Vermont Sports June, 2019

THE KING OF CRAG-VT | PERFECTING THE BURPEE | 2019’S NUTRITION MYTHS

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5 The Start

13 Feature

21 Feature

How to win a free tent, free camping and win summer.

With fastpacking, you can fit a week's adventure into a weekend.

Here's how.

Tap into the magic of Kingdom Trails and see what's new in the Northeast Kingdom.

A Staycation, for the Win

7 Speak Up

The Business of Recreation

If you want to build an outdoor economy in Vermont, start with the trails, says Tom Stuessy.

9 Great Outdoors

Your Century Ride Bucket List The best road rides across the state, plus the latest in outdoor news.

Go Faster and Farther

Finding Flow

17

31

Meet the Vermont veteran who tackled the Guinness World Record for burpees.

42 Endgame

Reader Athlete The Warrior

19

Nutrition Truth? Or Consequence?

Calendar

Race & Event Guide

Looking Inside the Labrynth

Not all who wander are lost.

By Leath Tonino

An expert busts a few common myths about fueling for athletes.

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JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 3

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THE START

Waterbury Waterbury

STAYCATION, FOR THE WIN HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER? SNEAK OUT FOR A MIDWEEK STAYCATION.

If you sneak out during the week, you can often get campsites to yourself. Photo courtesy Vermont State Parks

J

une is when I usually realize that I never made plans to do all the things I said I was going to do this summer. For instance, I am not going biking in Europe. I probably won’t get to Colorado to hike. And that mountain bike trip in northern California? Well, let’s just say that airfares just went way up.

The good news: there are plenty of things left to do here in Vermont and plenty of ideas in this issue.

Heading back to Kingdom Trails is high on my list and reading about Zeke Neuebauer and Ali Kaukas’ inaugural trip in “Finding Flow,” p. 21 reminded me why I love the place. And this summer there are new places to eat, drink, sleep and even co-work in the Burke area.

I’ve also been gradually ticking off my Vermont century ride bucket list, working north to south. But this year there are a few new rides, such as the Tour de Slate and Ted and Laura King’s Rooted Vermont: Return to Gravel that I’m adding (see p. 8 ).

And then there’s camping. Vermont has 38 state parks and while it may be hard to get a weekend reservation at Burton Island State Park in the Champlain Islands on an August weekend, if you can sneak out during the week, you can often have some of these places to yourself.

During the month of June, we’re also hosting a contest with Vermont State Parks and Big Agnes and giving away a sweet summer camping prize worth more than $1,000: You can win free camping at Vermont State Parks campsites and cabins, a Tiger Wall UL2 tent from Big Agnes, camping meals from Mountain House and other prizes. To sign up, visit vtsports.com/ VTCampout/.

One of the best things about living in Vermont is that there are plenty of campsites that are close enough that you can even sneak out for a midweek stay, particularly if you are fastpacker.

In her story "Go Faster and Farther," Abagael Giles writes about the growing trend in going light and fast —a combination of trail running and hiking—with light and minimal gear so you can get to your destination sooner.

I love the idea of a weeknight fastpack up to Butler Lodge on Mt. Mansfield or a run along Chandler Ridge in Brandon followed by a campout at Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore.

Pro tip? If you arrive at a Vermont State Park by bike, e-bike, foot or boat, you don't need to make the usual twonight reservation.

Sometimes, the best vacations are close to home. —Lisa Lynn, Editor

@prohibitionpig @prohibitionpig

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 5

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6 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

SPEAK UP

O

utdoor recreation is part of who we are as Vermonters. When we get home after a ride, we are more accepting and peaceful because we’ve burned some of life’s challenges away. That difference is felt by everyone we interact with—at least until we get itchy to get back out.

When work gets stressful and my responses a bit shorter, my partner will ask me, “When was the last time you were on your mountain bike?”

She understands that time on my bike is how I keep my life in balance. Most Vermonters can relate to the medicinal value of time in the woods and on trails.

While outdoor recreation is invaluable to us as individuals, the work it takes to build the trails does have a price tag.

The trail day volunteers of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association logged over 30,000 hours of volunteer time in 2018. This figure is dwarfed by the sum total of other trail-based nonprofits in Vermont. The economic value of trail volunteerism (at minimum wage) represents well over a million dollars every year, here.

To ensure continued and protected access to trails, trail-based nonprofits certainly need your trail day participation and membership dues.

But if we want to continue the immense progress Vermont has made toward becoming a mountain biking, hiking and backcountry skiing destination— one that keeps Vermonters healthy and attracts new people to the state—trailbased nonprofits need more.

Businesses and government need to come together and recognize that without outdoor recreation there is no outdoor recreation economy.

Nationally, the “outdoor recreation economy” craze has quickly sparked a range of business-oriented reactions.

Throw a rock and it’s likely you’ll hit another boutique gear endeavor. The rate at which fancy gear catalogs are showing up at the house has steadily ramped up. Universities are launching new Masters programs centered on the economics of outdoor recreation.

For example, Western State Colorado University has launched a Masters in The Outdoor Industry. It will be interesting to see how this program, and others that are sure to follow, will incorporate the role of trail-based nonprofits as part of a sustainable business model.

Colorado, Maine, Oregon and many other states are creating state-funded offices of outdoor recreation focused on

THE “BUSINESS” OF OUTDOOR RECREATION

BEFORE WE CAN GROW OUR “OUTDOOR ECONOMY” WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT’S ALREADY MADE VERMONT A GREAT OUTDOOR RECREATION STATE: OUR TRAILS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAINTAIN THEM. BY TOM STUESSY

VMBA volunteers logged over 30,000 hours last year to build trails like this one. Photo courtesy VMBA

supporting the “industry.” The buzz is real and nonprofits in every state need to step up and take their place in this conversation.

Make no mistake, tourism is a 12-month national competition. To be competitive, Vermont would be wellserved to fully invest in showcasing how and why we are unique. And our network of trail-based nonprofits is where it all starts—a network that isn’t replicated anywhere else in the country.

We also need outdoor-minded businesses of all types—not just those making socks or snowboards— to recognize what Vermont’s trail infrastructure means to their success.

Take country stores: They are iconic in Vermont. They’re also magnets for outdoor enthusiasts. A new trail network near a country store is a surefire way to increase revenue. Forty extra sandwiches a week is an important difference—that is the Vermont outdoor recreation economy.

Vermont’s outdoor ethos is illustrated through individuals’ connection to place. It’s also seen in our choices to go out of our way to support those businesses that reinforce those vibes, from a local bike shop or cheese coop, to insurance agencies, chiropractors and the local country stores.

In essence, Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy is a volunteer economy. A business doesn’t have to build or sell bikes to effectively show support. So, how do businesses of all types learn to embrace and take full advantage of partnering with nonprofits?

1. Share the connection between the trails and their value to your employees and customers.

2.

Encourage

your

professional

network of businesses and their employees to participate in membership, fundraising, events, trail days, etc.

Co-host an appreciation party at your business.

3. Work with local trail-based nonprofits to engage their membership with things such as offering discounts to members for a newsletter announcement showing how your business supports community values. This will create a lot of excitement among your employees.

4. Offer in-kind expertise (say, legal advice or accounting) to local nonprofits to help an organization through growing pains. Your generosity will be reciprocated!

5. Host a unique event and bring other outdoor-minded businesses’ employees together. Illustrate that by measurably partnering with a local trail group each business can showcase how it values the community. Make the connection visible beyond a social post or newsletter.

6. Extend nonprofit membership as part of your employee benefits program.

7. Name a trail grant on behalf of your employees. See if your employees are willing to set up the grant criteria and comprise the selection team. Follow up by hosting a trail day with your employees to help build the project in concert with the local trail group.

8. Partner with a local outdoor store or organization to demo some equipment for your employees – link the event to the local trail organization.

There are a few outdoor businesses in Vermont that do an amazing job of this. Outdoor Gear Exchange supports a long list of community outdoor grants

every year. Skirack has been a longtime supporter of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association through grants and is a trusted sounding board for new ideas.

Cabot Co-op was the first to support the "Naming Trail Grant" concept, where a business establishes grant criteria, serves on the award committee and encourages their staff to participate in trail days for their project. This couples businesses of all types with VMBA in a manner that allows them to share an excitement for what is important to their employees and community.

FUSE Marketing, VESCU, Good Luck Coffee, Long Trail Brewery, Repro, Kaden Apparel, SDR Clothing, rkMiles and others have illustrated to their employees, customers and community that trails require investment.

Moving forward, trail-based nonprofits and their members need to point out their value and role in the “outdoor recreation economy” at every opportunity. If we all were to be in touch with our legislative representatives and expressed how they can support our trail organizations, our collective power would be magnificent.

When speaking with your representative, encourage them to advocate for all public land managers to embrace long-range planning for trail building, and utilize the lead of trailbased nonprofits to get more outdoorminded business involved.

This will serve multiple important outcomes. For example, it will help ensure ecological sensitivity and support a range of recreational pursuits, leading to more tourism and its tremendous economic benefits.

It will keep Vermont’s amazing volunteer force excited. It will help to disperse user demand, which is quickly intensifying and putting more pressure on volunteerism. Lastly, it will help to align fundraising with clear timelines and state and federal grant cycles.

Creating this clarity is a critical part of keeping communities involved.

Nationally, this discussion can evolve to meaningfully illustrate the fragile balance between outdoor recreation and outdoor-minded business, and highlight which inspires the other.

For more information on how Vermont's outdoor-minded businesses are doing a great job of aligning with outdoor recreation, see vmba.org/ voice/.

Tom Stuessy is executive director of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association.

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 7

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8 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

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THE CENTURY RIDE CHALLENGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

SICK OF RIDING THE SAME LOOPS OVER

AND OVER? READY TO GET OUT OF TOWN?

HERE: OUR PICKS FOR THE BEST ROAD RIDES AROUND THE STATE

BY LISA LYNN

The Farm to Fork Fondo is a moveable feast through the flat farmland and vineyards of the Champlain Islands Photo courtesy Farm to Forkl

W

e have a challenge for you: Get off your beaten track and do an organized ride (a century, a 60-mile metric century or shorter options) in every corner of the state. Sure, you could look at Strava or a map and figure routes out on your own, but organized rides make it easy with maps, signs, aid stations and post-ride parties. This year, there are a few new ones worth checking into.

Let us know how you’re doing on our social media (#VTCenturyChallenge), and what centuries and parts of the state we should add to the list. For details, see Calendar, p. 31.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS With few hills, quiet farmland, vineyards where you can taste local wine and loads of places to cool off in Lake Champlain, cycling through the Champlain Island farmlands and villages should be on everyone’s bucket list. The century we love there is the Farm to Fork Fondo (July 21-22) which has options from 29 to 93 miles, gourmet “aid” stations at local farms and a catered barbecue—all celebrating what’s grown in the region.

NORTHEAST KINGDOM Imagine riding for an hour through forests and high meadows on a perfectly paved road without seeing a car. You can do that in the Northeast Kingdom and joining The Tour de Kingdom (June

7-9) is one of the best ways to learn the routes. The tour is a weekend of organized rides that starts in Newport on Friday, moves to Burke Mountain on Saturday and loops up through the far northeast corner of the state. Then on Sunday the ride heads down past iconic lakes such as the dramatic Lake Willoughby.

CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY Though its name makes it sound flat, riding in the Connecticut River Valley is anything but that: think short steep climbs to incredible views of farms and villages and steep descents past rushing valley streams. The reward, though, is seeing a part of Vermont that many people don’t. The Prouty (July 10) has introduced a Vermont gravel ride, a metric century that loops south from Hanover through some of Vermont’s prettiest small towns: Woodstock, Barnard, Tunbridge, Vershire and West Fairlee, to name a few. Or, try the VSECU Point to Point (Aug. 10), which loops north from its start at Mt. Ascutney to Royalton before heading south again through Woodstock and Cavendish.

ADDISON COUNTY One of the larger rides in the state, the Kelly Brush Ride (Sept. 7) is also one of the most scenic and, like many, raises money for a good cause—

helping those who have suffered from spinal cord injuries get back in action.

From downtown Middlebury, the ride cuts west through the farmlands that border Lake Champlain, up to Charlotte and Shelburne and then back south, with hilltop views that stretch to the Adirondacks.

CENTRAL GREEN MOUNTAINS New this year, former pro cyclist Ted King and his equally strong riding partner and wife Laura King are hosting Rooted Vermont, Return to Gravel.

Starting in Richmond, the challenging ride goes south on dirt roads, with some Class IV roads and “Vermont pave” to Ripton before returning north. The ride starts and ends at Cochran’s Ski Area and a portion of the proceeds will go to helping the ski area build mountain bike trails.

A bucket-list ride for anyone is the Lincoln-Appalachian-Middlebur yBranbury four-gap LAMB ride and the Vermont Gran Fondo (June 29) is a chance to do all those gaps with a crowd to support you. This year the ride starts in Bristol and has prizes for the man (KOM) and woman (QOM) who post the fasted times up Lincoln Gap – a 24-percent grade that’s been called the steepest paved mile in America.

If flatter terrain is more your speed, consider this: the Long Trail Century Ride (June 22) to benefit Vermont

Adaptive starts and ends at the Long Trail Brewery in Bridgewater. Routes look mainly through the valleys of the central greens, with a few tough climbs in Barnard but a rewarding final stretch past the lakes that line Route 100.

SOUTHERN VERMONT If you think of Strolling of the Heifers as just a parade of cows through downtown Brattleboro, think again.

Yes, it’s a weekend of festivals and cookoffs celebrating farms and local foods.

But there’s also the Tour de Heifer, a 15-, 30- or 60-mile gravel ride. This year there’s an entirely new 60-mile route with 7,119 feet of climbing, almost all on dirt roads. The reward: a lunch of quiches and frittatas by Vermont Farm Table catering, fresh-baked cookies and local brews from Whetstone. Nearby, West Hill shop is offering $10 gravel bike rentals for the event.

On the other side of the state, the Tour de Slate held its inaugural event last year (and raised more than $17,000 for Teen Challenge, a drug and alcohol abuse recovery program). This Aug. 3, the event rolls through the quiet scenic roads of Slate Valley, that run along the southwestern side of the state, starting in Middletown Springs. In addition to the metric century, 36- and 24-mile routes there’s an 8-mile out-and-back on the restored Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail.

JUNE 2019 || VTSPORTS.COM 97 JULY 2018

NEWS BRIEFS NEW PLACES TO RIDE

On Memorial Day Weekend, Local Motion launched a new fleet of rental bikes on Burton Island—nine for kids and 20 for adults. Each bike comes outfitted with a front basket, water bottle cage and helmet.

Head to localmotion.org for rates.

In St. Johnsbury, cyclists exploring the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail may have a new place to grab water, take a bathroom break and stash their bike before walking into downtown St. Johnsbury this September: The Three Rivers Path Trailhead Center, which will be built on Bay Street by the river. The project includes a new connector trail that will link the facility with the rail trail.

Starting in early August, you can hit the trails for lift-served mountain biking at Stratton on 4.6 miles of beginner, intermediate and progression trails. The trails are designed and hand-built by Morristown-based Sinuosity Flowing Trails, with eight opening on the lower mountain.

In Richmond, Cochran’s Ski Area and Richmond Mountain Trails have

launched a $30,000 fundraising campaign to build a 1.5-mile loop and pump track geared towards kids and novice mountain bikers at Cochran’s Ski Area. Thanks to guidance from the Kelly Brush Foundation, the trail will accommodate adaptive mountain biking. Sustainable Trailworks will lead the building effort, which is set to start this summer.

BECOME A STATE CHAMP

This July, you can compete for a chance to be state champion in triathlon. This year, the sport’s governing body, USA Triathlon, designated the Vermont Sun Triathlon as the official state championship. The sprint-distance race, which features a 600-yard swim, 14-mile bike and 3.1-mile run, takes place on July 14 at Branbury State Park.

New for this year, too, all Vermont Sun triathlons will be USAT-sanctioned.

GOOD DEEDS

On May 15, Outdoor Gear Exchange announced the winners of its OGE Spring 2019 Charitable Grants:

Cochran’s Ski Area, the Green Mountain Club, Hinesburg Community School, King Street Corner and Mad River Riders. Funds were allocated to Cochran’s for construction of beginner and adaptive mountain bike trails, to the GMC for an expanded parking area at Wheeler Pond Trailhead in Barton, to Hinesburg Community School for climbing gear, to King Street Center for the purchase of gear for six students from underserved communities so they can participate in leadership programs at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. Grants also went to Mad River Riders for construction of the new Butternut Hill Trail, a new intermediate multi-use trail in Camel’s Hump State Forest. It’s one of three new trails the organization plans to build this summer, along with the new two-mile Evolution II mountain bike trail and a major reroute and extension of the Hell Hill/Purgatory trail called Swell Hill, which is set to open on June 1. Got a great idea? Fall grant applications are due October 1, 2019.

OPEN LAND PRESERVED

This spring, the Stowe Land Trust got a $5 million donation toward the purchase of a major natural area: the Brownsville Forest. The 750-acre property is the largest remaining undeveloped tract of privately-owned land in Stowe and features two miles of class IV roads, which connect with the VAST trail network. It’s been open to hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross country skiing and thanks to the $5 million anonymous gift made through the Vermont Community Foundation. The deal is scheduled to close on July 31. The Stowe Land Trust is working to raise the remaining acquisition costs and project expenses. .

