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