A six day tour of the beautiful southern Berkshires
for intermediate and advanced cyclists
This
mix of beautiful valleys, mountains and farmlands in the Berkshires
makes it one of the most popular cycling destinations in the American
Northeast. Our six day tour take us to the Berkshires' most popular
attractions , with 5 nights, 6 days based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Daily Ride options are 35-50 miles, with rolling hills and a few good
climbs, designed for upper intermediate to advanced cyclists. Road or
light hybrid bikes are required, and all roads are paved. Our rides
are on safe quiet country roads with very little traffic. . To fully
enjoy this tour, participants should be capable of riding the short
or long loop each day .
Request this Tour: Available by special
request only by groups of six or more from
Bike New England, $1295
/per person .
Day
1: Great Barrington. We enjoystaying
at the charming
Windflower Inn
in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, near the South Egremont town
line. A convenient and affordable option is the Day's Inn in Great Barrington.
After checking in, set out on a gentle 15 mile "Get Acquainted"
ride through North Egremont or Alford. . Dinner each night ican
be at one of the great restaurants in South Egremont and Great Barrington.
During your free time this week, you'll enjoy walking along this charming
town's tree-lined streets. Make sure to spend one evening at the
Mahaiwe Theater Performing
Arts Center .
Day
2 Umpachenee Falls
:Today's ride takes you along the flat flood plain of the Housatonic
River through Sheffield farmland to
Umpachenee Falls. Stop for sandwiches at the Mill River General
Store. On your return, enjoy an exhilarating downhill ride back to the
Housatonic Riverbefore returning to Sheffield , and stop by the
oldest covered bridge in Massachusetts. Rreturn by bike to
the inn.
route
map
cue sheet
Day 3 : West Stockbridge and Shaker Village Head out through North Egremont along the edge of the Taconic Mountains and through tiny Alford to West Stockbridge, where you'll have time to visit Baldwin's General Store and Hoffman Pottery. You may wish to continue farther for a visit to fascinating Hancock Shaker Village our Richmond, with a stop at Bartlett's Apple Orchard. 35- 50 miles with rolling hills. cue sheet map
Day
4: (advanced cyclists) Mount Everett , New York State, Connecticut.
For the "climbers", we have a 5 mile ascent toward the second highest
mountain in Massachusetts, Mount Everett.
After reaching rural Mount Washington, you'll have a great descent to
Copake in New York State, riding near Bash Bish Falls. Continue a few
miles on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail and cross into Connecticut, then
join the short tour at Twin Lakes. This full day 55 mile ride is for
advanced cyclists who enjoy climbs.
Cue
sheet
map
Barthomews
Cobble and Twin Lakes (intermediate cyclists) This easy ride
take us along back roads to Sheffield and Ashley Falls , where we'll
visit Bartholomew's Cobble , an unusual limestone
formation with plants and ferns that are generally found several hundred
miles north of this area . We'll ride past the
Colonel John Ashley House built in 1735 and said to be the oldest
complete house in the Berkshires. We return to the inn for a free afternoon.
Relatively flat 30 miles with extra mileage options .
Cue Sheet
map
Day
5: Tyringham and Stockbridge Today's ride takes
you past Butternut Ski Basin to Monterey, then descending to
Tyringham and Lee. An option is to turn on Monument Valley Road
in Great Barrington for a shortcut to popular Stockbridge,
MA where you may wish to visit the
Norman Rockwell Museum. and
Chesterwood, the studio of
Lincoln Monument sculptor Daniel Chester French. Our return is along
the rapids of the Housatonic River to Great Barrington. 30 miles with
extra loop options.
Cue sheet
map
Friday, Day 6: Sheffield We set out early for a flat and beautiful 15 mile loop along back roads to Sheffield, staying in sight of Mount Everett, the state's highest mountain. Our retuirn brings us back to the inn in time for checkout..
Request this Bike New England Tour for your group
Price
$1295 / person. Add$350 for single occupancy for groups of six or more.
A $100 deposit is required to hold each reservation. Full payment is
due two months before start date. You may cancel up to one month before
the start date with full refund minus deposit. Partial refunds afterwards
minus our obligations to inns.
Lodging: 5 nights at the Windflower Inn in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Meals: Continental breakfasts and full dinners at local restaurants. We pay for our own lunches.
Rides: Rides generally start about 9 am. You will be led by Bike New England owner Gordon Harris and Berkshire guide Barbara Lampron. Maps and cue sheets are provided for each ride. . Both guides generally ride out from the inn with participants, offering a short and long version each day. Van support is provided only when necessary
Bike
Rentals:
Jamis Coda hybrid roadbikes with straight handlebars are available
for $100 /week.
Other Activities: You may wish to take time to visit other Berkshire cultural highlights: The Mount in Lenox, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, (MassMOCA) in North Adams, and Kripalu yoga center next in Lenox Bicycle Shipping and rental: Assembly, transportation of your bikes is available for an additional charge. Getting There: Great Barrington is at the intersection of Rts. 7 and 23 in the southwest corner of Massachusetts, approximately 150 miles from New York City and Boston. Pickup and return to Logan Airport in Boston is available for a $100 extra charge
To Register: Email Bike New England or speak to tour director Gordon Harris, (978) 979-6598