The Nature Conservancy also announced this spring that it hopes to acquire 3,500 acres of connected forest that spans Glebe Mountain in Londonderry and Windham. As of press time, the Nature Conservancy was still fundraising and had secured $1.5 million of the $4 million necessary to seal the deal.

10 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

YEARS

C E L E B R A T I N G

S U M M E R

A N D

A L L

T H I N G S

M T B

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12 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

GO FASTER AND FARTHER

FIRST THERE WERE TRAIL RUNNING AND BACKPACKING. NOW, THERE’S FASTPACKING. HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY.

on the trail. That sense of constantly pushing onward is what distinguishes the sport from ultralight backpacking.

Fastpackers may cover anywhere from 15 to 60 miles in a day, sleep in the backcountry and get up to do the same the next day. “It’s about being able to recover as you go so you can cover as much ground and see as much trail as possible,” says Thompson.

Vermont’s fastpacking community is a mix of professional athletes, recreational ultramarathoners and weekend warriors looking to pack as many trail miles into a few days off as they can.

RELENTLESS FORWARD MOTION

R.J. Thompson of Stowe takes on the men's unsupported fastest-known-time for the Long Trail, shown here on Laraway Mountain.

O

ut of the darkness ahead came an audible snort—the sort of noise that communicates massive size, stubbornness and pecking order in one succinct push of air.

R.J. Thompson ground to a halt. The beam of his headlight fell on a set of deep, wideset eyes. He backed up the granite slab he’d been running down on Mt. Mansfield.

The massive female moose stepped forward and locked eyes with him.

He clapped. She chewed, froze, and stared him down. “It was one of those terrifying moments where it only hits you afterward that you’ve just seen a massive, incredibly rare animal near the ridgeline of Vermont’s highest peak,” said Thompson.

Thompson was out for a run on the Long Trail, the 273-mile stretch of connected footpath that runs north to south along the spine of the Green Mountains. His goal that night was to run eight more miles—and he did— stopping briefly to sleep for just a few hours before rising to do it all again.

His mission? To train to run from North Adams, Mass. to Derby, Vt. on the Long Trail, a 273mile trip that should take the average hiker 21 days. Thompson

planned to do it in less than a week.

As the executive director of the Vermont Huts Association, Thompson has logged a lot of trail miles. He placed fourth in the 50K at the Vermont 50 at Mt. Ascutney in 2011 and won the race outright in 2013. He’s also the founder of Native Endurance, a company that hosts trail races like the Mansfield Double Up, an 11-mile race up and over Mt. Mansfield’s exposed ridge.

Thompson is among a growing group of fastpackers across the state— Vermonters who are blurring the line between ultralight backpacking and trail running by challenging themselves to make what were once week-long backpacking trips into weekend excursions.

On a typical fastpacking trip, a hiker will run the flats and downhills and hike the rugged and steep uphill sections of trail that make the Long Trail and other Vermont footpaths such challenging routes.

Their reward lies in being able to see more with less time, explore remote sections of trail and see Vermont’s wild places at a time when few others do. “For all the time I’ve spent outside exploring Vermont, I think fastpacking has offered me the most interesting and

Photo by R.J. Thompson

"When you're on a trail at dawn or dusk, you see places in a way that's much more similar to how they are without you present. It's a different way of getting to know a trail." exciting encounters with wildlife and the natural world,” says Thompson.

“When you’re on the trail at dawn or dusk, you see places in a way that’s much more similar to how they are without you present. It’s a different way of getting to know a trail.”

One key element of fastpacking is that you’re probably intending to run some portion of the trip, with a planned overnight. However, a fastpacker doesn’t have to run—they could simply travel light and tackle big mileage days by minimizing the time they spend in camp and maximizing the time they spend

At 67, Buzz Burrell is often called by fellow ultrarunners, “The Father of the FKT.” The Boulder resident has run more than 75 marathons and ultramarathons and has been breaking trail speed records for more than 37 years.

In 2018, he helped to create fastestknowntime.com, an online database of fastest known completion times of trails. He’s also Vice President of Brand for Ultimate Direction, one of the gear companies developing cutting edge ultralight fastpacking gear (see p. 12).

According to Burell, the term “fastpacking” was officially coined in 1988 by a runner named Jim Knight in an article he published in Ultrarunner Magazine about running the 62.8mile Highline Trail in Wyoming’s Wind River Range. At the time, it was a revolutionary move.

Peter Bakwin, Burell’s partner at fastestknowntimes.com says, “To me, fastpacking means that covering the distance fast is the primary objective, so that you use whatever means best suited to achieve that, which usually entails going as light as possible, and employing relentless forward motion.”

That relentless forward motion involves starting your trail day in the early hours of the morning and moving past sunset. Most fastpackers hike the steep uphills and run the flats and downhills, though, as Burrell points out, “Over longer distances, we’ve seen that the fastest travelers are thru-hikers,” who cover big miles by focusing on maximizing the number of hours a day they spend moving rather than running.

Fastpacking also means leaving behind any gear that isn’t absolutely essential. A fastpacker may plan to sleep in shelters along the way, packing a lightweight bivy bag, half-length or ultralight sleeping pad and lightweight down sleeping bag for shelter instead of a tent. Most fastpackers use anywhere from a 20 to 30L pack for a multiday trip—often one that is shaped ergonomically and fits like a vest to make running more comfortable.

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 13

New pack designs have helped the sport, with companies like Ultimate Direction, Nathan and Salomon turning out new running and fastpacking-specific vest packs that let hikers move through the mountains with less jostle. “That’s been a huge gamechanger,” says Thompson, who has seen the gear evolve since he started fastpacking nearly a decade ago.

“I like to think of making the transition to fastpacking as earning your master’s degree in backpacking,” says Josh Burns, a former Outdoor Gear Exchange gear expert who has run about 300 miles of Spain’s El Camino de Santiago with a 20L pack.

An ultramarathoner who has run 13 ultras and has been backpacking for 10 years, he enjoys the logistical challenges fastpacking presents. “It’s about honing your craft by cutting down what you have and learning to stay safe while doing so. Each trip I learn more about what my body really needs—and what I can do without.”

For Greg Maino, fastpacking presents a unique way of moving on Vermont’s wild and rugged trails. “Pacewise, it’s somewhere between trail running and backpacking. You wake up and move right away. You eat breakfast on the go and what you get in return is the trail to yourself. You still have time to stop at a swimming hole. Then in the evening, you keep moving right through that blue hour, when most backpackers are tucked away in camp and wildlife tends to be most active,” says Maino, 39, whose dual roles as a dad to two little kids and the Communications Manager for the Catamount Trail Association keep him busy midweek.

GETTING FARTHER, FASTER

Routes like the Long Trail or the 136mile Northfield-Placid Trail in the Adirondacks become week or weekendlong adventures if you can tackle 30mile days. Bucket list hikes like the 21-mile Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire’s White Mountains or the Pemi Loop, a 31.5-mile, rugged trek around the Pemigewasset Wilderness become day trips for a fit fastpacker.

Remote areas of Vermont, such as the 35-square-mile Glastonbury Wilderness just outside of Bennington, become accessible day or overnight trips. Try the 21.8-mile Glastonbury/ West Ridge Loop and spend the night at Goddard Shelter, where a short hike takes you to the summit of 3,745-foot Glastonbury Mountain and a fire tower.

A fastpacking setup would also allow you to run the 1.9 miles to Butler Lodge on the flank of Mt. Mansfield after work for a midweek overnight. One of the nearly six dozen lodges the Green Mountain Club maintains along the

14 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

Maino. “If you find yourself picking a place on a topo map that’s way back in the wilderness and saying, ‘I’d love to get there this weekend, but I just don’t think I have the time,’ this sport is for you.”

GEARING UP (OR DOWN)

Josh Burns of Burlington enjoys dusk (and a snack) on a 4,000-footer in the Adirondacks, thanks to his fastpacking set-up. Photo courtesy Josh Burns

Long Trail, the hut is located just half a mile below the Forehead. Rise early and run the two-miles across the ridge, then cut across the CCC road and back to the Stevensville trailhead to be at work in Burlington the next morning.

“I think that as gear gets lighter and more affordable, more serious trailrunners are saying, ‘What if I didn’t have to go home at the end of the day? What if I challenge myself to see how long I can sustain those big miles and how much I can see while doing it?’” says Maino.

That’s what sucked the Green Mountain Club’s Rob Rives into the world of fastest-known-times and fastpacking. The 29-year-old Education and Outreach Coordinator has guided rock climbing in Yosemite Valley, where he got into big wall climbing, the art of scaling 2,300-foot granite faces which often involves spending a night dangling from a secured tent thousands of feet above the air.

The North Carolina native got into fastpacking big loops through the arid backcountry of Tuolumne Meadows about nine years ago as a way to see more territory on his days off. “I wanted

to wed the two disciplines by moving with minimal gear so I could tackle big distances in technical terrain,” he says.

Since running his first ultramarathon in 2009, Rives has run at least one 100-mile race each year. He set the first FKT for New Hampshire’s Coos Trail, a 170-mile route through the White Mountains in 2015. The next year, he finished second at the Thunder Rock 100-Miler, a race in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. But unsupported, multi-day trail runs are what drive him.

“I love the self-sufficiency of fastpacking,” says Rives. “I like seeing a line on the map and knowing I can get to the end without any extra help and with everything I need on my back.”

And in his role at the Green Mountain Club he’s seen fastpacking grow. “I think interest and participation in that style of moving on a trail has increased pretty dramatically in the last three to four years in particular,” he says.

Vermont is a great place to fastpack, whether you choose to do so competitively or not.

“Everybody gets 52 weekends in a year and for most of us, a fixed amount of time off in between,” says Greg

If you’re looking to get into fastpacking for the first time, Rives suggests getting a running pack and starting to pare down the belongings you take on your next backpacking overnight, experimenting with running the flat and downhill sections of trail. “It’s a fine line between experiencing discomfort and being unsafe. Think hard about which items you used on your last trip and whether you could do without them for a night. What that looks like will be different for everybody.”

Rives recommends stripping items away slowly, especially if you plan to push yourself to run much of your trip with a time goal. “It’s a scary but exhilarating place to be—in the dark, miles and miles into a geographically committing trip and suddenly be unsure of whether you can do what you set out to accomplish,” he says.

“Don’t put yourself there too soon.”

Items like a GPs locator beacon and bivy sack give you the confidence you need to feel safe pushing onward.

Other tips include: always bring two pairs of wool socks, apply corn starch (liberally) to keep your feet dry and free of blisters, and expect to burn between 3,000 and 4,000 calories per day. Meals ready-to-eat from brands like Mountain House, which require only hot water in a disposable, packable container, are great options. Look for a trail running shoe with medium cushion, that fits your foot. Then take your whole setup on some 15- to 25-kilometer day trips to see how it feels.

“I think I like the struggle,” says Thompson. “I really love being on the trail for extended periods of time, and I absolutely love Vermont’s trails for how wild and alive they are—even more so than anywhere I’ve been out west. I love to be nestled under the forest canopy the way you are on the Long Trail, and fastpacking has led me to some really fascinating experiences—bear cubs climbing up trees, moose plunging into ponds—during the time at dawn and dusk when most people are still on their way to or from the trailhead.”

For Josh Burns, it’s about pushing his body to its limits, but it’s also about humility and perspective. “Every time I take a fastpacking trip, I learn a little more about the things I really need, and what I can do without.”

PARING DOWN TO SPEED UP

WHEN YOU STRIP DOWN YOUR PACK WEIGHT, THE GEAR YOU KEEP BECOMES ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT. HERE ARE A FEW NEW THINGS YOU CAN COUNT ON. The rise of fastpacking has created a new category of ultralight gear and caused many hikers and runners to rethink what (and how much) they bring on the trail. However, the Green Mountain Club’s Rob Rives’ has this rule of thumb: whatever else you cut, always bring an emergency bivy sack and a rain layer. “As you cut gear from your pack, you should put some thought into what it would look like to have to sit and wait for help if you slip and injure yourself with what you have.”

Be sure to bring The Ten Essentials: navigation (map and compass), sun protection, insulation,

illumination (a headlamp), first aid kit, fire starting tool, knife or multi-tool, extra food, extra water or treatment and an emergency shelter.

As with ultralight backpacking, you want to prioritize gear with two uses where you can. Expect to consume about 3,000 to 4,000 calories per day of your trip. That translates to about 1.5 to 2 pounds of food for each day on the trail. “Aim for a 12- to 15-pound baseweight and trim from there,” says Rives, who says that at any weight higher than that, you’ll be hiking, rather than running most of your route.

ENO SUB6 ULTRALIGHT HAMMOCK ($69.95) Weight: 5.8 oz

MSR POCKETROCKET DELUXE STOVE

Rated to 300 lbs, this is ENO’s lightest backpacking hammock. Hammocks are great options for Vermont, where flat ground is rare and trees are plentiful. Fly not included, so purchase one separately if you plan to use it in the rain.

HOKA ONE ONE TOA

MARMOT BANTAMWEIGHT JACKET

($275) Weight: Less than 5 oz New for 2019, this ultralight rain layer is breathable, waterproof and windproof, thanks to lightweight Pertex Shield fabric. With vented mesh at the armpits and a packdown size smaller than a grapefruit, it’s a great layer for fastpacking.

MOUNTAIN HOUSE MEALS ($8-$10) Weight: 4 oz

($170) Weight: 13 oz (women) to 15 oz (men) New for 2019, Hoka has released a shoe it specially recommends for fastpacking. With a high ankle, multidirectional lugs, plenty of cushioning, this shoe maintains durability and support while keeping weight down.

If you’re planning to carry a stove and looking for a quick and light way to get more than 500 piping hot calories from whole ingredients without bringing a bowl, check out the Beef Stroganoff or Chicken Fajita Bowl. All you do is pour hot water into the pouch, shake and wait.

LEKI MICRO TRAIL RACE POLES

MSR TRAILSHOT POCKET-SIZED WATER FILTER ($49.95) Weight: 5oz

($199.95) Weight: 6 oz These ultralight poles use a special strap setup to allow you to eat, drink, etc. without taking your hand out or dropping your pole. With a quick and easy deployment, they stow neatly in the UD Fastpacker’s pole strap.

This new filter can be stashed in the pocket of your running vest and filters one liter of water straight from the source into any-sized container in 60 seconds.

($69.95) Weight: 2.09 oz New for 2019 with a push-start ignition, simmer function and new broad burner, this stove offers ultralight cooking even in the wind. Try it with the 16 oz MSR IsoPro fuel canister for a weekend trip.

OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM BIVY

($179) Weight: 16.2oz Outdoor Research's lightest shelter got a little lighter this year. Made of feathery waterproof and breathable Pertex Shield+ fabric, it's a favorite among Appalachian Trail thru-hikers for its durability.

SOL ESCAPE PRO BIVVY

($125) Weight: 8oz This ultralight option is breathable, waterproof and heat reflective. It adds 15 degrees of warmth to a sleeping bag by reflecting 90 percent of your body heat back at you, and lets condensation out.

It’s also a great emergency tool to keep in your pack for day trips.

THERMAREST NEOAIR UBERLITE

Weight: 8.8 oz.

This new summer-weight pad packs down to the size of a burrito. Inflated, it has an R-value of 2 and a stack height of two inches. It’s the lightest insulated air mattress on the market.

THERMAREST VESPER 32F/0C QUILT

($320-$340) Weight: 15 oz. (not pictured) New for summer 2019, this quilt can replace a sleeping bag as a super comfy summer sleeping system and uses 900-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down for added durability and has a foot pocket.

Packs down to the size of a cantaloupe.

ULTIMATE DIRECTION FASTPACKER AND FASTPACKHER 30 AND 35

($169.95-$184.95) Weight: 24.85 oz and 22 oz Ultimate Direction’s fastpacking vest doubles as a bikepacking rig. Designed to contract or expand according to your load, the pack features straps for hiking poles, a water bottle pocket on the front and a snack or cell phone pocket. New for this season is a women’s specific model.

16 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

FEATURED ATHLETE

THE WARRIOR Name: Jason Mosel Age: 33 Lives in: A log cabin in the woods of East Corinth Occupation: Supervisor at Comcast and Marine Corps Veteran who achieved the rank of Sergeant and earned a Combat Action Ribbon, Purple Heart and Iraq Campaign Medal Family: Wife, Amber; Goofy Great Dane, Gomez.

Primary Sports: Endurance fanatic, ultrarunner, obstacle course racer Hobbies: Vegetable gardening and food preservation

O

n March 22, Jason Mosel attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the most chest to ground burpees in 12 hours. He’s also run ultramarathons, competed in more than 20 Tough Mudders and survived a suicide attempt. Now, he wants to make sure that other Vermont veterans know they aren’t alone in their struggles with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Where are you from and what drew you to Vermont?

I grew up on an apple orchard in Waterbury, Conn. I loved being outdoors as a kid. Then, when I was a sophomore in high school, September 11 happened. I often frame it as my generation’s Pearl Harbor. A lot of us who were young then wanted to serve, to go overseas and to defend freedom.

