Get outside. Connect to community. Give back.

Come out and RIDE FOR ROOTS RISING to help raise money for community food access!

The Details

On June 20th we will launch a (socially distant) Bike Ride Challenge! Riders will have nine days 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. 

All registered bikers will receive a Strava map of the routes when we get closer to the event. 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 low-income registration for $10, and all youth under 12 are free.

Now let's talk TEAMS! You can register as an individual, but we are encouraging folks to form a team to rally your supporters! This is your chance to make a big impact on food access and strengthening our local food system. All proceeds will support our Virtual Farmers Market. And all donations up to $5,000 will be TRIPLED thanks to support from Mill Town and The Gilson Family Foundation. Wow!!

Prizes!

We've got prizes galore! We will be offering over $800 worth of prizes to SIX participants: the top three teams who fundraise the most, the person who shares the best social media post about their ride (use #rideforrootsrising and tag Roots Rising to be considered), and two randomly selected registrants! 

What are these prizes you ask? See below!

• 1st place team ($310 value)
  • $135 Tosk Chiropractic for a hydrotherapy massage
  • $50 The Spoke gift certificate for bike tune up
  • $25 Berkshire Bike and Board gift certificate
  • $25 Virtual Farmers Market gift certificate
  • $25 Arcadian Shop gift certificate
  • $25 Guido's Fresh Marketplace gift certificate
  • $25 Spirited gift certificate
• 2nd place team ($210 value)
  • $135 Tosk Chiropractic for a hydrotherapy massage
  • $25 Berkshire Bike and Board gift certificate
  • $25 Virtual Farmers Market gift certificate
  • $25 Guido's Fresh Marketplace gift certificate
• 3rd place team ($100 value)
  • $25 Berkshire Bike and Board gift certificate
  • $25 Arcadian Shop gift certificate
  • $25 Balderdash Cellars gift certificate
  • $25 Wild Oats Market gift certificate
• Best social media post ($70 value)
  • $25 Berkshire Bike and Board gift certificate
  • $25 Virtual Farmers Market gift certificate
  • $20 Berkshire Outfitters gift certificate plus water bottle
• One lucky, randomly selected registrant! ($70 value)
  • $25 Virtual Farmers Market gift certificate
  • $25 Arcadian Shop gift certificate
  • $20 Berkshire Outfitters gift certificate plus water bottles
• • A second lucky, randomly selected registrant! ($80 value)
    • A Chocolate Crate from Berkshire Crate with tons of local Berkshires goodies inside (especially great for someone with a sweet tooth!)

In addition, Mill Town and Berkshire Bike and Board are offering a BIKE GIVEAWAY for Pittsfield youth. Stay tuned for more details!

Finally, thanks to two generous donors, the first 150 riders will receive a FREE apple cider donut from Bartlett's Orchard! Just head on into the farm store and let them know that you're riding for Roots Rising, and you'll get your delicious treat. 😍 

What is the Virtual Farmers Market?

Roots Rising's Virtual Farmers Market is an online sales and delivery platform. Customers go onto our site and purchase food from a variety of farmers and have it delivered to their door county-wide.

The Virtual Farmers Market meets the community's need for access to fresh food and our farmers' need for economic support during these tough times. We offer financial assistance to make this market equitable and affordable to all!

In just ten weeks, our Virtual Farmers Market has served 1,732 Berkshire County households, generated over $61,453 in sales for our farmers and food producers and provided over $21,000 in financial assistance to our neighbors in need.

Thanks for riding with us! #rideforrootsrising

Ride for Roots Rising is sponsored by Mill Town, The Gilson Family Foundation, and Callahan Sign Company. 

The Routes

See the map of the road bike routes below:

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