We’re a group of bicycle riders who live in or near Barre, Vermont. With the support of Vermont Bicycle Shop we’ve created a casual and loosely formed “club” to organize bikes rides within our community. With the help of Vermont Bicycle Shop we’ve got this great webpage and a dedicated group to help facilitate friendly and comfortable access to bicycling in Vermont.

Is there a membership sign up?
Kind of. When you join us for a ride you will be asked to sign a liability waiver (click here). We don’t pay dues or keep a members list, our goal is to create a community of inclusivity and remove as many hurdles as possible for people to join us. When you join us for a ride be sure to present your confirmation email to the ride leader. You will get a sticker to put on your helmet or somewhere easily visible on your bike.
You can also stop in to the shop at anytime to get your sticker as well, in fact, bring your bike or helmet in and we will put it on for you!

You can join our facebook group, or you can simply check this website for rides information and more. Signing the waiver is required before you can join us.

Are there any requirements to ride with the group? Yes! We do have a few rules, and we also have a few things we strongly encourage:

Some rules for joining us:

• Everyone must wear a helmet.
• Carry an emergency contact card or paper with you on your bike.
  https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/m4240194_ECCard.pdf
• Everyone must follow safe riding guidelines and the laws of the road for bicycles. (If you aren’t sure you can always ask).
• Everyone must be able to self sustain the safe working order of their bicycle. We’re friendly and glad to help with many things. We may not have the right tube if you get a flat, we also don’t want to hold the group up and spend an hour in the parking lot fidgeting with some part either.
• Sometimes lights are required, be sure to check, we’ll make sure we mention it. If you aren’t sure, always bring lights, most of us use lights no matter the conditions.
• Study the route and have good knowledge of the terrain before joining the group for a ride. Feel free to ask questions to any of the ride leaders or other community members if you are unsure. We want to make sure you’ll have fun, and we’re ready to help you find the right ride.
• We require our ride leaders to stick to any published routes for group rides, unless otherwise noted. This makes it easy to monitor if a ride doesn’t return on time and many places in Vermont do not have cell service, and some places even have GPS blackout zones, in the rare instance of a significant incident we may need to drive the route in order to find riders.
• If you need to leave the ride early, or want to turn around and head back we ask that you be able to contact us and a significant other or friend, we like you to do this both when you turn to head back and when you get back to your vehicle/home/the ride start safely.
• A cautious respect for riding with motorized traffic. We love to find routes with no cars whenever possible, we also love to exercise an abundance of caution when sharing the road with cars. Interacting with motorized vehicle users in any way other than very friendly and positive is strictly prohibited. Obstructing any other users of the road in anyway is strictly prohibited.
• Leave no trace. Take anything you brought with you home with you, snack wrappers and old tubes and more should all come home with you.

Some good ideas and strong encouragements:

• A flashing rear light and a flashing front light.
• Snacks!
• Some kind of simple fix it tools. There is usually an experienced cyclist or bicycle mechanic on the ride, if your bike needs any kind of special tool to adjust things like the seatpost, or the brakes or take a wheel off, be sure you have it with you.
• A flat kit is always a good idea and should include a spare tube, at least two tire levers, a frame pump or CO2 pump and cartridges and a patch kit.
• A cell phone and a card with emergency contact info on your persons or bicycle.
• A cautious respect for riding with traffic. We love to find routes with no cars whenever possible, we also love to exercise an abundance of caution when sharing the road with cars.
• Familiarize yourself with the route and bring a cue sheet or a map with you.
  
  

To help save some time at the start of the ride you click here and sign to sign the liability waiver, present your confirmation email to the ride leader at the beginning of the ride.

Joining us for a Bike Packing Adventure?

Here is a list of things you will want to know:

Some Requirements and Suggestions

Riders are expected to be moderately experienced cyclists. An off road worthy touring, gravel road/cycle cross bike or mountain bike in good working order is required.

Helmets are required.

Bring your own camping gear, food and other things necessary for you to enjoy a camping trip in the woods.
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:
http://www.bikeovernights.org
They have a great simple gear check list here:
http://www.bikeovernights.org/page/gear-lists

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
Bags and equipment that securely carries your gear.
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:
Cinch straps or voile straps (not bungee cords)
Frame Pump, portable 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 (this should really be required, who made this list? this should be in the required column)

No one is gonna laugh at you, these aren’t a bad idea either Items:
Eye protection (sunglasses or clear lenses)
Pressure gauge
Assorted nuts and bolts
Spare folding tire
Chain tool
Chain quick link
Chain Lube
Small roll of duct tape

If you want to get nerdy about it Items:
Visibility vest
Chamois cream
Maps

Camping Stuff

Required Items:
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Basic Clothing
Tent with waterproof bottom or a tarp or some form of camping shelter
Meals/snacks
Insect repellent
Ziplock bag for waterproofing items
Cash/credit card/ID (for emergencies)

Really, Really Good Idea Items:
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
Something warm and cozy for nights at camp

Speaking of weather, these are a good idea too:
Lightweight, rain wear/windbreaker
Some sort of long sleeve base layer/under armor to layer up in case of cold weather
Full-fingered gloves
Arm/leg warmers

Stuff you might need:
Toilet paper/tissue
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 lake
Camera
Cell phone
Back up battery
Applicable chargers

One last piece of advice from our experienced Vermont Bicycle Shop Adventure Society pro 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.”