I signed up to be infantry with the Marines because I wanted to be part of the toughest branch in the military.

When I graduated from high school in 2003, I went straight to boot camp. I

Jason Mosel at the Endurance Society's Infinitus ultramarathon in Goshen in 2018. Photo by Jennefer Paquette.

saw three deployments—two to Iraq and one to Japan—in four years of active duty.

After three deployments in four years, the simplest thing I can say is that I lived four lives during that period.

When I got out of the marines, it was time for me to reconnect with nature, but also with myself. East Corinth seemed like a place where you could get out in the woods and the quiet and do your own thing. My wife and I bought a cabin on 13 acres.

How did you become an endurance athlete?

When I got out of the Marine Corps, I was being prescribed medication to treat depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I felt like I was going through life in a zombie state, so I stopped taking the meds. But I wasn’t ready to face my demons. I started drinking heavily. Then one day my wife and I saw an ad on TV for the 60-day INSANITY workout. My wife said, hey,

let’s do that.

During those workouts, I’d push myself to the point of exhaustion and get this shot of endorphins. But I was still drinking heavily. Then in 2013, a friend asked me to do the Tough Mudder with him at Mount Snow. It was really, really tough for me to push through those 10 miles of obstacles.

But when I crossed that finish line, I got this sense of accomplishment and community I hadn’t felt in a long, long time. It was a turning point for me, and I was like, “Oh, this is my new drug.”

I stopped blaming people for my challenges and started pushing my finish line further back every time I crossed it, progressing from marathon to ultra, getting better physically and mentally and fighting my demons every day.

You mention your demons. Can you share a little about what you saw during service and what you learned from it?

During my first deployment to Iraq,

our battalion lost 34 Marines. One was a very close friend of mine. That affected me a lot. I was an 18-year-old kid who had never been too far out of Connecticut before and there I was in Iraq, taking people’s lives and watching someone else’s life get taken.

During my second deployment, I really struggled with PTSD and depression. I was given a cocktail of pills by a psychiatrist to help me finish my service. It wasn’t working well and it came to a head in 2005 when I tried to take my own life while stationed in Japan. I spent a little time in a padded, white room, but was ultimately able to get through another deployment to Iraq. In retrospect, it was the beginning of the transition to who I am today.

I learned that life can end at a moment, and so to live every second as if it were your last. Sometimes it’s too short. It’s gonna get tough, but you have to persevere.

How did you decide to attempt the Guinness World Record for most burpees in 12 hours and why did you do it at night?

Burpees are terrible! If someone asked me what exercise I hate the most, I’d say burpees—so I decided to do as many as humanly possible. And I knew from my own experience that night is the hardest time for people who struggle with a mental disorder. I thought, if people can watch and see me struggle, it might motivate them to try something that works for them. I want to show people that you can beat this on a daily basis.

You knew by 1 a.m. that you weren’t going to beat the world record (4,556). Why did you keep going?

I actually didn’t care about the beginning. I wanted people to see the stuff at 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., where I’m tired, hurt and there’s no reason to go on. I wanted to show folks that no matter how tired you are, you can always go

HOW TO DO A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD CHESTTO-GROUND BURPEE • Start by laying flat on the ground with both arms out to the side to make sure that your chest touches the ground.

• Bring arms in and push up to a high plank position.

• In one fluid motion, bring your knees into your chest from the high plank to a crouching position.

• From the crouched position, in one motion, stand up and jump.

• Return to the starting position with chest on the ground, by following these steps in reverse.

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 17

one next step. If you’re struggling with mental illness, you can go that next hour, those next few minutes.

It’s like hitting 50 miles in an ultramarathon. You don’t know if you can keep going, so you say, I’ll make it to the next tree and then decide if I want to quit. I hope that seeing what I did gave someone hope to push on in their life.

2019

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Hudson Valley, NY June 9 Asheville, NC June 30 Champlain Islands, VT July 21 Finger Lakes, NY August 10 Pennsylvania Dutch, PA August 24 FF 15% O : CODE WITH RTS VTSPO

Shenandoah, VA September 15 Berkshires, MA September 29 Louisville, KY October 20

FarmToForkFondo.com 18 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

How has endurance helped you fight those battles with PTSD and depression?

I still fight this battle every single day.

It’s my demon and it’s always sitting there, smoking a cig, working out, waiting for that moment in time when I drop my guard to come up and whisper in my ear: “Quit.”

Pills? Alcohol? They swept it under the rug. As I got physically stronger, I became mentally stronger. It’s not that I have an internal struggle 24-7, but I stay mentally and physically sharp so I can fight my battles when I have to.

If I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning, I throw on a 40-pound pack and get up and I go for an even longer run that day.

You chose to raise money for the Josh Pallotta Fund. How did you choose to partner with them and how much did you raise?

I wanted to partner with Valerie Pallotta [the founder] because her mission is to help veterans with PTSD who are struggling with mental disorders here in Vermont. Her story hit home. Here I was, a veteran of the Iraq War, who attempted suicide and survived. Valerie is on the other end of the spectrum.

She lost her son Josh, who served in the Vermont National Guard in Iraq, to PTSD and suicide in 2014. We raised $10,000 and I want to be there to support her now and in the future with other events.

What do you think is the biggest challenge veterans face coming out of the military?

The hardest thing about leaving the military is leaving a family. You’ve just become closer with these guys and girls than with anybody in your life and now it’s gone. You can stay in touch, but you’re not seeing these people every day. For anyone, veteran or otherwise who is struggling with PTSD, it’s about community. Where can I go to feel comfortable and ok, where stigma won’t follow me?

An overarching theme I’ve heard from multiple people, and experienced, is the stigma around PTSD and mental health. For myself, I thought, “You’re a man and you’re a marine. Suck it up.”

There’s a feeling that if you say you’re

having any type of issue, let alone that you tried to commit suicide, you’ll be looked at as weak.

How have you dealt with that?

My wife and I are high school sweethearts. We got married after my first deployment to Iraq and she stuck with me through all of the garbage I was going through. I am an extremely lucky person to still have her in my life.

When I started this fitness journey, she was right there by my side. When I was training for the burpee challenge, she’d get up in the middle of the night and come do the last thousand reps with me.

She just signed up for her first ultra— the Endurance Society’ Infinitus 88K in May. I'm excited to support her in that.

How did you train for the burpee challenge and will you try for the world record again?

Every morning for four months, I took the time I woke up and multiplied that by 100 to get the number of burpees I was going to do that day. It’s a full body workout and I worked hard to stay injury free by strengthening larger muscle groups and keeping my shoulders flexible. I kept up my running routine—varying long distances with shorter runs at speed. When it comes to lack of sleep, I like to do 24-hour trainings every once in a while at the house to keep myself sharp for ultraraces. I incorporate hauling and splitting wood, rucking (carrying a very heavy backpack over long distances).

Two months in, I started doing my long burpee sessions starting at 6 p.m. at night. I think I'll try again but it will be a private thing—something I do for me.

What do you want other veterans to know?

If you see someone with a cast on, you want to open the door. But if you look at me? You might say he’s got his shit down. I’m covered in tattoos and listen to metal music (I also like to garden).

Not everyone expresses their feelings in the same way, but we all need a place to go to feel comfortable and ok, where stigma won't follow.

What’s next?

I did the Half Marathon Unplugged with a 50-pound sandbag on April 13. At the end of this month, I’m doing a Spartan Ultra Race. MidMay, I’ll do the Toughest Mudder in Philadelphia, Pa. I’m going for the World’s Toughest Mudder in Atlanta, Ga. on November 16. This summer, I’m doing the Endurance Society’s Infinitus 100-miler in Goshen and I signed up for The Death Race in Pittsfield in July. It’s going to be awesome. —Abagael Giles

NUTRITION

I

TRUTH? OR CONSEQUENCES? THERE’S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT SPORTS NUTRITION. HERE’S A TEST TO SEE IF YOU CAN TELL FACT FROM FICTION. BY JAMIE SHEAHAN, M.S., R.D.

hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when it comes to nutrition, we still have a lot to learn. I don’t mean any offense to readers who feel they are well-read on this subject, but the fact of the matter is that the study of nutrition is relatively new and therefore our understanding and application of it continue to evolve. And sports nutrition is far from exempt as we aim to learn more about how to optimize our performance. Unfortunately, this leaves us prone to buying into myths and misinformation. So let’s take some time to separate fact from fiction and break down what we know is actually true and what is false. At least for now.

PROTEIN IS KEY FOR RECOVERING AFTER EXERCISE.

CARB LOADING IMPROVES PERFORMANCE.

If only it were that simple. The goal of carb loading is to maximize glycogen stores, where our bodies store carbohydrates. Studies have shown that carb loading provides performance benefits for activities lasting 90 minutes or more. However, for shorter duration events or those that do not require continuous activity (e.g. sports like soccer) carb loading won’t help.

Keep in mind that the goal of carb loading is to prevent energy stores from becoming depleted, not to make us faster or stronger. Just like a larger gas tank in a car won’t allow you to drive faster, carb loading will just allow you to go longer without needing additional fueling. Carb loading also entails a lot more than just eating a big plate of pasta the night before an event. A specific protocol of exhaustive exercise with low carbohydrate intake followed by a period of limited exercise and high carbohydrate intake must be followed in order for carb loading to be effective.

Still, it doesn’t make that pasta feast the night before a race any less satisfying!

Verdict? Myth.

If you just went for a long ride, run or hike should you reach for that protein shake? Yes, our muscles are made of protein and thus consuming protein is essential to repairing and building muscle tissue. However, after endurance activities, protein shouldn’t be the star of the show. Studies have shown that the ideal post-workout meal or snack should consist of a mix of carbohydrates and protein with the majority being carbs. Studies suggest that a ratio of 4:1 carbs to protein hits the sweet spot for recovery. This is why chocolate milk—which delivers on almost that exact ratio—tends to get top billing as a recovery drink. Verdict: Myth…sort of.

and involuntary contraction of a muscle typically attributed to electrolyte depletion. Some athletes swear by drinking pickle juice to prevent or cure muscle cramps and limited research even backs up these claims. One such study found that individuals who drank pickle juice shortened the duration of their cramps by 49 seconds compared to those who drank just water. It would make sense to infer that the high sodium content in pickle juice eases or prevents cramping by replacing sodium lost in sweat. That would add up if muscle cramps were truly caused by a lack of sodium, but that is not the case. The majority of muscle cramps are actually caused by neuromuscular fatigue. So why does pickle juice seem to unlock that seizing calf muscle you get on your 100-mile ride? Scientists are still unsure of the exact mechanism, but it appears that the vinegar in pickle juice may send a signal to the nervous system to calm the neurons that are stimulating the muscle contraction.

For anyone who has experienced a debilitating muscle cramp during exercise, the “why” it works is likely far less important than the relief that it brings. I’ll drink (pickle juice) to that!

Verdict: True…but not for the reasons you think.

EATING LATE AT NIGHT LEADS TO WEIGHT GAIN

DRINKING PICKLE JUICE PREVENTS MUSCLE CRAMPS.

The unmistakable sensation of a muscle seizing up during training or competition is all too common and the cause all too commonly misunderstood.

A muscle cramp is a sustained, painful

We’ve all heard that late night eating is a recipe for weight gain. But let’s be real, when you are juggling work, family and training on top of that, sometimes there’s just no alternative. I regularly talk with clients who are stressing over whether to eat a late dinner after getting home from a long training ride or go to bed hungry. It’s understandable that this would be a source of stress considering how often we are told we should avoid eating late at night lest our food intake turn to fat as we catch some Zs. The good news is that unless you’re

a gremlin there is likely no magical hour at which we should stop eating. Very few human studies have examined the effects of eating at night on weight and those that have indicate it is not when you eat, but how much and what foods you are consuming that impacts weight.

The main reason late night eating gets such a bad rap is because typically we are eating out of habit, boredom or entertainment as opposed to hunger.

We also tend to reach for foods that are high in fat and sugar at night. You can’t honestly tell me that you’re curling up to watch Game of Thrones with a bag of baby carrots. Instead of agonizing over the hour of your last meal or snack, just ask yourself; “Am I truly hungry?” If the answer is yes, then select a healthy portion-controlled option guilt-free.

Verdict: Jury is still out.

VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS PROVIDE ENERGY.

As we all know, there are a multitude of products claiming to help athletes improve speed and endurance, but unfortunately popping a pill won’t deliver on such promises. To be clear vitamins and minerals are essential components of our diet and without them we certainly won’t perform at our best. However, vitamins and minerals themselves do not actually provide any energy. Among their many functions in the body, they serve as cofactors in the metabolic processes that convert food into chemical energy. If an individual is deficient in a vitamin or mineral then technically a supplement may help them feel more energized even though the supplement itself provides no actual energy. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats should meet all your vitamin and mineral needs. In case you are of the mindset that more is better, think again when it comes to vitamins and minerals. Studies show that taking mega-doses of vitamins or minerals does not improve health or performance and can in fact be harmful.

Verdict: Myth.

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WHETHER YOU’RE AN EXPERT RIDER AND HAVE BEEN A HUNDRED TIMES OR A NEWBIE, RIDING KINGDOM TRAILS PUTS YOU IN THE ZONE.

BY ZEKE NEUBAUER, PHOTOS BY ALI KAUKAS

B

ob Dylan hums his Mediterranean Homesick Blues on the radio. It’s been more than two hours of driving from Manchester, Vermont, up across the state to the Northeast Kingdom. Ali and I smile at one another as we see the sign for East Burke. We are finally going to ride Kingdom Trails.

It’s easy to assume everyone who lives in Vermont and rides a bike has been to Kingdom Trails by now. But that’s not the case. Ali was born and raised in southern Vermont, exploring the local woods and swimming holes. A professional photographer, she shoots everything and anything that catches her eye, which has led her all over the world. She’s surfs and does yoga but just picked up mountain biking last year and has been loving it. She likes to weave through trees, push her physical and mental boundaries and enjoy the magic of being surrounded by nature.

I grew up in southern California riding anything I could—mountain bikes, dirt bikes, skateboards, surfboards— and finding rocks to climb and cliffs to jump off. Anything to

Zeke Neubauer floats through the forest (above) and then takes a break (below) with friends Dana Hassert (left) and Erica Notini (right) on the grassy trails that traverse Darling Hill.

have some fun and stay out of trouble.

I’ve ridden mountain bikes for most of my life, mainly in California where it’s all about big, dry, slippery jumps and hills. I’m excited to try my luck in the notorious Northeast Kingdom with its rich wet soil, tight trees and fun riding.

The day before, we loaded our little

silver Honda Element with all the goods; two mountain bikes, camping gear, coffee and of a jug of maple syrup. The essentials. Our trip had no set plan. The outline was simple. Show up, ride bikes, swim in fresh water and camp. Just find our flow and see where it takes us.

We pull into the small town just

after 8 a.m. A peaceful main street runs through the center with the Northeast Kingdom General Store on one side and a gas station on the other. A few homes and a handful of small businesses line the quiet streets.

Beyond that there isn’t much. It’s early morning and as we wipe our eye

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 21

boogers away, we start to see mountain bikers bobbing and weaving across the street and down every little ally way.

A friend has linked us to a guide and we have arranged to meet at the Kingdom Trails Center. We get out of the car, stretch our morning legs and head in. Instantaneously, a young woman comes down the stairs into the store.

“I’m Lilias, you guys ready to go ride?” she says excitedly. She’s already in her riding gear, helmet on her head, ready to walk out the door, hop on her bike and go. We look at one another, standing with coffees in our hands, dressed in sweatpants and sandals, and we all three have a laugh.

We gear up and lay the trail map out in the grass outside, and she explains the 100-mile trail system and fills us in on her connection to the Kingdom Trails.

Lilias Ide has been part of the Kingdom Trails Association for over ten year and her family is tight in the community. Her brother, Knight, is a legendary trail builder of the area. Both grew up mountain biking all over the Northeast Kingdom. They have helped build the network and grow the local mountain bike community, working

Ali takes a d dip in the river at the end ofthe day.

with the more than 90 landowners to gain rights and building what has become one of the best-known trail systems in the US. In the last few years, the scene has exploded.

TRAILS TO HEAVEN

The three of us jump on our bikes and ride through town, making our way up across the bridge, over the river and

Burklyn Hall will reopen as a boutique inn with a pub in the barn you can bike to.

BURKE GETS EVEN BETTER IF YOU’RE HEADED TO THE NEW ENGLAND MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL OR JUST SPENDING A WEEKEND IN THE BURKE REGION, HERE’S WHAT’S NEW AND HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. “I think the momentum started when I was a teenager” Chris Hibshmam says. When Hibshmam was growing up in the Northeast Kingdom, mountain biking was just taking hold.

Hid dad opened Village Sports Shop in 1978 and Chris and his wife Carrie now run the shop's two locations, in East Burke and Lyndonville. “In the last few years, everything we ever envisioned might happen is starting to take place," he says.

"You can really feel this place blossom and see the vibrancy. We now get people moving here for the riding—both entrepreneurs and some serious World Cup and Tour de France riders. There’s a whole bunch of new things going on because of the trails.”

