Need Vermont road recommendations...

[benVFR]

I'm heading up to the Burlington, VT area for memorial day weekend. I have lots of family up there and know the area immediately around burlington well, but despite the fact that I've been there like 50 times at least, I've gone up Rt. 89 every time. This time I'm going on my bike, so I want to go some other way.

So far I know Rt. 100 is supposed to be great. I was thinking I'd take NH 101 to the VT border and then continue on VT 9 until I pick up VT 100.

Just curious about any other roads off of Rt. 100 that I should check out along the way. Unless Rt. 100 is "heavenly" I'd want to come back a different way too. Perhaps going east into Northern NH and then coming down through NH?

Thanks,
Ben

[snowborder]

I'd stay off 101 and 100 this weekend as it is a Holiday weekend with every camper, old fart, minivan, touron (tourist moron) you can think of on those roads. Try 107 north in NH to 3 south for a few miles to 132 north in NH to 3 south to 175 north in NH to 25 west or keep going to 112 west. That will take you to 302 in VT and you can cut north or keep going west from there on RT 2. Try Route 105 when your up there. Its a blast.

[Edited on 5/21/02 by snowborder]

[benVFR]

Ah.. Duh. Why didn't I think of that. I'm pretty used to 101 being deserted.

I know plenty of stuff in NH to stay off 101. I wouldn't have thought 100 would have traffic. Hell Burlington never has traffic!

I'll come up with another route and check back again.

Ben

[PaulB]

If you come into VT on 302 you'll need to go pretty far north to avoid 89 (Route 2 where it parallels 89 is not all that exciting). You could catch 100 north through Stowe (or around it on the Moscow shortcut if you know it) and over Smugglers' Notch if it's open.

If you come in on 302 and want a suspension test, take 232 through the Groton state forest up to Rt 2. Lots of tight twisties with lots of craters and frost heaves.

If you do go up 100, one or more of the gap roads (e.g. 17, 125) should be on the menu. Check the weather forecast though -- it's been snowing up there.

Rt 110, which connects Sharon and Barre (roughly parallelling 89 for that leg), is sweet. The hazard there is cow shit.

[benVFR]

I live in Nashua, so there is no way I would be choosing a route that took me north/east of 89 at all.

It seems really surprising that 100 would be clogged. I always figured everyone took 89 if they were coming from NH, MA, ME, etc.. and if they were in upstate NY they would take 7 up the west coast of vermont.

This is just ridiculous that it's memorial day weekend and we're warning each other about snow. Aren't the pools, beaches, etc.. supposed to open this weekend?

Ben

[Stoneman]

DO SMUGGLER'S NOTCH. PERIOD!

[plasticweld]

I would hit 17 before I did the notch, Russ and I hit it on the way home,, awsome road

[benVFR]

I've done Smugglers Notch before, but may hit it anyway.

I think I definitely want to do Rt. 17, I've always liked Camel's hump.n

Smugglers notch is the only road I've passed a car across the double yellow on a bicycle.

Ben

[Edited on 5/21/02 by benSV]

[Stoneman]

I'd hit both if given the opportunity. I soooooo wish my bike was running even half decent while we were up there...

(Dropped it off at the shop tonight. Told 'em..."Fix it. Call me when it's done..." I haven't put shit for miles on it this year. I can't wait to just fuckin' ride it!)

[RandyO]

Ben, lotsa times I go to VT, I take 89 up to exit 3 in south royalton, Rt 107 (winds along river) to stockbridge, then 100 north (this is the best section of 100, granville gulf,IMHO) to waitsfield, Rt 17 (one of new englands best twisties, new pavement last season) over the gap to RT 116 (thru open rolling farmland) then north onto burlington

I may actually ride up myself to visit my parents in Hinesburg.

[R7]

PaulB, that 232 in the forest, is that the road we did on the way south from a camp meade trip last year? If i remember correctly, it was 8 miles? While it was fun in it's poor condition, i thought i saw signs of repaving taking place on our last pass through there?. Probably be the best 8 mile road in all of New England if it gets repaved

[PaulB]

Yeah, that's the road, the Frost Heave TT. If they re-paved it that would be sweet. I'll be up there in a couple weeks and will check it out.

I like RandyO's route idea BTW.

[benVFR]

I may do Randy's route.

The end of it was what I planned on, just not the beginning.

My uncle lives in Hinesburg. I've never even seen the town before, it sounds like there isn't much there.

Ben

[RandyO]

123 out to fellows balls is always good, I'd hafta explore beyond that, 106-12-107 in bethel looks good, I've been on 106 before but cant remember what its like.
Warning, about 10 miles or so of rt 121 heading northwest from bellows falls in gravel.

who's yer uncle, has he been in Hinesburg for 25 or more years, I may know him.

[snaggle]

If you head to fellows balls, you n=might try Vt rte 5 north to white river then catch 89 to exit 3 and so on....