At the Heart of Singletrack

Trail Crew

With wet weather in VT, a MTB'er must look inwards at times and face a brutal truth: It's just too wet to ride. With that realization comes a couple of choices: clean bike, drink beer, watch a bike movie, pig out on some Ben & Jerry's, or..... get out anyways and give that favorite local trail some much-needed love. With that, our Wednesday ORS MTB ride set out to do some local trail work.

The Wednesday ride is some folks only chance to ride during the week. Every Wednesday people excitedly call the shop throughout the day to inquire if the ride is still on, and where we're riding. On this particular Wednesday, folks called with an already less-than-excited tone asking, "So, are we still riding?.....[long hopeful pause]." My reply: "Sorry, no group ride today. But we're gonna grab some tools and head up to do some trail maintenance after a couple of intense storms that came through."

With a little encouragement, stoke and some promised hydration (read: beer), a couple of folks rose to the occasion. This is where the "heart" of singletrack  lies. I often think to myself, "Where would we ride if it weren't for all the volunteers?" These local clubs and VMBA (Vermont Mountain Bike Association) and their blood, sweat, and tears go into building all the great places we get to ride here in VT. We are fortunate to have all these things at hand to make VT a true destination for MTB'ing. It is the people that constantly give their time even when they would rather be riding that keep singletrack alive and well.

So the next time it's raining instead, of digging into a pint of B&J's or watching a bike video, grab your pack, tools and some good friends and head for that favorite trail. Chances are it needs a little love and this way you can be sure that trail will be able to keep on giving back.

Worcester Range at Sunset

Here's to the trail builders and to all that give their time.

T.

Singletrack Summer

Riders- Brett Leeper, Sarah Galbraith, Justin Tyme

Rider Ryan Madison

Sometimes you have to ride some of VT's beautiful dirt roads to get to the good stuff.  Here some good friends of mine have a little fun in between a flat tire, re-creating those early MTB years out West. I think Gary Fischer would be proud...

Riders Ryan Madison, Phil Parrish and Burt Marsh

 Rest those legs as the rain soaks in....

T.

Back at it again.

One day, two great organizations.

Sarah, Odin, and I had a wonderful day of connecting with two great organizations we love and have tried to be more part of the last few years since we have resided in Vermont. The day started with a wonderful group ride up North Branch -> Sparrow Hill -> Dan Smith's, where we had some great singletrack and conversation. We then headed out to Waterbury for the GMC's volunteer cookout. Sarah and I recently adopted the Skyline lodge in the breadloaf range and have had aappreciation cookout. We had a great time hiking in to our adopted shelter Skyline Lodge and keeping an eye on the shelter with shelter reports. We met new and old faces and shared awards for service, good conversation and good food! Then it was off to the MAMBA end of the year shindig where there were many familiar faces and new ones as well. Good food, good drink, good music and great people to share it with.

Sarah and I believe deeply that connecting and being involved with your community is paramount to living. This is truly a beautiful place to be indeed where the mountains and the people in them are what makes this a a special place to live and play. So here's to two extraordinary organizations that I am proud to be part of because without them we could not experience the trails and wild places we go every day.