New breweries, boutique hotels, a Nordic spa, co-working spaces and guiding services are just a few things anyone who makes the pilgrimage this summer will want to check out.

22 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

Courtesy photo

start ascending East Darling Hill Road.

Lilias looks back, smiles, and quickly hangs a sharp left into an opening in the trees. Suddenly we’re thrown straight onto Herb’s Trail, perfectly groomed for climbing. The line is silky smooth, weaving us through the trees along the mountain side. We shift down a gear and start cranking up the trail.

Rolling, winding and pumping over

rollers as we climb, I find the line is so engaging I forget I'm riding uphill.

As we climb the final leg to the top of Darling Hill, our view opens up to an insanely Vermont scene: A classic red barn surrounded by grazing cows and green hills rolling endlessly to the horizon. We pass the barn and ride across the open fields. Tall and magnificent, Burke Mountain is on our left out across the valley and Lake Willoughby, sitting between its two glacier-ripped mountain walls, is tucked somewhere into the hills to the right. Above us, as far as the eyes can see, glowing silver clouds roll across the endless crisp blue sky.

We make our way over the mountain down the backside and drop into a fun, groovy tree line, called PoundCake. Across bridges, zig-zagging between trees, picking up speed carving through the forest floor, we are racing to keep up. Lilias is light on her toes, but rides with power too.

Leading the way, she periodically checks back on us with a little grin on her face, just to make sure we’re still there. We traverse the hillside linking endless lines and eventually get spit out

World Cup racer and mountain bike coach Alex McAndrews (right) opens the throttle.

Perhaps the most iconic change is the large yellow mansion, Burklyn Hall, the Colonial Revival mansion that crowns Darling Hill is being renovated as an elegant inn, The Inn at Burklyn, which hopes to open next spring. Built for New York hotelier Elmer Darling in 1904, Burklyn was the centerpiece of what was once a 1,400-acre estate, land many of today's trails cross.

In 2015, after a particularly brutal winter with little snow, Alivia Bertolini, owner of The Willoburke Inn and Nordic Spa got the idea “over lots of Finnish libations” to add Finnish-style wood-heated saunas and hot tubs to the inn. The spa opened last year across a small stream from the inn with four wood-fired saunas, hot tubs, fire pits and a massage room. This summer, she is adding a pavilion with a wine bar. “It’s amazing to take a sauna, go for a plunge in the river and then sit by a fire pit under a gajillion stars,” says Alivia, who has lived in the area for 40 years. You can book a two-hour session for two at the spa for $175, an hour and a half massage is $100 and rooms at the inn start at $210.

In nearby Lyndonville, the owners of The Freighthouse —a Lyndonville natural foods market, ice cream shop and café—opened The Mosaic this summer right next door in the building that used to house Bag Balm. “We wanted something

Photo Chris Pascucci

for athletes and anyone who was in a bit of a hurry that’s fresh, healthy and fast,” says owner Bonnie Paris, whose family renovated the historic building. You can build your own burrito or rice bowl. Just upstairs, Northern Vermont University opened the Do North Co-Working space last November and an anchor tenant, Whitehouse Solutions which makes software for drones, has settled in downstairs. For a $20 day pass, you can settle in at a Do North desk or conference table in this fresh, hip space, get access to symmetrical 100 mbps high speed Internet service and help yourself to Carrier Coffee (brewed in Northfield).

MTB GUIDES & COACHES If you want to get the most out of a weekend in the Kingdom, consider working with a mountain biking guide or a Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association-certified (PMBI) Coach at any of a growing variety of camps and guiding services. At Burke Mountain Resort, a two-hour lesson with lift ticket and downhill bike rental goes for $119 for an adult.

The Ide family has literally helped to build Kingdom Trails with Knight Ide carving out some of the early trails, his wife Jen working as a guide and coach and sister Lilias, a backbone of the organization, Kingdom Trails. An offshoot of their company,

to an opening, where we make our way up to the Kingdom Trails hilltop shop.

Lilias parts ways, as she has business to attend, and drops us at the bike shop for some lunch. We thank her, grab a black bean burger and some water and take in the beautiful Vermont summer day.

We’re soon greeted by Lilias’s partner, Mike Mader.

Mike stands tall and strong and greets us with a big welcoming smile.

Leading us to his favorite trails on that side of the mountain, he drops us down into Heaven’s Bench, where we get our rhythm going. Mike is a blast to follow. He rides with intensity and finesse, hopping out of corners and gliding over root sections, ripping through each section, putting the bike where it needs to be. I follow his exact lines, which seem to put me in every perfect position for that section or the upcoming section. The trails drop us down alongside the Passumpsic River..

As we climb from the riverbed, I try to catch my breath as Mike starts talking technique. He passes on tips to Ali, who is fairly new to mountain biking. He explains how braking before coming into a corner as opposed to

Buffed trails and big views make Kindgom Trails as fun for new riders as it is for experts.

braking while in the corner allows the wheels to fully grip the turn and lock you in. It also helps swing you out of the corner and carry momentum for the next section. Instead of braking midway through the corner and losing all your

Willoburke Inn's new Nordic spa has wood-fired saunas and hot tubs.

IdeRide is Vermont Mountain Bike Tours now led by World Cup racers Alex McAndrews and Ella Skawold. They can help set up accommodations, meals, lead group rides, provide coaching and get you on the right bike or fix your own. They will also do hourly guiding (based on their availability) for $35.

STAY At New England Mountain Bike Festival (June 27-29) there’s an entire campsite village set up but if you want to camp on your own, Burke Cottage Rentals has efficiency cabins and campsites for $30 a night. In town and in walking distance to Mike’s Tiki Bar and other restaurants, The Village Inn is a classic B&B with a hot tub that looks out over a river in back and rooms that start at $100, midweek. Burke Mountain Resort’s slopeside hotel has a lodging/trail pass offer that starts at $179 for two and includes passes to Burke or Kingdom Trails.

For a room with a view at the top of Darling Hill, right off the trails try the classic Wildflower Inn which has rooms, suites and a historic cottage. Rooms start at $153. Trails run right by the Inn at Mountain View Farm and across some of the historic estate’s 440 acres. Owner Marilyn Pastore wrote some of the

Courtesy photo

speed. Carry your speed, lock into the corner and keep momentum.

FLOW TIME

It’s finding that flow that makes all the difference, I begin thinking as we reach

a highpoint on the trail. As I’m playing with the thoughts, Mike suddenly hangs a right turn back into the woods and I snap from the thoughts back into riding mode. We’re on Kitchel, the fast rhythmic flow trail, and we barely

The historic creamery building at the Inn at Mountain View Farm is trailside.

initial grants to set up Kingdom Trails in 1994. Built in 1883 as part of Elmer Darling’s vast estate, it sits just down the road from Burklyn, the mansion Darling built. Rooms in the historic Creamery or farmhouse start at $130.

EAT & DRINK In the morning grab a latte and a scone at Caffe Lotti or pick up a sandwich there or at the eclectic Northeast Kingdom Country Store, a classic. Set up as a tiki bar in the heart of the village, Mike’s Tiki Bar is the outdoor clubhouse, of sorts, where mountain bikers of all ages congregate for “apres-bike.”

On summer weekends, it turns into a giant post-ride party where you’re more likely to hear French Canadian than English. Order a beer and a burrito from the food truck and hang out at the picnic tables. Junipers at the Wildflower Inn (and it’s SpokeEasy Lounge) is the best place to watch the sunset as you have a farmfresh meal that might include a Vermont pork tenderloin with a vanilla pear sauce or a filet mignon with blueberry cognac sauce and wild thyme. Or head into town to the Foggy Osteria for changing specials such as seafood cioppino over linguine with a white wine blush sauce or other Italian fare.

Courtesy photo

DON’T MISS Burke Mountain’s Bike Park with 19 lift-served trails, a gravity-fed bike park, jumps and more, opens on Memorial Day weekend. Ride the lift once for $10 or do a day pass for $42.

Phil White of Kingdom Games puts on a weekend of road rides —century distance and shorter—for Tour de Kingdom, June 7-9. The most popular ride, The Moose starts Saturday from Mike’s Tiki Bar and heads north. Sunday’s Legendary Lakes tour goes south and takes in Lake Willoughby and a half dozen other lakes with options for 53 or 77 miles. Kingdom Games also hosts a variety of other events in the region, including distance swims in the mountain lakes.

On June 28-30, the New England Mountain Bike Festival returns to East Burke as more than 4,000 riders descend on Kingdom Trails. More than 90 vendors set up tents and host demos. There’s camping onsite next to the Expo, a craft beer tent and music this year by the Roots of Creation—all included in the $130 festival pass.

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 23

can keep up with Mike as he pumps over the rollers, carves the groomed berms and stylishly floats the jumps.

The trail eventually spits us out on the main road, and we make our way back to the car, where Lilias is hanging out. We come to a stop, and before we can say anything, she tells us to load the bikes in the truck. We’re going to shuttle to the top of Burke Mountain to have a final downhill ride—a sunset run from the peak.

“It’s fun man, you’ll like it,” is all Mike says to me with a smirk.

Ali offers to shuttle the truck back down from the top. We load our bikes into Lilias’s beefed up Toyota Tacoma and head up the toll road to the summit.

As we drive up the summit, I can’t help but smile. You can feel the energy of everyone. Excited, blood flowing, minds at peace with the way the day has played itself out. My mind drifts as I watch the passing trees, and I think back to a conversation with Mike from earlier.

We discussed this state of mind we drop into when we ride. This space where you don’t have time to think, you just purely react. He compared it to surfing, something Ali, Mike and I all can relate to.

“Like surfing, you’re putting yourself in all the right places. Finding those pockets, those little spots where you find speed, and connecting them all together with the rhythm of the wave.”

We reach the top as the evening sky explodes with color. This is where the momentum of our day has put us: the peak of the mountain, the peak hour of the day, right in that sweet spot.

"Look Ma, no hands!" says Zeke. Some of the best jump features at Burke Mountain are in full view of the chairlift.

Ali waves to us as she watches the sunset put on a show. We wave back and let out a big loud hoot to each other, cranking down the trail.

I thought I had seen all that the Northeast Kingdom had to offer, but not even close. Burke Mountain has incredible diversity. We instantly are flying down a rock garden, crossing

If swooping down Jester on Burke Mountain doesn't put a smile on your face, nothing will.

24 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

streams and squeezing through tight trees. You have to be on your A-game, everything comes quick. As soon as I adjust to the tightness of the trail it opens up and we are flying down open terrain, going as fast as we can. Eyes watering from the wind on our faces, we suddenly carve a left and link over to a fire road and traverse the mountain.

My heart is racing and can’t stop smiling. We turn right and drop into the Enchanted Forest. Carving lines through endless deep rich soil, leaning our bikes into every corner and the perfect dirt just holds all the pressure you apply. We link into Jester Trail, the perfect day- ending line. It’s an endless run filled with S-berms, jumps, curved wall rides, decision makers and bridges.

We are finally spit out at the bottom of Burke Mountain and my hands can hardly hold onto my grips anymore.

Heading back into town we pass the Passumpsic River and have a plunge into the cool, refreshing running water, rinsing off the day’s dirt and sweat. After we dry off, we decide that after a full day of riding a cold pop is essential and head to Mike’s Tiki Bar, the gathering hub of town. We enjoy a cold beer and listen to a live band play some tunes. Everyone around seems to have a smile on their face and an icy drink in their hand.

The day is done. After leaving town we set up camp under a star-filled sky. We throw our tent up and get a warm dinner ready. We don’t say much as all our bodies crave is a decent meal. Sitting back in our camp chairs, we can see the silhouette of Burke Mountain looking against the starry sky. Looking at one another we grin. Tired legs, bodies exhausted, cheekbones sore from smiling all day.

Ali lifts her cup and says, “I think we found the flow.”

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IS AN E-BIKE YOUR FUTURE? WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, LOW-INTEREST LOANS AND A NEW $200 REBATE ANNOUNCED IN MAY, IS IT TIME YOU CONSIDERED GETTING AN E-BIKE?

Powering uphill on the Cannondale Synapse NEO. Photo courtesy Cannondale

L

inus Owens is a fit 49-year-old who owns five bikes and rides “as much as 200 to 400 miles a week,” he estimates. One of the reasons? He hasn’t owned a car in more than 12 years.

Owens, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Middlebury College, lives in Burlington. “I used to ride my bike maybe once a week to Middlebury and take the bus the other times,” he says. But recently, he bought a new bike at Earl’s Cyclery, a Trek CrossRip+—a drop-handlebar electric assist bike capable of hitting 28 mph.

“Now, I ride to Middlebury maybe two or three times a week and I’m not nearly as wiped out when I get there, plus I can carry my books and a change of clothes,” says Owens. The 34-mile trip down Route 7 takes him about 1 hour 40 minutes, and he usually averages 21 mph. “That’s only a little bit longer than taking public transportation—which door to door is about an hour and a half,” he says. Since Owens pedals for much of the way, he usually uses no more than 60 percent of the bike’s battery.

“Sometimes I’ll ride back to Burlington or other times, put my bike on the bus.”

26 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

Owens admits that his girlfriend owns a car so he’s not entirely reliant on the bike but says the choice not to own one himself is “for both philosophical and financial reasons—I save a lot of money.”

THE NEW E-BIKES

Owens is one of the many new e-bike buyers that bike manufacturers, bike advocacy groups and shops around the state are now catering to. “We generally see people who want to use their bikes to commute, want to keep up with a spouse who might ride a little faster, or who need a little more power to get up the hills,” says Kirsten Jeppesen of the West Hill Shop in Putney. “There’s a lot of up and down around here,” adds David Townsend, the shop’s mechanic. “And we’re even getting more people interested in electric assist mountain bikes and bikes you can use for distance touring or bikepacking.”

Elecric-assist, or e-bikes, now come in nearly as many varieties as there are traditional two-wheelers. For one that will last, expect to pay between $1,500 $6,000. In that rante you can get anything from the folding Evo Atwater

(great if you plan to travel by car, plane or train and need a ride at the other end) which has a 50-mile range, to cargo bikes such as the Yuba Boda Boda, which can be outfitted with two kids seats.

The biggest sub-categories are hybrids, step-through town bikes like the upright Breezer and cruisers like the Townie GO! with its balloon tires. Just a step up from that are commuters and bikepacking rigs.

And increasingly, manufacturers are converting some of their more popular touring performance bikes into e-bikes, such as the drop-bar Cannondale Synapse NEO or the Trek touring Domane.

Mountain bikes are even getting a little electric assist, what Townsend calls “a little boost to get maybe an aging athlete up the hills.” The West Hill shop carries the all-terrain Giant Explore E-plus for rougher roads or smoother trails. Skirack in Burlington carries the Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Comp Carbon 6Fattie/29, a dual suspension carbon frame with an option for 29inch wheels, a battery that’s integrated into the down tube and a power meter that shows just how much power you

are putting out versus the motor.

The one thing to be mindful of, says Skirack’s Jake Hollenbach, is that “right now in Vermont the jury is still out on whether or not e-bikes should be allowed on trails.” .

While resorts such as Sugarbush and Killington have added e-bikes to their rental fleets and see them as good ways to introduce people to some of their trails, Kingdom Trails does not allow e-bikes. “The concern is as much about traffic flow as anything,” says Chris Hibshmam, owner of Village Cycles in Lyndonville. “You don’t want someone blowing by you at 20 mph going uphill.”

LOANERS, LOANS & INCENTIVES

Still, there are a lot of people and organizations that want you on an e-bike and Vermont residents can borrow e-bikes for free, get lowinterest loans, and even $200 rebates for buying a bike that you plan to use for everyday transportation.

In Burlington, if you make a reservation, show a Vermont ID and put down a $100 deposit, you can take out any one of Local Motion’s five models of e-bikes from a Thursday to a Tuesday

at no charge. The lending bikes range from “Marigold” a yellow, 70-pound Xtracycle cargo bike that can carry an adult and two children (under 45 lbs each) in child seats on the back, to a RadPower RadMini Folding Fatbike that can fit in the back of a car, to the lighter Trek Verve, which has a 70-mile range.

Skirack has a similar, free multi-day lending program and lends out two new (2018) Specialized Turbo VADO 3.0s, step-through town bikes with integrated lights and other e-bikes you can demo.

In Brattleboro, the non-profit VBikes has been a leader in trying to make bikes a more popular and more feasible form of transportation for Vermonters. Its “Take it Home” program provides free cargo bikes from a fleet that includes Yuba, Bike Friday and a number of other manufacturers. It even offers cargo trikes and adaptive bikes.

Through a partnership with VTrans Vbikes launched the nation’s first free bike consultations to help consumers to choose an e-bike, understand the technology or find ways to reduce their reliance on cars. It will also help access the VGreen low-interest loans for bikes that VSECU offers Vermont residents who plan to buy a bike (any bike, electric assist or not) to use as transportation.

VBikes was instrumental helping Local Motion to set up its Burlington rental fleet and in getting Burlington Electric to offer instant, point-ofsale $200 rebates to its 20,000 customers who bought an e-bike at any of five local shops. In May, 2019, Green Mountain Power followed suit, with a $200 rebate for its 265,000 customers, good for new e-bikes or retrofits at shops around the state.

