In the Kingdom

Rider: Chris Lee

Easter Sunday; back to VT singletrack.

Every year it's a given; we gather early Sunday morning, drive South, and ride bikes. One important  thing we noticed this year: some are just learning. To watch a young kid laugh and giggle as they ride their bike was something that really brought me back to my youth, to how a bicycle was an integral part of my life growing up, as it is for others.

Another Easter ride with friends, bikes, and the feeling of Spring in the air. Winter isn't over yet but Spring in VT is a special time of year where anything can happen.

Winter Beckons at Millstone Hill

Rider Kevin Jaques.

Here's some more two-wheeled love in our latest post from guest writer Cody Chouinard. If we weren't missing our bikes before, we certainly are now. Thanks, Cody, for sharing your story with us!

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If you're like me, every time you see your bike jammed in the corner of your garage you get a brief flashback of shredding single-track all summer long. Thanks to our friends at the Millstone Trails Association you no longer have to suffer. Whether you are whipping around the turns creating a snow wave or just the casual biker looking for some great views, the trails at Millstone have everything you want in a winter mountain biking experience. If you have ever ridden at Millstone in the summer you know how beautiful the quarries are, but there is something about them in the winter that is equally if not more amazing. The snow outlined pieces of granite create a skeleton-like look to the grout piles towering above you. Winter riding doesn’t compare to summer riding, but the Millstone Trails Association has done an amazing job creating trails that will help you cope with those single-track flashbacks.

CC. 

Cody Chouinard lives in Barre, Vermont, and likes to ride his bike. 

And so it begins.....

no-SNOW-vember

 Don't get us wrong - we hate that there's no snow yet as much as the rest of you skiers and snowshoers, but Wow! this weather could not be better for mountain biking. Last night's balmy temps, warm breeze, and clear skies made for perfect riding conditions. At least its not 30 degrees and raining! Oh...wait, that's the forecast for tomorrow, I think. Anyways, rock on no-SNOW-vember, the month after octSNOWber. (It's been a nutty year so far!)

When one bike fails; grab another.

     A recent mountain mis-adventure had me turning around five minutes into a ride, only to drive back home. But instead of sitting at home and feeling sorry for myself, I headed back out on the 'cross bike. I rode beautiful dirt roads at sunset - very cool! When one bike fails, don't give up: grab another! Don't be afraid to try something different.

How Singletrack is Born

 Joe's Yoke: A great way to get in crushed rock, old school.

 Kip trying out the bridges, even the unfinished ones.

(photos courtesy of Kip Roberts and Kevin Jaques)

The ORS crew met up at one of our favorite local places to ride, Millstone Hill, in the beautiful historic quarries of Websterville, Vermont to get our hands dirty and work with the likes of Kevin and Jason Jacques, Joe, and Ricky of the Millstone crew.  These folks have been responsible for all the new trail creativity and vision at the touring center, and we figured it was time to help out.  With tools abounding and by way of tractor and lots of muscle power we were able to get some quality trail work done on "Rock and Roll" a trail that gives access to the new Harrington Heights.

This is how it happens folks: a lot of hard work and sweat. I myself need to log in more time to giving back and making the singletrack here in Vermont even better than it already is.  If you love to ride singetrack, get out there and throw some dirt or rock around; give back.  Singletrack doesn't just happen, it's born by sweat, blood, and sometimes tears; good tears that is! So next time you hear about a trail day or run into to folks doing trail work while you're riding, stop for a second and help out; I guarantee you and the VT singletrack will be better for it!

T.

Life cycles; a ride in movie.

With all our great outdoorsy folks we know, we knew this would be an easy one!  Sarah, Odin and I planned to have an outdoor showing of the new video-ography of the life of a bicycle; Life cycles.  With a group ride from Onion River Sports to Plainfield with good friends we grilled,shared drinks and sat down to watch which turned out to be an awesome outdoor movie showing.  There's nothing quite like riding your bike into see a movie indeed.  I think will be doing this at least a couple more times.

Stay tuned.

T.