMaine is modeled after CycleOregon, now in its 25th year. That event annually sells out its 2,200 spots. BikeMaine hopes to also grow its numbers into the thousands and to eventually give back 60 percent of its proceeds to its host communities.

Ride inside for Cancer Community Center

Shannon Bryan — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:44:33 GMT

If you haven't taken part in an indoor cycling program this winter - either on a Spin bike somewhere or by hauling your own wheels to a location frequented by other cycling enthusiasts who have settled for pedalling to nowhere - you're probably itching to get in the saddle and ride.

How about doing that AND raising money for a great cause?

Cycle4Care is back for the third year Friday at the University of New England's Finley Recreation Center in Portland and riders are asked to enjoy some exercise while supporting the Cancer Community Center.

Come on your own or get a group together for an hour or more of riding with experienced instructors. There will be music, snacks, water and prizes throughout the night (the event runs from 4 p.m. to midnight). There are fees for one hour ($5 student, $20 adult) or two hours ($40 adult) and riders can also choose to raise extra pledges for the cause. The $20 Endurance Challenge, for example, offers three hours and the commitment to raise at least $250. The $40 Ultimate Challenge runs for four hours and riders must commit to raising at least $500.

Here's a video about past Cycle4Care events.

Cycling & Lance: A sad, sad story (watch the video)

Shannon Bryan — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:41:56 GMT

Part one of the interview the world has been talking about for a week aired last night: Oprah firing off the questions and Lance Armstrong responding with all those yeses.

If you've followed the story at all (and who hasn't) there wasn't much Armstrong had to say that was surprising - except maybe his claim that he last doped in 2005 and that he was clean for his third-place finish at the Tour de France in his comeback year of 2009.

And since everyone from those who idolized Lance - those who wanted to be him - to those who just love the sport had already come to terms with the fact that cycling's most-decorated hero was a cheat, there was little in the interview to be disappointed about.

The feeling that washed over me while watching Oprah and Lance in bits and pieces was sadness. Sadness because Armstrong wasted so many years living a lie that has destroyed too many careers and reputations to count (just how many people did Armstrong sue or threaten to sue for their "lies" against him?). Sadness that such a beloved sport could be so broken that Armstrong said he was never afraid of being caught. Sadness that when he was caught, he didn't have it in him to step up, admit his guilt, and give himself a chance to remain a hero.

If you haven't yet seen the interview, here's a 15-minute excerpt of part one: