The Berkshires 2023

† 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

LOGISTICS: Arrive on Tuesday, Wednesday Sept 20, 2023 in Windsor Locks, CT and ride back to Windsor Locks on Friday, September 29, 2023. Departure day is Saturday, Sept 30, 2023. Max 20/Min 18. Fly into Bradley International Airport with hotel shuttle available Details in the Welcome letter. Parking at the hotel for $7.00 per day. Bike Boxes stored at the hotel.

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.

MAPS & CUE Sheets: Digital versions of the cue sheets and maps will be on Ride with GPS. Links to the digital cue sheets will be sent in an email and the link is posted under Ride Leader Docs with in the document entitled Event Link. We will post the maps and cue sheets in PDF format on the Ride Leader Docs. We recommend that you print out hard copies.

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. Country fairs, apple festivals and the occasional splash of color are all part of the September calendar. From the first hotel near the Bradley (Hartford, CT) Airport, we head west on a sometimes hilly and surprisingly rural route around the Barkhamsted Reservoir and on to Norfolk, CT. We then continue west for a two-night stay in Sharon, CT. Next we travel through Kent and on to Duchess County NY, riding portions of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. From there we head toward the Berkshires with a 2-night stay in Stockbridge, MA. We have a loop-ride with a must-stop at the Norman Rockwell Museum. The next day provides the option to climb Mt Greylock (or not) on the way to N. Adams, where the 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.

COSTS: Estimated tour costs of $1,725 includes 10 nights lodging with 8 breakfasts and 5 dinners, happy hour refreshments, luggage van and driver..  The deposit of $ 1,000 + $50 nonrefundable BAC fee for a total initial charge of $ 1,050 assures your place on the tour. Final payment of $ 725, is due by April 15, 2023.

FINAL PAYMENT: of $ 725 Due on or before April 15, 2023. Please make your payment by credit card on the tour BAC site.

SINGLES: It is recommended that singles wanting to share a room try to find their own roommate. The Ride Leader will assist singles to find a roommate. When a single rider applies for the ride, you will be placed on the wait list and a room will be reserved for a limited time. Once a roommate is found, both riders are added to the tour. If a single rider cannot find a room mate, they may be added to the ride on a “space available” status. We have some limitations on hotel rooms with 2 beds.

SOLOS: Due to the size of some B&Bs we are limited to 12 rooms. Therefore, solo riders will only be accepted if the tour does not fill. A solo supplement is $ 1,065. Payment is due with the final payment on April 15, 2023.   The solo supplement is paid by check  made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

COVID: All participants must be vaccinated. Our general COVID procedures are posted in the Ride Leader Docs. We will discuss our COVID policy and answer questions in a recorded Zoom conference call at least 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Type of Bike: Tandems, recumbents and e-bikes will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. We have not made any arrangements for bike rentals.

Happy Hour: COVID procedures may alter how we offer refreshments. Stay tuned. You may be asked to host at least one Happy Hour during the tour. We purchase the snacks and beverages. Your responsibility is to set it up and clean-up. We will make an effort to have meetings outside when possible.

Maps & Cue Sheets: Digital versions of the cue sheets and maps will be on Ride with GPS. Links to the digital cue sheets will be sent in an email and the link is posted under Ride Leader Docs with in the document entitled Event Link. Details regarding downloading and printing and using these files is in the Event Link document. We will post the maps and cue sheets in PDF format on the Ride Leader Docs. We recommend that you print out hard copies. Please, remember to bring them with you.

INSURANCE: Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses in excess of $1,000. related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

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.

BE PREPARED TO RIDE: We will be driving our SUV and pulling a trailer for the luggage. Space for bikes in the trailer when loaded with luggage is minimal. The vehicle’s primary purpose is to transport luggage. It is not a support vehicle that will be following you on the road. You will need to call us if you have an emergency while riding. We recommend that you are comfortable doing rides of 40 miles per day prior to the start of the tour and that you pack clothing that you can carry with you on the ride in case we experience rain.

Luggage: If you can, use a soft sided suitcase as it is easier to fit into the luggage van. Due to limited space and handling requirements we will limit everyone to one large bag measuring 18x26x10 or an equal linear dimension (54 inches total) and one small carry-on per person. The weight limit is 35 pounds for the large bag and 15 for the small. If you don’t understand this, contact us, because we will allow no exceptions.

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: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled due to participation below stated minimum requirements. 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 cancelations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling 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 canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancelation insurance.

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 $ 1,000. 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. When you are accepted you can access the "Ride Leader Docs" posted on the tour page.  Read the Welcome Letter for specific details about the tour.