Sculptor7

Just came back from two days of riding in the Berkshires. 4 pounds lighter! I know, it's probably just water.
Learned that the hot rainy weather this year has left me less fit,especially for hills. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable and the weather was perfect.

A few scenes from my rides to and from. Canaan, N.Y., Stockbridge, Mass, and Great Barrington, Mass.

berner

Lucky you. The Berkshires surer are pretty. I love New England.

Oldoarsman

Hiked the Appalachian trail here (no, not like Mark Sanford) back in my Boy Scouting days...from Great Barrington, Mass to Salisbury, Conn...this is still a very beautiful, still rural area!

Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

Have you ever been to Tanglewood for a concert? I saw Crosby Stills and Nash, Jimmy Buffet, the the Moody Blues, and James Taylor perform there back in the late eighties/early nineties...it's a great venue for concerts if you have an opportunity to go!

DnvrFox

So pretty - you GO!

miss kenton

What a beautiful place to ride!

otg 

Lucky you, and congrats on the ride. I live a few hours from the Berkshires and drove to North Adams in June to climb Mt. Greylock. Beautiful area!

MikeWMass

If you are free on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, try this:
https://newhorizonsbikes.com/articles...2013-pg161.htm

Sculptor7

Kids went just last month. Believe we did attend a classical music event many years ago. The whole area has significance for me as a cultural environment in the midst of the natural world One of my sculptures was displayed in the outdoor show at Chesterwood a few years ago.

trackhub

And on a classic, made-in-the-USA Trek. I envy you sir.


It's interesting to note that many people who live east of 495 don't even realize they are in the same state, the first time they visit the Western part of MA. Most people around here have never heard of such places as Heath, or Monroe, towns so small, they don't even have a police department.

cyclinfool

Greylock is a good hill, did you go up the North or South side? From Williamstown I prefer the North side, it is steeper and the views as you come across the saddle are better. It was one of my training rides when I was doing hill climb races. To fat and out of shape for that now, maybe next year.

otg 

We climbed from the north side, took me a while, I stopped four or five times to catch my breath and let my legs recover. My son beat me by about 45 minutes, but hey, he's 33!

qcpmsame 

Beautiful pictures and a great report, I enjoy seeing anything about that area from rides by 50+ people. The area is so beautiful in the fall, we used to ride through it some when we went up for Parents' weekend at Smith College when our daughter was there for her undergraduate studies/degree. A concert at Tanglewood would be sweet, kind of a bucket list thing. Thanks for the thread and pictures.

Bill

professorbob

I have the very good fortune of working in Sheffield, MA sometimes in the summers. I always bring my bike and I recognize some of the photos you took. I've been by some of those same places. It's a joy to ride there.

cyclinfool

That short stretch past the gatehouse is pretty steep - like about 12% - really the worst part of the climb, after that it is a steady grind until you get to the saddle. The South side only has one part that hits the 12% range at the beginning, but it has a dip in the middle where you loose a hundred feet or so of elevation, you also start from a little higher point. Every year the local bike club will start from a point on the NY side, climb over the taconics and past Jimminy peak to the south side, climb Greylock and then return, a lot of vertical on that trip. I have not done that in 3 years. I was so whacked when I completed it that last time I put my cell phone into a half full cup of coffee when I got back to my car.