Ted's XL'ent Adventure: VTXL | Bikepacking Vermont
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In the aftermath of the summer 2023 flooding in Vermont, towns were devastated, houses and businesses were underwater, roads were washed away, with tens of millions of dollars forecasted to bring VT life back to normal. It was the only reasonable thing to do to cancel Ted's XL'ent Adventure's ride across the state which was slated for one week after this historic flooding.
All through the summer, amid the cleanup I'd been asked if I knew how badly Vermont's class IV roads were damaged. I had seen a few local instances of these roads being washed out completely making daily living remarkably difficult and making the ride impossible. But I knew things were coming back to life.
With a stretch of near perfect weather in early October, I set out with my friends Tim Johnson and Pete Gaston to see for myself how the repair and cleanup had been going along this magnificent 300 mile route.
Video by: www.chrismilliman.com
Check out the full route here: / strava
Hey, don't forget to get your stickers! www.iamtedking.com/store1
My setup:
@CannondaleBicycles71 Topstone Lab71 size Large
@SRAM Red eTap AXS, 44t front, 10-50 rear
@zippspeed 303 Firecrest
@ReneHerseCycles Oracle Ride 700x48
@moosepacks bags
@SeatoSummitGear Sleeping bag, pad, pillow
@outdoorresearch Helium Bivy
Пікірлер: 61
I just completed the VTXL myself at the end of October. 5.5 days. my second ever bike packing trip. it was wonderful. much thanks to the author of this route along with Ted for highlighting this scenic backwoods VT tour!
This has been on my biking bucket list for some time. What an incredible window of weather for the ride as well! Big shout out to your buddy who rode 350 miles on a mountain bike too :)
Remember that one time… when you rode it non-stop? That was awesome 😝
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
Hahaha. Yes, also an adventure!
Rode it in June! If you got the money for lodging would highly recommend staying at Upper Pass, Shire Inn, Grand View Farm, and Wildflower Inn. We had a blast
Awesome. Thanks, Ted and Company.
Looks stunning, Tim Johnson is the reason I started riding cyclocross here in the UK thanks Tim🙏
Pretty spectacular way to spend a few days - highly recommend the route to anyone who's interested in seeing seldom seen parts of Vermont. Truly world class riding around every single corner and up.every.freaking.hill.
What an advertisement for your home state. Brilliant, Ted. Really great, beautiful video.
One of your best productions yet. There was definitely a lot of hard work that went into getting those great shots and editing. What an incredible adventure, thanks for sharing it. 👍🏼
Your state is absolutely beautiful. Well done sir.
Awesome ride with good friends! Can't beat that!
Ted King is the ted king of Vermont
Great to see Tim again. Was fun to watch him race in years past.
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
One of the best
@tjohnswah
7 ай бұрын
Awww you two@@TedKing1
Fantastic video. I loved the time I was able to live in Vermont. The scenery is only outmatched by the residents.
Awesome!
Hope to do this next fall. Absolutely love Vermont.
Bravo!
Cheers. Nice video. I rode a circuit from Albany through Vermont New Hampshire Maine and Massachusetts, fully loaded touring in 1995. Yes Vermont is special. Really tough climbs. Fond Memories. Thanks.
Buddy and I did the route N-S 6/25-30, about a week before the rain came. It is spectacular! Y’all put together a gorgeous tour of VT.
Freaking love it! those faces waking up. Ha ha ha Very nice edit makes me want to ride it! 9/10 stars Subtracting 1 star for no invite. ;)
Awesome story! I was most jealous of though was the Lawson's Sip of Sunshine. No distribution in VA.
job well done... now I want to come gravel bike in Vermont
Beautiful part of the world Ted! ❤
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
It really is! Thanks.
Liked the video and enjoy riding outside my house in vt. Next you might have to ride the entire perimeter of VT.
That looked like an utterly incredible ride -- Autumn colors, smooth gravel, and BAKERIES! Almost makes me want to buy a gravel bike and move to VT. Would love to see this footage redone as a longer, more in depth (people and places!) video documentary of your ride.
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
Thanks! The coincidence is we thought we’d see a lot more damage, but we mostly saw *repaired* damage. Maybe talking with people who were wrecked would have been a solid addition too. I appreciate it.
Fun contrast with the OG 200 on 100; a lot of change in all of our cycling lives in the last ten-ish years.
Perfect weather for it. You didn’t want a scene starting at a Can /USA Border obelisk at Wallace Pond?
Amazing and inspiring video. I rode many of the VT Gravel events this year for the first time and will keep going back. Would it be possible to share the route so we can download it on Strava? Thanks for sharing
Up visiting my sister-in-law in August we saw so many detours while trying to go places. A cousin in Mountpelier advised he'd come down visit us father south where she lives b/c things were so messed up in town. Glad things are coming along for people. But this video gets me very stoked to get in shape and bring the gravel bike up next summer to explore. Cool stuff!
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing!
Incredibly beautiful places, top-notch production. This is how bikepacking videos can (and I think they really do) attract people to ride more and stay outside for longer (overnight). Looking forward to your further "projects" like this one. One question - the handlebar bag is a custom size one from moosepacks, I guess...? It looks bigger than the standard one. Could you share its dimensions (roughly). Cheers & keep up the great content!
I love VT. If anyone wants a smaller taste of it I would recommend the 150 mile Brattleboro roundabout
1st class presentation. What I really like about this route is it isn't a mega epic, do or die challenge. I could imagine a fit family enjoying this ride. I'd much rather ride as a family here, than tackle the GDMBR solo
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
Ha! Right?! It’s a very welcoming bikepacking route
This would be an awesome ride on a fat tire bike.
VTXL was on my list last year, but the weather and washouts made it hard to fit it in. Did the Brattleboro route instead. 2024 for sure.
Are there camping areas available along the route for people that dont have access to Ted's friends/family properties? 🙂
@AndrewDemack
7 ай бұрын
No i think if we’ve watched this, we are now allowed to rock up to Teds’ friends place and say “we wanna camp!”
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
Ha! I think there are enough little outcropping parking pull-offs or safe spots in the woods you can do this without much difficulty if coming from out of state.
Did I miss your tire size choice? The route looks great, what are the camping options when you don't have friends on route? or B&B LOL.
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
In the show notes. Rene Herse 700x48. Primo choice.
While it is a great video with beautiful scenery, it doesn’t help us regular schmoes who live out of state, aren’t millionaires with relatives offering convenient places to stay, shower, etc. More info on the route would be a helpful start for those of aspiring to do it. Thanks again though for a nice video.
Awesome route. Any suggestions for how to get from one end of the route to the other?
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
Therein lies the challenge! Uber, Craigslist, some random VT forums…?
Is this your original VTXL route? Straight gravel bike or mtb on this ride? Looks like suspension on the front.
Ahhhhh. What type of sleeping bag did you use? Did your bag have an integrated pad/cover?
@brucerychlik3310
7 ай бұрын
And good for you for highlighting the devastation the flooding brought.
after watching this, I want to go ride Vermont
Did your boy ride the entire thing without locking out the fork on his MTB?
I though Oregon is pretty. Vermont is different level yo
To bikepack w/ a full length toothbrush handle is an amateur move Ted ; -)
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
Most of my bikepacking is harnessing my inner newb.
@SlimOneable
7 ай бұрын
@@TedKing1 Begin Again.
Have you considered adding a bikepacking buddy named "BILL"?
@TedKing1
7 ай бұрын
yes! 😂
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