BRISTOL — Get ready to oil up the chain, strap on the helmet and stretch those legs (and that stomach), because the eighth annual Tour de Farms is presenting the first-ever Five Town Ride on Saturday, Sept. 26. The 35-mile tour will start at Mount Abraham Union High School in Bristol and end at the Bristol Harvest Festival on the Bristol town green.
The Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN) is organizing this scenic bike and local food sampling tour through the beautiful rolling farm country of northeast Addison County. “The first tour started in 2008 in Shoreham and over 3,000 people rode it over the next 7 years,” explained Jonathan Corcoran, executive director of ACORN.
“The new Five Town Ride will roll through Bristol, New Haven, Monkton, Hinesburg and Starksboro and will showcase the wonderful diversity of farms and local foods in this lesser known part of our county. The terrain is hilly with a mix of paved and dirt roads so the route is better suited for more experienced riders.”
This year, 18 participating farms will offer food samples including grilled chicken, Caesar salad, sausage, cheese, apples, grass-fed beef chili, pesto, goat stew, sweet corn and watermelon, maple syrup delights and artisanal ice cream. Once cyclists return to downtown Bristol, they can join in the Harvest Festival and enjoy live music, food and crafts.
The Tour de Farms is a rain-or-shine event. Advance registration will open July 1 (www.acornvt.org) and close on Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. The advanced registration fee is $35 for adults and kids 14 and older. The on-site registration fee the day of the event is $55.
The tour is a major fundraiser for ACORN’s work to promote local food and agriculture in Addison County. One-quarter of the proceeds from advanced registration will go to participating farms on the tour.