“We’re looking at a multitude of other possibilities like subsidies and other incentives to lower the cost of an e-bike purchase," Vbikes founder David Cohen says. "The dream is to have a special low-income family subsidy that would make this so affordable that barely anyone would refuse. We think that the e-bike and e-cargo bike are the real future for a community as healthy and ecologically viable as Vermont.”

While Skirack’s Jake Hollenbach has yet to buy an e-bike himself, he admits he’s been eyeing some of the Specialized off-road bikes. “I live in Richmond at the top of a steep hill and I drive to the grocery store which is 1.5 miles away. If I had an e-bike, I could see myself riding there."

Recently GoBankingrates.com estimated that the average cost of owning a car (gas, maintenance, insurance, registration) in Vermont added up to $3,411 a year. If that’s the case, Linus Owens’s e-bike purchase is looking like a smart buy.

FOUR E-BIKES FOR CYCLISTS If you’re a serious cyclist who thinks that buying an e-bike is the equivalent of wearing mom jeans or admitting you’re out of shape, think again.

What most of these new bikes have in common are varying levels of power assist ranging from a little boost to turbo mode. The more you pedal, the less power they use and the longer your battery lasts. Here are four options that can have you touring farther, riding faster, conquering bigger hills or simply spending less time in a car.

CANNONDALE SYNAPSE NEO, $4,400

If you are tired of getting dropped by a friend or spouse on those long road rides or hill climbs or are planning on doing some multi-day gravel tours, this bike is the technological equivalent of EPO: it will give you that boost but, thanks to a sleek integrated frame and quiet motor, no one needs to know.

It’s more bike than e-bike, with a top speed of 20 mph, but the 250-watt pedal assist from the Bosch Active Line Plus motor is super smooth. It also uses the same double chain ring as the non-e bike so gearing feels more conventional.

TREK CROSSRIP+, $4,199

This is the bike for any serious bike commuting, like Linus Owens’ ride from Burlington to Middlebury. It comes with a Bosch 500wh frame-mounted power pack, a mid-drive system, long-life lithium ion battery, integrated lighting system, and includes rack and fenders. It weighs in at 44 pounds and is touchy enough to be fun to ride without the power assist.

SPECIALIZED LEVO, $5499

If you wanted to, you could spend up to $12,000 on the state-of-the-art Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo with a carbon frame, 700 Wh battery and geometry inspired by the new Stumpjumper. You don’t have to. The more standard Turbo Levo with a choice of standard Fattie 6 (or 29-inch tires) has the same carbon chassis, integrated downtube battery and weighs in at a bit more than 50 lbs.

BREEZER GREENWAYS, $2499

Lighter and a bit more responsive than similar “town” e-bikes, the Breezer Greenway weighs in at under 48 lbs. It uses a Shimano STePS 250 watt motor, a Suntour fork with 63 mm of travel and a geometry that will have you sitting upright and looking around. This is the perfect rail trail or bike path ride.

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 27

THE DIY E-BIKE

WANT TO RETROFIT YOUR CURRENT BIKE AS AN ELECTRICASSIST BIKE? HERE, CALEB MAGOON, OWNER OF POWER PLAY SPORTS AND WATERBURY SPORTS SHOWS YOU HOW.

E

lectric bikes are here to stay. Some buyers are older folks who want to stay in shape and for whom having a throttle option gives a sense of security. Others are recovering from injury or simply don’t have the stamina to navigate Vermont’s prolific hills. Some enthusiasts are simply extending their range or making a challenging commute more doable.

Overall, these bikes open up the cycling market to many more people.

While a new e-bike can cost as little as $649 (for an entry-level cruiser you might find at Walmart), a cheaper bike may not be reliable. And if you don't want to spend upwards of $1500 to have a mid-range e-bike or deal with the hassle of having yet another bike in the garage, you might want to think about converting an existing bike.

While converting the bike you have into an e-bike isn’t an option for everyone, it does offer a cost-effective way to get people into the new market. Bike conversion kits cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000. The one big drawback?

Installing a motor will void the manufacturer's warranty on your bicycle.

Robert Coates is the motor install specialist at Power Play Sports (PPS), one of the two shops I co-own, and has been doing motor installations on bikes for over four years. He has led the way for e-bikes at our shop and has the skills to give a customer exactly what they want from a custom motor conversion.

within this category) you won’t be able to enjoy pedal assist—only throttle.

Mid-Motor Mount Kits These are the most expensive, but best option for all around use. These conversions best preserve the balance of the bike, and all options include pedal assist and throttle.

The feel of a mid-motor pedal assist is superior to that of a rear wheel hub conversion, as the cranks and drivetrain are being driven, instead of just the wheel. It’s the most natural feeling ride.

If you are ok with a slightly higher price tag, we recommend a mid-motor mount. Not all bikes can be converted using one of these kits (hub mounts can be installed on nearly anything), but they are the better option all around.

CHOOSE YOUR MOTOR

Choosing a motor and battery to drive your converted e-bike is your next step. Some of the following motors are “street-legal” and some are not, so check your local laws before you select one. No matter which kit you get, there should be a variety of motor sizes available to you.

Here are some easy guidelines for choosing how much power you'll need.

300-400 watts: These smaller motors are great for minimal assist needs (less power, less speed). Think: a tough guy who wants minimal assist, or someone living in the Champlain Valley with lower, sloping terrain.

600-800 watts: Excellent bang for your buck in terms of power. A motor of this size will give you plenty of oomph for the hillier parts of the state without requiring a massive battery. For folks who need the pedal assist function and know they need to navigate steep or loose terrain, this is a great starting point.

You can convert your existing bike into an e-bike, but you may want a shop to help.

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT YOUR BIKE TO DO

Before you convert an existing bike, think about how you plan to use it.

Not all conversion kits fit with every bike. Motors can be a front wheel, rear wheel or mid-motor mount, where the crank is replaced. Each has advantages and disadvantages outlined below.

Throttle: Just like on anything else with a motor, this is the “Go” button or lever. Most, but not all e-bikes and conversions have one.

These are great as a safety feature.

Electric Assist: Again, some but not all conversions will have this. The idea is simply this: when you pedal,

28 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

Photo by Caleb Magoon

the motor gives your natural motion a little extra juice. Most e-bikes allow you to select the amount of assist the motor gives you on a scale of 1 to 5 or 1 to 10. These have a much more natural feel when riding and will allow you to go faster and further more easily.

Hub Conversion Kits: In this type of conversion, which is the least expensive, your wheel hub is replaced with a motor that spins the wheel. The down side is that it adds a big weight to the front or back of your bike. This alters the weight balance of a bike so that it doesn't ride as well as with a mid-motor mount. In the case of a front wheel hub motor (the least expensive option

1K+: These are the big boys. Keep in mind that a bigger motor requires more battery power. These are awesome, mostly off-road motors that really have a kick. They have plenty of power for getting over any obstacle and a maximum legal speed of 29 mph.

Because of their size, they also tend to be a bit more rugged. At this size and price, few manufacturing shortcuts are taken. These motors tend to be extremely durable.

HOW BIG A BATTERY?

At PowerPlay Sports we recommend a couple of different motor and battery options depending on your intentions. However, if you are going online to buy a kit, ask the company you are buying it from which battery is most appropriate for the motor.

Batteries are generally measured in volts and amp hours to roughly describe the amount of power flowing

to the motor at a given time. This can get extremely technical very quickly.

Without going crazy, you will generally want a battery with more voltage for a bigger motor. Battery sizes range from 36 volts for a smaller motor to 54 volts for bigger motors. Most companies are happy to give you a recommendation, so don’t hesitate to ask what they think is most appropriate for the motor you want to drive.

These components and kits are available online from a number of sources. But once again, make sure you know who you are getting them from and how they handle warranties.

If you are not consulting a bike shop or an expert, do a little more research to be sure you know what you are getting.

There are also a lot of optional parts available for e-bike conversions that can further improve comfort and safety. Motor cutoffs are an important safety feature that cut the motor when you change gears or hit the breaks. They can be complicated to install as each must also match the existing hardware on your bike. Once again, doing a little extra research or talking to an expert will help you determine if these extra features are right for you.

HOW TO RETROFIT YOUR BIKE AS AN E-BIKE

While ordering the parts and installing the kits is doable for the average consumer, the kits are fairly complex.

Directions are often not included and online instructions tend to be incomplete. There are also some specialized tools and additional small parts that will likely be needed. They can be found at any bike shop, but add yet another level of complexity.

So while a home installation is possible, having a bike shop complete the task is always the easiest route.

These installations take anywhere from less than an hour for a basic front wheel install to several hours for a more complicated hub or midmotor retrofit. Thus, an installation could cost as little as $50 or as much as $500 for a big conversion. Many run right in between. Keep in mind, there is often a need to install smaller parts and replace things like your derailleur cable when you put in a motor cutoff.

For this reason most shops will simply sell you a whole package that includes labor and any small parts needed.

However, if you want to do it yourself, go to town! Here’s what you need to do on an average mid-motor install (our most popular option).

This installation takes us about three hours—you should expect a bit longer.

Before you do anything, make sure your kit is compatible with your bike.

The cutoff should connect easily to the wiring harness. Lastly, there should be a speed sensor that attaches much like a standard bike computer to the rear of the frame, with a sensor on a spoke.

You will also need some specialized bike tools to complete the process.

Once you have the tools you need and a kit in hand, here's what you do: a) Remove your pedals, existing crank assembly and bottom bracket (in this order). b) Assemble your new motor by installing the chain ring and guard onto the motor. c) Install the new motor and bottom bracket on the frame, fastening them with the provided bolts and lock ring.

Sometimes spacers need to be added for exact fit. We also recommend use of a light-strength locktite. d) Remove one grip/shifter/brake lever to slip on the new throttle. Attach power control and computer/interface. e) Attach the battery mount to your water bottle cage/accessory mounts.

For a small frame, you may need to attach the battery to a back rack. f) Install the wiring harness connecting the wires from the components on the handlebar down to the motor and the battery. Attach the motor to the battery.

Try and keep the cable runs as clean and neat as possible!

Clockwise from top, the mid-motor mount attaches to your chain ring; the power pack can be attached using the water bottle cage mounts; the wiring hardness and display unit on the handlebars. Photos by Caleb Magoon

g) Add-ons: Some kits will give you new

connect right into the wiring harness.

brake levers to install while others will

The gear disconnect will require you

provide add-on magnetic disconnects

to cut the housing and re-route your

for the existing levers. These should

derailleur cable through the cutoff.

h) Attach the battery and turn it on, along with the control module.

Once they’re hooked up and everything runs, neatly arrange and tie up your cables with zip ties.

As the electric bike market develops, the only thing you can really count on is that we will see lots of changes in the coming years. The revolution these bikes should bring will make biking accessible for a huge number of people who can’t currently enjoy the sport.

As always, if you are considering an electric bike, your best resource is a local bike shop. We have a tremendous bike community in Vermont and it’s just a matter of time before many of these options are available in your local store.

If you’re considering a new e-bike, don’t be deterred by the price shock.

Conversions are more affordable and options can be selected to keep the price down. Additionally, prices on integrated e-bikes will only come down in the future. While the price does remain an obstacle for many, rebates are currently available from Burlington Electric and Green Mountain Power.

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 29

[ MANSFIELD

O R T H O PA E D I C S

]

Get back to the activities you love.

Sports Medicine at Copley Hospital.

Don’t let injuries or chronic knee, hip, shoulder or ankle pain stop you from enjoying the health benefits of walking, jogging or running. The experts at Mansfield Orthopaedics can help with state-of-the-art treatments designed specifically for you. Match that with the warm, personalized care Copley is known for. Top medical care to help you get back to the activities you love.

Our physicians: Nicholas Antell, MD; Brian Aros, MD; Bryan Huber, MD; John Macy, MD; Joseph McLaughlin, MD and Bryan Monier, MD.

To make an appointment with a Mansfield Orthopaedic Specialist at Copley Hospital, call 802.888.8405 ORTHOPEDICS | OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY | CARDIOLOGY EMERGENCY SERVICES | GENERAL SURGERY | ONCOLOGY REHABILITATION SERVICES | DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

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RACE & EVENT GUIDE

VERMONT

SPORTS

LISTING YOUR EVENT IN THIS

CALENDAR IS FREE AND EASY. VISIT

VTSPORTS.COM/SUBMIT-AN-EVENT OR E-MAIL EDITOR@VTSPORTS.COM. ALL

AREA CODES ARE 802. ALL LOCATIONS ARE IN VERMONT, UNLESS OTHERWISE

NOTED. FEATURED EVENTS, IN YELLOW, PAY A NOMINAL FEE.

RUNNING/HIKING JUNE 1 | The Endurance Society’s Infinitus Race, Goshen Choose from an 8-mile, a marathon, an 88K, a 100-mile, a 250-mile race, a DecaMarathon (ten marathons in ten days) and an 888K race on a marked trail loop at the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center. endurancesociety.org 1 | Colchester Causeway Race, Colchester This 5K, 10K and 15K follow a trail out onto the Causeway. colchestervt.gov/358/ Causeway-5K-10K-15K-Race 1 | Girls on the Run 5K, Essex Junction A festival to promote girls running and getting involved with sports and an active lifestyle. girlsontherun.org 1 | 7th Annual West River Trail Run, South Londonderry Run 11 miles on exciting terrain on a one-way trail from South Londonderry to Jamaica State Park along the West River. thecollaborative.us/westrivertrailrun

8 | 42nd Annual Capital City Stampede, Montpelier Central Vermont Runners hosts this 10K road race out and back, half on paved roads and half on dirt. cvrunners.org

22 | 18th Annual Basin Harbor 5K and 10K, Vergennes Catch the children’s fun run before the 5K nd 10K races, which wind along the lake, boat docks and golf course. racevermont

JULY

1 | Craftsbury Beer Run, Craftsbury A point to point trail and dirt road half marathon from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to Hill Farmstead Brewery. craftsbury.com

8 | Ascutney Mountain Race, Brownsville Part of the USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit, this 3.7-mile race gains 2,300 feet up Mt. Ascutney. northeastuphillmountainseries.blogspot.com

2 | Covered Bridges Half Marathon, Woodstock Run 13.1 miles on scenic roads with covered bridges, starting at Suicide Six Ski Area. cbhm.com

15 | NH-VT Covered Bridge Half Marathon and Relay, Colebrook, N.H. Choose between a half marathon, a 16.2-mile race and a 5K. Food and live bluegrass music at the finish. nhvthalfmarathon.com

4 | 37th Annual Clarence DeMar Road Race, South Hero Run a scenic 5K out and back on South Street in South Hero. Don’t miss the ¼-mile kids race in the schoolyard before the 5K. gmaa.net

3 | 40th Annual Vermont Milk Run, Enosburg Falls A 6.2-mile course through dairy country.

Part of the Franklin County Triple Crown and the Vermont Dairy Festival. vermontdairyfestival.com

16 | 9th Annual GMAA Equinox Trail Race, Charlotte This fun but challenging 5K trail race follows fields, single track and old sugaring roads. gmaa.net

4 | Montcalm Mile, Ticonderoga, N.Y. Run downhill for one mile into downtown Ticonderoga before the 4th of July parade in this fun road race. lachute.us

20-22 | Sine Nomine, Mendon The Endurance Society hosts a secretive endurance race of unspecified length held in rural Vermont at a location disclosed only to the entrants. endurancesociety.org

7 | 38th Annual Stowe 8-Miler and 5K, Stowe Take to the roads for a fun summer race and celebrate your finish with Island Homemade Ice Cream and beer from Harpoon. stowe8miler.com

1 | Race to the Top of Bradford, Bradford Take on a 3.5-mile trail race to the top of Wrights Mountain or a 1.5-mile kids fun run on wooded trails. bradfordconservation. org/race

4 | Five Fifty Fifty Run/Walk for Mental Health, Burlington Run or walk a 5K. One of 50 five-kilometer races being held in each state over 50 days to raise support for mental illness. fivefiftyfifty.com 7 | 23rd Annual Kids Track Meet, Montpelier All central Vermont kids in pre-school through 6th grade can compete in this free track meet. cvrunners.org

3 | Montpelier Mile, Montpelier Kick off the city's 3rd of July celebration with a mile race through town, starting and finishing at the state house. cvrunners.org

22 | 6th Annual Salomon Catamount Ultra 25K/50K Trail Race, Stowe Run on rolling dirt trails through pastures and hardwood forest at the Trapp Family Lodge trail system. Followed by the Salomon Running Festival with free demos, local food and beer. 50K is two loops. catamountultra.com

7 | Mad Marathon, Mad Half and Relays, Waitsfield A weekend of races on dirt roads with tough climbs and great views of the Green Mountains. madmarathon.com

43RD ANNUAL

Sunday, September 15 THROUGH 5 TOWNS IN THE BEAUTIFUL BERKSHIRES Bike • Canoe/Kayak/SUP • Run Triathlon Team & Iron Categories

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Photo: oliver Parish

R U N A G R O U N D T R I AT H L O N

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 31

9 | The Peak Death Race, Pittsfield This race claims to be the most difficult race in the world. Expect thousands of burpees, endurance crawls under barbed wire and the unexpected. peakraces.com

15 | Berlin Pond 5-Miler, Berlin A 5-mile loop around Berlin Pond on a mix of flat and hilly dirt roads. Part of the Central Vermont Runners ORS Race Series. cvrunners.org

13 | Paine Mountain Trail Race, Northfield Run a half marathon or a 10K on the singletrack, forest roads and abandoned ski slopes of Paine Mountain, at Shaw Outdoor Center. ironwoodadventureworks.com

16-17 | Ragnar Trail Vermont, Ascutney Mountain Sports Trails of the Ascutney Basin hosts this three-day camping and running adventure.

