Lobster Ride and Roll

[Cyclesome]

I am thinking of completing the Lobster Ride and Roll next year in Rockland, Maine This ride is about 12 hours from where I live in Pa. Has any one done this ride? Is it a worthwhile well organized ride? Will I ride by the Altantic Ocean, light houses, bays etc. If you completed the ride, where did you stay? What else did you do? Any input would be appreciated.

[Veronica]

I've never done the ride, but want to. We usually go to Maine in early July for a family reunion and just can't bring ourselves to stay long enough for this.

V.

[Surlygirl]

Hi Veronica,
I haven't done the ride though we've thought about it several times. We had a place on Vinalhaven off the coast so we get the ferry in Rockland and all I know is book a place early if you plan to stay in Rockland or nearby. The place is usually hopping for this event. I've stayed at the Navigator in town and one of the other motels and sorry to say, not impressed. I think I'd look for a B & B. There are some nice places just North of town toward Camden.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I am thinking of completing the Lobster Ride and Roll next year in Rockland, Maine This ride is about 12 hours from where I live in Pa. Has any one done this ride? Is it a worthwhile well organized ride? Will I ride by the Altantic Ocean, light houses, bays etc. If you completed the ride, where did you stay? What else did you do? Any input would be appreciated.

I haven't done the ride, but I have ridden in that area. And yes, it is beautiful. I stayed in at Abigail's Inn in Camden, a very nice B&B - with garage / barn space for your bikes. I rode from Camden south through Rockport and Rockland and down a penninsula jutting out south of Rockland. I don't know how my ride compares to the Lobster Ride and Roll, but you can find a description of my day on this page of my journal. More info and photos in the (overall) journal A coastline beckons.

There are quite a few B&Bs in the area, hotels too if that's your preference.

--- Denise

[Cyclesome]

Great picture perfect postcard quality pictures and informative journal, Denise. Surlygirl, thanks for tip as well. Both are helpful.

[oldbikah]

Have you looked at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine website re: this ride? www.bikemaine.org
By rep, there are a variety of super routes.
I was going to do it this year, but got sidetracked with other things...definately next year.
This year I did the Trek Across Maine in June, the lung assoc fundraiser which ends up in Rockland.

[traveller_62]

Hi Cyclesome, I didn't ride this year but I did last year (the century route). It's a great ride with lots of supportive, energetic volunteers and very excellent lobster rolls at the end of the day. They usually have a big screen TV set up in the gym so that you can watch whatever Tour De France stage is on that day. The ride is growing in popularity. I think they had over 600 riders this year.

Jeff Miller (the Director of the Bike Coalition of Maine) runs the event. He is just one of the most positive people you'll ever meet and he is one heck of a cyclist.

- traveller

[Over50Newbie]

Traveller,

I tried to find a "course route" that would show the elevations for the century ride. I know that Maine is quite hilly. Can you give me some info on how hilly the century route is?

Thanks,

Lynette

[traveller_62]

Hi Lynette,

I'm not sure anyone has put together an elevation map for the Lobster ride courses. I'll check and post back here what I find...

- Carol

[aquarat54]

I just completed the Lobster Ride and Roll... Awesome ride! I completed the 100 mile ride... great scenery (even in the pouring rain)... Friendly people! Great food! (except last sag) but that stop was at a Maine Lighthouse.... so that made up for eating peanut butter on a fig bar! The Lobster Roll at the end was the best! Light traffic, fun hills, both up and down and again, beautiful scenery!

[water_bugg]

I did the lobster ride last year. What everyone says is true - well supported, energetic people, good food at the end :-) I did the century and the roads on the last 1/2 really needed to be repaved, but no complaints other than that.
Here's a link to the route and elevation. If you're doing the 50 it's just the last 50 miles of the century:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...d/422868514590