Rooted Vermont Course Descriptions

Vermont’s terrain is challenging and unrelenting but to those who call it home, they wouldn’t have it any other way. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, not unlike the winter. Although surrounded by Vermont’s hallowed gaps throughout each route, we won’t cover terribly long climbs here. Instead, you’ll find shorter and sometimes steeper climbs that collectively take their toll over the course of each challenging ride.

LONG COURSE:

• 82 miles
• 8,000 ft of climbing
• In 2019 the long course featured 4 short sections of class-4 jeep roads or Vermont pave totaling 5 miles. Some consider these sections rideable, others run or walk them. Whatever you choose, connecting pristine gravel via these abandoned roads is very much part of the gravel cycling culture in Vermont.

The ride begins with a challenging punch up Wes White Hill out of Richmond. You’ll be hit with stunning scenery right away, but also a pitch that will cause field separation. You’ll encounter a mixture of smooth dirt roads and a few more rocky, challenging sections linked together with a bit of pavement as you head south towards Ripton. The Natural Turnpike is an absolute highlight of a dirt road and leads you toward the most southern point of the route before you begin heading north towards home. Looping back on entirely new roads, some of the best bits of gravel await. Riding through Lincoln, Starksboro, and Huntington, your legs will be thankful for a slight downhill towards Cochran road where you’ll time trial your way towards the finish for the final two miles.

SHORT COURSE:

• 48 miles
• 4,000 ft of climbing
• Short Class 4 section to the finish

At 48 miles, you’ll still be delivered a healthy dose of challenge on a shorter variation of the longer course. Vermonters are known for their toughness and work ethic and the stunning terrain demands the same of its riders. Don’t forget to Barn-spot along the way, one of Ted’s favorite pastimes. You’ll aim for the southern most point of the ride, southeast of Starksboro and then turn towards the north again, joining up with the same roads as the 85 route. Continual short hills will take their toll along the way, but you’re rewarded with a final brisk gravel downhill and a paved final two miles to the finish.

HOW DO I CHOOSE?

Rooted Vermont is as much about the race as it is about the party. We advise choosing a course length that will allow you to finish in time to enjoy both: 

If you regularly do training rides that are 50+ miles in length and enjoy riding your bike uphill then the 82-mile course might be just the challenge you’re looking for. If your training rides are between 25-40 miles long but you still like climbing and want to see what VT gravel is all about, then the 48-mile course is a fantastic choice. 

Rooted Vermont offers two course lengths of approximately 48 or 82 miles and 4000’ or 8000’ elevation gain. The race rolls out at 8am and the party will kick off at 11:30am lasting until 6pm. Finishing times in 2019 ranged from 2:51-7:31 hours for the short course and 4:08-9:08 hours for the long course.

Business in Front/ Wave 1

Estimated finish time: 4-5 hours for long course, 3 hours short course 

Business Casual/ Wave 2

Estimated finish time: 5-6 hours for long course, 4 hours short course

Office Party/ Wave 3

Estimated finish time: 6-7 hours for long course, 5 hours short course

Party in back!/ Wave 4

Estimated finish time: 7+ hour for long course, 6+ hours short course