Sunday September 13 - Saturday, September 19, 2009  

This September, Bike Friday teams up with Ciclismo Classico to offer a week of splendid cycling in the Berkshires, a tour designed and led by Gordon Harris of Bike New England .  Our tour begins in Williamstown "The Village Beautiful", home of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Clark Art Institute, continuing for two nights in charming South Egremont, MA in the southern Berkshires, and for our last two nights Lenox, MA , famous for the Tanglewood Music Festival .    Our seven days of cycling includes varying mileage and difficulty options throughout Berkshire County  as well as forays into neighboring Vermont, New York State and Connecticut, with two cycling guides and full van support.  

An invitation from Lauren Hefferon, owner of Ciclismo Classico, and Bike Friday enthusiast:   

One gorgeous day while cycling near the tiny Southern Italian village of Morano Calabro, my friend Juliann Julie offered to switch bikes with me so I could test ride her Bike Friday. I was quickly impressed by its 'regular bike' feel and great handling. At the end of the tour, she demonstrated how easy it was to pack it up in a suitcase and get ready for her train ride to Rome the next day. A year later I managed to prise it away from her and she upgraded to a new model.

Over the next few months I started enthusiastically "hanging out" on the Bike Friday website. I let my mind wander from link to link reading the stories and getting to know the Bike Friday team including Customer Evangelist Lynette Chiang, who rode and blogged about our Bike Across Italy tour.    

We've designed this tour with input from seasoned Bike Friday owners, and believe it has all the things Friday folks look for in a tour: a comfortably challenging route, great food, accommodations and scenery, plenty of time to both explore and socialize with like minds, and value for money. Join our little wheels  for all that and more on this special "Bike Friday in the Berkshires tour". Even if you ride a conventional bike you'll be warmly welcomed.       -Lauren Hefferon 

Sunday, Day 1:   Natural Bridge and the  Deerfield River 

Distance: 20 / 55 miles

Riding time: 2-6 hours

Highlights: Visit a natural wonder and ride along beautiful river rapids in Vermont .

After checking in for our first day at the  Williams Inn, in Williamstown MA,  we'll take a short ride to Natural Bridge State Park in nearby North Adams MA.   Those arriving early and who wish for a more challenging ride will continue with a climb along the hairpin turn on the Mohawk Trail, then descending to the Deerfield River and ride along the Hoosac range into rural southern Vermont.   You'll ride past the eastern portal of  the 5-mile Hoosac Tunnel,  the longest train tunnel in the world when it was finished in 1875.   Enjoy the Williams Inn's indoor pool and gym when you return, followed by a group welcoming dinner at the inn. 

Monday, Day 2:  Bennington Vermont loop

Distance: 21 / 45 / 53  miles 

Riding time: 2-6 hrs.

Highlights: Visit an historic battlefield , old car museum, and ride through three covered bridges!

Today's ride takes us into Vermont with a very gradual climb and outstanding views of the Taconic Mountain Range.   We descend along  the Green Mountains to charming Bennington with stops at the Bennington Fish Hatchery,  Hemmings Motor News old car museum and stop for an early  picnic lunch at the  Bennington Monument .   We'll ride through three covered bridges and a bit of New York State farm land with the option of an extra loop to visit to the Bennington Battlefield in Hoosick, NY.  For a shorter ride there's a wonderful descent to North Pownal.  The extra mileage option includes a steady 6%, 4 mile climb and descent over Petersburg Pass (elevation 1700 ft.).   We spend a second evening at the Williams Inn .  For dinner tonight, Williamstown offers many wonderful restaurants within easy walking distance.  

Tuesday, Day 3:   Along the Taconics to Egremont.

Distance: 50  miles

Riding time: 3-5 hours

Highlights: Hancock Shaker Village , scenic valleys  

Today we'll leave our cars safely behind at the Williams Inn and  head south, crossing into neighboring New York State for a dozen miles along the Taconic Mountains  before swinging back into Massachusetts.   You'll want to spend a couple of hours at the fascinating  Hancock Shaker Village , where we'll have a group lunch..   Soon we reach West Stockbridge , known for its skilled artisans,  and continue along the edge of the mountains through tiny Alford,  reaching our destination, the Egremont Inn in South Egremont MA.  

