Analog’s Fifth Season Ride and Race is a feast of mud, slush and maple syrup. What better way to experience Poultney’s maple sugar season than trudging up snow covered dirt roads and hanging out in steaming sugar shacks. Start out with handmade maple donuts and pour over coffee. Watch sap boil down while you drip mud. Nosh on fried dough drizzled in maple madness. Eat a hot dog boiled in maple sap. The Fifth Season Ride and Race features two options: A ridiculous race (secret bonus points for collecting maple syrup and completing weird tasks) and a climby, mellow paced ride. Either way, you'll visit a bunch of maple sugar shacks, meet cool locals, eat way too much good food and cap it all off with a good catered meal from the Poultney Pub.
This is not your average bike event. It's a celebration of mud, maple, and the joys of riding dirty. So grab your bike, your appetite for adventure and loads of sugar, and get ready to experience the Fifth Season the Analog way. Which is disjointed and barely functional, but fun!
You'll get a confirmation email with future logistics info, equipment recommendations, that sort of thing.
For 2026 we'll gnosh freshly made donuts from Whitney at the Poultney Pub and Little Seed Pour Over coffees down at ye ole sugar shack. Donut and coffee included in the entry fee!
The ride traditionally finishes at the Analog Sugar House. It's small, cramped, perfect for a party of say, 15 folks. But sub-optimal for a larger party, or getting warm, or feeding a bunch of people. This year we're going to have the riders AND racers finish at Analog's retail space and workshop in downtown Poultney. There will be a catered late lunch (included in the entry fee) provided by the Poultney Pub (Vegetarian and Meaty options). BYOB this year. Post ride hangs, shop tours, records spinning, beverages, at Analog's downtown HQ.
PLEASE NOTE there are NO REFUNDS FOR ANY ANALOG RIDE / Camping, Merch, Meals. All of these rides happen no matter what the weather, and we pre-buy way too much stuff to offer refunds. Thanks for understanding!
Camping!?: Are you crazy, it's cold out. If you wanna camp, great, winter camping is fun. Sign up for a camp site on our hipcamp page. You'll be down amongst the sugar maple lines.
Schedule of events:
8:00 to 8:30: Park in downtown Poultney unless you are camping at the Sugar House. Ride from downtown to the ride start at at Meadow Lane Sugar House aka 181 Hillside Rd, aka ye old Analog HQ. Sign in.
9:00: Group breakfast for riders and racers. Pour over coffee and fresh made donuts provided by Whitney from the Poultney Pub. This ride is going to be heavy on the wheat, sugar, egg end of things, so if you have allergies to common food ingredients that will be cooked up by us and other sugar houses, this might not be the best ride for you in terms of food.
10:30: Racers start, riders cheer them on and or mock them for falling in the mud. Le Mans style bog run start. Yes, there is a bog, yes you run thru it. And a very cold stream. Muck boots encouraged. People think we are joking. We are not. The bog is very muddy and you can easily sink up 12 inches into the goo. Tap shoes scorned.
10:40-11ish: Casual ride starts.
3-4pm: Meet back at the downtown Poultney Analog retail space and workshop for a catered lunch, hot and cold beverages, and post-ride hangs.
4pm onward: Party down.
For the Casual Riders:
- Chill ride starts at 10:40am: Soak up the scenery on a mix of pavement and dirt roads (bring a gravel or mountain bike with at least 38mm tires!).
- Sugar shack tour: Visit local shacks, sip syrup, and indulge in mapley goodness.
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Catered lunch and breakfast, coffee.
For the Racing Maniacs:
- Le Mans bog run start at 10:30am: Get ready to sprint through a swampy wonderland.
- 35+ miles of dirt roads and adventure: Navigate an unmarked route (GPS or map mandatory) through mud, snow, and maybe even a surprise snow squall.
- Sugar shack challenges: At designated stops, conquer maple syrup shots or food tasks (selfies and signatures required!). Bonus points for creativity and gluttony!
- Catered breakfast and lunch.
- Unleash your inner maple monster: Climb hills, battle the elements, and race to the finish line (self guided, bring a phone or GPS!). Racers who finish with a combination of the best time PLUS the most bonus points wins. In other words, the fastest rider won’t likely win, the fastest rider who collects the most syrup and does the most check point challenges will win.
- Prizes and bragging rights: Be crowned the Fifth Season winner and bask in the sweet glory. 1st place (as determined by shortest time AND bonus points) gets a gallon of Maple Syrup + a Fifth Season Canvas Bulldog Front Bag. Second place gets ½ a gallon and a Fifth Season Tool Bag. 3rd place gets a Quart of syrup and a Fifth Season saddle cover.
General Logistics:
- Park in town, near the downtown Analog space: 188 Main St, Poultney VT. Ride to the ride start, 2 miles, very flat. Ride starts at the Analog Sugar house: 181 Hillside Rd. Ride will END in town again, so you will be near your car.
- Be prepared for the elements: Dress warm and waterproof (think wool sweaters, jeans, and MUCK BOOTS!), bring layers, and pack a change of clothes (you'll thank yourself later).
- Fuel up: Bring snacks and water for the ride/race, change of clothes for post ride festivities.
Stoked to see everyone out there! -James, Mark, Ariel, Emily, Whitney and Louie the Dog