Meeting of the grinds

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Slate Valley Trails is partnering with MTBVT to host the second annual Meeting of the Grinds, a cycling festival that melds the eclectic cultures of gravel and MTB into a come-one-come-all party on bikes. Held on September 16th and 17th, 2022, this event is also one of Slate Valley's biggest annual fundraisers, with proceeds going towards trail maintenance and construction.

The Meeting of the Grinds brings together mountain bikers and gravel enthusiasts with group rides for each genre and all abilities. Join us at the 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.

Check out the 2021 Meeting of the Grinds Retrospective here.

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. Families with children will find engaging ride options and fun activities for kids. The day will be capped with fun and games including the Slate Valley Foot-down World Championship!

NEW THIS YEAR - FRIDAY NIGHT FESTIVITIES, E-BIKE GROUP RIDE & WEEKEND CAMPING!

This year the festival includes Friday night activities including a meet-n-greet for self guided mellow evening rides, a BYOBBQ "bring your own BBQ", and excerpt of MTBVT's Green Mountain Showdown film fest projected on the trailhead barn!

We'll also be hosting camping on Friday and Saturday night. Camping spots require a ticket and are limited to 75 individuals (see ticket page). Camping is hosted car camping style adjacent the venue.

This year also brings our first e-bike group ride! E-bikes use is permitted on Slate Valley Trails so this is the perfect opportunity to host a group ride. Join us!

Schedule (subject to change)

Friday, Sept. 16th

2:00pm campers welcome (general admission plus camping ticket required)

4:00pm "disorganized" meet-n-greet group rides (self guided rides)

6:00pm BOYBBQ - Bring your own BBQ. We have the grills, you bring the grub

8:00pm Green Mountain Showdown best in show retrospective (mini film fest presentation)

10:00pm quiet time

Saturday, Sept. 17th

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)

3:00pm Return for Burritos, Beer, vendors, etc.

4:00pm Foot-down World Championship

Upon registering, you'll be asked what type and level ride you'd like to participate in. You will sign up for the exact ride(s) on the day of the event.

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
• ~50 mile, 5,000 vert and ~60+ mile, 6,000 vert options

Cruiser: Social gravel tour - half day ride (am/pm options)

• Good stamina
• Loves climbing…but likes a wind break at the top
• Rides most weekends
• 38C+ tires
• ~30 mile, 2,500 vert and ~15 mile, 1,500 vert options

Outback: Old school, mixed terrain adventure ride - all day & am 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
• 45+ mile, 5.600 vert (all day) and 25+ mile 3,200 vert (am) options

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
• 35+ mile, 5000 vert and 25+ mile, 4,000 vert options

Keep it Single: Classic mtb tours - half day ride (am/pm options)

• Moderate and social pace options (party ride!!)
• Beginner and intermediate terrain options
• 10+ and 15+ mile options with ~1,200+ vert.
• Ladies option
• **and the MTBVT Social Safari ride - 20+ mi., great trails, great party, social pace**

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 MTB: Ready to learn and have fun (am/pm options)

• New to biking
• Not sure of shifting
• My boyfriend / girlfriend is making me do this
• Could use some coaching

E-BIKE Group Ride

• Intermediate level
• Class one pedal assist e-bikes only
• Milage TBD

Clinics: Ride with a coach and gain some skills!

• Beginner MTB
• MTB Jumps (advanced)

Family Activities

We are planning a whole host of FAMILY ACTIVITIES for the event including:

• Morning Rides: Kids Ride (ages 5+) and Strider Bike Ride (under 5)
• Afternoon Games & Races: Paper Boy/Girl, Catalog Race, Fun w/ Water Balloons, Bike Limbo
• Smoothie Bike: Check out our bike-powered smoothie maker - use your own power to make a delicious smoothie! By donation.

About Slate Valley Trails

Slate Valley Trails, Inc. (SVT) is a volunteer community group founded in 2015 whose mission is to build, maintain and promote foot and bicycling trails in the Slate Valley region of southwestern Vermont. SVT is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and a chapter of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association.

About MTBVT

Mountain Bike Vermont (MTBVT.com) is an online journal, events promoter, apparel company, and rolling party starter. MTBVT’s dual initiative is documenting and promoting the Green Mountain State’s burgeoning cycling community. Visit MTBVT.com for info on our annual event series, shop our online store, and peruse new and archived articles. #MTBVT