bmike

Group of 4 struck out on Pugsleys to explore the Green Mountains from Pittsfield to Silver Lake and back. We had a first gen Pugsley with Surly racks and panniers, an IGH Nerco with Porcelain Rocket Kit, a single speed with bikepacking kit, and a geared machine with bikepacking kit.

Good times. Lots of pushing. Incredible, if difficult terrain. 56+ miles over 2 days. Day 2 was mostly pave after we got out of camp on the Leicester Hollow trail. We cut out some trail and a longer another longer route option due to freezing rain / snow coming over Brandon Gap.

Day 1 weather was great - cold, but clear. Blue skies. Moving higher into the mountains we had snow on the ground. Lower we had mud and slop and fun. As we setup camp at Silver Lake under headlamps we had snow flakes falling. That came down all night as snow / freezing rain. At 2am everything was white. By the time I got up at 6 to try and build a fire it was all wet and gone.


fatbikes by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMG_2132 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMG_2148 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


chittenden reservoir by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMG_2164 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


QBP glamour shot by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMG_2198 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMG_2220 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


leicester hollow trail by mbeganyi, on Flickr


campsite by mbeganyi, on Flickr

bmike

pugsley and contrail by mbeganyi, on Flickr


my contrail and wil's moment by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMG_2280 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


freezing rain, wind, brandon gap by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMG_2316 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

iforgotmename

Looks like fun

Simon Cowbell

Good stuff! Way to get after it during shoulder season.

VT_Speed_TR

Nice! Amazing the trails you can find in Vermont

bwgride

Hey, great images and thanks for sharing. A friend ask that I post these questions:

"Are you a member of that forum....if so, ask for thoughts on the inefficiency of the fat tires over the whole trip. Were the fat tires a big problem for covering 56 miles, or were they a plus or neutral?"

bmike

Very happy for the fatties. Not so much on the pavement. But that was a weather decision. We had more rough trail.

I would not have been happy on a 'regular' mountain bike.

VT_Speed_TR

What trails/routes did you follow to get from Pittsfield over to Silver Lake?

bmike

Hacked together snomo, dirt road, class 4, and the Leicester Hollow trail. Only pave on day 1 was from parking to lower michigan road and about 2 miles down 73.

crashmo

What a fantastic trip! I have to know more about those handlebars you're sporting. Looks like about the best of both worlds, and nice and wide.

bmike

titec h-bars.
now i would replace them with jones loop bars.

crashmo

Excellent, thank you! I'm looking at the Jones bars now. Exactly what I need after trying to love some dirt drops for way too long. Vermont looks to be really superb terrain for a fatbike. Thanks for sharing and for your help.

3speed

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a blast.

Pico Triano

Great pictures. I saw my first Fatbike last year on the trails in Moncton, New Brunswick. My writing friend is going to write an article for me on them for my webzine. It'll be cool. I've done a lot of winter riding but not on the trails. Bit of a challenge right now to come up with season appropriate writing. Great picture though. Wish I had the cash for one. Those are the only kind of bike that could ride my road right now.

jhawk

Been trying to get my LBS onside to get me one for Christmas! But apparently you have to do this thing called "buying one" as Santa doesn't really exist, evidently!

That said, you look like you had an amazing time! One for the future for me, that's for certain!