A Gravel Adventure in Northern Vermont

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Overview: Vermont is fast becoming a destination for cyclists seeking "gravel" riding. Join the leaders, for whom this area is home, on this mixed surface tour, predominantly on the quiet gravel/dirt roads of northern Vermont. Designed for fit, adventurous cyclists, this tour features spectacular scenery, very pleasant dirt roads, and minimal traffic (once we get out of Burlington).  The tour starts and ends on the shores of Lake Champlain in the vibrant city of Burlington VT.  The planned routes take you to local treasures such as the Local Motion Bike Ferry, Hinterland Market, Highland Center for the Arts, Fledarmaus Teahouse, Hill Farmstead and Lost Nation Breweries, the Bread and Puppet Museum and the Museum of Every Day Life. There are 8 days of cycling, 4 of them required. Required rides range from 40-45 miles, have up to 2400' climbing, and have more paved and/or rail trail (on the soon to be completed Lamoille Valley Rail Trail) than choice days. On choice days, routes bring us to the back roads and hills of Vermont where we will average 1000' of climbing for every 10 miles traveled. There are fully paved options available on some choice days (34-75 miles with 2200-5125' climbing). Daily climbing ranges from 1800 to 5125' depending on the ride selected. The ideal bike for this tour is a road/gravel or a hard tail mountain bike with gearing appropriate for long, steep hills and tires that are a minimum 35 mm.  Tandems with the recommended tires and gearing are welcome. Fenders are highly recommended in the event of rain.  More important than your equipment is your fitness and sense of adventure. All participants must be self-sufficient due to limited cell service in some areas of the tour. We will not ride as a “stay together” group, and thus riders must bring (and be able to use) a navigation device (e.g., Garmin, Wahoo, smartphone with RWGPS, etc.) or plan to navigate via cue sheet and map or we will provide if requested. Non-cycling activities available on choice days include canoeing, kayaking, swimming, zip lining, and light hiking.

COVID requirements: All participants must be fully vaccinated including booster shots the particpant is eligible for, and be prepared to present vaccination documentation for viewing by Ride Leader if requested. 

Ride rating: The tour is rated 3B! with an average daily distance of 43 miles, 2100 feet of climbing and 55% gravel/dirt for the short options on the 4 required riding days. Please note: the optional/choice cycling days are where the tour really shines. Long climbs and frequent grades above 8% lead to great views and fun descents. In addition, the dirt/gravel road surface and bike paths add difficulty to this tour. Unusually hot and/or dry conditions may create loose/dusty roads in places and it is it possible that we may encounter a road grader that will create a soft, loose riding surface for short distances.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files: GPS files of all routes will be provided along with printed cue sheets and maps if desired or we will provide if requested. 

Weather: Expect daytime temperatures in the mid 70's to mid 80's and night temperatures in the mid 50s. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible as are 90+ degree days.

Lodging and meals:  The tour includes lodging for 9 nights, 8 breakfasts, 7 evening happy hours, and 5 group dinners. The first and last nights are at the modern downtown Courtyard Marriott in Burlington. We will spend 4 nights total (2 nights twice) at the Smuggler's Notch Inn and 3 nights at the mid-century style Highland Lodge in Greensboro which has beach access to Caspian Lake. 3 nights of lodging are mid-range and without air conditioning. We will be in rural areas away from services many are accustomed to.

Luggage: Your luggage will be transported by van. We suggest limiting the weight of your bags to under 30 lbs. because, although you'll be handling your own bags, others may need to move your bags from time to time. You may want to bring along a small backpack, tote, or duffle, too. A laundromat will be available on choice days 2-3 and 7-8.

Logistics: Arrive on Sunday August 20, 2023 at the Courtyard Marriott in Burlington VT. Allow enough time for travel, bike assembly, and settling in to join our first happy hour and meeting at 5:30 followed by a group dinner. Depart before hotel check out on Tuesday August 29 (breakfast on your own).  Parking is available for $12/day at the Burlington airport or $8/day at the public garage adjacent to the Courtyard Marriott. Burlington's (BTV) airport is 4 miles from the Courtyard Marriott. The hotel does NOT offer a shuttle to or from the airport.

Cost and administration: The cost of this tour is $1800. Your $1000 deposit and final payment of $800 (due April 1, 2023) covers the costs of the tour. Included are 9 nights of lodging, 8 breakfasts, 7 evening happy hours with snacks and beverages, 5 group dinners, housekeeping and meal gratuities, the Local Motion Bike Ferry, luggage transport in a van, bike box storage, RideWithGPS routes, and links to cue sheets and maps which you may print off on your own or we will provide if requested. The tour cost does not include lodging before or after the tour, parking, kayak/canoe rentals, or the zip line. The Courtyard Marriott has offered to extend the group rate to tour participants for up to 2 nights following the tour.

Singles: We encourage single riders who are willing to share a room to sign up. We will assist with the search for a suitable roommate. Singles will be asked to stay on the pending list until they find a roommate. There will be a limited time-frame to do so if there are more BAC members registered on the wait list.

Solos: We have not reserved solo rooms and will only offer a solo option if the tour does not fill within a few months. Solo supplement is $805 in addition to the per person tour cost. The solo supplement, due April 1, 2023, is paid by check and is mailed to BAC, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.

Cancellation policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support, including changing their own flat tires. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour, without checking first with the ride leader. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

Sign-up:  To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List. At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee ($50) and the initial tour deposit ($1000) by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.