Get outside. Connect to community. Give back.

Come out and RIDE FOR ROOTS RISING to raise money to support meaningful work for youth and food justice! 

The Details

On June 19th we will launch a (socially distant) Bike Ride Challenge! Riders will have until June 27th to complete the challenge at a time of their choosing.

For the road bike challenge, riders can choose between a beginner (5 miles), intermediate (18 miles), and advanced route (28 miles with a couple of challenging hills) starting from Bartlett's Orchard.

For the mountain bike challenge, riders can choose between a beginner (2.5 miles), intermediate (4.5 miles), and advanced (6 miles) route starting from Pittsfield State Forest. 

Please see below for route maps and turn by turn directions. There will also be signage along the routes.

I'm in! How do I register?

The general registration fee is $25. We also have a $10 reduced registration for students and low-income residents. All youth under 12 are free.

Even if you do not want to ride during the event, please consider donating! This is your chance to make a big impact in providing meaningful work for youth and increasing food access for all. All proceeds will support Roots Rising- read all about us below!

And there's more... The first $5,000 raised will be DOUBLED by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and used for Market Match at our Pittsfield Farmers Market. Market Match doubles the purchasing power of low-income residents using SNAP, WIC and Senior benefits, making the market accessible and affordable to all.

Prizes!

All registrants will be entered into a raffle to win prizes sponsored by Mill Town Capital, including gift certificates to Mission Bar + Restaurant and Gateways Bar + Restaurant.

What is Roots Rising?

Roots Rising is an award-winning, women-led nonprofit whose mission is to empower youth and build community through food and farming. Our vision is to lift up teenagers as community changemakers and strengthen the local food system through the transformational power of meaningful work. 

We have two main initiatives:

1) Our Pittsfield Farmers Market, which is the first teen-run market in the region and was the first year-round market in Berkshire County. Our market was founded with the belief that everyone should have access to fresh, healthy food, and offers strong food justice programs to make healthy food accessible to all.

2) Our Youth Crews, where we hire Pittsfield teens to work on farms, in food pantries, and at our own market. It's more than just a job. We believe that meaningful work is transformational, leaving youth feeling purposeful, capable and connected. 

Thanks for riding with us! #rideforrootsrising

Sponsors

The Routes

See the map of the road bike routes below:

*Please note that Bartlett's Orchard has requested that bikers park on the far left of the parking lot, away from the building entrance.

Turn by turn instructions:

Beginner/ Kids Road Bike Route (3.21 miles):

• Start at Bartlett’s Orchard
• Right on Boys Club Rd to Richmond Shores Rd
• Left on Boat Ramp Town Beach Rd
• Straight to boat ramp
• Continue to town beach at Richmond’s Pond
• Turn around and head back to Bartlett’s Orchard

Intermediate Road Bike Route (18.53 miles):

• Start at Bartlett’s Orchard
• Left on Swamp Rd
• Right on Summit Rd
• Left on Rte 41
• Right on Baker St
• Right on Dean Hill Rd
• Left on Cross Rd
• Left on Flints Crossing Rd
• Left on Rte 102, continuing to W Stockbridge
• Right on Rte 41 South
• Left on Swamp Rd
• Left on Boys Club Rd (across from Bartlett’s) to Richmond Shores Rd
• Left on Boat Ramp Town Beach Rd
• Straight to boat ramp, turn around and head back to Bartlett’s Orchard

Advanced Road Bike Route (27.65 miles):

• Start at Bartlett’s Orchard
• Left on Swamp Rd
• Right on Summit Rd
• Left on Rte 41
• Right on Rte 295
• Straight through Rte 22, continuing on 295
• Left on Old Queechy Rd
• Left on Old Hudson TPK
• Right on Warner’s Crossing (sign also says Tunnel Hill Rd but leads to County 5)
• Straight on County 5
• Left on Peaceful Valley Rd
• Right on Rte NY 22
• Left on Flints Crossing Bear to Right to Rte 102
• Left on 102
• Right on West Center Rd
• Follow to end of West Center Rd
• Left on East Alford Rd
• Left on Rte 41 North
• Left on 41 to center of W Stockbridge
• Straight to Swamp Rd
• Continue to Bartlett’s Orchard

See the map of the mountain bike routes below:

Turn by turn instructions (with trail names):

Beginner/Kids Mountain Bike Route (2.43 miles):

• Start
• Becky’s Way
• Jamie’s Landing
• Granny Apple
• Honey Bear
• Rotten Apple
• Dublin’s Run
• Ruth’s Corners 
• Jamie’s Landing
• Becky’s Way
• Finish

Intermediate Mountain Bike Route (4.73 miles):

• Start
• Becky’s Way
• Jamie’s Landing
• Granny Apple
• Honey Bear
• Rotten Apple 
• Tucker Trail
• Beaver Tail Trail
• Whirlpool
• Bear Claw/ Fagawi
• Deer Hill/ Mighty Maple
• River Run
• Deer Hill/ Wild Turkey
• Jamie’s Landing
• Becky’s Way
• Finish

Advanced Mountain Bike Route (6.30 miles):

• Start
• Telephone
• Crossroad
• Turner
• Taconic Skyline
• Tappan Zee
• Honolulu
• Becky’s Way
• Finish