Route Suggestions - Southern Vermont!

[type2sam]

Folks - with the D2R2 now cancelled (fully understand and appreciate why) my riding crew now has a scheduled weekend on the calendar with nothing to do.

We've decided to roll our own Alt-D2 near Stratton Mountain (we're going to camp nearby).

I found this mixed terrain century:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6541652

but hoping for something more in the metric +/- 20 miles range.

Anyone have any routes mapped out in this area or some D2-like segments that we could stitch together? A little single track is probably OK, but prefer the dirt/forest roads and jeep track.

Thanks!!

[AngryScientist]

that route looks great!

mile 73 - 83 looks like a lot of fun :eek:

i'll be watching this thread. i've got some VT adventurneering in store myself.

i'm hoping they lift this out of state 14 day quarantine restriction pronto so i can go up and do some scouting.

[marciero]

that route looks great!

mile 73 - 83 looks like a lot of fun :eek:

i'll be watching this thread. i've got some VT adventurneering in store myself.

i'm hoping they lift this out of state 14 day quarantine restriction pronto so i can go up and do some scouting.

Indeed it is. Kelly Stand Rd. I rode that last year, but in reverse direction. In fact, I camped at the same campground in Jamaica and did the last 25 miles on that route. Pretty sure that road was a PL suggestion from someone's inquiry about a route from New Hampshire across southern VT

[sparky33]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29157526?privacy_code=r55H3PdAlMSDRZUm

This is a loop I’ve been piecing together. I’ve been on most of it but haven’t ridden it altogether. ...It elects to go to the west of Stratton on the lesser known old paper road instead to the east of Stratton.
There is a good deal of dirt, forest road and other backroads.

You could do as one long day or as an overnight camping at Hapgood Pond or elsewhere.

[efixler]

I’ve ridden this old paper road, it’s a good one. In general, I’ve found East of Stratton better than the other side of 7, lots of nice small roads, lots of them dirt.


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[type2sam]

Excellent suggestions all!

[verticaldoug]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12954544

2012 Rapha ride - about 80 miles of dirt. It's a riot.#https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxtYZecM2ss

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/117314

Cookie Run


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/118869

Simon's Route.

[oddsaabs]

Might be more than you're looking for, but the Green Mountain Double has some pretty spectacular roads. Also, summer solstice is right around the corner. That's the traditional day to ride it.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15200098

[XXtwindad]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12954544

2012 Rapha ride - about 80 miles of dirt. It's a riot.#https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxtYZecM2ss

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/117314

Cookie Run


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/118869

Simon's Route.

Just a couple thoughts off the top of my head:

1) Vermont is one of the prettiest states in the Union. This video didn’t do any justice to it.

2) What’s up with all those rim brake “gravel bikes?” Oh, yeah. It’s a video from 2012. :)

[VTCaraco]

I'm just a whisker south of these routes and have ridden much of what is described.

Kelley Stand Road is what I'm most familiar. I looped back on it maybe 15 years ago on a big loop with a buddy. We started in Williamstown, MA, came up to Manchester, east to Londonderry, south to Jamaica, and then I'm not really sure what happened. I know we aspired to come in to the east side of Kelley Stand and come back to my place in North Bennington, but we missed a turn (or two). We ended up some of the steepest climbs I've ever done. My buddy, who didn't hydrate sufficiently, SWORE he saw monkeys in the trees coming up and over Kelley Stand. I got some food and a soda in him as soon as we came out and spent some time getting him cooled down at my place before I had my wife pick him up. Ironically, he was the stronger of the two of us and simply demonstrated the importance of hydration/food/heat-humidity. Still have very fond memories of that adventure.

[Mr. Pink]

As a former Saratoga Springs resident (04-08), I dont get the excitement for Vermont riding. I wanted to like it when I moved there, but, it's pretty hard to do a decent traffic lite loop without a lot of steep dirt, and I'm not a dirt fan. The paved roads generally suck, and, I think, are dangerous, because they are narrow and surfaces are pretty poor after the long hard winters. I drive these roads a lot in winter for skiing, and, sorry, no way I'd like to be on a bicycle on many of them.

So, anyway, my suggestion for a few loops I did find are in the territory south of Burlington and Shelburne down towards Middlebury and beyond. Great quiet roads with a lot of climbing. You can access this stuff from the NY side by ferry at Ticonderoga and Essex, which makes for a pleasant recess in the riding. The area immediately across the lake out of Essex is excellent for riding. I tried a few roads in the ADK over there up to Lake Placid, but that felt like I was taking my life in my hands. Again, poor surfaces beat up by trucks in winter. Stay in the lower elevation farmland next to Champlain.

If you're leaving from Bennington, head directly west into Washington county in NY. Much better road surfaces, very quiet.

Check out Ridewithgps for routes.

[VTCaraco]

If you're leaving from Bennington, head directly west into Washington county in NY. Much better road surfaces, very quiet.

This is the direction I go 70-80% of the time.
The difference in having a shoulder on the road is HUGE.


I don't love dirt, but will pedal through it to get from point to point.

I do, however, find lots of beautiful roads in Bennington County.
Neighboring Washington County in NY and Berkshire County in MA offer lots of nice roads, too.

My sense was that the interest was in dirt roads and an openness or even eagerness for some climbing. As such, the routes suggested would be great and a nice alternative to D2R2.

[benb]

I am originally from VT and love riding in VT... I don't care about dirt, I love it.. but I think compared to MA and NH you're getting pummeled with wind more in VT because there are more farms. I've never felt like drivers were rude or dangerous up in VT.

I would just make sure you're not violating VT department of health guidelines planning a trip in right now.

They are still requiring a 2-week quarantine if you're arriving from out of state.. sounds like a campground is a way to squeak around things but it sounds like some hotels are requiring you to show a VT driver's license.

I've got a hotel booked for July 4th in Colchester and think I'm going to have to cancel unless things change and they loosen restrictions.. lots of family drama about this. Even if they loosen up I may be cancelling just cause of the risk of needing to probably go to restaurants too much.

My parents have a place in VT.. if I could stay there I could probably be close to being within the letter of the rules but I can't.. they've travelled up there a few times and have probably been in violation.

The worst part about the 2 week quarantines is you can't even visit the grocery store when you arrive to get food to stock up for the 2 weeks, you'd need to get it delivered. If you can get settled in it sounds like limited riding would be OK as long as you're not stopping places.

Most of my riding is on the islands, around Burlington, or towards Stowe or Hinesburg & Appalachian Gap.

[verticaldoug]

Just a couple thoughts off the top of my head:

1) Vermont is one of the prettiest states in the Union. This video didn’t do any justice to it.

2) What’s up with all those rim brake “gravel bikes?” Oh, yeah. It’s a video from 2012. :)

I was running 25s.
This was my vid, turn off the sound, the music is very 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P4y3RymJL8


Cookie ride and Simon's Route are all paved.

[sparky33]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12954544

2012 Rapha ride - about 80 miles of dirt. It's a riot.#https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxtYZecM2ss



For Upper Valley riding similar to Rapha Gents route, also check out any of the Dirty Prouty routes or the UVEpic by Chris Milliman routes...search RideWithGPS...