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Stowe, VT riding routes
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I'm going to be in Stowe next week and am looking for some recommendations for biking routes. I'd be getting out on the earlier side (5 AM-ish), but would still like route(s) that are not heavily trafficked. As a starting point, I'm staying at the Trapp Family Lodge.

Thanks!

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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Have fun on the smugglers notch climb (Northbound)!
You can look up the Darn Tough Ride route.
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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How long/far do you want to ride?

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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Do you MTB? If you don't then rent one for a day and give it a shot. If you do, then have fun, they have some great trails. They rent at the Trapp Lodge.

Also, if you have a road bike, look for the gravel roads. Best if you have 25c+ tires, but even 23s will work. Search out the RAID Lamoille routes for some ideas. Here is the 2015 route:


https://www.strava.com/...s/345516119/overview
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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I stayed in Stowe last year and had some good rides and will be going up again this year. I wouldn't try to take the TT bike up smugglers notch though, it's so steep.

I'd recommend taking route 100 south and hitting some of the gaps. The roads south are pretty good, north of Stowe they are hit or miss.

https://www.strava.com/athletes/4391866

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [rsmoylan] [ In reply to ]
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Rides in the 25-45 mile range would work and hills are fine. I'm planning on bringing my tri bike.

Thanks for the recommendations thus far!

Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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There is a guy who is a coach there that posts here sometimes, Spinneyis his handleI think? You might be able to do some drop ins with his group..HE certainly would know the best routes to ride.

Edit; just recalled I think his handle is Spindog.
Last edited by: monty: Jun 15, 17 9:52
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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Here is a simple out and back with some great climbing on the way back. http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1629302404 Let me know if you can't view it.

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [rsmoylan] [ In reply to ]
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rsmoylan wrote:
Here is a simple out and back with some great climbing on the way back. http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1629302404 Let me know if you can't view it.

Thanks! Out and back routes are what I was thinking - less chance to get lost! Maybe I could just extend this ride a bit more to get in 35-40 miles for a bit longer ride.

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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That road 108 does loop around, but that would be a good 80-90 miles. If you get to the end of 108, go left. Nice riding and very little traffic early in the morning.

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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Are you looking for paved road only? There's a ~50 mile loop around smuggler's notch you could do from Trapp's. Or are dirt roads OK as well? There are a couple of ~30 mile loops that are about 3/4 dirt and will have less traffic. If you want to mountain bike, Trapp's has its own mountain bike trail network and there are other trails in town as well. There's also a weekly TT on Wednesdays at 6:30. Next week is a 12.2 mile out and back in Waterbury. (We live in Stowe.)
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [ols] [ In reply to ]
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ols wrote:
Are you looking for paved road only? There's a ~50 mile loop around smuggler's notch you could do from Trapp's. Or are dirt roads OK as well? There are a couple of ~30 mile loops that are about 3/4 dirt and will have less traffic. If you want to mountain bike, Trapp's has its own mountain bike trail network and there are other trails in town as well. There's also a weekly TT on Wednesdays at 6:30. Next week is a 12.2 mile out and back in Waterbury. (We live in Stowe.)

I'd just be on my tri bike, although Trapp might rent mountain bikes, and that could be an option.

Is there any more info on this TT - it sounds appealing! Is a license required, or is it informal?

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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The TT is informal - no license needed though you are meant to sign a waiver. Just show up before 6:30pm on Wednesday. There's a sign in sheet that will give you your start number. Riders go off every 30 seconds starting at 6:30. The Waterbury start is about 20 minutes by car from Trapp's, and the course is pretty smooth road. If the weather is rainy/stormy, it would likely be cancelled, and there should be an update on the SBC Facebook page. Here's a link or three:
Waterbury Course Map: http://www.mapmyride.com/...ullscreen/337542197/
Overall Stowe Bike Club Schedule: http://www.onionriver.com/...ke-club-time-trials/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...lub-620718594609832/

In general, if you want to minimize traffic for rides from/around Stowe, you should try to minimize your time on Route 100 (which is the main North/South road into/out of Stowe.)


Ride suggestions, given that you'll be on a TT bike:

If you are on your TT bike and planning to start rides directly from Trapp's, my advice would be to have a more climbing oriented cassette. Trapp's is at the top of a pretty good hill.

