The Berkshires

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

SUMMARY: Meet on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 and ride back into Windsor Locks, Connecticut on Friday, October 5, 2018. Departure day is Saturday, October 6, 2018. Min16, Max 22. This is a third time tour led by Tom and Julie Leever that also ran in 2010 & 2015. The name of the tour is derived from the mountains of that name, located in Northwestern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

RIDE RATING: The trip is rated a 2B, averaging 42 miles per day and a daily average of 2,400 feet of climbing. The two most difficult days are 51 miles with 3,300 feet of climbing and 61 miles with 2,200' of climbing. If a rider chose all of the long options, this tour could become a 3B/C with an average of 50 miles per day with 2,800 ft of climbing.

DESCRIPTION: The name of the tour is derived from the mountains of that name, located in Northwestern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. On this tour we’ll cruise along winding-wooded back roads, riding the gaps and valleys of Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills and Massachusetts’s Berkshire Mountains. Towns with a “green” and quaint colonial-era inns contrast with the decidedly contemporary cuisine they offer. Country fairs, apple festivals and the occasional splash of color are all part of the September calendar. From the first hotel near the Bradley Airport (BDL Hartford, CT), we head west on a sometimes hilly and surprisingly rural route around the Barkhamsted Reservoir thru Riverton (once home to the Hitchcock Chair Company ) and on to Norfolk, CT. We continue in CT to Litchfield, an architect’s dream of Victorian-style mansions bordered by pristine horse farms nestled in the “Litchfield Hills”. From there we travel west and south circumnavigating Litchfield County’s two largest lakes and concluding at the Sharon Country Inn. The next day’s loop ride takes us through Kent and into Duchess County NY, as we enjoy portions of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. From there we head toward the Berkshires where a 2-night stay in Stockbridge offers alternatives to a loop-ride like a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum or the Berkshire Botanical Gardens. The next day provides the option to climb Mt Greylock (or not) on the way to N. Adams, where influence of the industrial revolution cannot be missed. In N. Adams you can visit the railroad museum and learn how the Hoosac Tunnel was constructed. Next we loop up to the southern edge of Vermont on a pretty ride to Greenfield, MA, where we have a two-night stay. There is a nice loop ride, again up to Vermont and back or one can visit the Emily Dickenson Home. Then we work our way back to Windsor Locks for the end of the tour. Note that there is a loop ride available from our start/end hotel for those who might want more rides.

GETTING THERE: Windsor Locks (greater Hartford, CT) has airport service (Bradley Airport - BDL) and the Holiday Inn Express offers free shuttle service. Long term car parking and bike box storage are also available.

COSTS: Estimated tour costs are $1,750 which includes: 11 nights lodging with 9 breakfasts and 5 dinners, luggage van & driver, maps and route sheets.  Not included in the cost of the tour is the non-refundable $50 BAC fee.  A deposit of $500 assures your place on the tour. Final payment of $1,250 is due by May 1, 2018. Single riders will be accepted who are willing to share a room and we will assist with finding a room mate. A single supplement would cost an additional $1,013, but it is very doubtful that it will be available due to limited room availability at some stops.

WEATHER: The daily temperatures can vary from lows in the 50s to highs in the low 70s. If there is rain it will feel very cold. Plan to have protective rain gear including jacket, long pants, fingered gloves, helmet and shoe covers. Evenings are usually cool. A light jacket is recommended.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support, including changing their own flat tires. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour, without checking first with the ride leader. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and finally respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Any refunds are dependent on our finding a replacement from the wait list. If we can fill your position immediately you will get your refund less the BAC ride fee and processing fees. If we are not able to fill your position, any refund will be based on the principle that costs not be increased for those who are completing the tour (singles will need to have an agreement with their roommate on how the single supplement will be handled in case of a cancellation). Your share of fixed costs like the luggage van, leader and van driver expenses will be deducted from your eventual refund. Whatever we can recover, you will get back after the tour is completed and the final accounting takes place.

SIGN UP; To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just below the Ride Description. Following your acceptance on the ride, you will receive an email message requesting you to make credit card payments to BAC for the BAC fee and your initial deposit of $500. When your deposit is received, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.