Loop & Lunch Rides

June 10 2017 Loop and Lunch RideSince the summer of 2013, Russ Lamer has led "loop and lunch rides" on the Eastern Trail.  Each has offered a loop ride on either (or both!) the off-road or on-road sections of the trail, as well as a refreshing restaurant lunch along the route.

Read about previous rides further below on this page.

Schedule for Eastern Trail Loop & Lunch Rides 2018:

Bob LaNigra will be coordinating the Loop & Lunch rides in 2018 for Russ, Here is a message from Bob about the 2018 rides:

Hello all Loop and Lunch Bike Riders,

I hope you will join us this year for some fun rides on the Eastern Trail. The rides begin at 9:30 a.m. sharp. Check-in is at 9 a.m. Routes vary from 30 to 45 miles. Ride routes are designed to ride, stop for lunch at a local restaurant, and ride back to the start line.

Remaining 2018 rides include:

• Saturday Oct. 20 - Wear your wildest color or tweed! 9 am - 2 pm. Starting location is in Saco on Clark Street next to Thornton Academy where the Eastern Trail access is located. The route is riding the ET from Saco, across the Scarborough Marsh to Black Point Road. From there we ride a loop: Black Point Road then left on Highland Avenue, right on Pleasant Hill Road, Right on Fogg Road, and right back on to Black Point Road and take the ET back across the Marsh. We turn left Pine Point Road/route 9 to Pine Point then to Camp Ellis up Beach Street to Cia Cafe for lunch. After lunch it is a very short ride to Clark Street and our cars. Ride is approximately 35 miles. This is also wear your tweeds, or favorite sweater, or most colorful sweater to celebrate Fall. Requirements: 1) Wear a helmet, 2) Be able to average a speed of 13 to 15 mph, 3) Make sure you bring sunscreen, money for lunch and a bottle of water or two. Rides are capped at 25 to 30 riders. If you are interested in riding this final ride of the season please contact Bob LaNigra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible. There is no rain date, so if the weather is wet, the ride is canceled.

June 2014 Loop & Lunch BunchRequirements:

• Safety is a high priority: riders will sign a waiver at check-in, and provide emergency contact info; a ride sweep will accompany all rides
• Wear a helmet
• Be able to average a speed of 13 to 15 mph
• Make sure you bring sunscreen, money for lunch and a bottle of water or two.

Examples of Some Past Loop & Lunch Rides

June 7, 2014 - 20 riders turned out for the first Loop & Lunch ride of 2014.  The weather was perfect with plenty of sunshine and just the right amount of summer breeze. Riders started on the Eastern Trail at Black Point and Eastern Roads in Scarborough  then rode along the scenic coast through Old Orchard Beach to Camp Ellis then up Route 9 into Saco.

Lunch was at Run of the Mill Restaurant in Saco, and what an outstanding job the restaurant did waiting on the Loop & Lunch Bunch.  Laura our waitress deserves one big medal for doing a superb job on taking orders and delivering everyone's food all at the same time.  The service and food were an A+!

On the return trip, everyone worked up enough of an appetite for a stop at Bayley's Ice Cream on Pine Point Road in Scarborough before crossing the marsh back to the parking lot.

August 29, 2015 - The most recent Loop & Lunch Bunch ride was another perfect day, and a fun 38 mile ride for the ET Loop & Lunch Bunch. Fourteen riders started at the Eastern Trail at the Biddeford Medical Center, and took the off-road trail to Kennebunk. From there we took the on-road ET to Wells.

Lunch was at The Seed & Bean Restaurant.
Great rides, great people, great food!  Look for details to come on the next ET Loop & Lunch Bunch Ride.
Photos provided by group ride photographer Bob Bernoth.