Zero Gravity & Halyard Brewing present
MEETING OF THE GRINDS
Regardless of your suspension status, tire size, or how tight your shorts are, this festival is for you! Meeting of the Grinds features rides for all bikes and all abilities led by local legends. Tickets are on sale now!
Slate Valley Trails is partnering with MTBVT to host the first annual Meeting of the Grinds, an all-day cycling festival on September 18th, 2021. Bringing together cyclists of all genres, the event will raise money the support the stewardship efforts of Slate Valley Trails and is based out of their Fairgrounds Trailhead in East Poultney, where riders can access more than 35 miles of purpose-built singletrack and an extensive network of quiet gravel and class four roads.
Explore the Slate Valley through a range of guided gravel and mountain bike rides. For those who would rather not be forced into a binary cycling choice, we’ll celebrate the renaissance of “all terrain biking” with a few old school, bad roads routes. Less tarmac, less singletrack, more outback. Are you a gravel-curious fat tire rider? A gravel rider looking to send it on your “skinny” tires? We’ll have demo bikes covering the spectrum.
The event will feature gravel, singletrack and adventure rides for all ages and abilities, demos, vendors, food, and beverages including a range of craft brews from Zero Gravity and Halyard Brewing Co. Families with children will find engaging ride options and fun activities for kids. The day will be capped with a run-whatcha-brung, no-holds-barred sprint race to nab bragging rights for the day.
Tickets include morning and afternoon guided rides, demos, snacks, lunch, event t-shirt, and one raffle ticket.
Schedule
8:00am Arrive, ride sign-ups, demos, coffee, snacks
9:00am Rides Depart (some all day rides, some shorter morning rides)
1:00pm Afternoon Rides Depart (shorter)
4:00pm Return for Burritos, Beer, vendors, etc.
5:00pm Run Whatcha Brung Sprint Race
6:30pm Race Results and Raffle
Location & Time: Slate Valley Trails, Fairgrounds Trailhead. 131 Town Farm Road, Poultney VT.
Upon registering, you’ll be asked what level ride you’d like to participate in. Here’s a description of our classifications for your reference:
Grinder: Distance gravel tour – all day ride
- Plenty of stamina, not a lot of rest breaks
- Loves CLIMBING
- Comfortable on pavé/class 4
- Rides 3-5 times per week
- 42C+ tires
Cruiser: Social gravel tour – half day ride
- Good stamina
- Loves climbing…but likes a wind break at the top
- Rides most weekends
- 38C+ tires
Outback: Old school, mixed terrain adventure ride – all day ride
- Plenty of stamina
- Solid bike-handling skills, comfortable on pavé/class 4
- Love climbing…and the downhill!
- Rides 3-5 times per week
- 50C+ tires recommended
Epic: Singletrack mtb shred – all day ride
- Plenty of stamina, not a lot of rest breaks
- Loves CLIMBING
- Comfortable on technical terrain
- Rides 3-5 times per week
Singletrack: Classic mtb tour – half day ride
- Social and moderate paced options
- Beginner and intermediate terrain options
Adaptive: A Ride for Every Body!
- VT Adaptive Ski and Sports will be on site with mentors and bike demos.
- Mellow double track and adaptive-friendly singletrack options.
Youth: Rides specifically created for the wee shredders
- Ages 6-12
Novice: Ready to learn and have fun
- New to biking
- Not sure of shifting
- My boyfriend / girlfriend is making me do this
- Could use some coaching
Interested in bike partying with us? Register today!
Thank you to Zero Gravity and Halyard Brewing for the ongoing support!
