† 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 $50 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.
Overview: The Western New England Greenway was developed by the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, a program of the National Park Service (that serves the Housatonic River watershed region) to highlight western Connecticut / Massachusetts / Vermont (https://housatonicheritage.org/about-us/our-mission/). As part of their mission they developed a bicycle route – and this will be the first time that any group (outside those members of the UHVNHA and its member clubs / organizations) have pedaled this route. Their route uses back country roads (including some hard-packed dirt), covered bridges, goes along rivers and lakes (big and small), and passes through numerous quaint towns and some bigger towns.
Our plan includes a rest day for a picnic at Tanglewood (the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937: we will catch a performance -included in the cost of the tour) and a side trip (by bike and ferry) to the Ausable Chasm (called the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks). Along the route we can stop at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood (historic home and sculpture garden of Daniel Chester French - who sculped Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial), Edith Wharton’s The Mount, Bartholomew’s Cobble, Hildene (the estate of Robert Todd Lincoln, only child of Abraham and Mary Lincoln to survive to adulthood, was inhabited only by Lincoln descendants until 1975), Bennington Revolutionary War Battle Monument and Museum, Chimney Point / Crown Point Historical Site, Rokeby and Shelburne Museums in VT, pedal along rail trails (Ashuwillticook) and lakes (big: Lake Champlain and many small), pass several other wonderful natural sites and stop at various general stores / shops in the towns (have you ever visited the American Museum of Fly Fishing?) along the way.
The major towns / cities / villages for our tour: In Connecticut (starting in Danbury) we pedal to Kent, Cornwall Bridge, along the Housatonic River, pass the waterfall in Falls Village. In Massachusetts we pedal south to north through Berkshire County – the entire way in MA. From Bartholomew’s Cobble (http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/berkshires/bartholomews-cobble.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/) to Sheffield, Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lenox, Pittsfield, Adams and North Adams. In Vermont the first town is Bennington while the last is North Hero with numerous towns / villages and a great city called Burlington in between.
Although much of the ride mileage will be on quiet roads, the way in and out of towns always includes cycling on urban streets with moderate traffic. The route has been pedaled by the ride leader and friends as well as members of Housatonic Heritage (using various bicycles: road bike, fully loaded self-contained touring bike, and mountain bike).
Logistics: Arrive in Danbury, CT on Monday June 22, 2020 for our official meet / greet and group dinner. The next day is our first day of pedaling and last day of riding is Thursday July 2, 2020; with a shuttle back to the start on Friday July 3rd; the departure day is July 3rd. No charge for car parking and bike box storage. Tandems and e-bikes will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. If looking to pre-tour or post-tour (July 4th fireworks?) ride in New York City the Ride Leader has information about lodging (with a really good group rate) available (plus see Getting There for additional info).
Getting There: There are various options for getting to and departing from this tour.
If flying, there are multiple airports to choose for your arrival, from the NYC area airports to Connecticut. All have bus service (from Stewart (SWF) or Hartford (BDL): Trailways /Peter Pan Bus) or from the other area airports options include a combo of bus/train. In addition, there are Airport Shuttle Van services available from all the other area airports {LAG, JFK, BDL, EWR (Newark, NJ), HPN (White Plains) and Hartford}; and of course, rental vehicles. If flying and looking to car pool Ride Leader will distribute your information to other participants. Lastly, another option, if flying is to depart from the Burlington Airport (BTV) (you can stay in the Burlington area on your own to circumnavigate Lake Champaign or pedal to Vermont’s state capitol, Montpelier).
If driving directly to the start of the tour, the hotel provides parking. If your bicycle is to be shipped it can be sent to the Ride Leader or the hotel.
There can be a pre-tour and or post-tour rides in NYC (free vehicle parking in NYC for the pre-tour and / or post-tour can be arranged). If taking an option to pre-tour ride in NYC then your bicycle can be shipped to the Ride Leader; and if taking the option to post-tour ride in NYC the Ride Leader will assist with getting your bike to its next destination. Getting from NYC to the start in Connecticut has multiple options: you can pedal it (we do, although we will be driving this time) (hence, we can take care of your luggage); you can take the train (Grand Central Station to a station near the hotel via Metro North / Amtrak) or bus, and you can drive / car-pool.
It is suggested that you contact the Ride Leader to discuss options suitable to you.
Ride Rating: The eight days of pedaling on this tour averages to a rating of a 2B – the eight days average 45 miles with a daily average of 1,900 feet of climbing. BUT caution is advised: there is one day where the elevation gain is a solid 3 and four days where the mileage is a C. The highest mileage day is 59.3 miles, with the other C days of: 54.3, 53.0 and 51.9 miles. The day rated as a 3 in elevation has climbing of 2,950 (over 51.9 miles). There are three other days where the elevation gain is in the high range of a 2 (2,450, 2,340 and 2,300). Climbs are in the 4-8% ranges and the grades are generally not severe. The hard-packed roads are suitable for road bikes, but we would not recommend 700x23 tires. The route was pedaled using 700x25 tires (on the road bike), 700x28 and 700x32 (front / back) on the touring bike (four panniers fully loaded), and standard mountain bike tires were used on the mountain bike. Again, the bigger (and some of the smaller) towns we pedal thru have the standard urban traffic.
Costs: Your $800 deposit, plus the final payment, due April 1, 2020, of $1,000= $1,800, will pay for all lodging, 1 picnic, 3 dinners, 6 breakfasts, Tanglewood entry, shuttle back to the start, daily lunch supplies / snacks, evening happy hours, and all administrative costs including maps, cue sheets, GPS files, luggage van and driver. Additional costs are the BAC fee and the credit card processing fees. After the tour we will provide a report of all expenses and return any money that remains after expenses have been paid.
Singles: We encourage single riders who are willing to share a room to sign up. We will assist with the singles search for a suitable roommate. Singles who are accepted but waiting to find a roommate will have a limited time-frame to do so if there are more BAC members registered on the wait list (unless they indicate that they are willing to go solo if no eventual roommate is found). Solo supplement is $800. The Ride Leader will advise when the solo supplement payment is due once someone is accepted as a solo. A single looking for a roommate but has paid the solo supplement, can still try to find a roommate as long as the lodging configuration allows the change. Any solo supplement payments will need to be mailed to BAC, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193, and checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.
Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. 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. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.
Cancellation Policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and payment processing fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
Register: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. Following your acceptance, you will receive an email message requesting you to sign the Release of Liability form and make credit card payments to BAC for the BAC fee and your initial deposit of $800. 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.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org