IMPORTANT PSA.
New to many of us this year is that we will be sharing some trails throughout the State of Vermont with others not on snowmobiles. This practice has gone on for years with cross country skiers and those of us that snowshoe. Many throughout our snowmobile community have had issue in the past with sharing the trails with the bicycle community. The attached information is to help us better understand what is now upon us all and hopefully get everyone thinking about safety and better communication to all involved. We are thankful for the use of the land we love and respect to enjoy our sport. And, if the people that award us the right to use that land want others to do so as well then it is our duty to respect that and others. Hopefully the information provided will help us all do just that.
Why would anyone take a Bicycle on a Snowmobile Trail ??? The Fun Factor !
Not to mention like us all the pure enjoyment of being outside and enjoying a beautiful Vermont day.
VAST UPDATE 11/22/17
The Fat bike pilot program is still on for this year. It only covers public lands (mostly state, although there are some USFS trails designated for fat biking) and as always with private lands, it is up to the landowner. Below are links to the FPR Pilot Program which lists the areas we are trying to send bikers. VMBA (Vermont Mountain Bike Association) has this information up on their site. Fat bikes are still not allowed on VAST trails on private lands (without landowner permission). Technically they can ride on any VAST trail on public lands (State, anyway) but we are trying to get them on the designated trails that will be signed by VMBA chapters so that bikers and riders will know where the trails are and where bikes are supposed to be.
Helpful Links:
A fatbike (also called fat bike or fat-tire bike) is an off-road bicycle with oversized tires, typically 3.8 in (97 mm) or larger and rims 2.6 in (66 mm) or wider, designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft unstable terrain, such as snow, sand, bogs and mud. Fatbikes are built around frames with wide forks and stays to accommodate the wide rims required to fit these tires. The wide tires can be used with inflation pressures as low as 340 hPa (5 psi) to allow for a smooth ride over rough obstacles. A rating of 550–690 hPa (8–10 psi) is suitable for the majority of riders.
Fatbikes were invented for use in snow and sand, but are capable of traversing diverse terrain types including snow, sand, desert, bogs, mud, pavement, or traditional mountain biking trails. In several states and provinces, fatbike-dedicated groomed winter trails have been created