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| Cycling goals for 2025: keep touring, painting, and exploring new bike styles. |
I make an annual pilgrimage to the Kingdom Trails, but with good weekend weather, I plan to explore more of southern Vermont. Some of the ideas below require planning.
- In May, I'm returning to Fort Collins to visit family and once again explore by bike. This time, I'm excited that my husband will attend.
- Inspired to find another folding bike, I've been researching the Tern Node and Dahon Briza. Both have 24" wheels, but should fall under Amtrak's free onboard, non-reservation status for folding bikes. I prefer a used bicycle - the goal is to locate either model within a reasonable distance for test rides.
- Touring ideas include a loop connecting the Cross Vermont Trail and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, and/or portions of the VTXL or a compilation of all three! Both Cross VT and LVRT trails sustained significant damage from 2023 and 2024 floodwaters. Due to ongoing maintenance, expecting both to be passable from end to end is unrealistic. Including the VTXL means there are more options for an interesting weeklong route.
- I have a travel painting kit. I plan to ride locally for inspiration and try out mini paintings.
Consider a Brompton. Mine has been brilliant, multi-modal trips on bus and Amtrak, ride to the station and hop on board, touring in the San Juans, Puget Sound, etc., super easy and compact fold, super duper neato keeno fun to ride. I got mine used, near new condition. Wish I had gotten one years ago. For inspiration look into the "Susanna Thornton Brompton" videos on youtube. You owe it to yourself. Pure joy!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy the Brompton works great for you! It's not what I envision for myself though. Down the road, so to speak, if I'm going to spend a lot on a folder, I want a Bike Friday, with lots of gears for touring.
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