Special Rides

CBBC Special Rides are generously dispersed throughout the season.  Please see the 2024 Ride Calendar for date, location, and route information.   

Ride of Silence – May 15

A free and silent bike ride, no faster than 10-12 MPH, honoring cyclists lost or injured due to motorists, promoting ‘Share The Road.’

How it all got started:  In May 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.  The ride was a solemn event, to remember Larry and all cyclists killed while riding their bikes. It was only supposed to be a one-time event, but as word got out about the ride, many cyclists contacted Chris with the desire to participate in this event.

Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes is not aware of the cyclists themselves. The Ride of Silence has several goals:

• • To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
  • To RAISE AWARENESS that cyclists are road users
  • To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

Over 700 cyclists are killed each year while riding.  Most of them occur in our cities, and suburbs.  With this ride, we hope to educate motorists that cyclists have the legal right to the road and to watch out for us.  This is a slow ride following a relatively flat course suitable for all experience levels of bicyclists. You must have a helmet. Front and rear lights required. Dress warmly! 

• • Start Time:  7 PM, but please be ready to ride at 6:45
  • Start Location:  Yarmouth Hannaford 
  • Mileage:  5.5 miles
  • Route:  RWGPS Route

Note: The regular Wednesday night CBBC ride will begin at 5:45 p.m. so that the group can also participate in the Ride of Silence.

Trek Across Maine – June 14-16

Casco Bay Bicycle Club now has an official “Trek Across Maine” riding team. We are off to a good start, and welcome you to join our team. This ride is the largest fundraiser for the American Lung Association, and takes place on Father’s Day weekend. We will be riding approximately 60 miles a day for three consecutive days. If you are unable to join us this year, please consider sending a donation to one or more of our team members. It’s a lot of fun, with plenty of food stops along the way. FMI about joining the CBBC Trek Team, please contact Jim Hamilton, team captain.

White Mountain Notch Rides

All notch rides start at 9 a.m. on the last Saturday of the month, unless otherwise noted in the ride details below. They’re great for training, or for those who simply love beautiful scenery and a bit of a challenge.  The notch rides are more casual than some of the other CBBC rides. Start locations and routes are subject to change. Please be in touch with the Notch Ride Coordinator listed below if you intend to ride!

Bear Notch – May 25

• • Start Location:  Cranmore Ski Resort, North Conway; look for the dirt parking lot at the end of Cranmore Rd 
  • Mileage:  40 miles
  • Route:  RWGPS Route
  • Lunch: After the ride (location TBD)
  • Ride Coordinator:  Don George

Grafton Notch – June 29

• • 

    Start Time & Location: 9am at the Riverside Rest Area on Rt. 2 in Newry, just past the Sunday River Brew Pub (heading east on Rt 2, the Brew Pub will be on your left, then the rest area will be on your right) 

  • Mileage:  58 miles
  • Route:  RWGPS Route
  • Lunch:  Mills Market on South Main St. in Andover
  • Ride Coordinator:  Don George

Join the CBBC team for Bike MS: Great Maine Getaway.  Cycle to celebrate Maine and support MS. Enjoy the stunning beaches and charming coastal towns along Maine’s iconic coastline on this ride from Biddeford Pool to Kennebunkport with a community of riders dedicated to changing the world for people with MS. Ride past Walker’s Point, through Kennebunkport and on to St. Ann’s Episcopal Church for a unique photo op right by the ocean and lush gardens. Feel the extraordinary support and excitement throughout your journey as we come together to reach our goal—a world free of MS.

This year, Saturday’s route options include 25, 50, 75, and 100 miles, and Sunday’s route options are 25, 50, and 75 miles.  FMI, contact our CBBC Team Leader, Gary Kralik.

This replaces the regular Saturday ride.

Hunter Challenge – TBD

This replaces the regular Saturday ride.

• Start Time:  8 AM
• Start Location: Huston Park, Falmouth Rd (just before the intersection with Winn Rd, behind the West Falmouth Fire Station), Falmouth
• Mileage:  60 miles, with 4,000 vertical feet of climbing
• Route:  RWGPS “Hunter Challenge 2018”
• Food/Drink/Recovery:  Pineland Center

Since this ride replaces the regular Saturday ride, those who would like to do a shorter ride can follow the above route to Pineland Center and head straight back to Huston Park from there, which makes the roundtrip about 33 miles. The RideWithGPS name for this return trip is “Pineland Center to Huston Park in Falmouth” and the link is:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40799618

The Hunter Challenge includes 7 of the toughest hills north of Portland into a single ride.  Here is the inventory  (and these are just the big ones, lots of rollers in there too):

• • Mountain Road in Falmouth
  • Dutton Hill Road in Cumberland into Gray
  • Hunts Hill Road in Gray
  • Long Hill Road in Gray
  • Depot Road in Gray
  • (Stop at Pineland Farms)
  • Penney Road in New Gloucester
  • North Pownal Road in New Gloucester

This ride comes with built-in bragging rights – even if you take the bailout option and return after the stop at Pineland Farms.  Make sure you’re hydrated and are carrying snacks!  FMI contact Steve Capriola.