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Berkshire Bike Path Council
June 2010 Update
Special thanks to everyone who volunteered at the many May Ride Your Bike events, rode in one of the three community rides, logged in miles cycled or counted trail users. Over 25 volunteers counted Ashuwillticook Trail users during the annual May count. The data is still being processed and we will provide a link to the data when it is available. Close to 100 people ages 5 - 80 plus rode in community rides held in Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Pittsfield. Plaines in Pittsfield and Berkshire Bike and Board in Great Barrington provided the technical support to tune up bikes before the rides began. At these events and at the Hoosac Riverfest, BBPC had display tables letting people know about our bike path efforts and encouraging bike safety.
Over 70 people logged their miles in during the week of May 16 collectively riding 3,127 miles. In light of the unusual circumstance we have decided to award two $25 gift certificates from Plaines and Berkshire Bike and Board. The rest of the story follows below.
May was a busy month and the weather cooperated to provide many great days to walk, bike, and roller blade on the Ashuwillticook Trail. Wildlife on the trail was active, with the arrival of ducklings and turtle trots across the road. The butterflies are everywhere. New piers at Farnum's Crossing increased the opportunity for fishing.
Getting ready to ride in Stockbridge
Upcoming events:
Sat, June 5 - Blessing of the Bikes - Sacred Heart Church, Pittsfield - 9 AM
Sun, June 6 - United Cerebral Palsy 5K Life Without Limits "WALK & ROLL"
Mon, June 7 - Stockbrige Town Offices 4:30 PM
Thu, June 10 - Housatonic Heritage Northeast Trail Symposium
Thu, June 10 - Great Barrington Bike Path Meeting - Town Hall 5:00 PM
Sat, July 17 - Great Barrington Community Ride
Mon, July 19 -BBPC Meeting 6:30 1 Fenn Street, Pittsfield
Thu, Aug 19 - Pittsfield Criterium
Marge CohanMarge Cohan President, Berkshire Bike Path Council
A flutter of swallowtail butterflies (?Eastern Tiger) along the trail on a beautiful morning |
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Calendar-
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Blessing of the Bikes - Sat, June 5
On Saturday, June 5, at 9 AM, Father James Joyce will conduct a Blessing of the Bikes for cyclists of all ages at Sacred Heart Church ("The Pink Church"), 191 Elm Street, on the front lawn.
The Berkshire Cycling Association will start a 25 mile touring ride from this location directly afterward. The ride will average 12 - 15 mph and involve some hill climbing. Nonmembers may sign on to ride on the day.
This event has been held before at St. Stephen's Church with the Rev. Hannah Anderson and was one of things the Bike Friendly Community reviewers really liked about bicycling in Pittsfield. Future plans include rotating the bike blessing to various churches in the area.
Walk & Roll - Sun, June 6
United Cerebral Palsy will be hosting a its 1st Annual 5K Life Without Limits "WALK & ROLL"on June 6, 2010 on the beautiful scenic DCR's Ashuwillticook Trail in Cheshire, MA. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the walk will be from 10:00 am. 12:00 p.m.
Adults: $20.00
Children: (age 10 & under) $10.00
Family (4 or more) $50.00
Pittsfield Bike to Work Week 2010  IT'S FUN.
IT'S HEALTHY.
IT'S GREEN.
It's next week, June 7th through 11th. Please consider riding your bike each day, or for just one. You'll be glad you did!
Click here for more information about the City's Bike to Work Week event. Great Barrington Community Ride - Saturday, July 17
A 4 mile route for the families and kids and a 29 mile loop covering most of our purposed bike path/routes in Great Barrington and our two neighboring towns are planned. Contact Steffan at bikeandblade@hotmail.com for more info. |
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RIDE YOUR BIKE WEEK
Unusually good weather contributed to the success of our first local effort to track miles cycled during May as part of Bay State Bike Week. We especially appreciated the support of Berkshire Cycling Association in enlisting riders. We were most impressed that our newsletter reached AJ Nordell in Hungary. AJ won most miles ridden by a Berkshire cyclist logging in 275 miles - see story below. Bruce Townend won for most miles ridden in Berkshire county with 224 miles ridden.
Bay State Bike Week most miles - AJ
AJ competing in a 200 km race that started in Siofok Hungary. Over 1000 cyclists competed and AJ finished in top 25.  |
Alvin Nordell (AJ), of 110 Asci Dr, Pittsfield, MA, is a Berkshire Cycling Association member (BCA) who began to bicycle seriously while in junior high school. He rode with the BCA's Thursday Night group ride mastering the basic bicycling skills and etiquette. Soon he was riding with the faster paced BCA groups.
While in college at UMASS, AJ was a member and competed with the UMASS cycling team. Upon completing his masters degree AJ volunteered for service in the VISTA organization (Volunteers In Service To America). His VISTA assignment has taken him to the town of Mezocsokonye in Hungary where he is currently teaching English to elementary students.
AJ enjoys bicycle touring in Europe and has competed in several races when time permits. In his blog he describes himself: "I am an English teacher in a little village in Hungary. I love it. I also pedal a bike and get lost doing it."
Bruce Townend Bruce Townend is a long time member of Berkshire Cycling Association (BCA) and currently the BCA president. As president Bruce oversee's all of BCA's racing and touring events. While Bruce travels the racing circuit on the weekends, you may see Bruce riding in any part of Berkshire County during the week. He frequently rides during his lunch hour north of Pittsfield along Rte 8.
Most of us find it a challenge to make the climb on a bicycle from Pittsfield to Windsor. Bruce lives in Windsor. Any ride that Bruce starts from home he must end it by climbing back up the hill to finish. There is no approach to Windsor that is not uphill.
Congratulations Bruce for logging the most Berkshire County miles during Bay State Bike week. |
Berkshire Bike and Blade
29 State Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 USA
M-F 10-7 Sat 10-5 Sun 11-5
Telephone: (413) 528-5555
20% off Anything in the Store
Excluding Bikes
Print and present this coupon, valid through 6/30/10
BBPC Newsletter |
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Thank you for your continued support!
Please support our efforts to advocate for better bicycling in Berkshire County. Mail your check, made out to Berkshire Bike Path Council, 55 South Mountain Rd, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Per IRS regulations, your donation to the Berkshire Bike Path Council will be treated similarly to a donation made to a 501(c)(3) organization and will be tax deductible. | |