Teams of 8 (or 4 ultra-runners) will conquer a series of three trails that start and end at “Ragnar Village.” runragnar.com

13 | Bear Swamp Run, Middlesex A 5.7-mile, hilly route on scenic dirt roads.

Part of the Central Vermont Runners ORS Race Series.cvrunners.org 13-14 | Ethan Allen 24, Bennington Nor’East Trail Runs hosts this fixed-time track race, with categories for 6-hours of running, 12-hours of running and 24 hours of running. netrailruns.com 20 | The Vermont 100 Endurance Race, West Windsor This beautiful run winds over country roads and on forest trails. vermont100.com 20 | 4st Annual Goshen Gallup, Goshen The Blueberry Hill Inn in Goshen hosts a 5K and 10.2K trail race in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, billed as the “toughest 10K in the East.” blueberryhillinn.com

JULY 14TH COME TRI THIS! Come swim (or paddle), bike and run at Branbury State Park on beautiful Lake Dunmore .

VERMONT SUN TRIATHLON 600 yd. Swim | 14 mi. Bike | 3.1 mi. Run 6/22, 7/14, 8/11

LAKE DUNMORE TRIATHLON 0.9 mi. Swim | 28 mi. Bike | 6.2 mi. Run 6/22 & 8/11

BRANBURY CLASSIC TRIATHLON 1.5 mi. Paddle,| 14 mi. Bike | 3.1 mi. Run - 7/14

vermontsun.com • 388-6888 32 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

27 | 40th GMAA Round Church Women’s Run 5K and 10K, Richmond Run out and back on Cochran Road on pavement with a few rolling hills. Courses start and end across from the Round Church. gmaa.net 28 | Mansfield Double Up, Stowe Gain 5,000 feet over 11 miles on Vermont’s most technical terrain as you race across the state’s highest peak. nativeendurance.com 28 | Barre Heritage Festival 5K, Barre A 5K race through the granite quarries and Barre Town Forest on single track. cvrunners.org/page_id=379

AUGUST 10 | Kingdom Run, Irasburg Try a half marathon, 5K or 10K out-and-back race on scenic dirt roads. Race is followed by live music, free lunch and blueberry sundaes.

Walkers welcome. kingdomrun.org 10-11 | Smugglers Mountain Race, Jeffersonville Try the 25K trail run and the Madonna Mountain Vertical Challenge. A weekend of sky-run-style mountain races on the trails of Smugglers’ Notch Resort. ironwoodadventureworks.com

17 | The Vermont 100 on 100 Relay, Stowe Starting at Trapp Family Lodge, this team race covers 100 miles on Route 100 to Ludlow. 100on100relay.com 17 | 27th Annual GMAA Scholarship Trail Race, South Burlington Run 5K entirely on dirt trails with views of Lake Champlain at Red Rocks Park. gmaa.run 18 | Woodchuck Cider Chase 5K, Middlebury Dash from barn to farmhouse and back through the village, followed by live music, food trucks, yard games and family-friendly fun at the ciderhouse. ciderchase.com 24 | Lost Cat 50K, East Dorset Choose from a 13.1-mile run, a 26.2-mile run and a 50K on this rugged trail race over Dorset’s Mount Aeolus, through forests and past historic marble quarries. netrailruns.com 24 | 2nd Annual Vermont Trail Running Festival, Stowe Head to Trapp Family Lodge for clinics about training, nutrition, trail running and for group runs. catamounttrail.org 25 | Zoe's Race, Burlington Support the Howard Center with this 1K fun run, 5K run/walk and 10K run. zoesrace.org 25 | Delta Dental Race to the Top of Vermont, Stowe Run, bike or hike the 4.3-miles up the toll road on Mt. Mansfield, with 2,564 feet of climbing. rtttovt.com 25 | Dorset Hollow Road Race, Dorset Run 5K or 10K on a scenic loop through Dorset Hollow, with sweeping mountain views and steep trails. netrailruns.com Aug. 30- Sept. 1 | 8th Annual Jay Peak Trail Running Festival, Jay Peak Sign up for one of several 5Ks on trails of varying difficulty, an 11-mile race and ultra races on Sunday. jaypeakresort.com

1| 51st GMAA Archie Post 5-Miler, Burlington Run the bike path and take in sweeping views of the Green Mountains. gmaa.run 7 | Maple Leaf Half Marathon and Kotler 5K, Manchester Run through picturesque villages on country roads and back to the finish during the early stages of fall color in southern Vermont. Choose between the marathon and 5K. manchestervtmapleleaf.com 7 | Groton Forest Trail Runs, Groton The Central Vermont Runners host these 26.5-mile and 15-mile at the Groton Forest State Park on a combination of hiking and multi-use trails. cvrunners.org 7 | Charlotte Covered Bridge 5K/10K Run & Walk, Charlotte This race begins and ends at Shelburne Beach and follows a scenic gravel road by orchards and the shores of Lake Champlain. racevermont.com 7 | The Endurance Society Sky Run, Mad River Glen Choose between a 5K and a 10K. Both courses take you to the top of General Stark Mountain, offering 2,000 feet of vertical climbing and 3,700 feet of vertical climbing respectively. Descend to the base camp for a post-race party. endurancesociety.org 14 | 3rd Annual ADK 5K, Lake George Run an out-and-back course that hugs the lake and offers sweeping views of Lake George, followed by live music, food trucks and yard games at the Adirondack Pub and Brewery. adk5k.com 14-15 | 24 Hours of the Northeast Kingdom, East Charleston See how many laps you can complete as an individual or as part of a relay team in this 6, 12 or 14-hour race on the trails at NorthWoods Stewardship Center. ironwoodsadventureworks.com 15 | The 16th Annual TAM Trek, Middlebury Choose between a 19-mile race, a 10K and a two-mile family fun run on the beautiful and rolling Trail Around Middlebury, which features rolling terrain with lots of single track. Proceeds support maintenance of the TAM. maltvt.org 18 | Sodom Pond 5-Miler, Adamant A scenic dirt road race that joins trails to circumnavigate Sodom Pond. cvrunners.org

22 | Trapp Cabin 5K, 10K and Half Marathon, Stowe All courses run on the scenic trails at Trapp Family Outdoor Center, with proceeds benefiting Stowe Adaptive Sports. stoweadaptive.org

12THANNUAL 2019

SEPTEMBER

22 | 6th Annual Island Vines 10K, South Hero Run a scenic 10K through the Champlain Islands and enjoy wines from Snow Farm Vineyard with local food afterwards. runvermont.org 26 | Beebe Farm, Dorset Choose between a 48-hour, a 12-hour, a 6-hour race, a marathon, a 50K and a “quadzilla” all on a 0.87-mile loop at Harold Beebe Farm. Hosted by Nor’East Trails. netrails.com 28 | Vermont Craft Beer Half Marathon, St. Albans Run through historic downtown and on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail to a harvest festival and craft beer tasting with food trucks, live music and Vermont craft breweries. 14thstarbrewing.com 29 | 27th Annual Vermont 50, West Windsor Head to Mt. Ascutney for this ultramarathon on trails or epic 50-mile, cross-country mountain bike race to benefit Vermont Adaptive Ski + Sports. There are also a team relay and a kids fun run. vermont50.com

OCTOBER 6 | Leaf Peepers Half Marathon or 5K, Duxbury Run out and back along River Road in Duxbury in this beautiful foliage season running event. leafpeepershalfmarathon.org 12 | 8th Annual Gulp and Gallup 5K, Mount Snow Make four laps of the course, returning to the base area each time to consume either a cup of water or a cup of beer. mountsnow.com

BEF

Vermont State ParkS One night camping reservations available for traveling cyclists

That’s how we roll

13 | 49th Annual Green Mountain Marathon and Half Marathon, South Hero Run on the colorful shores of Lake Champlain in this scenic foliage season marathon and half marathon. gmaa.net 17 | 29029, Stratton Run, walk or crawl up Stratton Mountain.

Take the gondola down. Repeat 17 times until you climb 29029 feet, the height of Everest. stratton.com 19 | Trapp Lodge Mountain Marathon, Stowe Don’t miss this challenging, hilly full and half marathon race on the rolling trails at Trapp Family Lodge. trappmountain.com

vtstateparks.com JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 33

“A little Austria... a lot of Vermont.”

BE A PART OF THESE COMING EVENTS: JUNE 22nd

Catamount Ultra marathon

JULY 26 -28 th

th

Kid’s Adventure Games

AUGUST 17th

100 ON 100

AUGUST 24th

SEPTEMBER 15th

Chris Ludington Memorial Trail Run, 5k and 10K

SEPTEMBER 22nd

Stowe Adaptive ½ Marathon

OCTOBER 19

th

Trapp’s Mountain Marathon

OGE/Catamount Running Clinic

Join us this summer for any events or to explore our diverse trail system and take advantage of the best trailhead in Vermont at the Bierhall at Trapp Family Lodge!

For more info, call the Outdoor Center at 802.253.5719 or go to trappfamily.com.

700 Trapp Hill Road | Stowe, Vermont | 800.826.7000

20 | Heady Topper 4-Miler, Stowe Run a fun road race starting and ending at The Alchemist Brewery, followed by a music and beer festival. headytrotter.com

9 | Tour de Heifer, Brattleboro Choose between 3-, 15-, 30- and 60-mile rides, all on the dirt roads of Southern Vermont. strollingoftheheifers.com

27 | Nor’witch Halloween Half Marathon, Marathon and 50K, Norwich Nor’East Trails hosts this series of fall trail races at varying distances. Costumes are highly encouraged. netrails.com

9-10 | The Vermont Epic, Ludlow Head to Okemo Mountain Resort for three races: the 18th annual B2VT, a 130+ mile ride, the VTMonster, a 70-mile ride with 9,000 feet of vertical gain on gravel and dirt roads and the VT 40, a recreational ride with 20- and 40-mile options. okemo.com

BIKING JUNE 1 | Everyday Biking Workshop with Local Motion, Hinesburg Join Local Motion for free coffee, pastries and all the tips and tricks you need to commute or travel by bike safely. RSVP online. localmotion.org 1 | New England Randonneurs VT 200K and 300K Brevet, Burlington Open to all NER members, this event will feature challenging but scenic riding in the Champlain Valley. nerandonneurs.org 2 | Mud Pond Trail Day with Fellowship of the Wheel, Williston Join Fellowship of the Wheel and VMBA for a day of volunteer trail work at Mud Pond. facebook.com/fellowshipofthewheel 7-9 | Tour de Kingdom, Burke Choose from a series of rides, including a century, The Moose (a 200-mile ride) and a ride around Lake Memphremagog—or opt to ride all three days of this epic cycling festival. kingdomgames.co/june-tour 7 | 18th Annual Pat’s Peak Mountain Bike Festival, Henniker, N.H. Features downhill races, cross-country races and 24-, 12- and 6-hour riding challenges at Pat’s Peak. patspeak.com 8 | The VTMonster Gravel Grinder, Ludlow A 70-mile ride with 9,000 feet of vertical gain on dirt and gravel roads that will “loosen your fillings and crush your legs.” ridinggravel.com/event/vt-monster

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8-9 | Farm to Fork Fondo: Hudson Valley, Warwick, N.Y. Choose between an 83-mile gran fondo, a 50-mile medio fondo, a 35-mile piccolo fondo and a 10-mile ramble through rolling farmland starting and ending at Warwick Valley Winery. farmtoforkfondo. com/hudson-valley 9 | The Ranger, Tunbridge Features 32 miles and over 4,000 feet of climbing on class IV roads followed by free beer and a slice of pizza from the NOFAVT wood-fired oven. thrangervt.com

12 & Weekly | Onion River Outdoors Women’s Intermediate Mountain Bike Clinics, Montpelier A fun, supportive clinic for intermediate women and non-binary riders. Includes ontrail time and an evening of bike maintenance at the shop. Repeats Aug. 7. bikereg.com/ womens-mtb-clinics 12 & Weekly | Onion River Outdoors Women’s Beginner Mountain Bike Clinics, Montpelier A fun, supportive clinic for beginner women and non-binary riders. Includes on-trail time and an evening of bike maintenance at the shop. Repeats Aug. 7. bikereg.com/ womens-mtb-clinics 15 | Adirondack 540 Gran Fondo, Wilmington, N.Y. Take on 136 miles of epic Adirondack scenery on mountain roads near Whiteface Mountain. adkultracycling.com 15-16 | Switchback Bike for the Lake, North Hero Choose an 80-mile, 60-mile or 30mile ride to raise funds to support Friends of Northern Lake Champlain. friendsofnorthernlakechamplain.org 22 | Fellowship of the Wheel Trail Day, Hinesburg Help get trails cleared after the winter timber harvest at the Hinesburg Town Forest. facebook.com/fellowshipofthewheel 22 | The 200-on-100 Double Century, North Troy This is a single-day double-century that travels the length of Vermont, from the Canadian Border to the Massachusetts state line, primarily following VT-100.

100-200.org 22-23 | Vermont Adaptive Charity Ride, Bridgewater Corners Choose from 100-, 60- and 40-mile loops followed by a barbecue with live music at Long Trail brewery and raise funds to support adaptive athletes. killington.com 29 | 5th Annual RAS Gravel Adventure, Peru Ride 41.6 miles of mostly gravel roads with 4,000 feet of climbing and the famed JHR Climb, with a 21 percent grade. support4shane. com

29 | Vermont Gran Fondo, Bristol Test yourself in this ridiculously challenging, mountainous road race with options for a 108-mile ride, a 65-mile ride, a 77-mile ride and a 39-mile ride. vermontgranfondo.com

20 | Raid Lamoille, Craftsbury Ride approximately 100K on mostly gravel roads through the rolling Vermont countryside. 6,000 feet of elevation gain. A 50K route is also available. raidlamoille.com

29 | 14th Annual Tour de Grace Bicycle Rally, Stratton Mountain Ride 19 miles through scenic southern Vermont to support Grace Cottage Hospital. gracecottage.org

20-21 | Eastern States Cup Sugarbush Showdown, Warren Catch high calibur enduro and downhill mountain bike races with a combined cash purse. sugarbush.com

30 | Central Vermont Cycling Tour, Montpelier Choose between a 13.6-mile ride, a 33.75mile ride and a 59-mile ride in this epic gravel grinder through central Vermont. crossvermont.org

21 | Farm to Fork Fondo, South Hero A non-competitive cycling event where all riders enjoy aid stations with chef-prepared treats made from local farms’ ingredients. farmforkfondo.com/champlain-islands

30 | Champ's Challenge, Vergennes Choose between an 8- and 40-mile course from Basin Harbor Club, with a 5K walk/ run offered as well. Post-race BBQ at Basin Harbor. vtsports.com

JULY 6 | Gnar Weasels: Bubba Trophy Series #4, Brownsville This EFTA-sanctioned event offers a $400 prize for the first man and woman to finish this mountain bike race. bubbatrophy.com 7 | Eastern States Cup Enduro World Series Qualifier, Burke Mountain Some of the best riders in the East will head to Burke Mountain Resort for a full day of enduro mountain bike racing and a chance to qualify for the Enduro World Series. easternstatescup.com 9 & 12 | Divas of Dirt Group Rides, Killington Free Friday night group rides for female mountain bikers. 4-6 p.m. in July & Aug., 3-5 p.m. in Sept. & Oct. Requires Killington Bike Park ticket. Repeats Aug. 9 & 23, Sept. 6 & 20, Oct. 4. killington.com 12-13 | The 38th Annual Prouty, Hanover, N.H. Bike, walk, row or golf to raise funds for Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Cyclists choose between 20-, 35-, 50-, 77- and 100-mile routes as well as a 65-mile metric century gravel ride. theprouty.org 13-14 | Divas of Dirt Gravity Camp, Killington Join pros like Amy Alton, Ali Zimmer, Clarissa Fink and Ella Skawold for a weekend of learning technical skills for downhill mountain biking with fellow women. killington.com 19-21 | Conquer the Kingdom, Lyndon A mountain bike skills building weekend of lessons, small group rides and instruction with Cannondale mountain bike demos. kingdomexperiences.com

26-27 | Vermont WTF Bikepacking Weekend, Burlington Organized by Queen City Bicycling Club, this is for W/T/F/GMC folx. An epic gravel bikepacking adventure to Glover. wtfbikexplorers.com 27 | Lake Placid Smashfest: A Smile Train Fundraiser, Lake Placid, N.Y. Take on an 85-mile road cycling course or a 59-mile course with aid stations. thecyclingformula.com/smashfest 27 | The Irreverent Road Ride, Richmond Adventure through Central Vermont on a mountain bike route that has not yet been set with pit stops for ice cream, swimming holes and lots of time in low gear. shorthandledshovel.com 27 | Mount Washington Century+, Albany, N.H. Supported century ride that circumnavigates the base of Mt. Washington. An 80-mile course and a 40-mile course are also available. tinmountain.org 27 | The Ididaride, North Creek, N.Y. The Adirondack Mountain Club hosts this cycling fundraiser with a 23-mile offroad mountain bike course through the mountains, a 75-mile road course and a barbecue. adk.org

AUGUST 3 | Tour de Slate, Middletown Springs Choose between a 100K metric century road ride, and a 36-mile, 23-mile or 8-mile ride on the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail.

