The Ranger

The Ranger is an organized gravel ride—with a little bit of racing and a lot of community mixed in.

Using the enduro format, where only certain segments of the route are timed, this event provides opportunities for cyclists of all abilities on some of Vermont’s most rural roads. It also gives you the chance to connect with the landscape and give back to the towns through which you ride.

Details:

Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 05077

All Weekend: Camping

Saturday, June 8, 2024: Group rides, 5K run/walk and free concert

Sunday, June 9, 2024: Rides begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Party In The Pasture, featuring live music, food, drink and activities. Ride options include:

42-mile gravel enduro with 5,000+ feet of climbing62-mile metric century with gravel enduro 7,900+ feet of climbing18-mile ride with 2,000+ feet of climbing2-5 mile family/Junior Ranger kids ride on flat roads and fields 

42-mile Gravel Enduro (Blue Course)

The Ranger’s signature ride is a dreamy loop of hardpacked dirt roads interspersed with several sections of Vermont Class IV (minimally maintained old roads). Don’t let the mileage fool you: the roads around Tunbridge are challenging and hilly, and a route totaling 42 miles will exceed 5,000 feet of elevation gain.

The Ranger is a mass-start ride where participants looking to compete can do so in a gravel enduro format. Think of a gravel enduro as a “race within a ride” where the only race times that are tracked come on a series of timed segments (also called stages). Finishing times aren’t based on overall ride time but on each rider’s cumulative time from these several segments. 

Segments will begin with signage communicating approximate distance and end with another sign to let you know that you can relax and resume soaking up the scenery. Segments range from technical Class IV (variable rocks, roots, and mud) to smooth packed dirt. 

Awards will be given to the top three riders in the male, female and gender-diverse categories. 

62-mile Metric Century & Gravel Enduro (Black Course)

New this year, The Ranger offers a metric gravel century. This course will follow the 42-mile route before splitting off around the first sag stop. After 20 miles, 2,000 feet of climbing, and one challenging Class IV stretch metric century riders will rejoin the 42-mile route back at the first sag stop. In total, this route will cover 62 miles with more than 7,900 feet of elevation gain and will feature two sag stops.

There will be no enduro segments on the additional 20-mile loop. That means enduro times will be scored together for all riders who choose to complete either the 42- or 62-mile courses. Read more about the enduro format in the 42-mile route description.

18-Mile Ride (Green Course)

This loop will cover just over 2,000 feet of elevation gain and will feature one sag stop and one timed segment. 

18-Mile Ride (Green Course) - Community No-Drop Ride

This option will follow a similar course as the 18-mile route. We wish to create a safe space for women, non-binary and trans (masc and femme) riders to participate. We also welcome cis male allies to join! We welcome you to join this ride if you feel most comfortable in a no-drop environment.

Junior Ranger (2-5 miles)

Our free Junior Ranger kids ride will begin shortly after the mass start Gravel Enduro and Fun Rides, covering roughly five miles on flat fields and trails. We’ll have ride leaders, and adults should plan to ride with their kids.

Community Sustainer (18-, 42- or 62-mile ride)

All proceeds from this special registration option will be donated directly to our charitable community partners: The Tunbridge Library, Friends of First Branch Schools, Strafford & Sharon food shelves, and the White River Land Collaborative. Included: event hat, personalized nameplate, local 4-pack of beer, and farm goodies from Howvale Kitchen. Only 30 registrations available.

Youth Rider (Under 18)

Participants under the age of 18 riding the 18-, 42- or 62-mile routes may register at a discounted rate by choosing the Youth Rider option.

Local Riders (From Tunbridge and any towns that touch it)

Participants from Tunbridge and any towns that touch it—Royalton, Sharon, Strafford, Bethel, Randolph, Brookfield, Chelsea and Vershire—may register for The Ranger at a discounted rate, provided registration spots are still available. Email [email protected] for your discount code with the subject line "Local Rider" and include your home address.

The Local Rider Discount is thanks to our sustaining event partner, LandVest 

Our Mission

The Ranger was founded in 2018 on the principle that we give back to the people and places to which we’re most connected. For Ranger participants, that connection happens on a bike. Guided by this vision and together with its supporting partners, The Ranger has donated more than $30,000 since its inception to organizations and projects that focus on stewardship for rural and agricultural land, access to outdoor recreation, and sustaining small communities.

In 2024, we plan to donate a minimum of $10,000 to community organizations in the towns that host The Ranger—Tunbridge, Royalton, Strafford, and Sharon, commonly referred to as the Four Town Region.

Visit https://www.therangervt.com to learn more. 

The Fine Print

Worry-Free Registration: If you are unable to participate, you may assign your registration to whomever you like. You may do so by logging into your BikeReg account and changing the rider information before May 31. Learn how here. There is no waitlist. The Ranger will not issue refunds, rollovers, or deferrals.

Riders looking to change their registration to a different distance may do so until May 31 by logging into their BikeReg account and editing their registration. Learn how here. Those looking to change to a longer course will be required to pay the price difference. The Ranger will not issue refunds for the difference in price for those looking to change to a shorter course. 

No day-of registration.

The event will happen rain or shine.

 

Thank you to our partners!