If you’ve never ridden in Vermont it’s time you did! Vermont has some of the nicest roads and trails for biking that you will find. Of course as some say “Vermont ain’t flat” and if you bike here you quickly see what they mean. There are some flatter roads and trails in the Champlain Valley but you will often have a head wind to deal with in exchange for the lack of hills. Most of the hills really aren’t that bad and with many bikes having triple chain rings you can gear down enough to make the climbs manageable. As a reward for conquering a hill you’ll see fantastic views and experience the fun of coasting back down; “what goes up must come down!”

For road biking there isn’t much that beats the northeast corner of Vermont. The population is low and so is the traffic. If you are able to ride during the week rather than weekends you may only see a car or two over the course of your ride. Even on the weekends the traffic is pretty low on most of these roads and when I say “low traffic” that is from the perspective of someone who lives on a dead end dirt road. I think the traffic in Montpelier is heavy. If you hail from the flat lands (south of Brattleboro) you are probably used to a much higher level of traffic. Even with the light traffic keep in mind that Vermont road laws require that bicycles ride single file. Please respect this if riding here as it goes a long ways toward keeping good relations with the automobile drivers on our roads. Sharing the road goes both ways.

Along with the low traffic in the Northeast there are wonderful views of woodlands, lakes, old farms, and small Vermont villages. Many of these villages have quaint general stores where you can stop for a break and a cold drink while out for your ride. We do have our share of pot holes and cracks in the roads so it’s a good idea to use a durable tire. I’ve ridden with narrow racing tires but had problems with pinch flats from hitting some of these pot holes. Be sure you have a patch kit just in case.

If dirt roads are your thing Vermont is the place for you! At times these roads can actually be smoother than the paved roads. The conditions do vary however depending on how much rain we’ve had and how long it has been since the road was last graded. Most towns use a grader many times a summer to remove washboards from the dirt roads. If you happen to be out for a ride the day after the road has been graded it can be like riding on marbles. It will take twice the energy to get to where you are going. Dirt roads can also be very dusty leaving you in a cloud of dust each time a car passes by. Now that I’ve made dirt roads sound so appealing lets look at some of their finer points. They really can be great roads to ride. You’ll typically find even less traffic on them and they can take you to some beautiful locations that you just won’t see by sticking to the pavement. Traveling on secondary dirt roads just gives you a feeling of a slower pace and a step back in time. A cross style bike will make these rides more enjoyable since they have wider tires than a road bike to absorb the bumps; yet narrow enough to lower the rolling resistance.

Vermont truly is a paradise for mountain biking. There are many single track trails through out the state and miles of old forth class roads and jeep trails. In Vermont we have a road classification of forth class which is an unimproved road. These are not maintained in the winter and are often little more than trails since they have not been maintained for years. It’s not uncommon to find the remains of old villages and homestead sites on these old roads. Many of them lead to old settlements which were abandoned back in the 1920s and have long since collapsed leaving just the stone cellar holes as evidence of habitation. If you don’t want to see any traffic this is your best option. These are still state roads so it is possible that you might encounter a jeep or four wheel drive pickup out there but odds are you won’t see anyone at all. Vermont has a growing number of mountain bike groups which are always working on new single track trails. Many of these are only know to locals so your best bet is to visit the neighborhood bike shop for tips on finding these rides. Much of the single track is less visible than the moose and deer herd paths so they can be very hard to find if you don’t know where to look. Use common sense when riding these trails, do not skid and stay off the trails when they are wet or muddy. This causes erosion and animosity toward mountain bikers as a group. Please respect the land.

Vermont has it all. Great low traffic paved roads; miles or dirt back roads; and a wide variety of off road options. Make some time to visit this season and see what Vermont has to offer!

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Mountain biking has taken the cycling world by storm. It wasn’t all that long ago when the phrase “mountain bike” would’ve elicited blank stares. Now you see them everywhere. Mountain bikes are made to handle almost every terrain imaginable, and that’s why they’ve become so popular. Just like SUV’s, most people who use them don’t have a need for their full range of functions, but it’s good to no the capability is there “just in case”.

Mountain bikes are nice even for the urban rider because they eliminate the worries one might have when encountering potholes, gravel, and bad road conditions. Mountain bike riders utilize their bikes for a wide range of activities and competitions. A number of races and competitions have sprung up to make use of the mountain bike’s many capabilities.

One such extreme mountain bike competition is known as cross-country (or XC) races. Cross-country mountain bike races usually cover about 30 miles and cover a variety of terrains. These races feature a mass start with all the riders taking off at the same time much like a marathon.

