I have to be in Putney for 3 days in early August. I am sure it’s a great venue for me to ride and run but probably not much for my pregnant wife to do. What larger city/town is Putney close to? I know it is a real small town and in the south part of Vermont and that’s about it. Any info from some of you ST Vermonters …Vermontians …(??) :
would be much appreciated.
PM me if you wish…thanks
I have a place in Jamaica, VT… ~20 miles away. World class riding all around there.
Are you looking for things to do for your wife or yourself?
Vemontians?? That’s a new one
Putney is a great place to ride. I grew up just south of there outside of Brattleboro (that’s the closest bigger town). Go to either Brattleboro Bike shop or West Hill shop in Putney and ask for good riding routes. You could try the “Tour of the Valley’s” bike race route (old race now defunct but killler course with lots of climbing. Also ask about how to get to the “East/west rd climb” killer climb. If you go to Brattleboro Bike shop tell them Spinney says hi.
West hill shop used to also put on Thursday TTs ask them about it I think they still do it. In Brattleboro they have a masters/triathlete swim at the colonial inn. Give them a call.
For your wife- downtown Brattleboro has a lot of stores and shopping, good coffee, stuff to do.
Thanks for the reply.
Sounds like I’m in for a great few days of riding but I was also concerned with finding something for my pregnant wife to see/do while we are down that way.(A happy Boss makes for a happy Shady haha)
Just curious but how far a drive is it to Boston from Putney??
Spin
Appreciate the help. I will definitely look into the Thursday nite TT and maybe the swim. So Brattleboro sounds like the place that she may find to her liking. That’s what I wanted to know. Thanks again
about two hours to Boston… pretty simple really (I live in Boston and spend most weekends in VT). Straight down Rt. 91, East on 2 all the way into Boston. Can be a pain getting into/out of the city if you hit rush hour though.
Loads to do in Boston. If your wife wants a shorter day trip she can head into Manchester (30 West) and shop at the outlet stores, get a massage and/or have a spa day at the Equinox inn or just sit in a cafe. Nice little place to spend an afternoon.
I would second Manchester and the Equinox. Nice outlet stores, but they are all scattered over the village so you don’t feel like you are at a big outlet mall. There is a Carter’s Outlet, too–for baby clothes! Plus, a Ben and Jerry’s store.
Equinox is awesome for spa services.
Have a nice trip there.
-Danielle
Shady,
I live in Putney, and run a business that gives information on where to train for travelling triathletes… you came to the right guy!
Tons of good riding around here. Lots of good rolling terrain, and a couple good climbs. Spinney is right about the East-West hill climb, but there are some other good ones around as well. The Thursday night TT is defunct for now, but it might be up again while you’re here. For group riding, there’s a fast Tuesday-night ride that switches around for location (chack www.westhillshop for details).
Plenty of good places to run too. We do an early morning track workout (6am) on Tuesdays and a group hill run on Thursdays, both led by USAT Elite Coach of the Year Hank Lange (Jerod Shoemaker’s coach). I can give you more details about that if you’re interested.
Spinney is right about Masters at the colonial pool (also with Hank), but we move outside in the summer. There are some GREAT lake and river swims around here, and we swim a couple times a week in a safe group. If I were you, I’d deffinately make the effort to do some open water with us while you’re here.
While the town’s small, I think your wife might be surprised at how nice it is to spend time in. Brattleboro, only a short drive down the road is great as well. Neither has the excitement of a city like Boston, but both have their own charm to offer. If you want more info about any of this, or want a training partner while you’re here, please feel freee to drop a PM.
Good luck,
Brian
Hey John,
That’s cool. I grew up in Westminster, and moved to Putney a few years back. Where outside of Brat. were you? You still come down to the area?
I live in Quechee, though I’m stuck in NJ for thr next few weeks. Ugh. One recommendation that you can both kind of do together: drive up 91 to the Strong House Spa in Quechee–they have all sorts of treatments that she might like if she’s into that. While they’re taking care of her, you can either drive down to Ascutney and ride up Mount Ascutney (30 minutes of good hard climbing) or take a loop from Strong House out to Woodstock in Quechee Main Street (FYI Woodstock is also really neat), then up to Pomfret on the Woodstock Pomfret Road (114 maybe?) back down to the White River, along it on 12 to the Quechee West Hartford Road, and then back into Quechee on that. The ride is about 30 miles, some decent climbing, and it’s beautiful.
Oops… almost gave you bad directions: 91 North to 89 North to the exit 1 for Woodstock-Rutland. Get on 4 West, then take a right onto Quechee Main Street. The spa is just down the hill on your left.
Hey Brian-
I grew up in Guilford and went to high school in Brattleboro. Are you going to school in Putney?
Cool. I was just riding down in Guilford yesterday; I didn’t expect Old Guilford Road and Weatherhead Hollow Road to be so nice, not to mention it’s a good stretch of Rte. 5. I didn’t go to school in Brattleboro, but played baseball for the Redheaded Step-Child (Bellows Falls), and have been around the school plenty. I run the track there now often.
I just finished school (went to Worcester, MA for that), and am back living on the campus of the Putney School (my mother works here). It’s real nice up here, and it gives me the flexibility to take a chance in starting a business.
Where are you living now?
-Brian
We definitley need to put together a Southern Vermont SlowTwitch ride. Jamaica is my adopted home. I bought the place specifically because of the great riding in the area.
Would be cool to get a group together.
Brian-
How did Bennington work out for you ? Good I hope.
Mike
To the OP- I second the whole Manchester trip. The wife and I have stayed at the Equinox Inn a few times and I love that place. One of the sweetest indoor pools around, spa, gym and close the outlets.
There’s also a killer Mexican restaurant just down the road.
That sounds like a great idea but I’m actually in Waterbury. Maybe we should do a Vermont slowtwitch sufferfest.
definietly want to do the 6-gap ride when the weather gets better. And my legs come back from CdA.
Hey Mike,
Bennington went great - The people were really helpful,and I got a lot of work done. Found a great bike shop there - Highlander Bike. Peter runs a sweet place, and was as nice a guy as could be (and a strong rider, from the sound of it). The group riding was also pretty active, and I was able to jump in on an uphill TT on Buck Hill Road (even though I can’t climb to save my life).
This week, my ‘work’ is taking me over to Manchester. I’m excited to check out all the training to be had there. The Equinox pool is certainly on my list to check out. What’s the mexican resturant?
Good luck with the IMLP taper,
Brian