We have a new Vermont Bikepacking website!

Guess what? We made a website.

www.vermontbikepackers.org

Huge updates alongside this:

+ THE SUPER 8 IS NOW FREE FOR DOWNLOAD. You have to register an account with the site in order to download it; that way we can keep you updated when there are changes.

+ The XVT is available for purchase. Members of VMBA, Vermont Bikepackers chapter can download the XVT for free with a password-protected button. Current and former VMBA BP members can expect an email in the next 24 hours with the password. So: you no longer have to be a VMBA member to get the XVT, but you still have to pay for it.

+ We have waypoints! Thanks to Eli Blinn Avery and others who contributed waypoints from their rides.

I used some of yall's photos -- thanks Willapa Waterstrat and Brandon Ingersoll, let me know if that's not cool.

To everyone who joined VMBA just to get the Super 8 files -- thank you for your contribution. The Vermont Bikepackers chapter of VMBA grew last year from 19 to about 50 members. Past members who joined before the Super 8 was free can expect a commemorative gift in the mail :-).

@everyone -- please let me know ASAP if there's anything wonky / if you have trouble downloading routes or anything because this fish is already in the water.

Thank you to those of you who provided and continue to provide constructive feedback on these projects, especially to those of you who rode the XVT and the Super 8 in their nascent stages. They will continue to develop in the future, but getting to the point where some of the people who started charting these routes are comfortable enough to release them into the wild rather than over constant individual communication is a huge step forward. Remember that you were part of these routes before they were a thing. Because I guess now they are a thing.

Gravel Vermont Supr8 Blue Line outline 2017

Fall of 2015 XVtBkPkRte ride!!

There's been some talk of riding the route this fall...maybe as a group, and then maybe some in the group might think they are faster than others...  let's try to schedule something onthe facebook page.

Vermont rider profile #6

Well, March is behind us. I ran a small series profiling some of our local riders that enjoy bikepacking. We are now in to April but I have one more profile to share here.

I give to you, Jay Thomas. I have ridden with Jay a couple of times. I find that he is very personable and has great little stories to share. If you get a chance to ride with him, I'd recommend you taking the opportunity.

What bikepacking have you done? 
I've done a lot of local overnighters both solo and with friends, a handful of multi-day trips and a couple of races.

What were some of your biggest trips?
Well I haven't gone as big as some of the studs that have been featured here previously! My longest route was 250 miles but that was spread over four days. Other than that, I've done a couple one-nighters that included two 100-mile days.

What routes have you ridden? 
Mostly Vermont based stuff, most of which has been exploring and linking up various trail networks and class 4 roads. I've also had the opportunity to ride in Arizona and Alaska; both of which were amazing.

What races have you been a part of? 
Technically I've done 1 & 1/3 races. I completed the Coconino 250 in Arizona and did 85 miles of the Kenai 250 in Alaska in a 40 degree downpour before deciding that was all the fun I could handle.

What (future) plans do you have? 
Right now I don't have anything imminent on the horizon. I'll likely do the XVT route if a group decides to get together this summer and the Colorado Trail is still high on my bucket list. Whether that be the CTR or a tour, I'm not sure. This summer my son is now old enough and has progressed in his riding enough that I'm looking forward to some short trips with him. We both love to ride and camp so that'll be a great way to spend some time together.

Whom with? 
Anyone who's up for an adventure.

What/how do you pack? 
I've invested in some quality gear because it makes life so much easier but really when it comes down to it, I'm not a weight weenie. Comfort is the most important to me and I'd rather add a pound to my kit if it means a good night's sleep. I use Revelate seat and frame bags and have been happy with both. Usually it's clothing in the seat bag, food/tools/spare parts/water in the frame bag and my sleeping kit gets strapped to the bars. On longer trips I may add a backpack for additional water capacity but I really hate wearing one.

How do you eat? 
On most trips you're at the mercy of whatever is along the route but I'm lucky that my stomach can handle pretty much anything found in your average gas station. The higher the calorie content the better. I've also found that I'm largely carnivorous on long rides so I eat a lot of pepperoni and dinner is usually a big hunk of summer sausage and a block of cheese. I don't carry a stove.

Special gear/style of packing? 
Nothing out of the ordinary but again, comfort is king. I'd rather carry something and not need it than be stranded/cold/miserable because I was trying to go minimalist.

Do you have a race strategy?
Yes, finish. So far that strategy has a 50% success rate.

How do you train? 
I was originally going to do the CTR in 2012 but that fell through at the last minute. In preparing for that though, I used LW Coaching's CTR Training Plan. Lynda is a great coach and honestly, the program kicked my ass. Basically it was like another full time job for 12 weeks. Without a carrot on a stick like the CTR though, my "training" is pretty informal. I try to ride whenever I can and mix in a fair share of intervals and hill repeats.

