Hey friends! This email is for folks who are choosing to join us for part of or the whole Labor Day weekend! You can still join us by the way! We would love to have anyone who is interested in generating a safe and comfortable and loving space for our LGBTQIA+ friends and family.
This email is big, and broken into sections. It’s best to click through to VermontBicycleClub.com/2025laborday to make things easier to navigate and avoid reading parts you don’t need to read.
Here are the sections of this email:
The RTR Training Ride – For those not bike packing and only interested in the training ride.
Last Minute Sign Up – Just like it says, you can still sign up!
Riding from the Shop Saturday: Details and Route – Maps, times, and more.
Notes for First Timers and Riding From Plainfield – Shorter ride options for the bike packing trip.
Some Requirements and Suggestions – It’s a good read through for anyone interested in bike packing.
The RTR Training Ride
Some folks will be opting to join us on Sunday only for our regular gravel ride series the Ride the Ridges Training Rides.
Sunday morning we will be meeting up at the Groton Town Park (public parking is available here) at 9:30-9:50 with a wheels roll time of 10am.
We’ll ride for 27 miles on mostly gravel, a little bit of rough gravel/class 4 and a little bit of pavement. The ride will have a total of 3100 feet of elevation.
You can click through to the route here:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52438991
Be sure to know all the details and requirements for these training rides by taking a look at our past RTR training ride posts. (click here)
Please let us know you are joining us for the training ride by using this single question google form, that way we aren’t waiting around for folks if we don’t have to. (If you are already registered for the bike packing weekend, there is no need to do this!)
https://forms.gle/6Ei1XWTLCNriE8aw9
Last Minute Sign Up for the Pride Rides Bike Packing Trip
Folks who want to join us last minute still need to make sure they have filled out the 2025 rider waiver and still need to register. This helps us keep track of riders and know who we should expect to meet up with. Even if we know you are coming, please register if you haven’t, it’s super helpful for our logistics.
To fill out the rider waiver, click here.
To register for the weekend, click here:
https://www.vermontbicycleshop.com/groton.html
Riding from the Shop on Saturday.
Gather at around 9:30 with the intention of wheels rolling at 10am sharp.
Do your pack up and shake down ride tonight if you haven’t already!!
We will then ride back roads and gravel roads to the Plainfield Village Square. We expect to roll through Plainfield around 11:00 to 11:15 where we might end up meeting up with other riders to join us for the second and flatter part of the ride. We’ll then ride the Plainfield rail bed the rest of the way to the cabin. We expect the remainder of the ride from Plainfield to the cabin in Groton to take about 2 hours. Our ride time allows for stops, meet-ups, and other shenanigans. We expect to arrive at the cabin around 1:30-2:00pm.
We will ride this route:
Here is a link directly to the route at Ride With GPS.
While the route is only 26 miles, we may have first time adventure cycling/bike packing riders with us and we will want to make sure to stay as a group. We’ll also want to allow some time to enjoy the scenery and such along the way.
Notes for first timers:
While we want everyone to have access to join us, we also want to be fair to those who have prepared for this weekend. If you have never ridden a bicycle for 25 miles, then it is best to either joins us in Plainfield (you can park overnight at the Park and Ride, beware to not leave anything valuable in your car), or join us directly at the cabin. You can find the cabin using the ride route above. Riding from the Plainfield Village Square the route is much flatter and quite a bit easier (though there is some challenging terrain).
You do not have to ride from the bike shop to join us, you can also choose to meet us in the Plainfield Village Square. Doing so will shorten the ride to 17 miles and the route will be significantly flatter. The terrain may still be challenging. See the Requirements and Suggestions below to ensure you have the proper bike for this ride. We expect the remainder of the ride from Plainfield to the cabin in Groton to take about 2 hours. Our ride time allows for stops, meet-ups, and other shenanigans. We expect to arrive at the cabin around 1:30-2:00pm.
Here is the route from Plainfield to Groton.