If cross-country races are too short for you, there’s always endurance (or enduro) racing. These races cover in excess of 70 miles and climb to elevations of 8000 feet and more.

For the real maniacs out there, the only way to go is downhill racing. Downhill races typically have staggered starts to try to minimize crashing, but as you can imagine, crashes are a regular part of such events. The racers fly down the hill at breakneck speeds, the key being to have the fastest time down the slope. Many of these races are held on ski slopes during the warmer months. Such competitions demand that the riders have the utmost skill and experience as it can be an extremely dangerous endeavor. These races aren’t for novices.

A competition rapidly growing in popularity is dirt jumping. This will be familiar to BMX enthusiasts as it’s essentially the same sort of competition. Such events aren’t races, of course. They’re judged events wherein riders compete to accomplish the biggest, most amazing jumps involving spinning the bike in the air, doing flips, and even completely letting go of the bike and getting back on before it lands.

Another form of extreme mountain bike competition is bike trials. These events involve navigating unbelievable difficult terrain without touching your feet to the ground. Bike trials require riders to balance their mountain bikes on rails, boulders, posts, tree stumps, and any number of seemingly impossible obstacles. The goal is to finish the course quickly and without having to put your feet down.

If any of these extreme mountain biking competitions appeal to you, start practicing and getting into shape. These events are for skilled and experienced riders only. They’re physically demanding and fairly dangerous. They are not for novices. Remember to wear a helmet and pads when attempting crazy stunts on your bike, and take care of yourself if you’re going to attempt extremely arduous long-distance rides.

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Mountain biking has taken the cycling world by storm. It wasn’t all that long ago when the phrase “mountain bike” would’ve elicited blank stares. Now you see them everywhere. Mountain bikes are made to handle almost every terrain imaginable, and that’s why they’ve become so popular. Just like SUV’s, most people who use them don’t have a need for their full range of functions, but it’s good to no the capability is there “just in case”.

Mountain bikes are nice even for the urban rider because they eliminate the worries one might have when encountering potholes, gravel, and bad road conditions. Mountain bike riders utilize their bikes for a wide range of activities and competitions. A number of races and competitions have sprung up to make use of the mountain bike’s many capabilities.

One such extreme mountain bike competition is known as cross-country (or XC) races. Cross-country mountain bike races usually cover about 30 miles and cover a variety of terrains. These races feature a mass start with all the riders taking off at the same time much like a marathon.

If cross-country races are too short for you, there’s always endurance (or enduro) racing. These races cover in excess of 70 miles and climb to elevations of 8000 feet and more.

For the real maniacs out there, the only way to go is downhill racing. Downhill races typically have staggered starts to try to minimize crashing, but as you can imagine, crashes are a regular part of such events. The racers fly down the hill at breakneck speeds, the key being to have the fastest time down the slope. Many of these races are held on ski slopes during the warmer months. Such competitions demand that the riders have the utmost skill and experience as it can be an extremely dangerous endeavor. These races aren’t for novices.

A competition rapidly growing in popularity is dirt jumping. This will be familiar to BMX enthusiasts as it’s essentially the same sort of competition. Such events aren’t races, of course. They’re judged events wherein riders compete to accomplish the biggest, most amazing jumps involving spinning the bike in the air, doing flips, and even completely letting go of the bike and getting back on before it lands.

Another form of extreme mountain bike competition is bike trials. These events involve navigating unbelievable difficult terrain without touching your feet to the ground. Bike trials require riders to balance their mountain bikes on rails, boulders, posts, tree stumps, and any number of seemingly impossible obstacles. The goal is to finish the course quickly and without having to put your feet down.

If any of these extreme mountain biking competitions appeal to you, start practicing and getting into shape. These events are for skilled and experienced riders only. They’re physically demanding and fairly dangerous. They are not for novices. Remember to wear a helmet and pads when attempting crazy stunts on your bike, and take care of yourself if you’re going to attempt extremely arduous long-distance rides.

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The GMC Ladies Denali Road Bike delivers higher performance at a lower price. At the heart of this Denali Road Bike youl… More >>

Dirt Bike Stars [VHS]

Mountain biking has taken the cycling world by storm. It wasn’t all that long ago when the phrase “mountain bike” would’ve elicited blank stares. Now you see them everywhere. Mountain bikes are made to handle almost every terrain imaginable, and that’s why they’ve become so popular. Just like SUV’s, most people who use them don’t have a need for their full range of functions, but it’s good to no the capability is there “just in case”.

