Farmington, Maine (Booneyville, USA)?

Triathlon Forum
1

There’s a decent chance I might be taking a new job up there come this winter.

I’m from the good ol’ New England area already so I’m familiar with the winter temps… anyone have info on the area?
I found that UMaine at Farmington has a pool with some decent access, anyone have info on biking roads, run races, ect?

It seems like the kind of place to do minimal biking through the winter with lots of cross country skiing then jump back on full force come March…

Anyone?

Thanks in advance,

Slayer S. SlayerHatebreed III

2

Farmington is actually a pretty cool town. A bit isolated, but the town has everything.

The collge gives it a bit of a “younger” feel.

Great skiing at Rumford, Sugarloaf, Rangeley, and the local town mtn…Titcomb maybe?
Once out of town, the riding is probably pretty good, the folks in Maine, even the rednecks, seem pretty friendly. There is a few nice shops around, and those guys travel to lots of races in state.

For Tri’s, check www.tri-maine.com

There is also an 18 race TT series all within a 60-180min drive from there.

Drop me a line if you decide to move up, I stop often at the coffee shop in route to the ski races at the Loaf or Rangeley.

Kurt

3

Thanks man, I appreciate it… I’m a bit spoiled in CT riding-wise so I’m glad to hear it’s bike friendly, that was my #1 concern.

Titcomb it is… guess how I remembered that name! I’ve always wanted to take up X-C skiing and it looks like I won’t have any more excuses now. I was checking out real estate and couldn’t believe what I saw… I can afford a palace up there.

The isolation thing actually sounds kinda cool, you can always hoof it wherever something is going on. I’m looking forward to checking out a new area.

Thanks for the heads up. Probably about a 75% chance I’ll be offered and will accept.

I’ll keep you posted!

4

great hills for riding and running and not much traffic off the main roads, the pool is OK and not crowded. Forget biking in the winter but Xcountry skiing is great. Downside is dogs that chase you, my sister lives outside town and gets chased way too much.

5

jump back on full force come March…
Did you mean May? :slight_smile:

6

yea, that is the downside to rural Maine. I live in Brunswick, and have yet to be chased by a dog.

Yet over the last 3 days I have ridden in/around my house in VT and got chased no less than 4 times…most times on 8-10% uphills…ouch.

7

HI!!!
I grew up in Skowhegan, which is ~40 minutes from Farmington. A lot of my spring cycling was from my house to Farmington and back.

Yes, UMF has a 25yd pool - it’s been awhile since I’ve swum there but I remember it being okay.

There are road races and tris all over the state spring-fall, you may have to travel a bit.

Very much a college town though. And there’s a movie theater that used to be a train station.

let me know if you move there, I’m pretty close. We could swim or run (fine I guess we could cycle too) together sometime!

8

Thanks for all the responses, much appreciated!

I’m used to dressing up for late winter/early spring rides so I think I can tough it out come March-ish. I just hit the hills to keep warm.

Dogs, eh? I’ll just use the little rodents as a built in interval workout, if you don’t hit the send off, you get bit!! : ) (pepper spray is an option I guess)

Hi TC, funny you mention Skowhegan, one of our nursing facilities is located there and the guy who is covering in Farmington is going back to Skowhegan when I (or someone else) takes the job of overseeing the joint.
I’m okay with travel, I figure I’d make it a half iron year with Boston marathon, then mooseman, July half, timberman, ect, with other races thrown in.

I’ll let you all know… I figure it’ll be settled by late October for a December sendoff if it happens.

Thanks again!

9

Have you ever had Giffords ice cream? Their factory is in Skowhegan and there are ice cream stands in Skowhegan, Farmington, and Waterville (and the Skowhegan and Waterville ones have MINI GOLF!). So really good ice cream is another happy thing about Farmington!!!

I want to do Mooseman and Timberman next year too.

10

No, I haven’t had Giffords ice cream but I am a sucker for fresh ice cream!

Mini golf too? I saw that there is a brewhouse there too so this place is sounding better and better!!

The company is sending me up for a long weekend to check out the town some time soon… this area sounds like my type of living.

I’m going to make sure to sign up for Timberman on Oct 1st when it opens to make sure I don’t get shut out.

This area is sounding great, I’m really looking forward to going up soon… esp this beautiful time of year.

11

Tough it out come March? You must be pretty damn tough. Last big snow will be April but there are a lot of above freezing days in March.

12

I have run a fair amount around Naples Maine and the dogs are awful. Good luck.

13

One of my best friends lives in Farmington. He is a professional (Dr) and lives like a king. Yeah, housing is affordable, especially if you make a decent living.

One of my personal favorite rides starts in Stratton, just north of Sugarloaf, and goes to the Quebec border. Its been totally rebuilt in the last few years, so surface is awesome the whole way. Some flats to start, then some steep rollers. Scenery is awesome, lakes, mtns. Little traffic, especially on weekend mornings. Not many people are familiar with this awesome ride because its so far north and riding that road used to be more dangerous than being an american in Iraq (re: crazy canadian truckers). 50-60 mile out and back ride. If you want an epic 180K out and back ride you can continue into Quebec and ascend Mt. Megantic at around km 85. Once you enter Quebec there is several 1-2 km climbs (steep). Megantic is a 5K climb with sections of 18%. Each year Megantic is a mtn top stage finish during the Tour de Beauce.

14

Dude,

No. That soooo not ok. You are the best thing in the CT tri scene. BOOO. I will send you Viking Metal Bands from Norway so you can get really crazy in the wintertime.