Vermont Lakes Region Cycling Weekend The Rides

Banner photos by P. Brizzi and C. Helfer

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The Vermont Lakes Region

5th Annual

Vermont Lakes Region Cycling Weekend

Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, Sunday August 3, 2008

The Rides

Our great cycling terrain is the main attraction of the weekend. There is a ride for everyone – from rolling to hilly terrain, and from 19 to 65 miles in length. We offer six rides on Saturday, and seven on Sunday. All the routes but one on Sunday start and finish at Green Mountain College. Each ride has an experienced leader as well as detailed map and cues.

The terrain is rolling if you stay in the valleys and becomes hillier if you cross over the hills that separate the valleys. Many of the rides follow rivers and are flatter than a “typical” Vermont ride. But remember, this is Vermont, which means you should come prepared to climb some hills. We rate the area “Vermont flat.”

Photo by C. Helfer

“The rides were nicely done….I appreciated the effort to have the rides connect with history

and local flavor. Beautiful scenery, too.”

A past participant

We have designed the rides as interconnecting loops, allowing you to choose the terrain and distance you want to pedal. On each day you can cycle one of the local favorite routes we offer every year or opt to explore one of the five new rides we have for this year. You can ride in a larger group of cyclists guided by a ride leader, ride with a small group of friends or ride by yourself. So come and enjoy the full weekend or just one day, whichever suits your style.

Photo by E. Duling

“Your ride leaders were supportive, friendly and very informative.”

A past participant

Saturday Rides

On Saturday we offer six rides that match the best the state has to offer. We leave Poultney to explore the valleys through the Taconic Mountains and the Lake Saint Catherine area. Your mileage options for the paved routes on this day will be 24, 28, 39, 52, 60 or 65 miles and offer the choices of visiting the villages of Middletown Springs, Pawlet, West Pawlet, Wells, Danby Four Corners, and Tinmouth. On any weekend day you are likely to find most of the area’s cyclists on some combination of these roads. You can choose the loops that stay mostly in the valleys surrounded by ridges or challenge yourself to some uphill pedaling and cross one of the ridges. The 24 mile route runs south from Poultney to Granville, New York where you can visit the Slate Valley Museum (free pass for ride participants). A new 65 mile route heads south through a cenic valley to Salem, New York before returning back to Poultney through another, equally scenic valley. This route follows a rail trail for a sizeable distance and is much flatter and more gently rolling than our other routes.

Photo by E. Duling

“Thanks for a great weekend of cycling. We all had a great time and look

forward to next year! The 60-mile route on Saturday was outstanding and probably

the nicest ride I’ve done all season!”

A past participant

Sunday Rides

Sunday’s ride schedule offers seven routes which explore the area north of Poultney. Six of the routes leave from Poultney and meander through the Slate Valley to Fair Haven with its picturesque green and grand mansions. Ride mileages are 19, 22, 24, 32, 40, 46, or 54 miles. You will experience rolling to hilly terrain with the longer rides becoming progressively hillier. The 19, 24 and 32 mile routes visit the Miller Home and Chapel where in 1844 over 200 people gathered at Ascension Rock to await the end of the world. The three longest routes (40, 46 and 54 miles) are new for this year and visit a Revolutionary War battlefield with some of the best views around. The 22 mile route, also new for this year, has a remote start and visits Fort Ticonderoga in New York.




	Banner photos by P. Brizzi and C. Helfer
Home The Vermont Lakes Region The Rides Activities Lodging About Us Register Maps and Directions Contact	5th Annual Vermont Lakes Region Cycling Weekend Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, Sunday August 3, 2008 The Rides Our great cycling terrain is the main attraction of the weekend. There is a ride for everyone – from rolling to hilly terrain, and from 19 to 65 miles in length. We offer six rides on Saturday, and seven on Sunday. All the routes but one on Sunday start and finish at Green Mountain College. Each ride has an experienced leader as well as detailed map and cues. The terrain is rolling if you stay in the valleys and becomes hillier if you cross over the hills that separate the valleys. Many of the rides follow rivers and are flatter than a “typical” Vermont ride. But remember, this is Vermont, which means you should come prepared to climb some hills. We rate the area “Vermont flat.” Photo by C. Helfer “The rides were nicely done….I appreciated the effort to have the rides connect with history and local flavor. Beautiful scenery, too.” A past participant We have designed the rides as interconnecting loops, allowing you to choose the terrain and distance you want to pedal. On each day you can cycle one of the local favorite routes we offer every year or opt to explore one of the five new rides we have for this year. You can ride in a larger group of cyclists guided by a ride leader, ride with a small group of friends or ride by yourself. So come and enjoy the full weekend or just one day, whichever suits your style. Photo by E. Duling “Your ride leaders were supportive, friendly and very informative.” A past participant Saturday Rides On Saturday we offer six rides that match the best the state has to offer. We leave Poultney to explore the valleys through the Taconic Mountains and the Lake Saint Catherine area. Your mileage options for the paved routes on this day will be 24, 28, 39, 52, 60 or 65 miles and offer the choices of visiting the villages of Middletown Springs, Pawlet, West Pawlet, Wells, Danby Four Corners, and Tinmouth. On any weekend day you are likely to find most of the area’s cyclists on some combination of these roads. You can choose the loops that stay mostly in the valleys surrounded by ridges or challenge yourself to some uphill pedaling and cross one of the ridges. The 24 mile route runs south from Poultney to Granville, New York where you can visit the Slate Valley Museum (free pass for ride participants). A new 65 mile route heads south through a cenic valley to Salem, New York before returning back to Poultney through another, equally scenic valley. This route follows a rail trail for a sizeable distance and is much flatter and more gently rolling than our other routes. Photo by E. Duling “Thanks for a great weekend of cycling. We all had a great time and look forward to next year! The 60-mile route on Saturday was outstanding and probably the nicest ride I’ve done all season!” A past participant Sunday Rides Sunday’s ride schedule offers seven routes which explore the area north of Poultney. Six of the routes leave from Poultney and meander through the Slate Valley to Fair Haven with its picturesque green and grand mansions. Ride mileages are 19, 22, 24, 32, 40, 46, or 54 miles. You will experience rolling to hilly terrain with the longer rides becoming progressively hillier. The 19, 24 and 32 mile routes visit the Miller Home and Chapel where in 1844 over 200 people gathered at Ascension Rock to await the end of the world. The three longest routes (40, 46 and 54 miles) are new for this year and visit a Revolutionary War battlefield with some of the best views around. The 22 mile route, also new for this year, has a remote start and visits Fort Ticonderoga in New York.