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Hey Guys and Gals we need your help! My finance and I would like to "bike Vermont" in October. Have any of you used any of the travel/bike groups that offer packages in Vermont? Any recommendations for areas to see or specific trips to take?
Thanks for your help!
A couple of years ago a friend and I spent a week with Bike Vermont on their Inn-to-Inn trip. It was great fun, although it rained alot.
I have a group of friends heading there next week on a self-supported trip. I'll try to find out their itinerary and when they get back get a report for you.
We're headed to Vermont next week to do an in law supported trip. :D
We're cycling the six gaps. We come up with routes for four days using a tour guide itinerary and a website that tells you how to do the gaps in one day.
http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html
I have no desire to work hard enough to do them all in one day. I want to get up late, enjoy breakfast and sight see. But it was nice to have the routes all laid out.
Veronica
We did the Trek Travel long weekend trip to Vermont in October 2004. Basically, we did it to check out the quality of the company in a place we could drive to and bring our own bikes, before we booked a trip to Europe. The trip was the weekend after Columbus Day.
Trek Travel is awesome. Great food, experienced leaders who know how to work with people. Keep in mind that it will be cold in October and if you book during the first 2 weeks, lots of leaf peepers. Scenery is awesome. It was 30-45 in the mornings when we started. Unless you are riding around Lake Champlain, expect steep climbs. Our tour did the climb up Mt. Mansfield, which very few in the group actually did; I was not as experienced then and opted out, although I am sure I could have done it. Most of the people on our trip were triathletes and were astounded by the climbs! And, they made fun of us for having winter gear... well, I didn't see anything funny about riding in shorts and no-wool socks in a drizzle when it's 40-55 out.
The next weekend, it snowed in Stowe... so go early in the month! We did choose to go with Trek for our trip to the Czech Republic; they are pricey, but I think worth it. I like luxury after working hard. VBT (Vermont Bicycle Tours) is another good company; I know one of the leaders and she is very down to earth. They are a bit more moderately priced.
I've done a number of trips with BikeVermont & have been very pleased - the B & B's were lovely, good food, great riding & the trip leaders were always very accomodating as to cyclists mileage requests - there was always a daily route planned but people who only wanted to ride a short way could be picked up in a van - I like long miles & they were always willing to plot out a different course - it was also nice knowing that someone knew where I was & would come looking for me if I hadn't returned by a certain time - the trips are a bit more civilized than what I really like but at this stage I'm no longer comfortable doing a self-supported tour alone so this type of touring seems to work
Hey there - Bike Vermont is certainly the best known company here. ( I live in Ludlow VT) The route 100 to 131 scenic route is very pretty with the lakes and black river - if you get the chance to ride there it is worth it. So is Quechee/Woodstock. The Gaps are beautiful, but brutal, and some of the passes around Rochester are breathtaking (like Bethel Mountain Road over the top, about 10 miles). Bring layers if you are coming in Oct. We can have indian summer one day and a frost & bitter cold the next!:)
Aww, now, the locals get a giggle outta those in shorts!:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
Whatever you do, try to make it to the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, near Stowe. Happiest place on earth. :cool:
PS - I like your jersey, firestar :)
Thanks, jobob - I had to have it when I saw it! Yep - B&J in Waterbury is sensational!! My uncle used to run the Springfield, VT B&J plant - I grew up with PINTS in the freezer... chunky monkey, anyone? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by jobob
So many riders out up here this weekend! Great to see!
Our tour started at the Ben and Jerry's plant! The tour was nothing astonishing in my book, but, hey, that's just me.
Firestar, we were the only New Englanders on the tour... so while not locals, definitely closer than the others. I remember having to muzzle my mouth while some of these people were espousing their political and religious ideas :eek:.
I actually like Vermont better in the winter!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
I live in a resort town (ski resort) - so believe me, I hear you. Many of the skiiers are the same way.
I came up on a small group today when i was out for my ride. They were at my usual pit stop at a local gas/market that puts out picnic tables for the cyclists. It's clean green and shady - so nice! But this group was not very friendly. they were across the road at the ice cream place, I gave a brief wave as I came up to the intersection, they just stared at me -?- did not say hi or anything - so I stayed over on my side of the road. It's odd - i;ve not encountered that before. :confused:
I think I am the only person on the planet who does not like Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Too much stuff in it. The best ice cream comes from those dairies that make it on site, and Vermont has alot of those dairies. Just vanilla or chocolate, or occasionally chocolate chip. Or if you want a really good treat, just get the chocolate milk from the dairy. City slickers will actually believe you for a second when you tell them that it comes from brown cows. Just for a second, though. :)
There's a great dairy ice cream place near Lake Champlain right after you cross over from New York. Of course, I can't remember the name! I guess you'll have to try them all to see which one is the best. :)
Is it Idolnot Dairy?Quote:
Originally Posted by tulip
I only have 3 flavors I like, personally :o
I have no idea what the name of the dairy is, but i can picture it. I only like three flavors, too, and B&J doesn't make any of them (vanilla, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip).Quote:
Originally Posted by firestar
We biked Middlebury and Brandon Gaps today. Great fun. Brandon seemed easier than Middlebury. The top of Brandon is a KOM for the Green Mountain stage race. It's marked on the road. Thom got a picture of me doing a headstand in front of it. They'll be up eventually.
Vermont is very beautiful!
Veronica
Hey, good job with that climb! My son won the KOM there for the juniors a few years ago...
Hey - I'll be working at the GM Stage Race this September... is anyone planning to come up??:)
When's the big day, anyway, Makbike?
The big day is just days away. We are getting married on Saturday (August 8). A small and simple ceremony. We will be surrounded by family and a few close friends. My parents have been kind enough to offer their back yard so we will hold the ceremony in their backyard with the Cumberland River in the background. Lots to do in the next two days, both of us a little stressed but very excited about the new chapter in our lives we will write together. Love is grand!