Here's a basic town loop within Stowe that you could easily start from Trapp's:
http://www.mapmyride.com/...-68mi-route-37296728

Using the loop above, you could add to it via several additional out and back options:
Up/down Route 108 (The "Mountain Road"). This is the road that goes up to Stowe ski resort and eventually over the Notch (see note below.)
North on Route 100 and turn left onto Stagecoach Rd. Ride out/back Stagecoach Rd, then reconnect to loop
North on Route 100 a little further and turn right onto Randolph Road. Ride out/back Randolph Rd, then reconnect to loop

Please note that, if you are planning to ride the Notch, the last couple of switchbacks on the Stowe side have sections in the 15-17% range, so you don't often see TT bikes going up and over from the Stowe side. (road bikes, yes, no problem.) Usually, TT bikes headed up Route 108 toward the Notch would stop and turn around at the point where they stop painting the yellow center line in the road. For what it's worth, the grade on the other side of the Notch (Smuggler's Notch ski resort) is less steep, so if you did really want to ride up and over on your TT bike, you would be better off doing the 50 mile counterclockwise loop from Stowe and riding up the Notch from the other side (and you would then be coming down the 15-17% switchbacks, so hopefully your brakes are solid.) I can probably find a Mapmyride for this if interested?

Outside of Stowe and not too far away, my first suggestion would be a pretty scenic (in my opinion anyway) ride along Route 100B. Drive back to Interstate 89, head south one exit to Exit 9 (Stowe is exit 10) and turn right at the offramp - there is a Park and Ride just off the exit in Middlesex where you would start. Turn left out of the Park and Ride, go about a mile and the next intersection will be a right turn onto 100B. You will follow the Mad River to Waitsfield and just after Waitsfield, turn right up toward App Gap (and Mad River Glen ski resort) and climb as far as you like, then head back to the start.

Renting a mountain bike at Trapp's should be a good option as well.
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [ols] [ In reply to ]
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WOW! Thanks for all of the details. I'll take a look at some of those suggestions. My current setup is a 53/39 with a 12/25 cassette on my training wheels - not ideal for super hilly riding, but I've done some climbing with the setup - more grinding than spinning.

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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And while you are there make sure you try some Heady Topper, maybe even get some extras for your bike case for the trip home. But like your planned bike ride there, you have to plan to even get some of this beer!!
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [monty] [ In reply to ]
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Link to the alchemist :)
https://alchemistbeer.com
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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You have a couple of options. Depending on how string you are 39x25 will be tough on parts of the Notch from the South. Great loop is to head south to route 2 and go to Richmond and loop back over the notch from the north which is a it easier climb. round trip will be about 65 miles. If you stay on 100 south you can head towards Waitsfield and other than "Duxbury Gap" can just make it out and back. Can always add the App Gap on in Waitsfield. The 100 north to 15 to 108 back over the notch is about 45 miles but would recommend you stay on 100 longer and take 100C south back to 15 - adds on about 8-10 miles but much nicer and scenic.

Any questions or need more info shoot me a note.

S

Banger
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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [banger] [ In reply to ]
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banger wrote:
You have a couple of options. Depending on how string you are 39x25 will be tough on parts of the Notch from the South. Great loop is to head south to route 2 and go to Richmond and loop back over the notch from the north which is a it easier climb. round trip will be about 65 miles. If you stay on 100 south you can head towards Waitsfield and other than "Duxbury Gap" can just make it out and back. Can always add the App Gap on in Waitsfield. The 100 north to 15 to 108 back over the notch is about 45 miles but would recommend you stay on 100 longer and take 100C south back to 15 - adds on about 8-10 miles but much nicer and scenic.

Any questions or need more info shoot me a note.

S

My plan for the morning is to head north on 108, possibly to Cambridge and back from Stowe. I had the fastest amateur bike split at Eagleman a bit over a week ago, so I'm hoping my gearing should be ok. We will see tomorrow! I have a race this coming weekend, so I'm thinking around 40 miles should do.

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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Got in around 32 miles, and probably could have done with a a bigger cassette going up the Stowe side of the notch. Real nice ride, and there wasn't much traffic!

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Re: Stowe, VT riding routes [natethomas] [ In reply to ]
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natethomas wrote:
Got in around 32 miles, and probably could have done with a a bigger cassette going up the Stowe side of the notch. Real nice ride, and there wasn't much traffic!

Back when I was young and a lot stronger I used similar gearing for that climb, but way back then 39 x 25 was considered low. Definitely some steep pitches on the switchbacks on the Stowe side, not nearly as steep on the other side. Now I shudder to think of climbing those pitches on that gearing. That's some nice climbing for a 32 mile ride.
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