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March 05, 2019
Announcing the 2019 Super 8 Grand Depart!
Friday, Sep 27, 2019 | Montpelier, VT | 8:00AM (revised!)
Join us for this year's group start of a truly epic Vermont allroad adventure!
The Super 8 is the gravel cousin of the XVT. It's a bikepacking route in the shape of an 8 through Vermont. You can choose to ride the full 640 miles, 60 kft ascent, or you can choose to ride only the northern lobe (260 mi.) or southern lobe (380 mi.) of the "8." The ride requires a light touring or bikepacking setup, 700x45 tires or larger recommended. Short hike-a-bikes necessary!
Email dan@vermontbikepackers.org with your letter of intent to register! No registration fee; the ride is fully self-supported. In your letter, please include your experience with distance riding as well as details of your proposed rig and gear setup.
If you can't make the Sep 27 date, you can still send in a letter of intent to do an ITT (individual time trial) beginning at a different date this season. You also have the option of starting in Brattleboro or Derby Line, though we encourage you to make the trek to Montpelier in order to start with the group.
The 2019 Super 8 Grand Depart will have live tracking hosted by trackleaders.com. Stay tuned shortly before the event to find the link. Riders are strongly encouraged to register with trackleaders (details are emailed out to intending riders).
See ROUTES for an overview of the Super 8 as it is today. We are looking to make changes before September so stay tuned! Email with your letter of intent to get on the mailing list and communicate with other riders. We will fill you in on details re: marking, meeting times, etc.
Stoked!
January 09, 2019
2019 means Super 8
Get ready for a new Super 8 release this month. Our GIS skills have ramped up and we're scheming a big event this year.
October 03, 2018
Bindle Details!
East Option: park at the I-91 Exit 6 Rockingham Park & Ride on Friday, Oct 12, around 1pm! Be ready to roll at 2. Download the route here: .gpx and/or .kml !!
West Option (meeting point changed 10/8): park in the Bromley Mountain Long Trail Parking Lot on Friday, Oct 12, around 1pm. Get packed and be ready to roll at 2pm! Download the route here: .gpx and/or .kml .
Please bring lights! We might have some you can borrow. The days are getting short. Questions: dan@vermontbikepackers.org
August 13, 2018
Won't you Bindle?
We're stoked to announce that the first ever Vermont Bikepackers' Bindle Campout Ride will take place October 12-14! This is a pretty unique ride format that borrows from randonneuring traditions, but in summary: we lead gravel rides to/from/around Pete's Camp, and we camp there all weekend.
Pete's Camp is an expansive hilltop property dedicated to hosting adventure. Think forests, fields, stone walls, a bike stable, a kitchen, and a huge outdoor stove.
Our one rule: whether you join us Friday or Saturday, you must leave your car behind and reach Pete's by pedal power only.
See above for where/when to meet on Friday! If you want to join on Saturday, find us at the Vermont Country Store in Weston around lunch time ;-p. Those who start the Saturday group ride at Pete's will have left their gear at camp, but join us on Saturday fully loaded and grind up to Pete's with us! Unless you just want to tag along Saturday and then get back to your vehicle solo, which is fine but we'll miss you at camp. Either way the pace will be low-threat, low-speed, high adventure. Expect 7-10 mph rolling average on everything from pavement to chunky Vermont Class 4 dirt. (And leaves!)
Friday, 12 Oct (afternoon): Meet up with Daniel or Kris (see above). Ride up to Pete's Camp on pavement, dirt, and Class 4 roads. Dinner at Pete's!
Sat, 13 Oct: Breakfast, then all-day ride!! B.Y.O. ride food. We will be stopping by at least 2 general stores during the day for food / lunch #1 / lunch #2. Vermont Country Store in Weston, VT around noon. Ride concludes at Pete's (ideally before dark), and we chow down. Again: expect conditions much like the Super 8. Lots of dirt, some pavement, some class 4.
Sunday, 14 Oct: Breakfast, chill, maybe some yoga, then disperse!
Registration is $30/night, or $20/night for VMBA Bikepackers' Chapter members. Includes dinner and breakfast. Email us with questions!
July 02, 2018
Green Tunnel Goodness
There's a new Revision of the Super 8 (see routes!). The ~130-mile stretch from Chester to Arlington (clockwise) now looks totally different. We did this for a few reasons: friendlier backroads, a deeper extension into the SW part of Vermont, and Pete's Camp in Windham is now on the loop instead of on a connector. Good camping options, too.
April 02, 2018
Hello, world.
Welcome to Vermont Bikepackers' shiny new website. We have routes and waypoints available for download. Submit feedback here.