Terry Women's Cycling

Just got back from a week's tour of Maine and thought I'd share a little. One word...INCREDIBLE! Go, now, pack your bags and grab your bike and GO!!! Added incentive...lobster is $2.99 a pound.

I lived there a while but haven't been back in 10 years. I've kicked around the idea of doing it by bike and I finally got it together and went. I signed up for an organized ride in Rockland called the Lobster Ride and Roll sponsored by the Bike Coalition of Maine. Had the bike UPS'd to a bike shop there called Bikesenjava and it was all set and ready to roll when I got there. (Back story about how my partner's bike never made it there and we ended up taking it on plane). Mike the owner was great, giving us all kinds of info on the area, road conditions, etc. We did the 30 miler at the Lobster Ride then came back to motel, chilled a bit then rode 10 miles to Camden for dinner (lobster,,duh!), hung out, then back to the motel.

Next day rode down coast on great roads met fantastic people who couldn't do enough for us. Stayed at Newcastle Inn and ate at a restaurant that had the most amazing Lobster risotto ( lobster..duh!).

Rode next day to Bailey Island to hook up with a friend I hadn't seen in 10 years. The views were incredible going from Orr's Island to Bailey Island. Route 24 has a wide shoulder most of the way until you hit Orr's. Its picture perfect Maine with the fishing boats, and buoys bobbing on the water.

Next day headed to Portland by way of Freeport, Falmouth, Yarmouth. Again great roads, no problems at all. Rode out to Portland Head Light. Roades are a little chopped up but again, no problems at all with cars.

I had planned out the trip using a mix of Adventure Cycling maps and Maine cycling websites. But as it turned out, we ended up throwing most of that away and just riding. We did about 50+ miles a day which was just enough to be able to enjoy the scenery, eat and chill. We rode Route 1 alot but it had a very wide shoulder and never once did we feel threatened by traffic. Actually, the drivers go out of their way to pull wide around you, even into the oncoming lane. Never once did we have anyone yell anything, throw anything or try to run us off the road ( hey, I ride in Va), even on secondary roads with no shoulder. We were AMAZED at their courtesy. It was alot more hilly than I remember, but more rolling than steep.

So anyway just though I'd share a few thought about cycling in Maine. I'd go back tomorrow if I could!