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