Touring - Vermont...seeking insider info

Nancy and I changed our summer plans and will be flying to Vermont rather than cycling the Canadian Rockies. We just bought the airline tickets and are set to arrive in Burlington early July.

We plan to ride for 20-25 days making a big loop of sorts that will bring us back to Burlington. We won't have much in the way of plans beyond that since it's the way we like to tour. However, I'd love to hear some suggestions!

What are some of the most rewarding routes and little towns to visit?

Also, any known cyclist friendly accomodations at our start & finish point of Burlington?


Thanks!

Ron & Nancy
Wasatch Mountain Range, Utah
Our Journals (http://miles2go.crazyguyonabike.com/)

I spent a whole summer in Ludlow VT in 1997 and cycled around as much as I could. I also know a bit of the "Northeast Kingdom" and the southern Brattleboro-Bennington corridor. You can cycle the whole state in 4 days*, so your trip will be very relaxed.
I can't speak too much about the Montpelier area. All of Vermont is lovely, and very hilly. Folks accustomed to the west will be amazed how lush it is. Is this going to be loaded or non-loaded? We can take it off the site- write me,
tvphobic@yawhoo.com "without the w"



*at least the perimeter

I don't know what your budget is, but what you could do is to ask for catalogs from the big Vermont cycle touring companies (VBT- Vermont Bicycle Touring, VCC - Vermont Country Cycling (don't know if they're still in business)). Get their brochures and find out what places they are staying. Then plan out a route using these B&B's.

Practically any place in Vermont is good to cycle.

For more info on bicycling in the Northeast Kingdom, you can go to http://www.nvda.net/transportation/bikeped.html , and look for the two PDF files "Cycling the Kingdom" and "Backroad Bicycle Plan". The routes described in the former are mostly, if not exclusively, on paved roads, whereas those in the latter are mixed, with emphasis on unpaved.

Also, for more info on the Lake Champlain region, including New York and Quebec, go to http://www.champlainbikeways.org/ . They have a bunch of free brochures they can send to you, as well as a link to ordering a map of the whole area.

Timothy Clough

Lived in Rochester as a kid.

Route 100 is fun in sections, there used to be a race, the 100, 200, 300.
Warren to Rochester Vt on 100. Picnic near texas falls, check out the dairy near rochester and the bike shop/ clinic across from the grocery store (old ski lodge i grew up in) ride over Mt. Horrid pass (not kidding) to Ruteland. Camp at the lake (just watch your descent it's STEEP.)

Lots of good memories, the perfect state to cycle in.
have fun.