ETR 2026 – Vermont’s Lake Champlain Area

July 31 to August 2, 2026
 
Lake Champlain Islands and Lakeshore of Vermont
Quiet country roads with beautiful lake views

This rally will be limited to 100 teams. Register early!

Registration will open in February, 2026.

The per person cost for the rally is $225, not including hotel rooms. 

This includes breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday, lunch and the dinner banquet on Saturday, routes, SAG support and more.

We have a lower registration cost for children under age 18. 

The rally will have remote starts each day. 

If you are on our mailing list, you will get notices when more details are available and prior to registration opening.

Hope to see you there!

 

We’re looking for some volunteers. If you want to help out with something, there will be a spot on the registration form for you to indicate what you can help with. Click here to see what we need help with.

Rally Jersey
The Jersey – We love bright jerseys that are really visible on the roads. We are excited to share the jersey design for the rally:
 
See here for more information and to order your jersey.
 
We offer classic and race cut fits, short sleeved and long sleeved jerseys. In addition, we are offering windbreaker vests and windbreaker jackets. 
 
Prices are reasonable – ranging from $70 for the Classic short sleeved jersey, $78 for the Peloton jersey, $81 for the windbreaker vest, $84 for the long sleeved jersey and $91 for the windbreaker jacket.
Hotel Info

Hampton Inn, 42 Lower Mountain View Dr., Colchester, VT
(802) 655-6177

Make sure to mention that you are part of the Eastern Tandem Rally group.

You can reserve a room in the ETR hotel here

  • The rally hotel link has been updated with more king rooms now available and the option that states “2 Double Beds” is actually 2 Queen Beds (the hotel does not have double beds but due to a flaw in their software, are unable to correct the wording). Both room options are at the $199/night group rate.
  • Indoor pool and Fitness Center
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Laundry Facilities
  • Free breakfast on shoulder days of ETR with shoulder days at same discounted room rate as ETR
  • Check-in time is July 31, 4 p.m. and checkout is at Aug. 2, 11 a.m. They will accommodate earlier check-ins as they are able
  • Bike storage room on Level 1; entry at rear of hotel
  • Smoking prohibited in any area of the hotel
  • Cutoff date for booking hotel room is June 30, 2026
  • Hotel cancellation policy is 7 days prior to arrival; otherwise one night’s room and tax will be applied as a cancellation fee.
Weekend Agenda

Friday, July 31

  • 10 am – 6 pm. Pick up rally packet and jersey (if ordered) in Hampton Inn lobby on Level 3. If you do not pick up your packet before 6 pm, there will be an opportunity at the Ice Cream Social or on Saturday morning near the breakfast buffet before 8:30 a.m.
  • Drop off cookies for Saturday’s cookie stop
  • Remote start rides: parking at Snow Farm Winery, 190 West Shore Road, South Hero, VT
  • If you want to ride with someone, there will be informal group ride starts at 10:00 and 1:00.
  • Dinner on your own
  • 7 – 8:30 p.m. Ice Cream Social, Hampton Inn, Champlain Ballroom, Level 2

Saturday, August 1

  • 6:30– 8:00 a.m. Breakfast, Champlain Ballroom, Level 2
  • Group Photo 8:15 a.m. on hotel lawn. Wear your 2026 ETR jersey if you purchased one or a jersey from a previous ETR, if you have one
  • Remote start for rides: Georgia Elementary and Middle School,  4416 Ethan Allen Highway, St. Albans, VT
  • Mass ride start will be at 9:10.
  • 10 –11 a.m. Cookie Stop: St. Albans (location to be determined)
  • 12–1:30 p.m. Lunch Stop: St. Albans Town Office, 398 Georgia Shore Rd
  • In the afternoon – swap meet. Bring anything that you want to sell or give away!
  • 4-5 p.m. ETR Board Meeting, Hampton Inn Library Room, Level 2
  • 6-9 p.m. Buffet Dinner, cash bar and program

Sunday, August 2

  • 6:30 – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast, Champlain Ballroom, Level 2
  • Remote start rides: (start to be determined)
  • 11 a.m. Hotel checkout *** Please TURN IN your nametag if you haven’t done so already***
Area Restaurants

The Lighthouse Restaurant (on hotel property)
Prime Rib, Steak, Seafood
Reservations recommended: 802-448-3361

City Sports Grill
215 Lower Mountain View Drive, Colchester
(across from hotel at bowling alley)
Walk-ins only

Casa Real Mexican Restaurant
85 S Park Drive and Roosevelt Hwy at I89
Walk-ins only

Windjammer Restaurant
Steak and seafood
Reservations: 802-862-6585

Waterworks
20 Winooski Falls Way (in Champlain Mill)
Creative American cuisine
Reservations recommended (802) 497-3525

The Guild
1633 Williston Road, South Burlington
Wood-fired grill Steakhouse
Reservations: 802-497-1207

Blue Paddle Bistro
316 US 2
South Hero
Casual Fine Dining
Reservations 802-372-4814

Trattoria Delia
152 St. Paul Street, Burlington
Cozy, rustic Italian
Reservations: 802-864-5253

Local Bike Shops

Old Spokes Home – A very cool bike shop!

Route Info

We’re still working on the routes!

Things to Do in the Area

Burlington, Vermont, is known for its vibrant, walkable downtown centered on the pedestrian-only Church Street Marketplace, stunning Lake Champlain waterfront with sunset views, farm-to-table food scene featuring local maple syrup and craft beer.

Lets talk beer…Vermont leads the nation in breweries per capita. (Not sure why….) If you are interested in reading more about why Burlington is referred to as “Beerlington“, see here. The following breweries are in or near Burlington:

If you are not into beer and breweries, there are plenty of other things to do in the area:

Hiking:

  • Niquete Bay State Park, Colchester
  • Milton Town Forest
  • Sterling Pond in Smuggler’s Notch

Disc golf and Zip line at Smuggler’s Notch Ski Resort

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, the preserved final home of the Revolutionary War hero, Ethan Allen, offering tours and exhibits on 18th-century Vermont history and Abenaki heritage. If you are interested in Ethan Allen, the furniture company, don’t look here!  

Shelburne Museum, Village-like atmosphere with 39 buildings of American history, art and design
Thursday night free concerts at Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero

Spirit of Ethan Allen: narrated sightseeing cruise of Lake Champlain; also offer dinner cruises

If you are looking for more to do in the area and an up to date calendar of special events, see this website

Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for help with the following:

  • Bake cookies or breads for the Cookie Stop
  • 3 couples to run the Cookie Stop
  • Volunteers to help with packet pickup on Friday at hotel for 2-hour shifts
  • Volunteers to help with lunch cleanup on Saturday for approximately 20 minutes starting at 1:30 p.m. 
Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans change (although we’ll be heartbroken not to have you at our rally!).

If you need to cancel attendance at ETR you must notify us at easterntandemrally@gmail.com as soon as you can. If you do not receive an email confirmation that we have received your cancellation, it is not cancelled!

Cancellation prior to July 1: 100% refund minus a $15 handling fee per person
No refunds after June 30.

Note that you will also need to cancel your hotel reservation. We believe that you will be able to cancel your hotel reservation up to 7 days before the rally without penalty.

Please send any questions or concerns to EasternTandemRally@gmail.com.