2025 Event Day Information

Start and Finish

Addison County is one of the largest agricultural regions in New England. We are excited to bring the Tour de Farms to the shire town of Addison County, Middlebury, VT, for the first time ever! This is a special place for us, where ACORN began, and where our new Food Hub is located.

The Tour will begin and end at the Middlebury Rec Field. Enjoy panoramic views and beautiful back roads while visiting local farms in Middlebury, Weybridge, Cornwall and Salisbury. Most farm stops along the way will have multiple food producers who will offer you a taste of something they are known for. You will want to bring cash in case you'd like to purchase products along the way. You won't have to carry it all on the bike; we'll have a farm van to pick up your purchases and deliver them to the finish for you! (And YES, we will improve our purchases pick up process at the end - we were overwhelmed last year by the explosion of all the on-farm purchases!!)

Enjoy farm stops along the way which include:

The course includes some hills along the way and a number of unpaved roads. Mountain bikes, gravel grinders or road bikes with wide tires are required. Participants will be sharing the road with vehicles. While we recommend the Tour for children 14 years old and up, any children under 14 should be experienced road riders and must be accompanied by an adult as we are sharing the roads with vehicles. A route map will be provided at registration/check-in.

Weather

The event is rain or shine. Please keep in mind that this event is a fundraiser for ACORN. If you are not able to make it to the event, please consider your registration fees as a donation to ACORN. We do not offer refunds for unattended events.

Please plan and pack accordingly! This is a long, hilly ride.

We advise training adequately on hills and gravel before attempting.

E-bikes and starting early are strongly encouraged for those who are not avid bike riders.

This year, we have one route, and it’s approximately 40 miles.*

Much of the course is along dirt and/or gravel roads, so grab your gravel grinder or your mountain bike. If you've got a road bike, you must put wider tires on it for this ride.

*The route is still being finalized and may be tweaked from this version. It will be somewhere between 35-40 miles.

these guys are the epitome of good safety! bright clothing, helmets, single file riding... two thumbs up, orange team!

these two are the epitome of good safety! bright clothing, helmets, single file riding... two thumbs up, orange team!

Course Safety

  • Please listen to all flaggers, police and/or volunteers.

  • Make sure your bike is in good mechanical condition!

  • We are sharing the road with cars. Please ride single file on paved roads. Ride no more than two abreast on unpaved roads. PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!

  • Please move to the right side of the road to make room for folks who are passing. If you are passing another rider, please make yourself known by announcing “passing on your left!” and pass on the left side.

  • Do not stop in the middle of the road for any reason unless it is an emergency. If you need to stop, please pull over the side of the road as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.

  • Pay close attention to all road markers and signs. Carry a printed map with you.

  • HELMETS ARE MANDATORY. You will not be able to ride without one.

What to Bring:

  • A helmet is a mandatory requirement to ride the Tour.

  • Rear flashing light (strongly recommended).

  • Sunscreen.

  • Hand Sanitizer.

  • Please wear BRIGHT CLOTHING for higher visibility on the roads.

  • A mountain bike or road bike with wide tires is STRONGLY recommended. Several miles of the 30-mile route are on hard-packed dirt roads.

    • If you’re not an avid bike rider, please consider renting a gravel bike or e-bike. We have been told this ride has been more difficult than expected.

  • Cash and/or credit/debit card to purchase foods at farms to take home (there will be a food pick-up van so you won't have to carry items with you).

  • A couple of extra layers of clothing so you are ready for the (fabulous but unpredictable) weather.

  • A water bottle. There will be water available along the route at farm stops designated on the map.

  • A spoon and fork (or a spork), a napkin, a cup, and a bowl for sampling food. This will help us cut down on waste!

  • Coolers to bring home vegetables, meats, cheeses, and other perishable farm goods that will be on sale at each farm (a Farm Van will transport the goods back to the start so you don't have to worry about carrying them on your bike).

  • Camera.

Parking

Parking will be at a premium. Please pay close attention to the parking attendants and carpool if you can.

Check-In and Ride Start Times

There will be a rolling start time for all riders. The first wave will begin at 9:00 am and all riders need to leave by 9:30 am, so please plan to check in between 8:30 am and 9:30 am. Inexperienced and slower riders should plan to leave as close to 9:00 am as possible to ensure they complete the route, which is a little longer than in previous years. We will be sending off staggered waves of riders, so don't feel like you have to be first in line. Staggered waves prevent the farm stops and roads from becoming overwhelmed and congested.

After Party - details coming soon!

We are planning an after-ride gathering in partnership with Better Middlebury Partnership; stay tuned for more details!

2022 Tour de Farms in Seven Days! (Click here to read the July 13, 2022 article)

Fundraiser

Did you know the Tour is ACORN's #1 fundraiser?

100% of the proceeds from the Tour funds our work at ACORN and directly supports our local foodshed. Due to the importance of this ride to our work with the farmers and food producers in the Champlain Valley, we are asking riders to fundraise or contribute an additional donation of $75 as a minimum. This is in an effort to lean on our committed local network of supporters during this time of uncertain funding. 

There are options! The donation can either be fundraised individually in addition to your race fee, or through fundraising with friends and family. The additional ask is a minimum value for donations, so for our super fans, this is a great opportunity to spread the word and love for ACORN! For our top donations, we will have an exclusive prize from our amazing Farm Stops and Food Hub.

We never want to prevent participants from accessing our services due to cost. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@acornvt.org if you have any questions or need support.

Part of ACORN's mission is to encourage the growth of local food to build a stronger local economy and the health of our community, and we can't do it without you.

 

Thanks to our 2025 Sponsors!

TOUR CHAMP

SPIN MASTER

 

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