link to map of MR LAMB    

Extreme terrain should be advertised as such when the ride is first publicized.   RUSA suggests adding this disclaimer to extreme rides.  But what ride does not have the potential to be "extreme?  This ride is about climbing; roughly 10,500 feet of it in just 222km.  And yes, there will be some extremes; the steepest half mile of climbing on the East Coast (found on the east slope of Lincoln Gap), the highest concentration of paved gaps in New England, and an extreme collection of covered bridges at the bottom of  the Moretown Mountain Gap. (Three in just a half mile.) We added this ride to our brevet schedule not be extreme - but merely to get some climbing in.   We put the ride before the D2R2 because last year we slacked off a bit from the local hills and thought Sandy's classic would be more fun with some climbing in our legs.  Are you in a cycling rut and don't know it? Have you been avoiding hills, sticking strictly to paved roads, or mounting your bike only from the right?  Throw your left leg over the frame and join us for some climbing!

The 2009 Mr. Lamb 222k  six gap ride will be run in a clockwise direction.  It will start at the Moretown Elementary School and head directly up the Moretown Mountain Road.  This will be your warm-up, 1,000 feet of mostly dirt climbing for breakfast.  Dive through the hat-trick of covered bridges and take a right on Vt Rt12.  Climb a bit out of the college town of Northfield then  head into the White River watershed.   Rolling farm land to the foot of Rochester Mountain.  Take the right up Camp Brook/ Bethel Mountain Rd.  The Green Mtn Stage Race (GMSR) runs this gap in the opposite direction hitting speeds > 60mph!  Steep drop into Rochester where you can refuel and repair bike.  Head out of Rochester - just south of town a right hand turn up Brandon Gap to the height of 2170'.  Pass the "extremely giant squirrel" at Lake Dunsmore then head right up Middlebury Gap past Bread Loaf, Robert Frost Cabin and the Snow Bowl.  Don't head down until you reach a height of 2144'.  Before the next gap you must climb the Granville Gulf, check out the waterfall, take a quick dip in Warren Falls and take the next left up Lincoln Gap.  This road is paved, then dirt, then paved.   The last section is where it kicks up and does it ever kick!  This is chain snapping, knee popping steep and it doesn't let up until you see the ped x-ing sign for the Long Trail at 2410'.  A paved descent quickly turns to washboard dirt into the lovely town of Lincoln until you hit Vt Rt 17. Here you can bail down into Bristol and call home or head up across the flat and take the right on Rt 17 into Starksboro.  This section up to Jerusalem is know as "The Baby Gap"  which of course brings you to "The Gap." This climb is the finish for the road stage of the GMSR and the finishing gap of this ride at 2365'.   This is the kind of ride that generates stories.  My favorite is the story of a Cat 4 racer who stopped at a free yard sale at the bottom of Baby gap and picked up a waffle iron and then carried it to the finish at the top of App Gap! 

10,500 feet of climbing in 137 miles; not for the feint of heart. Great climbing practice, beautiful views, some sections of dirt ( on Lincoln and Moreotwn), four bike shops, 12 country stores, three covered bridges.

MR LAMB 2009 - clockwise.  Six controls located on each of the six gaps.  All controls hosted by the Parent Teachers Neighbors and the children of Moretown Elementary School.  Any proceeds from this ride are for the benefit of the children of Moretown and their Safe Routes to School Program.