Any off season considerations? 
Just stay active and try not to get fat. Like everyone, I have a love/hate relationship with my trainer and The Sufferfest series but I love to get out on my fatbike and bc skis whenever possible.

How much riding/how much work/family time, etc.? 
How much riding - not enough. How much work - too much. Family time - hanging out with my cool kid whenever possible. If anyone's found a way to strike the perfect balance of the three, PLEASE let me know!

What do you like about it (bikepacking) ..... Why do you do it? 
Oh man, it includes pretty much all of my favorite things! Riding, camping, exploring, nature, pushing your limits and spending time with friends and family.

Anything strange ..... Seen, done, or happened while out there's? 
During the Coconino I was 12 hours into the day and three hours into the most ridiculous hike a bike you could imagine. Really hating life at that particular moment. My headlamp focused on a glowing set of eyes and while I dug my camera out to get a picture, it let out a very un-friendly growl. Normally I would have been terrified, but knowing that if it ate me at that particular moment the miserable H-A-B would be over, I snapped my picture, yelled at it to STFU and continued on my way while it crashed off through the bushes.

Vermont rider profile #5

After I sent questions for George to fill out, he thought that it would be a good idea to turn the interview on to me. For good or bad, I did it and here it is:

At the Massachusetts border on xVT 

How did you get into bikepacking?
The first bikepacking trip I ever did was at the end of October in 2011. My friend Mike had been doing overnights and I wanted to check it out. I didn't have any gear to speak of but I did all right.

What bikepacking have you done?
Mostly all of my bikepacking have been overnighters, commonly known as S24O's. They have mostly been trips that have left directly from my house. There have been a few that have originated from another start location.

What were some of your biggest trips?
In the big picture, I don't have too many trips under my belt. I would say that my longest trips have been on the xVT route.

What routes have you ridden?
xVT is the only route that I have been involved with. I have attempted it three times now. I thought "third time was a charm" but "things" got in the way "again".

What races have you been a part of?
I have not done any bikepacking races. I have done the VT50 every year since 2009 which I really enjoy. I was hoping to be a part of the Adirondack Trail Race that is coming in Sept. '15 but I can't see that I will be ready for something like that. I would like to add that to my list of races I'd like to do. And, without a doubt, the Tour Divide is on my bucket list.

What goals do you have for this summer? Long term?
I have plans to do at least one bikepacking trip each month through the rest of the year. I am looking forward to a group ride (if I can possibly even keep up) this year on xVT. I feel that it is something awesome to be celebrated.

Whom with?
I will ride with anyone. I have enjoyed riding with a diverse group of people. I have hopes that my wife and I will do a bikepacking trip this fall. It will be her first.

special gear/style of packing?
I found Scott Felter who makes Porcelain Rocket bags and jumped in with both feet. I have a full kit from him. Frame bag, handlebar bag w/ tent sleeve, saddle bag and two bags for Anything Cages. I also had another sleeve made for my handlebar bag that is larger for my winter weight sleeping bag.

What/how do you pack?
Depending on the situation, I go between a tent and a bivy. The tent goes on the handlebars and the bivy goes on the fork. The fork also gets my sleeping pad. Sleeping bag on the handlebars. Clothes in the saddle bag. Tools, water, and food in the framebag.

Do you prefer water on your back, or on your bike?
I prefer it on the bike. Matter of fact, I don't like a backpack at all. I do carry a small musette bag that I use for carrying food and water just as I am going into camp.

How do you eat?
This is my biggest nemesis. I have the hardest time staying on the calories which is usually my undoing. On smaller trips and/or overnights, it's not that big a deal. On the hopes of bikepacking the length of Vermont, a huge deal. I have to get this right. I do typically eat pretty normal food, if not junk food.

What is one thing you MUST have when bikepacking?
I don't know that I have anything that I must have but I feel that my sleeping pad is pretty important. It feels nice to get comfortable for a good night's rest.

Do you have a race strategy?
Keep moving. I feel that if you have a mileage goal or whatever, you must keep moving, no matter what the speed.

How do you train?
I commute to my shop for work, I race at Catamount, ride as much as possible with friends. I do the Vermont50 which is one of my favorite things to do. A group of us also make two trips a year up to the Kingdom Trails.  I've also recently discovered CircumBurke, which I think will be on my yearly calendar.

Any off season considerations?
I try to commute year round. The past two winters have been a bit brutal so that didn't work out so well. I also do a fair amount of fatbiking to keep the legs turning.

How much riding/how much work/family time, etc.?
I'm lucky enough to have a wife that is real understanding of how important time on the bike is to me. My balance with family is pretty good. This year my wife is going to get involved with mountain biking and I will be able to do a little bit of both at the same time, riding and family time.

