Bicycling Committee
We are experienced cyclists who enjoy social, recreational rides in the range of 15-50 miles at speeds averaging between 10-14 mph, with rest stops and optional post-ride socials. We keep the group moving, but we're not racers.
Classes of e-bikes.
Classes of e-bikes (click to enlarge).
Group Ride Policies
- All AMC rides require advance registration. We pre-screen all riders to ensure comfort and safety.
- You must have a bicycle in good working order. Road, touring, or hybrid bikes are acceptable. Effective 03/2024, we now permit Class 1 & Class 3 pedal-assist bicycles (see diagram). Class 2 bikes that use throttles are not permitted. Mountain bikes are not permitted.
- You must wear a properly-fitting bicycle helmet at all times while riding. You must carry an adequate supply of water with you (one or two water bottles is typical).
- If you use tires with tubes, you must have a spare tube that fits your tires. It is recommended that you carry a full fix-flat kit regardless of tire type that may include items such as tire levers, tire plugs, a patch kit, and a portable air pump or CO2 inflator.
- For rides of an hour or longer, we encourage you to bring a light snack with you. There may or may not be opportunities along the route to purchase drinks and snacks.
- You do not have to be a member of the AMC to participate in our trips. (Though we do encourage membership! Join here!)
Introduction to Recreational Riding Series
In April through June of each riding season, we lead a series of bicycling activities specifically for people who are new to recreational outdoor group cycling. Each activity begins with a short training session. The session covers basic on-road rider safety, proper helmet fit, efficient pedaling and gear shifting techniques, and simple bike maintenance skills. After the training, we lead the group on a relatively short ride. Rides are under 15 miles in length and follow scenic rural roads which are mostly flat. The riding pace is relaxed (9-11 mph average), there are regular rest breaks, and the AMC-trained bike trip leaders always keep the group together. All of our group ride policies (see above) apply on intro rides. This ride series is suitable for adults who are comfortable with being continuously active in the outdoors for 90 minutes. After the ride, participants have an opportunity to ask the leaders any questions they might have. The goal for the training is to build rider confidence, ensure riders can maintain their bicycles in good working order, and prepare them for more challenging rides later in the season.Upcoming Activities
Click or tap on the Register links to learn more and/or register for activities.
Spring Warm-up Book Mill
Ride north from Sunderland and enjoy rolling hills as we make our way through Deerfield on our way to the Montague crossing of the Connecticut River before turning back to Sunderland. This 21-mile ride provides quiet rural roads and interesting scenery including a waterfall. We will keep the group together riding at a moderate 12 mph average regrouping/stopping for a snack along the way.Spring Warm-up for Experienced Cyclists: Sunderland to Montague Loop Highlights
Ride north from Sunderland and enjoy rolling hills as we make our way through Deerfield, Turners Falls and Millers Falls with a nice rail trail crossing of the Connecticut River before turning back to Sunderland. This 25-mile ride provides quiet rural roads, interesting scenery, and village centers. We will keep the group together riding at a moderate 11-13 mph average regrouping/stopping for a snack along the way.River Valley Cycling - Sunderland Cream Filling Warmup Ride
Join us for a relaxed 20-mile bike ride on the quiet rural roads that form Sunderland's "cream filling"— the beautifully delicious area sandwiched sweetly between MA Rte 116 to the east and Rte 47 to the west. Riding in the shadow of Mt Sugarloaf to our north, we'll roll past active farmlands and tidy private residences on relatively flat terrain with only ~18 feet of elevation gain per mile. Besides a one-mile stretch of road with an average grade of about 2%, the most significant challenge on this route could be a headwind!Weeknight Easy and Fun Ride through the Amherst Area
Join us for an early evening bike in the Amherst/Hadley/Sunderland Area on Wednesday, May 6! We'll meet at 5:30 PM for a relaxed 1.5-hour bike. We'll take a 15-mile tour through the farmlands of Hadley, Amherst, and Sunderland. We will keep the group together and ride at a moderate 12mph average, regrouping/stopping for hydration along the way.Easy & Fun Thursday Bike Ride
