We were graced with a phenomenal weather day on October 22 for the annual Gravel Ride in partnership with the Green Mountain Bicycle Club, staged at Cochran Ski Area. Many thanks to Jim Cochran and Cochran family for allowing RTF to use this perfect location for our events. The fall gravel event was offered at no cost, however, numerous donations to RTF were received. Thank you! Approximately 80 riders lined up at the start. This was by far our largest turnout spanning the several years that we have offered this event. With introductions and instructions from John Williams, Tom Broido, and Kevin Bessett, groups of approximately 20 were sent off to their choice of a 40-mile or a 55-mile mostly gravel route created by RTF Board member Tom Broido. The routes maximized Vermont’s scenic beauty and limited traffic gravel roads. The heat of the day matched the fiery blaze of the foliage as brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of the deciduous forest was offset by the greens of pine, balsam, spruce around nearly every turn, every rise, every valley.
There was about a 50/50 split between riders choosing the 40-mile vs. the 55-mile route. As riders returned to Cochran’s throughout the afternoon they were treated to hamburgers and brats grilled to order by Tom Broido and Chris Morrissey (CMO). We had a great gathering of cyclists with many local riders along with riders from central and southern Vermont hanging out and trading stories about their ride.