What do you like about it (bikepacking) .....Why do you do it?
Everything! It's a pretty basic response, like most people. I like being outside, exploring, riding. Bikepacking is my favorite discipline of bike riding.

Anything strange..... Seen, done, or happened while out there's?
There are two instances that stand out when asked this question. Both happened on xVT.

First, I was riding a Class IV section of the route. I came along a mother bear and three cubs. I startled them and the mom and two of the cubs ran right and crossed the road. One cub ran the direction I was traveling and then realized he went the wrong way. It then crossed the road only about ten feet in front of me. Just after this happened, while I was in total disbelief, my bladder tube fell off of my bars and the bite valve went down between the rotor and hub. It wound up on the hub and pulled right out of my bladder which was in my framebag. I stopped suddenly to get the bladder out before it flooded the inside of the bag. Of course, I was looking back with one eye the whole time knowing that the bears were not too far away.

Second, was also involving a bear, although a bit more serious. I was in the Enchanted Forest and I was partaking in a little hike a bike when I heard a noise off to my right. When I looked over, I saw a bear running through some brush right towards me. I would honestly say this thing was possibly 300lbs. It got to about 6-8 feet from me and stomped down its front feet. Part of me stood there and didn't know what to do, the other part belted out some sort of baritone belches. I made noise and it turned around and ran off. At that point I was a little more uneasy. I was in a section that I wasn't going to be able to hop on the bike and ride (fast) away. I didn't see it anymore either. I started to walk briskly while continuously reciting my alphabet. I got out of there without further incident.

Notice the bladder tube

Here are some pictures that I took on xVT. 

And a few more that I liked and used a filter on them:

Vermont rider profile #4

It's that time again boys and girls. This week we have David Tremblay. I am not sure how many of you know him but he was one of the driving forces behind the idea to connect as much dirt and trail to create a route that will cover the whole state of Vermont. Now, here we are with a solid plan to make it happen.

Dave didn't send me any pictures to use for this posting, so I took it upon myself to scrub the interwebs for some images. It wasn't hard to come up with some for me to use. Here we go:

How did you start bikepacking?

As a kid, my Dad would ride with us to the beach - it was 25 miles each way.  I had a 3spd, my little brother did it on a single speed.  My Dad called this a bike-hike.  He was a big fan of Tom Cuthbertson.  In college I started doing longer rides: home (100 miles) or to visit my girlfriend in (NYC 170 miles)  I did some pannier style touring and then in 2007 start training for PBP - riding through the night, riding 600km in one shot, from there I wanted to get off the road, away from cars and that led me to bikepacking.

What were some of your biggest trips?

It is going to be hard to beat Tour Divide as a big trip, but I have been mapping and exploring a ride from NYC to St John's Newfoundland  on dirt - it should be about 2,400 miles.

What races have you been a part of?

I have been mountain bike racing of some variation since 1989. I did Paris Brest Paris in 2007,  (not really bikepacking)  and the Canadian Ski Marathon ( also not bikepacking but pretty darn close!)  raced Tour Divide in 2010 and Trans North Georgia in 2011.

What (future) plans do you have?

I need to finish TNGa and the Colorado Trail is still on my list.   I have to ride my So to NO Vt border route in one shot still - it is only 300 miles but it takes me down every time.

Whom with?

You!  Anyone who wants to go!

What/how do you pack?

I've been trying to go lighter and more minimal.. I finally bought a scale and have started weighing all the junk I don't really need to bring with me.

How do you eat?

I have tried a bunch of different things from no-clue, to no food, to all Hammer products... now I am back to real food.

Special gear/style of packing?

I'll try anything.

Do you have a race strategy?

pick an efficient line, coast over 20 mph,  finish, and finish happy.

How do you train?

Start the year with a Fleche ride and end the year with the Circumburke ride as much as possible in between.

Any off season considerations?

snowboard and XFit with a little fatbiking - try to avoid rollers.

How much riding/how much work/family time, etc.?

this is tricky for me.  I trained for TD while my daughter was pitching on her little league team.  I may have not been in the top shape going into TD but I did not miss any games.

What do you like about it (bikepacking) ..... Why do you do it?

I like the amount of World you can cover in a day on a bike.  I like riding in the wee dark hours - it is quiet and serene and sprinkled with random insomniacs.

Anything strange ..... Seen, done, or happened while out there's?

I have yet to ride through the night without something strange happening or meeting some interesting character.   Riding through the night in New Mexico with little sleep, things like a dog with a shaved head look exactly like  a chupacabra!

A glimpse of xVT

I thought I would post a few pictures that I have taken on route. There is so much out there to see. The senses go into overload as you pedal through the State taking it in. I feel that it's the best way to be a part of your surroundings. These are some sights you would see in the Northern section of the route.

This is where Dave will be with his watchful eye on you as you pass by