What does it take to be a Vermonter? Is it drinking craft IPAs? Commuting everywhere via gravel bike? Camping in the Green Mountain National Forest? Trying to find overnight parking in Burlington? Growing a scraggly beard?
Starting next month, EMS is determined to find out. The first step: Sending four intrepid explorers on an expedition by gravel road, linking picturesque towns and rowdy beerhalls, mountain views and dubious campsites, quad-popping climbs and terrifying descents, all in pursuit of the essence of the Green Mountain State. This EMS team will be taking on the 250-mile Green Mountain Gravel Growler, a bikepacking route devised by Joe Cruz and Logan Watts for Bikepacking.com:
The Green Mountain Gravel Growler is an extraordinary loop that weaves a selection of storybook-farm dirt roads, flowy New England singletrack, and rugged historic woodland paths to create a circuit of some of the world’s best and most coveted craft beers…
Oh right: The route also links “13 breweries, two classic brewpubs, and several taprooms and restaurants throughout the central region of Vermont.” Which one of the hundreds of beers along this journey is the fountain of Vermontness, the elixir that returns Eastern Mountain Sport to full-fledged Vermonthood? Or is that only a myth? This is the team to find out:
Ellen Estabrook
Introduce us to your bike: My bike is a 1996 Specialized Ground Control A1. I bought it at a used bike sale to train for this ride and then learned it was one of the first bikes with dual suspension—I always get comments on it! Fittingly, I call her Major Tom. But for the big ride, I’m getting a loan from Diamondback—a Haanjo 8c.
Bikepacking experience: Zero. I’m going on my first bikepacking trip this weekend to test everything out with our teammate Mike. We’re doing the CrossNHAdventure Trail which does pass by my apartment and has very little elevation. But we’ll be out for two days, which is something.
Favorite genre of beer: I like a wheat ale. Light and citrusy.
Favorite Vermont beer: Fiddlehead’s Aetherium White Ale, which they describe as “approachable and satisfying.” I concur with that.
How do you like to pass the time and push through the pain during long climbs on the bike? I don’t…
What do you see as being your “role” on this trip? Officially I will be posting to our social media channels and cheering everyone on! Unofficially I will most likely be pretty consistently unreliable as a teammate because I will be driving my own struggle bus and I hope that’s okay.
Is there any part of the trip you’re most excited about? Meeting team members Ryan and Lauren for the first time and getting to hang with them! Plus the beer drinking and overall merriment that constitutes a lot of the trip. Challenging myself physically too I guess. And exploring beautiful VT!
Is there any part you’re most nervous about? Day two is sounding pretty lowdown dirty with the elevation and mileage, but my nervousness is pretty evenly spread across the whole trip. For some reason, of all the sports and activities, biking makes me so incredibly hungry, I can’t explain it. Maybe it’s time to face my hanger fear? I really don’t want to keep my team waiting or slow them down so maybe I’ll try to bring a lot of food for us all so we don’t run into that problem.
What piece of new bikepacking gear are you most excited about? I’m really excited to try out the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack tent. The tent has a name written on it so I just want to say thank you for the loan Craig S!
Mike Rodia
Introduce us to your bike: This year I will be riding a Hanjo 8c, graciously loaned to me by Diamondback. I haven’t named it yet, but seeing as we are about to spend a lot of time together, I’m sure I’ll call it a few things.
Bikepacking experience: I have spent countless nights sleeping on the ground and hours upon hours riding a bike but have combined them exactly zero times.
Favorite genre of beer: I can hear the comments coming already but if I had to pick a favorite type/genre of beer I would go with Sours. Sours are refreshing, creative, and don’t make you feel like you are chewing on a hop flower.
Favorite Vermont beer: None yet, but open to suggestions, or bribes.
How do you like to pass the time and push through the pain during long climbs on the bike? I don’t think I’m alone in this but during most of my workouts I spend the majority of the time doing the math and calculating the amount of suffering that I have left. During our long climbs I see myself falling back into that mindset and trying to math out exactly how long I have left until a downhill.
What do you see as being your “role” on this trip? Officially, my role is gathering video and action shots. Unofficially, I see my role being the guy in front of the pack breaking the wind.
Is there any part of the trip you’re most excited about? What excites me most about this trip is the flexibility during the day to stop at anything that looks appealing. We are following a fixed route and start and stop points but have plenty of time in between to stop and enjoy the sights, scenery, food, and beer of VT.
Is there any part you’re most nervous about? Who wouldn’t be nervous about the Lincoln Gap. There is just something about “The steepest paved mile in the US” that doesn’t seem like an enjoyable section to bike.
What piece of new bikepacking gear are you most excited about? I am really looking forward to spending time on the bike. I have yet to weigh it, but jumping up to a full Carbon frame is a massive weight reduction and I’m thinking that this bike is still going to feel lighter than my own. Even when fully loaded with 5 days of gear.
Ryan Wichelns
Introduce us to your bike: She’s purple and covered in orange chili peppers. What else do you need to know?
Bikepacking experience: Like 4 nights total and apparently thats the most of anyone here.
Favorite genre of beer: Nothing beats a good brown, but ambers and reds are also up there for me.
Favorite Vermont beer: A friend and I once walked into a bar in Vermont and ordered Heady Toppers. The bartender asked if he wanted his in a glass, he said yes. I said “No, who do you think I am?” and she replied “good answer.” Anyway, I’m pretty proud of that.
How do you like the pass the time and push through the pain during long climbs on the bike? I have a playlist for hills that I like to rock out to—It’s lots of 80s synth.
What do you see as being your “role” on this trip? Evangelist for the written word! I edit goEast. Also maybe navigator?
Is there any part of the trip you’re most excited about? Believe it or not, I’ve never actually met most of my coworkers in person (remote work, amirite?), but I know I like them. I’m just looking forward to hanging with this crew.
Is there any part you’re most nervous about? It’s been a long time since I’ve ever done even two 50-mile days back to back, let alone five. I guess we’ll see.
What piece of new bikepacking gear are you most excited about? I kind of enjoy the challenge of packing all my stuff onto a bike, which is why I’m pretty excited to try the frame, handlebar, and seatpost bags we’re getting from Blackburn. These bags seem great but no matter what you have less volume at your disposal on a bike which makes it a real puzzle to get everything loaded onboard.
Lauren Danilek
Introduce us to your bike: My Marin gravel bike doesn’t have a name, but she’s black and stealthy and has a stubborn back axel that fell out 2 weeks before this trip started.
Bikepacking experience: None, nada, zip. I’ve slept in the dirt plenty of times doing various backcountry activities, but never carrying all my gear on two wheels. Buns of steel here I come!
Favorite genre of beer: Call me basic, but I love a good IPA. The hoppier the better.
Favorite Vermont beer: I’m a Vermont newb, so as a first time explorer through the glorious Green Mountain State I’m excited to find a new favorite brewery.
How do you like to pass the time and push through the pain during long climbs on the bike? Running through dad jokes in my mind keeps my spirits high.
What do you see as being your “role” on this trip? I am the gal with the Camera, documenting the successes and plethora of failures on this gravel journey.
Is there any part of the trip you’re most excited about? Bonding over our pain and sharing the regret of the decisions we’ve made.
Is there any part you’re most nervous about? I’m nervous about living in the same bike shorts for five days straight.
What piece of new bikepacking gear are you most excited about? My new Camelbak may just convert me from a Nalgene lover to a bladder gal. That sounds weird when I read that back, but you know what I mean.
Keep an eye out here and on EMS’s social channels over the next month for a look inside the team’s training and prep as they get ready to venture into the world of chamois and incredibly large quantities of hops.
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