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