Greetings all – I’m Dave, the new Millstone Trails Association shop manager and I’ll sell passes, rent bikes and offer service and repair starting June 27 at the Millstone Hill Country Store in Websterville. Check out the grand opening page on this blog for more information. It’s less than a mile up the road from the old touring center. The bike shop will be located in the store. The best news is the shop will be open every day of the week throughout the cycling season.
Before coming to Vermont two years ago I lived in Arlington, Va. where I retired after a 20 year career in the Air Force. I also worked in D.C. as a K Street lobbyist for the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. Now that I’m officially retired, I can do all sorts of fun stuff for a living that involves skiing and biking. And I’m still many years away from AARP eligibility. Now that’s my kind of socialism!
Bike-wise, I’ve raced road, MTB and cyclocross in Germany, Italy, Nebraska, Iowa, and around the Mid Atlantic region. I’ve also done many cycling marathons in Germany and Italy. While stationed in Europe I watched the Tour de France up close and personal from the roadsides and even rode about a dozen of the famous Cols including the infamous Alpe d’Huez. Twice. But I don’t believe cycling should be limited to race courses or dedicated trail networks and lanes. Bikes belong everywhere that the law of gravity remains in effect. I’ve bike commuted since the early ‘90s. Off saddle time is spent building frames, refurbishing unwanted bikes and helping such organizations as Bikes for the World. I’m also a graduate of United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Or., where I studied steel frame building. I’ve lived and ridden in Europe for 12 years and have experienced cycling in truly inclusive societies. Some day we’ll be one of those enlightened societies.
If you’re a diehard ‘Stone rider and love the trails here, get more people interested. If you’ve never been here, what are you waiting for! We’re centrally located between Kingdom Trails and Waterbury trails so this is a great place to bed down, chow down and ride all three. The Barre-Montpelier area is right off of I-89 and Rt. 2 and has more food, brew and music than you can handle. The Inn at Millstone still has rooms to rent and there are places to camp right among the trails. And when everyone else is washed out from rain, we’re dry and open for business. You might say our trails really suck … water, that is.