Dirt Road Biking Weekend

July 6-8, 2012

Join us this Fourth of July for an exciting weekend of exploring the backroads of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom by bicycle. It's been said: "The best of Vermont is not touched by pavement." There's no better place to test this claim than Craftsbury, with its campus nestled in the middle of a 200 mile maze of lightly traveled dirt roads.

The weekend will offer cyclists the option of either taking a long ride on Saturday, or two shorter rides. Saturday's long ride option will take approximately six hours, with a stop for lunch. The two shorter options will take about an hour each. Sunday will feature a couple of 2 hour rides, one before and one after lunch.

All of the weekend's rides travel through peaceful hamlets, hill farms, lakes, and forests. Cyclists needn't fret over route finding: our knowledgeable guides have broad experience with the area and will do their utmost to help your trip go smoothly, whether you're out for a quick spin of five miles, or one of the more challenging rides of nearly 30 miles.

The routes cover mixed surfaces, with packed dirt and gravel alternating with short stretches of pavement. Some may have short sections of rough surface. All rides will feature some climbing, it's pretty unavoidable in this part of the world, but the payoff of great views and cruising downhill makes the effort worth it. Riders on longer courses will enjoy the benefit of a follow vehicle in case of mechanical problems or other need for assistance.

In addition to the Dirt Road Biking Weekend, Craftsbury will be offering Independence Weekend programming over the same time frame. Independence Weekend will include guided trips to local homes that feature green construction techniques, alternative energy installations, local farms, a tour of the Center's on-site renewable energy production facilities, plus hands-on demonstrations of cheese making, bread and pizza-baking in the Center's wood-fired oven, and rustic construction will also be featured.

Participants in the Dirt Road Biking Weekend are welcome to substitute any of these activities or tours in place of the scheduled Dirt Road rides. A detailed schedule of activities and learning experiences will be available online here.

So how do you join in? Full participation in the Dirt Road Biking Weekend, detailed maps, route descriptions, guides and sag wagon support are all free for house guests. Lodging and meals start at $95/person/day double occupancy. Contact the front office for availability today.

Have some questions before you register? Check out the following FAQs.

I'm not a house guest - can I join in?
Annual or day membership will also entitle riders to participate in the weekend's cycling programming with meals available to purchase by reservation. Annual membership starts at $25/year (for students and seniors - other groups vary) and you can read more about it here. Day memberships are $10/day.

Is there a schedule I can look at?
We have a detailed schedule of rides and activities.

I don't have a bike - or don't want to bring it from home - will there be options for me to get a bike?
Cannondale Mountain and Hybrid bikes are available for rent from our bike shop. Find more here.

What other activities can I participate in this weekend?
A mapped system of single track mountain bike trails, disc golf, orienteering, and nature trails are available for houseguests and members. A waterfront with canoes and kayaks and swimming is available for house guests to enjoy.

As mentioned above, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center is offering an Independence Weekend program over the same time frame. Participants in the Dirt Road Biking Weekend are welcome to substitute any of these Independence activities or tours in place of other scheduled rides. Read more here.

Participants in the Dirt Road Biking Weekend are welcome to substitute any of these Independence activities or tours in place of other scheduled rides. A detailed schedule of activities and learning experiences will be available on the Independence Schedule page.

Got a question that wasn't covered in the FAQs? Drop us a line or call 802-586-7767. Hope to see you on the hidden byways with us this summer.