The Vermont Outdoors Podcast

Daniel Jordan is a Bikepacker, Endurance racer and Organizer for the Vermont Super 8 Course, a 640 mile backroads tour of VT. In this discussion we talk about his recent FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the T.A.T.R. Course in New York as well as recap my race of the Super 8. We geek out on all things to do with Bikepacking in Vermont!

For more information on the Super 8 and XVT course - https://www.vermontbikepackers.org
For more information on the new VTXL - https://bikepacking.com/routes/vtxl/
Follow Daniel - https://www.instagram.com/bonkism/

After a summer break, the VTO podcast is back! This episode kicks off a series called “Investing in Vermont”. I will be interviewing people that are involved in shaping the local economy/community in the St. Johnsbury area.

My first guest in the series is Ed Vilandre. Ed founded AV&Co. with Rory Altman in 2002. Ed assists clients with many industry topics, frequently advising CEOs and Boards during complex strategic situations. He often speaks at industry, executive and investor conferences such as COMPTEL, CTAM, the Goldman Sachs Communicopia Conference, Jefferies TMT Conference and the Telecom Investor Conference.

Ed has also served as keynote speaker at a major communications industry association conference. He is frequently invited to discuss topics surrounding successful growth strategies, restructurings and turnaround situations. Prior to co-founding AV&Co., Ed served as Principal and management team member at CSMG. Ed has also served as an Analyst at Cambridge Economics, Inc., a M.I.T.-based economic consulting firm specializing in patent infringement and anti-trust litigation. He holds a Sc.B. in Applied Mathematics & Economics from Brown University.

Ed is an Entrepreneur who is actively investing in the Northeast Kingdom. He is a co-owner of the Kingdom Taproom and Table, has local real-estate holdings, and is passionate about his involvement within the local economy.

When Peter Vollers is not working as a Real Estate Lawyer, he owns and runs Vermont Overland. His knowledge of and appreciation for Class 4 VT roads has led to the creation of some very unique gravel adventure ride/races. A former Collegiate National Champion and Professional Cyclist, Peter also founded the Killington Mountain School Junior Cycling Team. In this interview we talk about exploring the endless back country roads, ebikes, living in VT and his other big passion, Land Cruisers.

Vollers Law Website - https://www.vollerslaw.com/

Vermont Overland Website - https://www.vermontoverland.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vermontoverland/

Dr. Alan Betts is an Atmospheric Researcher and Vermont's leading Climate Scientist. In the late 1970s, he moved to Vermont, and for over 40 years he has continued his research on regional and global weather and climate. He has worked with scientists and institutions in the US and around the world; and on many national and international research projects. His work has received wide recognition and several awards. His website is a repository for his many years of work and an excellent place to research the science of Climate Change.

Dr. Betts' website - http://alanbetts.com/
Additional website recommended - https://skepticalscience.com/

Collin Daulong and his wife Caitlin own Kingdom Cycling and Experiences. Their company gives bike tours all over New England and during the summer is based trailside at the Kingdom Trails on Darling Hill. In this interview Collin talks about how the company was started, and why accessibility is so important. While we talk about cycling a lot, we also talk about how meditation has been so beneficial to both of us. We go a little deep on this one!

This is #9 in a series on the people of Kingdom Trails in East Burke Vt.


Website - https://www.kingdomexperiences.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kingdomcycling/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kingdomcycling/

Alex McAndrew is a professional downhill and enduro mountain biker based in East Burke Vt. Alex and his soon to be wife Ella (also a professional MTB rider) run Vermont Mountain Bike Tours, are coaches and guides and have just opened their new venture Green Mountain Pro Tune. GMPT is a company that helps people set up (and repair) their suspension on mountain bikes. Prior to the podcast Alex set up my new bikes suspension and it was obvious that he loves helping people set up their bike properly.

Vermont Mountain Bike Tours - https://www.vtmtbtours.com/

Green Mountain Pro Tune - https://www.greenmtnprotune.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vermont_mtb_tours/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bikesmcandrew/

Maura Adams is the Program Director for the Northern Forest Center in Concord NH. They work to develop economic opportunities in the Northern Forest through a number of different programs. She is also a trail runner and mountain biker who is responsible for the new Bike The Borderlands program. Joining Quebec, Main, NH and VT, the Borderlands is a group of 7 trail systems across three states, a province and two nations all within a 2 hour drive of each other. The idea of the program is to promote the amazing mountain biking as a draw to the entire area, not just a specific trail system.
Northern Forest Center - https://northernforest.org/
The Borderlands Website - https://www.bikeborderlands.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BikeBorderlands/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bikeborderlands/

Chris Hibshman is the co-owner of the Village Sport Shop in Lyndonville VT. He is a backcountry skier, a mt bike rider and coach who cares deeply about how his employees and customers get treated. We talk about what it was like growing up in the business, the growth of the mountain biking in the area, and how much business has changed since he inherited it.

Coming home video - https://www.facebook.com/villagesportshop/videos/989836424551588/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/villagesportshop/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/villagesportshop/

Bob Dion is the founder of Dion Snowshoes, a company based out of Bennington Vermont. He is also a Veteran Ultrarunner who has an incredible list of wins and records in very long distance races. If you are a runner this discussion will blow your head apart. This is a guy that used to run 190 mile weeks for training and has run 50 miles in less than 6 hours. He tells some epic stories of his first 100 mile attempt, trying to win the Western States 100, and what it was like running long distance races before most people had ever heard the word “Ultramarathon”.
Some of Bobs race results - https://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Bob&lname=Dion
Dion Snowshoes - http://www.dionsnowshoes.com/

Rasputitsa means Mud Season in Russian. It is also the name of a ridiculously fun and tough gravel bicycle race that happens during, you guessed it, mud season in the NEK of VT. Since its launch, the race has grown its participation by a huge amount and has donated thousands to charitable causes. It’s been named “Best Cycling Event in the Northeast” by Competitor Magazine and listed in “7 Challenging, Fun Spring Classics to Ride” by Bicycling Magazine.
I sat down with the founders Anthony Moccia and Heidi Myers to talk about how Rasputitsa came to be, what’s in store for 2019 and what motivates them to continue building this epic event.
Rasputitsa Website - https://www.rasputitsagravel.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rasputitsagravel/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RasputitsaGravel/