Ride Series: Montpelier, VT

MONTPELIER, VERMONT

New England in the HOUSE! Presenting the only East Coast, Biggie Smalls, Lobsters and Maple Syrup edition of the WTF Ride Series. Following the amazing rides that have already happened in Arizona, California, and Oregon, the Vermont Cutie Pie Capital Cruise hopes to bring the same energy of connecting and celebrating the WTF community with loads of maple creemees, beautiful views and even a drive/ride thru barn! RSVP today and find out more information about this ride below. Specialized has sponsored this and all the other ride series, thanks Specialized.

*Note: This route was originally going to be sections of the Gravel Growler from bikepacking.com but, after test-riding that route, the organizers felt this loop-round-the-capital would be much more of an enjoyable experience.

DATES
July 20-23, 2018

START LOCATION
Montpelier, Vermont

ORGANIZERS
Tenzin Namdol and Chloe Wexler

DISTANCE
81 Miles

ELEVATION
Ascend 7,185 ft

ROAD CONDITIONS
Mostly dirt back roads, some pavement and some gravel path/singletrack.

AVERAGE MILEAGE PER DAY
27 miles

DISTANCES BETWEEN FOOD RESUPPLY
This is New England, everything is close together, so daily.

DISTANCES BETWEEN WATER RESUPPLY
Same as above

SUGGESTED WATER CARRYING CAPACITY
2-3 liters. The campsites will have water, so just think about how much you want for the day’s riding.

SUGGESTED TIRE WIDTH SIZE
38mm and above. Nam is riding 650b by 42 and it’s perfection. Chloe is riding 650b by 38.

SUGGESTED GEARING
Low mountain-biking style gears for long climbs and rolling hills.

Each ride is limited to 13 people identifying as women/trans/femme/non-binary who must RSVP prior to the event.

These rides are free of charge and are unsupported. That means each participant is responsible for carrying their own gear, food, water, and appropriate supplies to safely navigate and complete the ride. There is no sag or support vehicle. Have questions on what to bring? Check out the WTF Ride Series Bikexploring Check-List.

Riders are also responsible for their own transportation to and from the ride start in Montpelier, VT. Opportunities for carpooling will be available when the roster is full and introduction emails are sent. Please coordinate with each other for transporting yourself and your bike. The Vermonter Amtrak stops in Montpelier but there’s a limit on how many bicycles are allowed on the train at once.

Once you RSVP we will send you another e-mail confirming your expected participation in this ride and a link to a Google group where we will follow up with more details about the ride!

A relaxed paced, vacation of a ride that still rewards with sweeping views, bucolic roads, and considerate volvo’s with “eat more kale” or “bernie” bumper stickers. With a healthy mixture of paved and dirt roads, there are choose your own adventure options throughout the ride that’ll still keep the group together by the end of the day.

We will all meet in Montpelier (the only US capital without a McDonald’s) and ride 27 miles to Onion River Campground on the first day. The route goes through Donor road which is a nice and very rideable class four section that rewards with amazing views on top of Wheeler Hill. Onion River Campground is hosting a fiddle festival this weekend – so that is an option for folks – either way there will be music playing in the fields. Please bring cash for camping- this is about $8 persxn.

Leaving Onion River there is an option to go into the small town of Plainfield for sundries, coffees, or other frivolities. Then it’s on to a sweet 10 mile section of the cross Vermont trail on an old rail bed. The trail ends in Groton state forest (swimming options!). Then back on the (back) road(s) into Calais – cute houses, lakes and an old mill. We’ll continue uphill a bit of a climb but worth it because there is a drive/ride thru barn at the top! This will be a total of 37 miles and we’ll all reconvene at Woodbury Meadows Campground. Again, please bring cash of $5 for the Woodbury Meadows Campground.

The final day of riding with a total 22 miles has paved or dirt options. The route passes through Maple Corners and Adamant where you can find a small country stores. Then back into the hills for a final day of fantastic views with stops at Morse Farm for maples creemees (the best around) and the North Branch nature center – a multi-use trail – on the way back into town. Ending with beers at Three Penny. Sound Good?