Enjoy a pleasant 18-mile bike ride on flat roads in Sunderland amongst the farms. The most important aspect of this ride is that you enjoy yourself as you ride along with others. After the ride, after getting back to our cars, we plan to take a quick drive over to and enjoy some lunch at Wild Roots. Refer to the registration page for more information.Twenty Seven Miles of Farms and Quiet Roads
Join us for a scenic 27-mile ride in the Pioneer Valley towns of Deerfield, Hatfield, and Whately. The ride starts out on flat terrain for a good warm-up and then has some nice hills for getting those legs warm (total of 600 feet of ascent). We will be riding through semi-rural farmland as we traverse Deerfield, where you will enjoy endless fields, a few cows, and lots of barns. Then it's on to Hatfield and Whately for more of the same. We head back toward South Deerfield where we return to our starting point.AMC 150 Relay Ride from Washington, MA to Noble View Outdoor Center
Join us for a 27-mile mixed surface ride (~70% on road and 30% unpaved dirt/gravel roads, with roughly 2,000' of climbing) through the beautiful Berkshire hills of western MA. While the overall route trends downhill, there are short, intense uphill segments of climbing, so this activity is most suitable for riders comfortable with going uphill. Refer to the registration page for more information.National Trails Day: Berkshires - Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Ride
Celebrate National Trails Day with a beautiful bike ride on the paved Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. A leisurely, 24-mile (up and back ride) through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesboro and Adams, MA. The trail is between the Mt Greylock and Hoosac Mountains. The Cheshire Reservoir and the Hoosic River abut much of the trail offering views of abundant wildlife. There will be a stop where AMC Leadership will greet us at an ice cream stop near the end of the ride!Berkshires - Great Barrington to Connecticut
Back by popular demand, one more Berkshire ride! This challenging 33-mile ride starts in the bustling town of Great Barrington. We will cycle on quiet but hilly roads through Sheffield, Ashley Falls, CT, and S. Egremont with 1,700 feet of total elevation gain. Beautiful views of the Berkshire hills (and some cows). We will sustain an average riding pace of 12-14 mph.Great Barrington to Mill River Bike Ride
If you've never experienced the Berkshires on a bicycle, it's about time you did! This delightful ramble takes place in the southwest corner of the Berkshires, starting in the bustling town of Great Barrington. This ride is 27 miles in length, over rolling terrain with a total elevation gain of 1450 feet. We'll cycle primarily on quiet rural roads with beautiful scenery.Turners Falls - Northfield Bike Ride
This is a moderately challenging ride starting in downtown Turners Falls. The ride is 24 miles in length over rolling terrain. Total elevation gain on the ride will be about 1300 feet. All roads are paved. When we reach Northfield (the northern most point on our route), we'll stop at Mim's Market and the Northfield Creamie for lunch. We'll return via beautiful rural roads before we descend back into Turners Falls. The pace will be relaxed at 12-14 mph average, and we will keep the group together, regrouping at various points along the way.Cycling the Berkshires: Tyringham Valley
Join us for a challenging 33-mile cycling tour on quiet country roads in the southwest corner of the Berkshires. The scenery is spectacular and well worth the sweat. From our starting point in Lee, MA, we'll ride through the breathtakingly beautiful Tyringham valley. When we reach the end of the valley, we'll be glad we're warmed up as we tackle a demanding one-mile climb (7% average grade - steep!) up to the plateau.Activity Schedule
All activities are subject to cancellation due to poor weather conditions. Check activities on outdoors.org for up-to-the-minute additions not yet shown here. Not all activities may be posted yet.
COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHT
MassBike Day of Action
Two bills are making their way through the MA State House: S.2344 and H.3754. These bills will allow cities and towns to install traffic safety cameras to capture violations of red light running, speeding, and blocking the box — if they come with strong safeguards for data protection and equity.Resources
- Bicycling »Contact our committee
- AMC Trip Policy (PDF) »Information for participants
- AMC Activity Rating System »Difficulty levels for biking
- E-Mail Alerts »Follow the instructions under "Subscribing to amc-wm-cyclists" to self-subscribe to our e-mail announcements list
- Sales & Service Partners »Advice, mechanical expertise, and discounts on purchases
- Safe Cycling Tips »Advice and recommendations for recreational outdoor cycling
- MassBike »Making bicycling an integral part of MA communities