Each year, sugar houses statewide open their doors to the public for Maple Open House Weekend. It’s a chance to see the boiling process in person, to understand the hard work that goes into our state’s favorite sticky sap, and to stock up on maple treats. I took the “stocking up” part seriously this year as I joined in the Fifth Season bike race run by Analog Cycles in Poultney.
This is no average race, as your speed is a very small part of the equation. Riders receive time bonuses for finishing challenges, eating or drinking, or purchasing maple syrup along the way. The longer you lug your syrup, the greater the time bonus received. I decided to take my commuter bike down for this race, an old 26” Trek mountain bike with a rear rack and panniers. Perfect for hauling!
There are 5 sugar shacks for racers to visit as well as a few secret challenges. The first is just a short jog over a bog where we all must stop to eat a cider donut dangling from a string, take a shot of maple or something stronger, and (if you paid attention to the race instructions!) purchase a jug. Racers take off from here, riding on shockingly dry roads and a couple of classic class 4s (unmaintained roads).
The real goal of this ride is to support the small community around Poultney. Each sugar shack and secret stop is run by another kind neighbor, happy to have visitors experiencing their beautiful corner of Vermont. Rushing is against the rules and totally against the spirit of Maple Open House weekend. We chatted with the locals and learned about the sugaring process, sampled syrup in steamy shacks, and purchased treats. 
Our favorite were the maple dogs, which several stops had available (so of course we had to try them all).
At the end of one particularly mucky class 4, a farmer drove by and cheered us on, laughing at our mucky behinds. I love how events like this bring together rural communities, where folks are spread out by miles of dirt roads and working hard on their own land. Taking part in Maple Open House weekend by bike allowed me to not only enjoy the sweets in the sugar shacks, but also appreciate the acres of tapped trees that these hard working sugarers maintain all season.
It felt like all of us were thawing out after a long winter. Stretching our legs on a big bike ride and opening ourselves to new experiences. And if anyone needs any syrup, I finished the day with 2 gallons (+ 6 oz) of extremely fresh maple.
About the author: Val Cyr is the Communications Specialist at Local Motion and an avid adventure cyclist.