Winter training Vermont style

The Kingdom Trails opened their groomed nordic trails today to mountain bikers. George and I made the trek over early this morning. Somehow leaving at 8am is no longer early for me. Just like the summer Kingdom Trail Center, the winter trail center is a wood heated cabin at the end of a dirt road. As we rolled in at 10am, there was already a hobo fire started, burgers grilling and beer on the porch. Perfect.

After the initial bs session with Tim the head honcho of the Kingdom Trails, we rolled out on the lower loop. The conditions were perfect for the Pugsley, though most other people on MTBs were having their issues. George was on some 2.35 on the Sno-Moots 29er. Aaron, on

ce we hooked up with him was on the new 2.5 inch WTB tires on wide 29er rims; actually worked out pretty well, in all but the softest conditi

ons. Airing out the Endo's gave me loads of traction and control.

We spent about 2 hours looping around these initial trails to get a lay of the land. It was really great to see so many people out there on bikes on snow, in the winter. Though I am not sure the French-Canadian skiers we saw were too thrilled with us.

Lunch time lasted enough time to eat some burgers and talk trails with Mike Maggs. After lunch we made plans to do the "adventure" loop, which went up the mountain and a loop around some backcountry trails. These were the best trails of the day, atleast getting up to the backcountry trails. Hardpack, fast snow, no other tracks, and the hopes of seeing a moose.

The ride up to the backcountry trails reminded us all of the summer and it was

amazing how different the trails and area looks like covered in thin blanket of snow. After many times rechecking the map, we decided to hike up through a field to attempt to find the trail. The "trail" was an old logging road that a snowmobile had gone down in the past week. Breaking trail was next to impossible going up, hard going down. Once we decided we were not getting anywhere, we backtracked down to the groomed trails, where we could actually ride.

The highlight would have to be the descent back down to the cabin; fast, hard, groomed and some sweet rollers to air off of. Bikes were laid down and warming by the fire ensued, along with beers with the executive director of the Kingdom Trails. It was a good chat, with loads of support for expanded snow biking in the area next winter(which having the general manager of Burke Mountain riding my pugs helping the cause.)

Overall a great day of almost 4 hours of riding in the middle of winter!