Post-race chicken curry and a barbecue on the town green. tourdeslate.org 3 | The Kearsarge Classic, Warner, N.H. Choose between a 55-mile, 35-mile and 83mile adventure route in this gravel grinder through the rolling farmland of the Mt. Sunapee region. grvlt.net/kearsarge-klassic

JUNE 2019 | VTSPORTS.COM 35

4 | Maxxis Eastern States Cup Intense Downhill Series, Killington The best riders in the East will head to Killington for a day of downhill competition as part of the Eastern States Cup. There will be a kids’ class too. easternstatescup.com

September 15, 2019

AUGUST 11-13

Gravel road race fundraiser | craftsbury.com/genny-tenny © John Lazenby

YOU WON’T BELIVE THESE ULTRA LIGHT WEIGHT BOATS Starting at only 14 lbs

9-11 | The 2019 Vermont Gravel Camp, Stowe Head to the Round Hearth for a weekend of adventure riding on unmaintained historic roads with Cycling Formula coaches and gravel racing legend Mike Barton. thecyclingformula.com 9-11 | Adult Downhill Mountain Bike Camp, Killington Learn basic downhill skills or hone your expert-level technique with professional coaches during a weekend of drills, thrills and coaching at Killington’s bike park. killington.com 10 | The Point to Point, powered by VSECU, Brownsville Ride 100, 50 or 25 road miles or choose a 20-mile trail bike ride or a 28-mile gravel grinder or a trail half marathon. Catch live music and food trucks at the base of Mt. Ascutney. thepointtopoint.org 10 | Farm to Fork Fondo: Finger Lakes Region, Burdett, N.Y. Choose from rides ranging from the 88-mile Gran Fondo to the 54-mile Medio, to the 37-mile Piccolo to the 7-mile ride at this weekend of food, drink and cycling in the Finger Lakes region. farmtoforkfondo.com/finger-lakes 10 | 10th Annual Bike ‘N’ Brew, Burke Catch live music, mountain bike rides, bike games and beer tastings at this epic celebration of bike season in Vermont. skiburke.com 15-18 | The Vermont Challenge, Manchester This year, this classic four-day tour will now offer 3 routes of varying distances for each day of the tour, with two group leaders for each ride. vtchallenge.com 16-18 | The VT3, Craftsbury Common From the rocky, granite slopes of Hardwick to the sculpted enduro tracks of Victory, the VT3 mountain bike race series offers fun courses and fast racing. thevt3.com

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36 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

17 | The Peak Woodsplitter 6-Hour Mountain Bike Race, Pittsfield See how many times you can complete a 10mile loop within a 6-hour time limit on the Green Mountain Trails. peakraces.com 17-18 | Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, Gorham, N.H. With categories ranging from traditional road bike to unicycle, this is an epic race to the summit of New England’s tallest peak. mwarbh.org

24-25 | The JULBO Eastern Grind: Bubba Trophy Series #6, Williston Catamount Outdoor Family Center hosts two days of mountain bike races in this EFTAcertified event. bubbatrophy.com 25 | The Vermont Overland, Reading Challenge yourself to a 44-mile dirt road bicycle race featuring 5,700 feet of climbing, seven sectors of Vermont pave and magnificent scenery. vermontoverland.co 25 | 3rd Annual Clif Enduro Lite, Burke Created by the race pros at MAXXIS Eastern States Cup, this event offers riders an introduction to enduro racing in a stress-free environment. skiburke.com 23-24 | Farm to Fork Fondo: Pennsylvania Dutch, Ronks, Penn.

Choose between the 82-mile Gran Fondo, the 45-mile Medio, the 33-mile Piccolo and a 9-mile ride through rolling hills. Enjoy stops with local food. farmtoforkfondo.com

SEPTEMBER 7 | 14th Annual Kelly Brush Ride, Middlebury Ride 20, 50 or 100 miles on paved roads through the Champlain Valley. Fundraising for this event helps people with spinal cord injuries afford adaptive athletic equipment. kellybrushfoundation.org 8 | Victory Hill Enduro, Victory Top East Coast riders take to the trails for a chance to compete in the Enduro World Series NorAm Continental Finals. easternstatescup.com/victoryhill/ 8 | Cabot Ride the Ridges, Cabot A mostly gravel ride through the hills of Cabot and Peacham. Fully supported with 10k, 30k, 60k and 100k loops. Post-race lunch and ice cream. ridetheridges.net 28-29 | Farm to Fork Fondo: The Berkshires, Mass.

Choose between the 79-mile Gran Fondo, the 48-mile Medio, the 31-mile Piccolo and a 10mile ride through rolling hills. Enjoy stops with local food. farmtoforkfondo.com

WATERSPORTS JUNE 1 | Vermont Paddlers Club Whitewater Novice Clinic, Waterbury Learn the basics of boat handling, river reading and techniques for driving a boat through moving water. vtpaddlers.net 2 | Onion River Race and Ramble, Bolton Canoe or kayak this 10.5-mile route on the Winooski River, from Bolton to Richmond. winooskiriver.org

22 | Missisquoi Paddle Pedal and Richford River Festival, Richford Paddle a 6.2-mile section of the Missisquoi River, followed by 5 miles of cycling on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail and a festival. northernforestcanoetrail.org 22-24 | Winni River Days, Franklin, N.H. Catch live music, duck races, whitewater paddling clinics, a silent auction & beer. Two days of various whitewater races, plus free morning yoga. millcitypark.com 23 | The Winni Slalom, Northfield, N.H. Race through suspended slalom gates in this class II whitewater race on the Winnipesaukee River. nessrace.com 29 | Son of a Swim, Derby NEKOWSKA hosts 2-, 4-, 6- and 10-mile open water swim races from Derby Bay on Lake Memphremagog. kingdomgames.co 30 | Brattle Paddle Canoe, Kayak and SUP Race, Brattleboro Choose between a 9-mile and a 3.5-mile flatwater course on the Connecticut and West Rivers. neckra.org

JULY 13-14 | Vermont Paddlers’ Club Class II Clinic, Deerfield, Mass.

BYO equipment for this two-day whitewater paddling clinic. Expect to spend time in class II rapids building skills. vtpaddlers.net

16-17 | USMS Sprint and Long Distance Open Water National Championships, Lake Willoughby The sprint race runs Aug. 16, with the 5-mile, long-distance swim on Aug. 17. kingdomgames.co

KICK OFF YOUR outd adventure season oor in style

OBSTACLE COURSE/ ADVENTURE RACE JUNE 1 | The XMan, Sutton, Quebec Head to Mont Sutton for this epic obstacle course race on foot through a wild and mountainous course. montsutton.com 8 | Valhalla Race, Sutton, Quebec This race involves teams of 3-4 people and is half obstacle course race and half a game of escape and adventure. montsutton.com

Rafting, zipping, kayaking adventures In Southern VT and Western Mass

15 | XTrail 2019, Mont Sutton, Quebec Race by foot through mountain circuits of lengths TBD over mud, roots, rocks and streams on marked hiking trails. trailsmontsutton.com

Friendly professional staff, convenient location on the Deerfield River

JULY 26-27 | Stowe Kids Adventure Games, Stowe Hosted by the Trapp Family Lodge, this multi-discipline obstacle course and adventure race is designed specifically for 2019_HC-ZoesRace_4.6x5.9.pdf kids ages 6-14. trappfamily.com

only half an hour from brattleboro!

800-532-7483 ZOAROUTDOOR.COM VISIT US AT ZOAROUTDOOR.COM 800.532.7483 1

5/22/19

16 | In Search of Memphre, Newport Swim the 25-mile length of Lake Memphremagog between Newport and Magog, Q.C. Rain dates: 7.17 and 7.18. kingdomgames.co 27 | 11th Annual Kingdom Swim, Newport Take on the 25K Border Buster, a 10mile swim, a 10K swim, a 5K swim or a 1-mile swim in Lake Memphremagog. kingdomgames.co

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10K Run 9:00 AM

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10-18 | NEK Swim Week, Barton Swim 47 miles across eight Notheast Kingdom lakes in nine days, or register for individual swim events. BYO accompanying kayaker. kingdomgames.co

Sunday August 25, 2019 Oakledge Park, Burlington

802-488-6535

Register online at zoesrace.org

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TRIATHLON/BIATHLON

9-11 | North American Obstacle Course Racing Championships, Stratton Expect a 3K short course championship on Friday, followed by a 15K standard course championship on Saturday and conclude Sunday with the team relay event. stratton.com

DISC GOLF JUNE 8 | Disc Golf Vermont Annual Tour, Vermont Gnomes Challenge at White River Disc Golf Course (DGC), Randolph: 6.8, Black Falls Open at Black Falls DGC, Montgomery: 6.22, Base Camp Open at Base Camp DGC, Killington: 7.13, Brewster Ridge Open at Smugglers' Notch Disc Golf Center: 7.20, Wrightsville Beach Open at Wrightsville Beach DGC, Middlesex: 8.17, North Calais Open at North Calais DGC: 8.24, Wally Wurld Open, East Wallingford DGC: Sept. 21, Vermont State Championships at Jay Peak DGC: Oct. 12. discogolfvermont.com 22-29 | PDGA Pro Masters Disc Golf World Championships, Jeffersonville This prestigious tournament will run at Smugglers’ Notch Disc Golf Center’s Brewster Ridge and Fox Run Meadows courses. smuggs.com

AUGUST 24 | Magic Mountain Disc Golf Biathlon Charity Tournament, Londonderry Presented by Fiddlehead Brewing Company, this event challenges golfers to try a round of ball golf followed by disc golf. magicmtn.com

JUNE 22 | Lake Dunmore Triathlon and Vermont Sun Triathlon, Salisbury Swim 600 yards, bike 14 miles and run 3.1 miles in the Vermont Sun Triathlon, or try the Lake Dunmore Triathlon, with a 0.9-mile swim, a 28-mile bike leg and a 6.2-mile run. This is the Vermont Sun Triathlon series’ 34th season. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com 22 | Missisquoi Paddle-Pedal, Richford 6.5 miles of paddling down the Missisquoi River and 5 miles of cycling on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail. northernforestcanoetrail.org

JULY 6 | Basin Harbor Sprint Triathlon, Vergennes Catch a fast race on a fast course that starts with a 500-yard swim from the resort’s beach and heads along the shore of Lake Champlain. Then, bike 12.2 miles and end on a 5K run. racevermont.com 7 | The Great Race, St. Albans This family-friendly triathlon features a 3-mile run, a 12mile bike ride and a 3-mile paddle in Lake Champlain. facebook.com/thegreatracevt 13 | Vermont’s Toughest Triathlon, East Burke Billed as the state’s most challenging triathlon. Swim 2.4 miles in Lake Willoughby, bike 112 miles (with 8,000 feet of elevation gain) and run a marathon with 5,000 more feet of climbing before landing back at Burke Mountain Resort. skiburke.com

Ethan Allen Biathlon Club 2019 Summer Race Series

DATES July 11, 18, 25, August 8,15, 22 TIMES 5:00 pm - Registration 5:30 to 6:00 pm - Zeroing 6:15 pm - Race Start WHERE Ethan Allen Biathlon Club Ethan Allen Rd., Jericho, VT

NEW: See our website for mandatory

Safety Clinic information Info: www.eabiathlon.org

14 | Vermont Sun Triathlon and Branbury Classic Triathlon, Salisbury Swim 600 yards in Lake Dunmore, bike 14 miles and run 3.1 miles in the Vermont Sun Triathlon or try the Branbury Classic: a 1.5-mile paddle followed by a 14-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. Part of the Vermont Sun triathlon series. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com 28 | Colchester Triathlon, Colchester Swim 500 meters or kayak 1.5 miles, bike 12 miles and run 3 miles. Start and finish at Bayside Beach. colchestertri.com

AUGUST 11 | Lake Dunmore Triathlon and Vermont Sun Triathlon, Salisbury Swim 600 yards, bike 14 miles and run 3.1 miles in the Vermont Sun Triathlon, or try the Lake Dunmore Triathlon, a 0.9-mile swim, a 28-mile bike leg and a 6.2-mile run.

This is the triathlon’s 34th season. Part of the Vermont Sun triathlon series. vermontsuntriathlonseries.com

FESTIVALS JUNE 7-9 | Roots on the River, Rockinhgam Catch a full three days of live country, blues and rock music hosted by Main Street Arts in Saxtons River. vermontfestivalsllc.com 8 | 9th Annual Sugarbush Brew-Grass Festival, Warren Sample craft beers from more than 20 Vermont breweries, tasty local food and see jammin’ bluegrass bands. sugarbush.com 14-16 | 40th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival, Quechee Enjoy tethered hot air balloon rides, a craft fair, kids’ activities, beer, wine and food as you watch 20 hot air balloons take flight over the Upper Valley. quecheeballoonfestival.com 14-16 | B3 Fest: Bikes, Brews and Beats, Stowe Join the Stowe Trails Partnership for a weekend-long, townwide, family-friendly celebration of all things Vermont craft beverages, mountain biking, food and music. stoweb3fest.com 20-23 | Wanderlust, Stratton Mountain Enjoy three days of mindfulness, inspirational speakers, live music, farm-to-table meals, quiet hikes and mountaintop yoga. stratton.com 21-23 | Vermont Bike & Brew, Killington A weekend of group rides, live music, on-site camping, demos, a whip-off competition, plus a Vermont Adaptive Charity Race. killington.com 22 | Mt. Ascutney Solstice Fest, Brownsville Join Ascutney Outdoors and the Sports Trails of the Ascutney Basin for a full day of trail running, guided mountain biking, hiking, yoga, ecology programs with the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences, live music and food and onsite camping. ascutneyoutdoors.org 28-29 | NEMBAfest, Kingdom Trails, East Burke The biggest mountain bike festival on the East Coast with over 90 vendors, 4,000 attendees and 100 miles of trails.

Camp and make it a weekend. kingdomtrails.org

IKE SHOPS

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2326 US RT 4 Killington, VT 802-773-0000 | alpinebikeworks.com We offer bicycles from Giant, Liv, Ibis and Yeti for road, gravel, mountain and gravity, plus accessories and apparel from Giro, Troy Lee, Race Face, Alpinestars and others. We stock an extensive inventory of service parts from Shimano, Sram, Fox, K.S., to many others. Custom fitting with the Right Ride fit system. Our expert technicians offer everything from tune-ups to in-house suspension service. Mountain and DH rentals. Hours: Tues. – Sat. 10 – 5.

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1184 Williston ALPINE Rd., South SHOP Burlington, VT 802-862-2714 | alpineshopvt.com V

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Stylish clothing for men and women plus gear, shoes & apparel for tennis. Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 – 6; Sun. 10 – 5.

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BASIN SPORTS

2886 Killington Rd., Killington, VT 802-422-3234 | basinski.com Purchasing a bike is a big investment. This investment unlocks the door to adventure.

For the thrill seekers, boardwalk cruisers and tarmac chasers we’ve got a little bit of everything for you. Just below Killington Resort, we focus on all-mountain mountain bikes and downhill too. Carrying Specialized, Santa Cruz, Juliana, and Devenci we’ve got the perfect match for just about anyone, plus all the other gear and apparel you need to have fun on the road or trails.

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Battenkill Bicycles has been Manchester’s choice for bicycle sales, service and rentals since 1972. We offer the entire line of the latest Trek and Specialized bikes. Come in for a fitting and advice; each new bike includes one free tune up for a year. Our service department will work on all bikes and repair and maintain your bike in tip-top shape for the road and trail. We offer road, mountain and hybrid bikes and our staff enjoys sharing local knowledge about where to ride. Our shop has lots of parking, so please come park for the day while you ride and take advantage of our shower before going out to dinner in Manchester.

Check our website, Facebook or join our mailing list to find out about regular group rides. We look forward to serving you and your family for all your cycling needs.

BELGEN CYCLES

24 Bridge St., Richmond, VT 802-434-4876 | belgencycles.com Belgen Cycles offers custom and stock bicycles supported by 40 years of hands-on experience.

Focused on the right bike for you covering the spectrum from road to ‘cross and mountain to fat with selections from Salsa, Xprezo, Moots, Parlee, Litespeed, Lynskey and Soma. Full service maintenance and repair as well as fitting solutions. In business as Village Bicycle in Richmond for 20 years. Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10:30 – 6:30.

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BERKSHIRE OUTFITTERS

RR 8, 169 Grove St., Adams, MA 413-743-5900 | berkout@bcn.net We are a full-service bike shop at the base of the Mt. Greylock State Reservation. We also border a beautiful 12-mile paved rail trail. We carry Jamis, Rocky Mountain and G.T. We offer sales, repairs and hybrid bike rentals for the rail trail.

