| If you've never ridden in Vermont it's time you did! | | | | happen to be out for a ride the day after the road has |
| Vermont has some of the nicest roads and trails for | | | | been graded it can be like riding on marbles. It will take |
| biking that you will find. Of course as some say | | | | twice the energy to get to where you are going. Dirt |
| "Vermont ain't flat" and if you bike here you quickly | | | | roads can also be very dusty leaving you in a cloud of |
| see what they mean. There are some flatter roads | | | | dust each time a car passes by. Now that I've made |
| and trails in the Champlain Valley but you will often | | | | dirt roads sound so appealing lets look at some of their |
| have a head wind to deal with in exchange for the | | | | finer points. They really can be great roads to ride. |
| lack of hills. Most of the hills really aren't that bad and | | | | You'll typically find even less traffic on them and they |
| with many bikes having triple chain rings you can gear | | | | can take you to some beautiful locations that you just |
| down enough to make the climbs manageable. As a | | | | won't see by sticking to the pavement. Traveling on |
| reward for conquering a hill you'll see fantastic views | | | | secondary dirt roads just gives you a feeling of a |
| and experience the fun of coasting back down; "what | | | | slower pace and a step back in time. A cross style |
| goes up must come down!" | | | | bike will make these rides more enjoyable since they |
| For road biking there isn't much that beats the | | | | have wider tires than a road bike to absorb the bumps; |
| northeast corner of Vermont. The population is low | | | | yet narrow enough to lower the rolling resistance. |
| and so is the traffic. If you are able to ride during the | | | | Vermont truly is a paradise for mountain biking. There |
| week rather than weekends you may only see a car | | | | are many single track trails through out the state and |
| or two over the course of your ride. Even on the | | | | miles of old forth class roads and jeep trails. In |
| weekends the traffic is pretty low on most of these | | | | Vermont we have a road classification of forth class |
| roads and when I say "low traffic" that is from the | | | | which is an unimproved road. These are not |
| perspective of someone who lives on a dead end dirt | | | | maintained in the winter and are often little more than |
| road. I think the traffic in Montpelier is heavy. If you hail | | | | trails since they have not been maintained for years. |
| from the flat lands (south of Brattleboro) you are | | | | It's not uncommon to find the remains of old villages |
| probably used to a much higher level of traffic. Even | | | | and homestead sites on these old roads. Many of |
| with the light traffic keep in mind that Vermont road | | | | them lead to old settlements which were abandoned |
| laws require that bicycles ride single file. Please | | | | back in the 1920s and have long since collapsed |
| respect this if riding here as it goes a long ways | | | | leaving just the stone cellar holes as evidence of |
| toward keeping good relations with the automobile | | | | habitation. If you don't want to see any traffic this is |
| drivers on our roads. Sharing the road goes both | | | | your best option. These are still state roads so it is |
| ways. | | | | possible that you might encounter a jeep or four wheel |
| Along with the low traffic in the Northeast there are | | | | drive pickup out there but odds are you won't see |
| wonderful views of woodlands, lakes, old farms, and | | | | anyone at all. Vermont has a growing number of |
| small Vermont villages. Many of these villages have | | | | mountain bike groups which are always working on |
| quaint general stores where you can stop for a break | | | | new single track trails. Many of these are only know to |
| and a cold drink while out for your ride. We do have | | | | locals so your best bet is to visit the neighborhood bike |
| our share of pot holes and cracks in the roads so it's a | | | | shop for tips on finding these rides. Much of the single |
| good idea to use a durable tire. I've ridden with narrow | | | | track is less visible than the moose and deer herd |
| racing tires but had problems with pinch flats from | | | | paths so they can be very hard to find if you don't |
| hitting some of these pot holes. Be sure you have a | | | | know where to look. Use common sense when riding |
| patch kit just in case. | | | | these trails, do not skid and stay off the trails when |
| If dirt roads are your thing Vermont is the place for | | | | they are wet or muddy. This causes erosion and |
| you! At times these roads can actually be smoother | | | | animosity toward mountain bikers as a group. Please |
| than the paved roads. The conditions do vary | | | | respect the land. |
| however depending on how much rain we've had and | | | | Vermont has it all. Great low traffic paved roads; miles |
| how long it has been since the road was last graded. | | | | or dirt back roads; and a wide variety of off road |
| Most towns use a grader many times a summer to | | | | options. Make some time to visit this season and see |
| remove washboards from the dirt roads. If you | | | | what Vermont has to offer! |