Riding Route Recommendations, Vermont Edition (Mount Holly / Okemo / Rutland)

[.RJ]

Since we're working remote at least through the end of the year, my wife and I have booked an air bnb in Vermont for most of September - after another month of marinating in the swamp here in Virginia it'll be a nice change.

The rental is in Mount Holly - so I need some route recommendations. I spent a summer near there a long time, I'm sure I could just head out from the front door in any direction and have an awesome ride - is there anything I shouldnt miss? Is there anything worth driving for to ride? My plan is to bring my CX bike, its got 38mm g-one's on it, so pavement/grazzle/dirt all ok.

[marciero]

I've ridden a fair amount in the region east of 100 from Ludlow to Killington to the NH border. Tons of fabulous (did I just use that word?) dirt roads. Also, just to the south of Holly you have more dirt roads used by Tour de Heiffer and D2R2. Even Route 100 is very nice in a lot of parts, if you get it during low traffic time, though I am more familiar with that road north of where you will be. You may want to check with VT DOT on road construction. They have a website. A bit further north you have the Gap region for paved climbing...

[old fat man]

Don't miss maple creamies on rt 100. The climb up from echo lake is fun and there is some dirt to explore off that road. Go jump off the rocks at buttermilk falls too

[buddybikes]

Terrible mountain (rt 100) Weston to Ludlow will make you in shape for Washington hill climb

[merlinmurph]

Check out the route for the Vermonster gravel ride

[old fat man]

Originally Posted by steveandbarb1

Terrible mountain (rt 100) Weston to Ludlow will make you in shape for Washington hill climb

Hill repeats up okemo and ascutney are very common training for Mt Washington

[kohagen]

Originally Posted by old fat man

Don't miss maple creamies on rt 100. The climb up from echo lake is fun and there is some dirt to explore off that road. Go jump off the rocks at buttermilk falls too

The Green Mountain Sugar House in Ludlow is on Route 100, about a mile and a half north of where 100 splits off from 103. It has what many people think are the best maple creemies in the state.

[kohagen]

Originally Posted by steveandbarb1

Terrible mountain (rt 100) Weston to Ludlow will make you in shape for Washington hill climb

In 2.3 miles from the Route 100/155 intersection, it has an average grade of about 6% with some steeper ramps.

[kohagen]

There's a nice loop that goes right through Mount Holly, if you're looking for a road ride. It goes north on 103 to 155 south, then take a left onto Route 100 over Terrible Mountain into Ludlow, then back up 100/103 to Mount Holly. 155 is very lightly travelled, and 103 has pretty wide shoulders for much of what you'd be riding.

Who knows what the tourist season is going to be like up here this year, but generally Labor Day weekend is pretty busy. Then it drops off until foliage season picks up, which generally peaks around Columbus Day weekend.

[.RJ]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - time to do some route planning

[.RJ]

Next question - gearing - I looked at some routes and I'm glad I did and I think I booked an area in the middle of a lot of climbing, I hope I do not have ragrets.

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/24122847

Currently have a 42/11-36 on my cx/grazzle bike and its fine for my area, but - worth going down on the front, or up on the back, or both? I've got a 38t chainring I can borrow from another bike and also I think an 11-40 cassette that should work with my RD.

My wife doesnt really enjoy loose surfaces, are there enough paved road options available for 15-20 mile rides with her? Or should I just plan on bringing her CX bike, rather than her new road bike (Trek Emonda on 28mm tires, I'm sure would be fine for short segments of smooth dirt).

[marciero]

Gearing is personal but it's safe to say that you will want much lower than 42/36 on that terrain. Even strong riders would typically opt for 1:1 or less. You will never regret bringing too low a gear. If 38/40 is what you have I would go with that.

[.RJ]

Thanks. We dont really have any long climbs here, even the longest ones have flat/downhill bits in the middle and are rarely longer than a few minutes.

[NHAero]

Please let me know if you can't see this route. It's a 101 mile route that I used to do every year on my birthday, starting and ending in Windsor VT, but you could start closer to your rental.

I'm hoping to ride it again this year, for a first time in over ten years.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31955024

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Please let me know if you can't see this route. It's a 101 mile route that I used to do every year on my birthday, starting and ending in Windsor VT, but you could start closer to your rental.

I'm hoping to ride it again this year, for a first time in over ten years.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31955024

Its not public....