Wednesday, Day 4:  Mount Everett

Distance: 30/40/55 miles

Riding time: 4-6 hours

Highlights: Waterfall,  Mount Everett , Harlem Valley Rail Trail , Bartholomew's Cobble  

For the climbers,  there's an optional 5 mile ascent along Mount Everett,  the second highest mountain in Bash Bish Falls and Twin Lakes  Massachusetts .   After reaching rural Mount Washington, population 130 ,  you'll enjoy a great descent to Copake , New York,  riding past remarkable Bash Bish Falls.  After lunch at Depot Deli in Copake Falls , we'll  ride a few miles on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail and several miles through upstate  farm country before crossing the Taconic Mountains on our return to South Egremont    A longer route returns through the Litchfield Hills of northwest Connecticut .   For those seeking an easy scenic ride,  you can choose a 30 mile loop to Twin Lakes Connecticut with a visit to Bartholomew's Cobble and the state's oldest covered bridge in  Sheffield, MA.  We enjoy a group dinner tonight in the Egremont Inn's outstanding  restaurant.  

Thursday, Day 5:     Umpachenee Falls and Lenox

Distance: 17/40/53 miles

Riding time: 4-6 hours

Highlights: Waterfalls, Norman Rockwell, Botanical Garden

 Today we'll take the back roads through Sheffield, MA. as we begin our ride to Umpacheenee Falls  and tiny Mill River MA.  The longer loop takes you to Campbells Falls as well on the Connecticut state line, and the opportunity to visit the  Buggy Whips  Antiques in Southfield .  We rejoin the shorter loop and ride past the Guthrie Center (the church made famous in the movie Alice's Restaurant) before cycling several miles along Housatonic River rapids on our way to Lenox.  You'll have a tough choice of places to visit: the  Norman Rockwell Museum,  Chesterwood  the studio of sculptor Daniel Chester French, and Berkshire Botanical Garden before we reach the Apple Tree Inn, across the street from the Tanglewood Music Festival  and Kripalu Yoga Center.    

Friday, Day 6,   Around Beartown Mountain    

Distance: 25/45  miles

Riding time: 2-6 hours

Highlights: Stockbridge, Monterey and the Gingerbread House

Today we ride past Naumkaeg  and other guilded era mansions on Prospect Hill  before reaching popular Stockbridge.    We continue through   Monument Valley and past  Beartown State Forest before stopping at the  Monterey General Store.  After descending to Tyringham, home of the Santarella Gingerbread House,  we ride through Lee and Lenoxdale, with the last few miles on beautiful Undermountain Road.  A shorter loop rides out and back along the Tyringham Valley.   We'll have a final group dinner this evening at the Apple Tree Inn.  

Saturday Day 7, To Williamstown and Mount Greylock

Distance: 32/38/54 miles .

Riding time: 4-6 hours

Highlights:  Mount Greylock, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail  

In the morning we check out of the Apple Tree Inn for our return to Williamstown.  After a stop for hot cider at  Bartlett's Orchard , we'll ride past  Pittsfield State Forest  and  Balance Rock State Park before reaching Lanesborough.  You'll have a tantalizing choice when you reach  Mount Greylock , the highest mountain in Massachusetts.  The direct route to Williamstown offers scenic views from the west,  or take the Ashuwilticook Rail Trail along Cheshire Lake from the east.   For a final challenge, enjoy the 12 mile  (average 6% grade) climb up the mountain, stopping for refreshments at Bascom Lodge on the summit.  There's an option for a steep descent for a ride total of 38 miles, or a slower descent rejoining the ride along the western edge of Greylock.     We return to the Williams Inn for snacks and beverages as we say our farewells. 

Services provided by Ciclismo Classico:

Daily group breakfast, three dinners and two lunches. (lunch suggestions noted on cue sheet)

Van luggage carried inn to inn

Van support each day of tour

Two cycling guides 

Maps and cue sheets for each day of tour. 

Bicycle rentals available, $100 for length of tour

$1395.00 per person, double occupancy.  Add $500 single occupancy.

Getting There: 

Airports:   Albany NY  (ALB) is a one hour drive from Williamstown , MA

                   Logan airport in Boston is a three hour drive from Williamstown

Train:        Amtrak passes through Pittsfield , MA (1/2 hr. from Williamstown) from Boston as well as points west. 

Bus:          Peter Pan  Bus Line goes to Williamstown from Boston .  

Please inform Ciclismo Classico when you make your registration if you have transportation requests 

Berkshire Restaurants: 

Williamstown: Freightyard Restaurant & Pub ,  Hobson's Choice  ,Jae's Inn  , Mezze Bistro & Bar         

South Egremont :  The Old Mill ,  John Andrews , Mom's Country Cafe

Lenox   Prime ,  Church St. Café ,  Frankie's Restaurante Italiano

  Berkshire Bike Shops:

The Spoke     Mountain Goat   Arcadian Shop   Berkshire Bike and Board  Plaines     Ordinary Cycles  

Visit Ciclismo Classico Site to join this tour

  Tour and site design by Gordon Harris of Bike New England