When I think of Summer in Vermont, I can easily dream of the the Long Trail and the boundless hiking trails in the Green Mountains, or the swimming holes, the smell of green pastures and farms, and don't forget the cows. But last week, at the Vermont Mountain Bike Festival, it was all about mountain bikes and riding trails. We all came together in Waterbury for two spectacular days of riding, showcasing some of the best single track Vermont has to offer. More than a few folks showed up to try their hands at it.
 |
| Rider: Dwight Gies |
It seems like yesterday that mountain bikers got their hands dirty, with the relatively recent onset of this mountain past-time. And look how far we have come in that short period of time! Blood, sweat, dirt, and thousands of hours of riders' own time have built some of the best trails in New England. That's just what people from far and near got to experience at this year's fest. Every year it's clear: Things can and will only get better from here... Here are some pics of the fun times has at the 2012 VT Mountain Bike Festival:
 |
| World-class riding, right in Stowe, Vt. |
 |
| A group tour in Stowe, Vt. |
 |
| Chris Lee picks trail-side berries. |
 |
| One of our newest trails to enjoy - its great! |
 |
| A cold beer at the Trapps brewery. |
 |
| Some bike derby to liven things up! |
 |
| The end do great day at the VTMTB fest. |
Also, we had an amazing sunset on the second night:
Unfortunately those bright colors do appear to signal that a massive storm is coming...on this second night we also sat under tents during the worst thunderstorm/hurricane I've experienced in a long time. The lightening was incredible, though! Um...the flooding and sideways rain was also incredible.