Our sixth annual Maine Lighthouse Ride in 2009 was the best ride ever. Hosted by Southern Maine Community College, over 300 riders biked one of four popular loops along the coast of Maine.  ETA volunteers staffed four rest stops and cooked award-winning clam chowder and chili.  Happy riders told us they'd be back next year to do it again.

This ride has become established as a major cycling event in Southern Maine, and thus we will build it up even more in 2010!

The Maine Lighthouse Ride benefits the Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a 60-mile greenway from Kittery to South Portland, Maine.

Included in the ride
-Views of the spectacular Maine coastline and up to 9 lighthouses!
-Fully supported rides and rest stops
-Hot showers
-Food and conversation

What's available:
-Chance to tour a lighthouse
-Colorful, collectible lighthouse T-shirt

All rides begin and end at the beautiful oceanfront campus of Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) in South Portland. Rides are self-guided, with maps and cue sheets provided.

The 25-mile Ride (9:00 AM) begins by following the 6-mile paved, off-road South Portland Greenbelt to Wainwright Farms Recreational Fields, The riders then head to the ocean, traveling along Maine's beautiful shoreline through Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, back to SMCC. (Seven lighthouses are visible on this trip; one rest stop.) Rolling terrain.

The 40-mile 8 Lighthouse Ride (8:30 AM) includes the South Portland Greenbelt as well as a spur to the 3-mile section of the Eastern Trail across the beautiful Scarborough Marsh, the largest salt marsh in Maine. For those of you who haven’t seen the trail yet, it is not to be missed! From there, the ride continues along the spectacular coastline of Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, and South Portland, passing by three state parks, five gorgeous beaches, and two museums. Eight historic lighthouses are visible from the route. The 40-mile ride usually takes take 4 to 5 hours, with two rest stops provided. There is so much to see on this ride, you may want to take all day to finish it! Flat to rolling terain.

The 62-mile Metric Century ride (8:00 AM) Check this spot later for more details. Flat to rolling terain.

The 100-mile 9 Lighthouse Century ride (7:30 AM) includes all of the beautiful scenery of the other rides, as well as a jaunt through Old Orchard Beach and Saco to the quaint village of Kennebunkport, the summer home of George H.W. Bush. This is truly a spectacular century characterized by flat to rolling terrain, beautiful ocean views, and four rest stops staffed with friendly Eastern Trail volunteers. This ride takes 7 to 10 hours. Note: Rest stops close at 4 pm

CALL SOME FRIENDS AND SIGN UP TODAY!

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