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summer in Vermont
Last Post 01/20/2014 10:45 AM by trener1 .. 22 Replies.
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/12/2014 01:04 PM |
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My niece is getting married in Barton, VT in August. Any suggestions for rides? I tend to road, but some brothers prefer mountain. I could rent or branch out and buy another bike. Is cross with 38mm workable instead of mtn? |
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jrt1045
Posts:363
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| 01/12/2014 01:55 PM |
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It's the best week of the year, summer in Vermont that is
Badump bump |
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vtguy
Posts:298
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| 01/12/2014 04:19 PM |
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| What a beautifully part of the state !! Great mountain biking on the Kingdom Trails in East Burke which is about a half hour from Barton. The local shop has (good) rentals -- they do a lot of tourist business -- especially from Canada. Trails range from beginner level to down right gnarly. It's worth the trip. For road cycling, just about any ride in that part of the state is scenic and lightly trafficked. Not sure about road rentals in Barton, but check online. Have fun! |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 01/12/2014 04:27 PM |
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Congratulations to you niece!
In addition to the vast Kingdom Trails network, there are newer/growing networks near Craftsbury, Waterville, and Barre. The latter is good when it's muddy (which it often is up there). Bottom line: Kingdom Trails is just great, and close to Barton - go there. |
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thinline
Posts:323
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| 01/13/2014 12:51 PM |
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I don't mountain bike but the Kingdom Trails get rave reviews. I can confirm vtguy's comment on road routes up there being scenic and lightly trafficed. I can't recall the route numbers but head east out Crystal Lake State Park (right on edge of Barton village) to Lake Willoughby, then north towards the Canadian border towards Derby, southeast through Morgan down to I think it's Route 114, to Island Pond, continue 114 to intersection with Route 5 just north of Lyndonville, take Route 5 north to West Burke, then bear right onto 5A back to Lake Willoughby and at the north end of the lake turn left and it will take you back to the state park where you started. That would be a 100 miler or so and check a map for details.
Option 2, head north out of Barton on Route 5 towards Orleans, left on Route 58 to Irasburg, left on 14 all the way to intersection with Route 15, turn left, pedal through and out the other side of Hardwick and a few miles out of town turn left onto Route 16 and take 16 all the way back to Barton (about 60-65 miles total if memory serves). If you want to make this one longer with a nasty climb, don't turn left at Irasburg, continue on Route 58 towards Lowell and Route 100. Steep mutha of a climb. Turn left on Route 100 in Lowell, continue south for quite a ways until Route 15, then left on 15 and continue as before, through Hardwick etc. A couple miles of "meh" pavement when you turn onto 15 until you get past Morrisville. Not sure the distance on this one but it would be long for sure.
Have fun.
Have fun! |
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thinline
Posts:323
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| 01/13/2014 12:51 PM |
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| Vermont weather, 6 months of winter followed by 6 months of crappy sledding. |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/13/2014 03:04 PM |
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| thanks ! Now I have to decide if I want to rent a mtn bike to ride with siblings, bring my road bike and stay off the trails, or buy another bike. |
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trener1
Posts:4
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| 01/16/2014 12:39 PM |
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I came across this thread as I was looking at the news on the home page, and I registered just so that I could reply.
First off like others have already mentioned, the riding in that area is downright fantastic.
Let me ask you this, how many days will you have to ride while you are up there? is it just one or will have multiple days?.
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/16/2014 06:01 PM |
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trener1:
We're renting a lodge and making a week of it. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 01/16/2014 07:54 PM |
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You might want to incorporate the old Stowe race into you ride. Stowe is about 40 miles SW of Barton. The Stowe loop we used to race was 45 miles and included Smuggler's Notch, 1400' higher than the start in Stowe.
The race goes NW from Stowe up 108, over the Notch, down a killer descent to Jefferson and Cambridge Junction. Turn right/E on 15. Take a right/SE onto a secondary road just before Johnson (6 miles after Cambridge Junction). This road roughly parallels 15. In 7-8 miles turn right/SE one mile before Morristown. This road parallels 100. You will do 3 significant hills then drop onto the finishing flat before Stowe.
I would suggest starting this loop from Morristown (close to 15 and 100) if you are coming from Barton.
I rode the Stowe race twice. Beautiful countryside. Smuggler's Notch is a tough SOB. For the descent the tip was to only brake for the first two turns. Did that both times, but it was hairy! Our pace car, a local cop, had to do 60 to stay with us.
Ben |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/16/2014 08:07 PM |
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Ben,
Thanks, that sounds like fun. The niece lives in Hardwick, not far off the route. |
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trener1
Posts:4
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| 01/16/2014 10:54 PM |
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Hey Smoky,
If you are going to be there for a week and have a few days that you can ride then by all means you should do both.
How many days do you think you will be able to ride?.
Like
others have already said, the Kingdom trails are fantastic and a must
do if you are into MTB at all, the shop in East Burke rents some really
sweet mt bikes, so no need to buy one or take one with you.
I live
near NY City and have been up there more then a half dozen times, and
it's totally worth the drive, my favorite place to ride, you can ride there for 3-4 days 5 hours
each day and not cover all of the trails but you should at least hit it
once and if you like it hit it for a 2nd day.
The road riding up
there is also great, lots of roads and few cars, basically you can just
look at a map and draw a loop and you are pretty much going to get in
some solid riding (I hope you like to climb).
If you get to RT 242 that goes up to Jay Peak that's a pretty sweet climb, though it looks like it's a bit of haul from Barton.
I have a PDF with lots of loops for that area, if your interested I can get it to you.
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 01/17/2014 05:58 AM |
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Thanks trener1. Where near NYC? I live in the Hudson Valley in Orange County. The riding here is pretty good, so I don't usually travel just to bike, but when I do travel, I like to bring the bike and take advantage of the riding opportunities. I appreciate your offer of the .pdf. My email is pastelmj@yahoo.com . (I got ribbed for including my email in a previous post.)
smokey |
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vtguy
Posts:298
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| 01/17/2014 06:47 AM |
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| Ditto on the old Stowe Race loop. It's been years since I raced it and stil remember some guys from Colombia showing up with straight blocks and having to walk part of the Smuggler's Notch climb. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 01/17/2014 07:59 AM |
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| One caveat about the Stowe road race loop. The traffic much heavier more than it was back in the day. And the Rt. 15 part has always been hot and tedious, plus large trucks. |
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