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BOOTLEGGER BIKES

60 Main Street Jeffersonville, VT 802-644-8370 | bootleggerbikes.com

A full-service shop near Smugglers' Notch. We offer new, used and custom bikes as well as custom-built wheel builds for mountain, road, gravel, fat bikes, bikepacking and touring. Rentals offered at our Cambridge Junction shop on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Bikes are a passion here.

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BRADLEY’S PRO SHOP SKI & SPORT

2012 Depot St. Manchester Center, VT 05255 802-367-3118 | bradleysproski.com Bradley’s Pro Shop Ski & Bike is the premier bike shop in Southern Vermont!

We are located in Manchester Center.

Always known as your go-to ski shop we are now your go-to bike shop. We have one of the best bike mechanics in Vermont on staff, Dan Rhodes. Many of you know of his reputation as a master bike mechanic. Dan runs all aspects of our bicycle operations. We carry the full lineup of Cannondale and GT bikes—mountain bikes, gravel, e-bikes, BMX and hybrids.

We are a full-service operation with sales, service, accessories and rentals including e-bikes. We always offer a great bike tuneup price so be sure to bring your ride in.

As always: THINK DIRT!

45 Bridge St. Morrisville, VT 802-888-7642 | chucksbikes802.com Putting smiles on people’s faces for over 35 years. Bikes by Jamis,Transition, Norco, KHS, Surly, Raleigh, Marin and Diamondback. Hours: Mon. – Fri. 9 – 5:30, Sat. 9 – 3, closed Sundays.

10 CLAREMONT CYCLE 12 Plains Rd. Claremont, NH 603.542.

BIKE (2453) | claremontcycle.com We are always evolving to stay current with trends to meet our customers needs. With certain change, we always stay true to who and what we are: a true bike shop where customer satisfaction is the top priority and staff is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly. Everyone who walks through our door is welcomed into our diverse bike community. We bring people together from all walks of life and ages that share the same love and passion for cycling. Hours: Mon. 8:30 - 5:30, Tues. - Fri. 10:30 - 5:30, Sat. 10:30 - 4, closed Sunday.

11 COWBELL MOBILE BIKE SHOP

25-mile radius around Burlington and White River Junction 802-373-3411 | cowbellbike.com Cowbell mobile bike shop is Vermont’s first full-service bike shop in a van. No more waiting around for weeks to get your bike tuned up. Just book an appointment and Cowbell shows up and you ride the same day. Todd the owner and operator has 24 years of experience and arrives in the Burlington and Upper Valley areas with a van full of parts and accessories. More than just a rolling bike shop...Cowbell also offers corporate visits, ride support and bike maintenance classes.

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15 FIRST STOP

3-Color Option: BOARD BARN

12 EARL’S CYCLERY &

8474 Route 4, Killington, VT 802-422-9050 | firststopboardbarn.com

FITNESS

2069 Williston Rd., South Burlington, VT 802-864-9197 | earlsbikes.com

13 EAST BURKE SPORTS 439 Route 114 East Burke VT 802-626-3215 | eastburkesports.com We are the original home to Kingdom Trails. Located in the heart of town, we pride ourselves in expert knowledge while providing friendly customer service. A fullservice shop awaits you and your repair needs. We have 100 rental bikes with an enormous selection of clothing, parts, and accessories. Hours: 9 - 6 every day.

14 EQUIPE SPORT 8749 VT Rte. 30, Rawsonville, VT 802 297 2847 | equipesport.com With locations on the Stratton and the Mount Snow valleys, Equipe Sport offers a wide range of services including sales, rental and repair. We sell bikes from G.T., Santa Cruz and Rocky Mountain and have a rental fleet of Rocky Mountain bikes.

16 FROG HOLLOW

Website 1-Color Options:

Print Fonts: TRADE GOTHIC BOLD Crimson Text Crimson Text Italic

74 Main St., Middlebury, VT 802-388-6666 | froghollow bikes.com

22 OMER & BOB’S

2733 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 518-523-3764 | highpeaks cyclery.com

20 Hanover St. Lebanon, NH 603-448-3522 | omerandbobs.com

Lake Placid’s source for bicycling and outdoor gear since 1983! Sales, service, rentals and tours. Bikes by Intense, B.M.C., Salsa, Surly, Giant and Scott. Your information headquarters for Lake Placid and the Adirondacks for gravel road, mountain biking and road riding adventures.

Free maps. ADK80 and Ironman race info and course conditions. New! Basecamp lodges. Hours: Mon – Fri 9 – 6, Sun 9 – 5.

19 MALLETTS BAY BICYCLE & SKI

Killington’s authorized Cannondale and 2-Color Options: Trek dealer. We also carry: Fox, Giro, Shimano, FiveTen, G-Form, Pearl Izumi, Smith, Spy, Oakley and more. We’ve helped outfit first timers to world class athletes since 1979. We have a Service Center that can fix practically anything and a Rental & Demo Test Center that lets you try equipment before you buy. We have Gear Experts who can help you find the right gear, right now. If you’re not sure where to get started, give us a call or stop by—we’re open 365 days a year.

Earl’s Cyclery has been serving Vermont's cycling and fitness needs for more than 65 years. With over 12,000 square feet at the new location, Earl’s has the largest selection of bikes from Trek, Giant, Scott, Bianchi, Electra, Haro, and more. The service center at Earl’s has professionally trained technicians who are certified to work on all makes and models of bicycles, not just the ones we sell. Whether Logo Typface: you need a flat tire fix or a suspension Tracked +20, UPPERCASE DIN staff Bold is ready to help. rebuild, the service Estimates are always free! Check out the new location at 2069 Williston Rd, South Burlington, or call us.

18 HIGH PEAKS CYCLERY

Web Fonts: ROBOTO MEDIUM ROBOTO BOLD Georgia Georgia Italics

Take advantage of the most advanced and courteous service in our region, with quick turn-around time in our service shop downstairs. Upstairs in the sales room, we offer the best in new and used road, mountain, lifestyle, and children’s bikes and new gear. We carry brands that offer superior products that balance innovation and performance with reliability and value. Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9:30 - 5:30, Sun. 11 – 4.

17 GREEN MOUNTAIN BIKES

105 N. Main St. Rochester VT 800-767-7882 | greenmountain bikes.com Located in the center of Vermont, in the heart of the Green Mountains, we are surrounded by terrain that calls to mountain and road bikers alike. Whether you ride twisting trails or back to back gaps, we service, sell, and rent all styles of bicycles, featuring Kona, Jamis, Juliana, Raleigh, Santa Cruz, Transition, and Hinderyckx bikes - hand crafted by our own Rochester boy Zak Hinderyckx. So STOP READING and RIDE YOUR BIKE! Hours: 7 days a week, 10 – 6.

794 W. Lakeshore 1-Color Options: Dr. Colchester, VT 802-863-2453 | mbbicyle.com

Malletts Bay es�� ����

Bicycle & Ski

Service, rentals and sales. Located on the shores of beautiful Malletts Bay, our shop offers expert repairs, top quality rentals, a fine complement of accessories and new bicycles from KHS, Swix, Intense and Reid.

Rent a bike from our Airport Park location and be out on the Colchester Causeway, the ‘Jewel of the Island Line Trail,” in minutes!

20 MOUNTAIN OPS

Color(s): (Pantone, CMYK, RGB, HTML): Black, White, Orange Orange: Pantone 021 C R: 254 G: 105 B: 0 CMYK: 0 65 100 0 HTML: FE5000

4081 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 802-253-4531 | mountainopsvt.com

MountainOps offers bike sales and service, fast and friendly with no attitude. We sell a full like of Rocky Mountain bikes for all abilities and riding styles. You’ll find tons of clothing and accessories in our converted 1893 barn. Our techs have decades of experience with all types of bikes and our knowledge of local trails is awesome. We rent cruisers and performance mountain bikes for Stowe’s sweet collection of trails and are a Scott Demo Center!

21 OLD SPOKES HOME 331 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT 802-863-4475 | oldspokeshome.com Old Spokes Home offers Vermont’s best selection of professionally refurbished used bikes and new bikes for touring, bike packing, commuting, fat biking, and simply getting around town. Named one of the country’s best bike shops by Outside Online for it’s “plain-talk advice and no-nonsense service.”

A non-profit as of January 2015, Old Spokes Home uses 100% of its revenue to run programs creating access to bikes in the community. And don’t miss their famous antique bicycle museum! Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 - 6, Sun. 12 - 5.

The Upper Valley’s bike shop since 1964. We carry road bikes, mountain bikes and kids bikes from specialty brands including Trek, Specialized and Colnago. Featuring a full service department offering bike fitting, bike rentals and a kids’ trade-in, trade-up program. Hours: Mon. – Fri. 9 – 6, Sat. 9 – 5.

23 ONION RIVER OUTDOORS

20 Langdon St. Montpelier, VT 802-225-6736 | onionriver.com

Gear, clothing and expert advice for all your hiking, biking, running, camping, outdoor adventures!

Friendly, knowledgeable bicycle and car rack sales and service. Check out onionriver.com to learn about all of our fun events and clinics. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 10 - 6:00; Sat. 9 - 5, Sun. 10 - 4.

24 OUTDOOR GEAR EXCHANGE

37 Church St., Burlington, VT 802-860-0190 | gearx.com

OGE offers Burlington riders a premier bike shop with a knowledgeable, friendly, and honest staff. We have commuters and gravel grinders from Marin and KHS, mountain bikes from Pivot, Transition, Rocky Mountain and Yeti and a wide consignment selection as well as a demo fleet so you can try it before you buy it.

Our service department is capable of everything from tuning your vintage road bike to servicing your new mountain bike and offers full Fox shock service. Come on down and see us on Church Street! Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 10 – 8, Fri. – Sat. 10 – 9, Sun. 10 – 6.

25 POWERPLAY SPORTS 35 Portland St. Morrisville, VT 802-8886557 | powerplaysports.com North Central Vermont’s Trek and Giant Dealer. With over 200 new and used bikes, P.P.S. has a bike for everyone. Service and rentals too! Hours: Mon. – Fri. 9 – 6, Sat. 8:30 – 5, Sun. 10 – 4.

26 RANCH CAMP 311 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 802-253-2753 | ranchcampvt.com Ranch Camp is Stowe’s mountain bike base lodge, and your hub for bikes, gear, and culture!

Ranch Camp offers a full-service mountain bike shop, tap room, and fast casual eatery, featuring sales and demo bikes from Ibis Cycles, Yeti, Rocky Mountain, Evil, and Specialized. Looking for top of the line mountain bikes and components?

Got ‘em. How about local brews from New England's finest purveyors of craft libations? You bet. And if you need a thoughtfully crafted grab-and-go meal for your ride, or a place to sit down and refuel afterwards, Ranch Camp has you covered.

Best of all, Ranch Camp is situated trailside with its very own public access entrance into Stowe’s iconic Cady Hill trail network and beyond.

27 SKIRACK 85 Main St. Burlington, VT 802-6583313 | skirack.com Locally owned since 1969, Skirack provides gear, clothing, expert fitting and accessories for all cyclists, with full service tuning and repairs...plus complete bike suspension service on most forks and rear shocks. Designated one of America’s Best Bike Shops, Skirack is blocks from Lake Champlain. Open 8 a.m. Mon. - Sat. for bike service, car racks and rentals.

28 STARK MOUNTAIN

9 RTE 17 Waitsfield, VT 802-496-4800 | Find us on Facebook Located at the lowest spot in the Mad River Valley so you can coast in when you break your bike on a ride! 20 years of advise, directions and fixing anything that pedals. You know you want a Yeti. Come try one of ours! Hours: Tues - Fri. 9 – 6*. Sat. 9 - 4, Sun. 9 - 1, closed on Mon. *Closes at 5 on Thursdays for Shop ride.

29 VILLAGE SPORT SHOP

511 Broad St. Lyndonville, VT 802-626-8448| villagesport shop.com

Established in 1978, we are a family-owned, passiondriven sporting goods store serving customers for four seasons of adventure.

Strongly focused on bike and ski, we have highly skilled knowledgeable technicians and sales staff to assist in all needs of purchase, rental and service. With two locations, one nestled trailside on the world-renowned Kingdom Trails, and the other in downtown Lyndonville, we’re here to make your adventures happen!

30 WATERBURY SPORTS 46 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 802-882-8595 | waterburysportsvt.com WBS sells Trek and Giant bikes of every flavor from high-end mountain bikes to kids, hybrids and cross bikes. Our service techs are among the best in northern Vt. We also rent and Demo from our downtown location right near the Perry Hill Trails. Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 10 – 6, Fri. - Sat 9 – 7, Sun. 10 – 4.

31 WEST HILL

BIKE SHOP

vermont gran fondo

108 mi 4 gaps 11k’ climbing 24% max grade ride it if you can

ADS

49 Brickyard Lane, Putney, VT 802-387-5718 | westhillshop.com Since 1971, the West Hill Shop has been a low-key, friendly source for bikes ‘n gear, service and rare wisdoms. We are known regionally as the go-to place for problemsolving technicians. Our bike fitters specialize in comfort without sacrificing efficiency. Recently, we’ve focused on stocking gravel road bikes, with awesome dirt road riding right out our door. Join us for our Annual West Hill Grinder in September. It’s truly a rural adventure with loops on scenic gravel roads or wily trails.

Hours: Mon. to Sat., 10 – 6.

DID YOUR SHOP GET DROPPED? TO JOIN THE BIKE SHOP DIRECTORY, GIVE US A CALL AT 802-388-4944 OR SEND AN EMAIL TO ADS@VTSPORTS.COM

NEW LOCATION! 2069 Williston Rd. www.earlsbikes.com (802)864-9197

ENDGAME

I

’m obsessed with the labyrinthine marshland at the mouth of Little Otter Creek in Ferrisburgh.

Labyrinthine? Yes. It really is a maze: of cattails, of sedges, of muskrat nests, of painted turtles, of narrow passages that just barely allow a kayak to squeeze through. What is it about getting lost in there that so intoxicates, so mesmerizes?

I suppose, if I had to try to answer the question, I’d say it’s the possibility of the very lostness itself leading me to find something—something I’ve never seen before, something just around the corner, hidden in plain sight.

Specifically, I’m thinking of the least bittern, a secretive, camouflaged heron that is, according to a Vermont Ecostudies publication, “rarely seen even by the most determined or fortunate observers.” Having spent countless hours exploring the marsh (one of only a few known bittern breeding sites in the state), it’s probably fair to call me “determined.” And yet, in years of floating around with a thermos of tea and my binoculars at the ready, both at dawn and dusk, I’ve never spotted a bittern. I’ve spotted otters, terns, pike, and raccoons—but no bitterns.

Does this leave me feeling glum?

Like a failure? Does it make me want to give up the quest for a glimpse of this bird that, when alarmed, freezes with head and neck upright, thus blending in with the marsh’s vertical vegetation? Far from it. The search for the bittern keeps me coming back, coming back, coming back. It reminds me of these lines from the famous sculptor Henry Moore: “The secret of life is to have a task, something you devote your entire life to, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for your whole life. And the most important thing is—it must be something you cannot possibly do.”

Well, I may be “determined,” but I can’t say I devote my entire life to this quest. And no, the quest isn’t theoretically impossible (eventually, at long last, I’ll glimpse the bittern).

Nevertheless, Moore’s quote does resonate with me: in challenge, I discover meaning. Or, put another way: by not discovering the bittern, I discover the rest of the marsh—I discover the deep

42 VTSPORTS.COM | JUNE 2019

LOOKING INSIDE THE LABRYINTH

MORE THAN 1,000 ACRES OF MARSH AND FOREST LIE AT THE MOUTH OF THE LITTLE OTTER CREEK IN FERRISBURGH. AND SOMEWHERE IN THERE, LIVES THE ELUSIVE LEAST BITTERN. BY LEATH TONINO

The secretive least bittern, shown here, somewhere in the labrynth of a Vermont marsh, has a dovelike call.

heart of the labyrinth, all those other critters, funky plants, and mesmerizing shifts of light and weather and mood. I discover ripples spreading from me in concentric circles, expanding to touch the encompassing habitat. I’m tempted to say that I discover the place itself.

Maybe my time has come and this summer I’ll actually spot the cagey bird.

Maybe I won’t. Either way, I’m game to continue trying. A quest of this variety can never lead to failure, can only lead to an enriched and ever-enriching sense of home. In a way, the fact that the bittern remains a hermit, unseen

“By not discovering the bittern, I discover the rest of the marsh—I discover the deep heart of the labyrinth, all those other critters, funky plants, and mesmerizing shifts of light and weather and mood. ”

and infrequently heard, actually defines the Little Otter marsh. Places are always beyond us, always more complicated, always more nuanced. To know them completely is not to know them at all.

Ixobrychus exilis, elusive avian Vermonter, flora impersonator, shy sly slim denizen of the weird sprawling wetland, goad to micro-adventurers, reason to again dip the paddle and pull and glide, possibility—I salute you. Thanks for doing what you do, for being who you are, for keeping this world wild, mysterious, fun.

For keeping me coming back.

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