Some Requirements and Suggestions
While the route is flat, there can be some slightly challenging terrain in the form of loose sand, or mud. Riders should be somewhat experienced cyclists. An off road worthy touring, gravel road/cycle cross bike or mountain bike in good working order with a tire at least 40mm (1.5 inch) wide is required.
Helmets are required.
We are staying in a cabin. While there are some beds, it is best to prepare for sleeping on the floor or optionally sleeping outside on a screened in porch.
Temperatures may dip into the 40s overnight in Groton. It is always a little colder in Groton that it is in Barre. Be prepared for that in sleeping gear and clothing.
Bring your own camping gear, food and other things necessary for two night camping trip is a good idea. There is a village store close by. The selection and hours may be limited. Bring cash if you can. We’ll have *no* car support for the route.
Rider’s are required to follow all laws of the road, all rules, laws and regulations for camping in Vermont. All riders are expected to practice good stewardship both in cycling and camping.
Here is a great website about overnight bike trips:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/plan/
We’ve also come up with a list of things to help you prepare. The list is in two sections, one for Bicycle Supplies, the other for Camping Supplies. Some things on this list are not necessary, some things are required. Familiarize yourself with the advice on the above website, this list, and bring things that are required and things you are comfortable carrying with you on a bike.
Bicycle Stuff
Some Bicycle Equipment that would be a good idea to have:
Handlebar bag or
Cargo rack
Trunk bag or Panniers or an
Off road appropriate trailer
Required Items:
Helmet
Headlight
Taillight (with blinking option)
Water bottle or some sort of hydration pack
2 extra tubes
Tire levers
Patch Kit
Saddle (under seat) bag or some other way to carry things on the bike
Medical info/emergency contact card
OF NOTE: If your bicycle does not use quick release levers you will also need the appropriate tools to remove the wheels from your bicycle. You can ask Vermont Bicycle Shop about this if you are not sure.
Really, Really Good Idea to Bring Items:
Straps/bungee cords
Frame Pump or CO2 Pump and extra cartridges
Cycling multi-tool or small, light weight tools to help fix your bike.
Leatherman type multi tool
First-aid items
Extra Derailleur Hanger
Vermont Bicycle Shop will bring two card games, Exploding Kittens and Cards Against Humanity. Feel free to bring something equally fun!
No one is gonna laugh at you, these aren’t a bad idea either Items:
Eye protection (sunglasses or clear lenses)
Chain tool
Chain quick link
Small roll of duct tape
If you want to get nerdy about it Items:
Visibility vest
Chamois cream
Maps
Chain Lube
Pressure gauge
Assorted nuts and bolts
Spare tire
Camping Stuff
Required Items:
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Tent with waterproof bottom or a tarp or some form of camping shelter (if you don’t want to sleep in the cabin or on the floor in the cabin)
Meals/snacks
Insect repellent (the ticks in Groton have gone mad this year)
Ziplock bag for waterproofing items
Cash/credit card/ID (for emergencies)
Really, Really Good Idea Items:
Basic Clothing
Extra jersey and extra shorts
Bring extra pairs of socks (I like to pack with 2 socks for each day)
Bandana or hat or other form of sweat and sun protection
Speaking of weather, these are a good idea too:
Lightweight, rain wear/windbreaker
Some sort of long sleeve base layer/under armor/sweatshirt to layer up in case of cold weather
Full-fingered gloves
Arm/leg warmers
Stuff you might need:
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Small, quick-dry towel for cleanups
Matches/lighter
Ride Cue Sheet
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap
After ride clothing, swimwear if you want to jump in the water
Camera
Cell phone
One last piece of advice from our experienced Vermont Bicycle Club Community Leader Barb Schwendtner:
“Be sure to take your packed up rig out for a quick shake down ride to make sure everything feels good and all your bits stay put.”
Lastly, thank you for all the times you’ve joined us this year and I’m excited for all the amazing bike riding we’ll do this fall!
– Darren