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