PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The 450 riders in this year’s BikeMaine tour will enjoy early autumn weather when they arrive in Presque Isle Saturday and start their 325-mile journey through Aroostook County Sunday morning.
The sixth annual cycling tour lasts seven days and includes overnight stays in Caribou, Madawaska, Fort Kent and St. Agatha.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, the weather in central Aroostook County on Saturday and Sunday should bring “chilly autumn-like air,” with highs in 60s and overnight lows going below 40.
The beginning of next week is expected to start warmer with a chance of showers, while the long range forecast calls for above-average temperatures through mid-September, according to the NWS.
For Aroostook County, BikeMaine will be the largest event since the 2016 World Cup Biathlon, according to Kim Smith, public information officer for the city of Presque Isle. It’s the first time the BikeMaine ride has been held in northern Maine.
Bikers arrive Saturday and will be camping on the athletic fields across from Presque Isle’s Sargent Family Community Center. The city will be hosting a welcome party and concert that night that will be open to the public. Star City Syndicate is set to perform at 7:30 p.m. on the soccer field at Riverside Park. Folks are encouraged to bring their own seating.
Sunday morning, the riders depart on the first leg of their journey, a 51-mile ride to Caribou by way of Fort Fairfield and the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone.
On Saturday, Sept. 15, the riders complete their trip with a 61 mile ride from St. Agatha back to Presque Isle, where a farewell lunch will be held.
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- The Bicycle Coalition of Maine unveiled the route for BikeMaine 2018 during a kick-off event in Presque Isle over the weekend. “Acadia in the St. John Valley – La Terre Entre Deux” will bring 450 cyclists to Aroostook County for a week in September. (Bicycle Coalition of Maine | BDN)
