Vermont in October--Traffic question
 

Hi all:

A buddy and I are planning a week-long tour of Vermont along Adventure Cycling's Green Mountains Loop. We're tentatively shooting to be riding in the first or second week in October. It doesn't look like foliage will be at its peak yet, but I'm sure traffic will be on the increase.

Does anyone have any experience bicycle touring in Vermont during foliage season? Are the roads just jam packed with gawkers paying little attention to cyclists? Any roads/areas that would be best avoided?

Any tips (about traffic management or anything else) are welcome.

Thanks!

PM a poster named BMIKE.
He can give you a totally Conde Naste'
version of VT. cycling.
I just moved from VT and all I can say is pretty
much anywhere you want to go drivers are very friendly
except for the occasional BMW SUV w/NY tags :eek: and
the scenery is spectacular statewide.
You wont run in to any jampacked roads outside of Burlington
and they're not too bad by almost all other standards.
You will want to err on the side of too many supplies because you
are out in the middle of nowhere in most of the state. If you
break down of run out of water it could turn into a very undesirable situation.
Bring extra clothes too, October at nite can easily be 30 degrees.
Good luck and post a report ?!
:)

You will be at the peak of fall foliage. I am from Quebec and I can tell you that the road behavior of most Vermonter motorist is exemplary. The road conditions and shoulder quality is also a good reason why most of my longer day trips dip into the Green Mountain State.

Enjoy your ride.

Foliage season varies, keep an eye on websites which tell you the peak, and follow it southward. I have done alot of vermont foliage riding, usually focusing on rt 100 and feeder roads off of it, especially in the south...routes 30 and 9. I always found the drivers to be courteous and driving slowly, much more slowly than usual, since they have their eyes of the colors. Keep in mind that the lanes in vermont are narrower than in other states, and oddly enough, some sharp turns are banked 'the wrong way.'

I found wild camping to be pretty easily available, even in areas where 'no tresspassing signs' sprouted like mushrooms.

roughstuff

Bring your gears. I just looked at that route and they aren't shy about taking you over some big hills.

On the other hand, by doing things like going over Rochester Mtn they avoid the hellaciously bad Rt. 107, and the scenery up the hills is great.

Speedo

I second the Rt 100 suggestion. It's a great ride starting at the Canadian border and heading toward MA. Vermonters are quite cordial in their driving habits toward cyclists. The out-of-staters can be more aggressive. Generally, you find more traffic the further south you ride. Most of the bike touring companies conclude their Vermont routes around October 15. This indicates to me that their years of experience shows that seeing good foliage beyond this time is less likely. I've done 7-8 Vermont autumn tours and I find that the last week of September or the first week of October is usually the peak foliage time. If you like to climb - even with touring gear, there are some wonderful climbs to be had off of Rt 100. They are affectionately known as the "Gap" rides for the 4 or so mountain gaps (passes for those in the western US) you get to climb over. Here is a link you could check out for directions on the Gap rides and other northeastern rides.

http://www.northeastcycling.com/

I have yet to cycle in Vermont any meaningful distance without having to walk, uphill or (out of fear) downhill. Lincoln Notch in the center; Smugglers notch in the north; sometimes rt 9 up from Brattleboro out of shear exhaustion from the lengthy grades.

You may see signs at the top of these notches: Attention: Check brakes for porcupine damage. What happens in the early spring and summer is the mud is still salty from the winter, gets onto the automobile undercarriage, and then the porkys chew it for the salty taste and flavor. You discover at the top of a mountain you have no brakes. Never had this problem with my bicycle.

roughstuff

Thanks!
 

Thanks everyone. This is exactly what I needed to know. I promise to post a trip report once we return.

If you are doing the ACA Green Mountain Loop, remember that ACA generally stays off the main roads and on the roads less traveled. So, although there will be additional traffic due to leaf peekers, it probably will not be extreme.

Second, pick your dates. I'm sure Columbus Day weekend will be heavy, but other than that, much quieter.

Northeast Kingdom will be the quietest. Most tourists flock to the popular destinations like Stowe.

The ACA Green Mountain loop circles up toward the Canadain border and into Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Up that way, the first two weeks of October will be past peak foliage. It will still be beautiful, but lots of the higher hills will be well past peak. As you go south toward the Conn. River Valley, it will be approaching peak. As you then turn west and over the ridge of the Green Moutains, it should be perfect, but again past peak the higher you go. Then as you drop into the Champlain Valley and turn north toward Burlington, you'll be back in peak season.

As far as traffic, keep a sharp eye on any car that doesn't have a green plate on it since that'll be flatlanders. They will turn without a signal, stop without reason, and will just generally be in their own little world. While Rte 100 is great, I would not ride it since that is the route most of the tourist will be taking. The many back roads and lesser used roads of the ACA route are just as nice.

As far as prep, be prepared!!! We get our first snow many times during that timeframe, especially up high in the mtn passes and northeast kingdom. Many nights will be down into the 30's. Pray for snow and not a miserable low 40's day with rain, those are killers. On the other hand, day's can be just the best, with cool temps in the 60, 70's and lots of sunshine that make you want everyday to be like that.

Hope you enjoy our state, stop an enjoy and take lots of pix's
Brian