Vermont was the birthplace of bicycle touring for adults. With its network of hospitable inns and quiet roads, Vermont provided a ready-made landscape for bicycle tours when Vermont Bicycle Tours was launched in the mid-1970s. Several companies now offer organized tours, typically with luggage transfer, rental bikes and mechanical support. The versatile cyclist can follow the foliage season from the mountain tops, accessible from lift-assisted assents at several resorts. Or, the fit and adventurous can ride up the mountains, as well. Mountain biking is also an option in permitted areas on state lands and in the Green Mountain National Forest. Mountain bikes get as much use, if not more, along the thousands of miles of quiet town roads that bring riders through scenic farm fields and woodlands in every part of the state. Several local organizations have developed their own backcountry systems. For road biking and touring, Lake Champlain Bikeways and Burlington-based Local Motion offer maps and accommodations information for day rides or multi-day tours. |