The Course

Vermont’s terrain is challenging and unrelenting but to those who call it home, they wouldn’t have it any other way. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, not unlike the winter. Although surrounded by Vermont’s hallowed gaps throughout each route, we won’t cover terribly long climbs here. Instead, you’ll find shorter and sometimes steeper climbs that collectively take their toll over the course of each challenging ride.

SIP OF SUNSHINE COURSE:

  • 86 miles, Start time 7:30am, 910 Cochran Rd, Richmond, VT

  • 8,000 ft of climbing

  • The Sip of Sunshine course features 4 short sections of class-4 jeep roads or Vermont pave totaling 5 miles. Some consider these sections rideable, others run or walk them. Whatever you choose, connecting pristine gravel via these abandoned roads is very much part of the gravel cycling culture in Vermont.

The ride begins with a challenging punch up Wes White Hill out of Richmond. You’ll be hit with stunning scenery right away, but also a pitch that will cause field separation. You’ll encounter a mixture of smooth dirt roads and a few more rocky, challenging sections linked together with a bit of pavement as you head south towards Ripton. The Natural Turnpike is an absolute highlight of a dirt road and leads you toward the most southern point of the route before you begin heading north towards home. Looping back on entirely new roads, some of the best bits of gravel await. Riding through Lincoln, Starksboro, and Huntington, your legs will be thankful for a slight downhill towards Cochran road where you’ll time trial your way towards the finish for the final two miles.

LITTLE SIP COURSE:

  • 48 miles, Start time 8:30am, 910 Cochran Rd, Richmond, VT

  • 4,000 ft of climbing

  • Short Class 4 section to the finish

At 48 miles, you’ll still be delivered a healthy dose of challenge on a shorter variation of the longer course. Vermonters are known for their toughness and work ethic and the stunning terrain demands the same of its riders. Don’t forget to Barn-spot along the way, one of Ted’s favorite pastimes. You’ll aim for the southern most point of the ride, southeast of Starksboro and then turn towards the north again, joining up with the same roads as the 86 route. Continual short hills will take their toll along the way, but you’re rewarded with a final brisk gravel downhill and a paved final two miles to the finish.

The Start

Rooted Vermont offers two course lengths of approximately 48- or 86- miles and 4000’ or 8000’ elevation gain. The race rolls out at 7:30am for Sip of Sunshine course, 8:30am for Little Sip, and the party will kick off at 11:30am lasting until 6pm. Finishing times in 2021 ranged from 2:51-7:31 hours for the Little Sip and 4:08-9:08 hours for the Sip of Sunshine course.

The start of each course (7:30am Sip of Sunshine and 8:30am Little Sip) will be mass start. Staging will begin 15 minutes prior to the start along Cochran Road (address: 910 Cochran Road, Richmond, VT). The following is a guide to determine where in the pack you should line up, Business in the front and party in the back! Both courses are SELF NAVIGATED.

Business in Front

Estimated finish time: 4-5 hours for Sip of Sunshine, 3 hours Little Sip 

Business Casual (center/front)

Estimated finish time: 5-6 hours for Sip of Sunshine, 4 hours Little Sip 

Office Party (center/back)

Estimated finish time: 6-7 hours for Sip of Sunshine, 5 hours Little Sip

Party in back!

Estimated finish time: 7+ hour for Sip of Sunshine, 6+ hours Little Sip

On-Course Support

Aid Stations

UnTapped, Rooted Vermont’s official nutrition and hydration sponsor, will be available at several stops along the course. In addition to syrup, waffles, and MapleAid we’ll offer a variety of foods including muffins and gf peanut butter protein bites, both made with UnTapped by PK Coffee, rice cakes, peanut butter/jelly/fluff/nutella, fruit, chips, melon, pickle juice, coke, bananas, fig bars, gummy candy, and cold brew coffee shots to Zipp up the “final” hill. 

**If you have strict dietary restrictions, please plan to carry your own nutrition. An attempt will be made to offer gluten free options where possible. 

The Sip of Sunshine Course will feature 4 stops for food and hydration: 

Uncle Ted’s Farm: Mile 20 

Willem Jewett’s Home: Mile 39 

The Russell Farm: Mile 60 

ZIPP the Hill: Camels Hump Road: Mile 70

The Little Sip Course will feature 3 stops for food and hydration: 

Uncle Ted’s Farm: Mile 20

The Russell Farm: Mile 26

ZIPP the Hill: Camels Hump Road: Mile 37

Mechanical Support 

“Saved by Stan’s” on-course support for tire maintenance will be available at the end of the class-4 section on the Sip of Sunshine Course. 

There will not be sag support. Plan to carry all your own tools/supplies to handle mechanicals!

Photography and Videography cars will be on-course collecting footage. 

Emergencies 

If there is an emergency, please first call 911 to initiate a response. 

Aid stations and any course vehicles will have portable AED devices. 

Non-emergency related questions on race day (August 1, 2021) should be directed to: Rooted Vermont Command Center: (415)-559-1749