Mountain bikes are nice even for the urban rider because they eliminate the worries one might have when encountering potholes, gravel, and bad road conditions. Mountain bike riders utilize their bikes for a wide range of activities and competitions. A number of races and competitions have sprung up to make use of the mountain bike’s many capabilities.

One such extreme mountain bike competition is known as cross-country (or XC) races. Cross-country mountain bike races usually cover about 30 miles and cover a variety of terrains. These races feature a mass start with all the riders taking off at the same time much like a marathon.

If cross-country races are too short for you, there’s always endurance (or enduro) racing. These races cover in excess of 70 miles and climb to elevations of 8000 feet and more.

For the real maniacs out there, the only way to go is downhill racing. Downhill races typically have staggered starts to try to minimize crashing, but as you can imagine, crashes are a regular part of such events. The racers fly down the hill at breakneck speeds, the key being to have the fastest time down the slope. Many of these races are held on ski slopes during the warmer months. Such competitions demand that the riders have the utmost skill and experience as it can be an extremely dangerous endeavor. These races aren’t for novices.

A competition rapidly growing in popularity is dirt jumping. This will be familiar to BMX enthusiasts as it’s essentially the same sort of competition. Such events aren’t races, of course. They’re judged events wherein riders compete to accomplish the biggest, most amazing jumps involving spinning the bike in the air, doing flips, and even completely letting go of the bike and getting back on before it lands.

Another form of extreme mountain bike competition is bike trials. These events involve navigating unbelievable difficult terrain without touching your feet to the ground. Bike trials require riders to balance their mountain bikes on rails, boulders, posts, tree stumps, and any number of seemingly impossible obstacles. The goal is to finish the course quickly and without having to put your feet down.

If any of these extreme mountain biking competitions appeal to you, start practicing and getting into shape. These events are for skilled and experienced riders only. They’re physically demanding and fairly dangerous. They are not for novices. Remember to wear a helmet and pads when attempting crazy stunts on your bike, and take care of yourself if you’re going to attempt extremely arduous long-distance rides.

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If you’re like most people in America, you’re probably looking to get in a bit better shape. Of course, we all know this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Finding the time can be difficult, but find the motivation can be even harder when all you have to look forward to is a long slog on the treadmill. You need a way to exercise that you’ll love, rather than dread. If you can’t wait to go do your workout, you’ll certainly be in much better shape.

For me, and for many others, road biking fits this description perfectly. Nothing else is quite like the sensation of freedom and speed you get from riding on a road bike, watching the miles fly by as you proppel yourself under your own power through the scenic countryside. You’re getting one of the best workouts there is, but you won’t even notice. Instead, you’ll be pushing yourself to race your buddies to the top of the hill, or taking tight corners as you fly down a curvy mountain road at car-like speeds.

The reason road biking is such a great workout, besides the fact that its a ton of fun, is that it works multiple body energy systems. Most of you are probably familiar with the concept of “aerobic” and “anaerobic” exercise. Without getting into the details, we can summarize aerobic exercise as long, slow, gradual exercise that keeps your heart rate up, and anaerobic excerise as short, very high intensity effort. Working both systems is essential for optimal fitness, and road biking does just this.

For example, when you’re do a long, slow, flat ride, you’re helping work your aerobic systems. When you’re sprinting that last portion of a steep hill climb, you’re getting an intense anaerobic workout. You control what kind of workout you get but what kind of ride you take. It’s that simple.

So, what does it take to get in on a great sport like this? Well, its fortunately quite simple. With just a bike, shoes, helmet, proper clothing, and a few other accessories, you’re off and ready to go. Since its just ride a bike, you don’t need to take any special classes to learn what you need to do. Of course, there will be a slight learning curve if you’ve never ridden a road bike before.

Compared to the inexpensive, heavy, clunky cheap bikes most people spend their lives riding, a road bike will feel like a highly tuned sports car. In other words, it will be twitchy and fast, and you need to pay attention to keep from crashing. Don’t worry, though, you’ll catch on soon enough as you start riding.

In fact, once you get going with the riding, you’ll discover one of the best things about road biking: progression. The more you ride, the faster you’ll get. Soon you’ll be timing yourself on your favorite rides, attempting to break your previous records. By doing this, you are literally watching yourself getting in better shape, and having a blast while doing it!

So, I hope all this has helped you see a little what road biking can do for your fitness. It’s easy, fun, and can last you a lifetime. Visit your local bike ship today, or read more to find out even more about this great sport.