Berkshire Cycling: Cummington Loop 2

22 miles      Paved Roads

Parking: Rt. 9 and Fairgrounds Rd., Cummington

Towns: Cummington, Plainfield, Hawley

Ahh, another 55 degree, sunny day in New England in November, usually a month of grey low skies, damp winds and chilly temperatures.  My friend Ellen and I rode north from the parking lot on Rt. 9. Last summer, Abby, Susan and I rode south from the same location. (See Cummington Loop 1) Put together, they would make a lovely, longer, figure-8 ride.

We crossed Rt. 9 and headed north to Plainfield, using Main Street to Plainfield Road, continuing past Gloyd Rd. (Just what is it that makes Gloyd such a funny-sounding word? As in, she gave him a real gloyd when he got back with lattes instead of espressos.  Or, that was a real gloyd of a move on that descent, what were you thinking? Is it a noun or perhaps a verb ..... Look out, that rough road will gloyd you!)

Plainfield Road turned into South Central Road, and after crossing Rt. 116 it became North Central Road. This is a fine ride, offering some easy  climbing on quiet, mostly well paved roads. Except when riding on Rt. 116 itself there were almost no cars, and the landscape often provided beautiful wide open views.Even 116 is not usually heavily trafficked.


The road curved around, becoming North Street as it went into Hawley. Soon we turned right onto Watson, with traces of snow left on the sides of the road. After a lovely descent, with great views, the road takes a sharp right turn where Bug Bear Swamp Road goes straight, and took us back to 116. Bug Bear Swamp Road: now that is a road requiring a ride, just to experience its name. We were looking for a turn onto Gloyd, but it is signed as Pleasant so we missed it. In a short bit we didn't turn onto Jones Avenue, which would also have connected. Who knew there would be an Avenue in Plainfield, more of a village than a town, much less a city. And I had a map. No harm was done, so having missed the turn we continued on 116 to South Central, turned left and retraced our steps.

We've remarked on these beautiful horses before, black with small white markings. Today they were joined by a handful of chickens.

Pay attention if you ride it, some of the roads my map shows as dirt have been paved. There are several roads you can use to return to your car, but watch for them to turn south off Rt. 116.



Roads: Cross Rt. 9 north and follow Main Street to Plainfield Rd. Turn right onto Plainfield Road, crossing the bridge over the river. Plainfield Rd. becomes S. Central to 116. Cross 116 straight, where it becomes North Central. Right onto North Union, right onto North Street, right onto Watson, right onto Watson Spruce Corner to Rt. 116. Right onto 116, then left onto South Central. Click here for the route on Map My Ride, with map, cue sheet and climbing details.

Berkshire Cycling: Cummington Loop 1

21 miles     Paved, short section dirt

Parking: Intersection Rt. 9 & Fairgrounds Rd

Towns: Cummington, Chesterfield, Worthington

Classic red hilltown Berkshire barn doors

Riding today with friends Abby and Susan, we headed south on Fairgrounds Road, to get a short warmup in before turning back north. But we all enjoyed the road so we continued south. It proved to be a beautiful ride on quiet roads that could easily be part of a longer ride. I usually include photos of the landscape, but for a change will use some images of architectural details.

After passing the Cummington Fairgrounds, home on Memorial Day weekend to a high-quality sheep and wool fair, the road offers a 4-mile descent to Chesterfield at Rt. 143. I pass this way regularly by car, and promise that from this intersection all routes lead uphill, more or less steeply. But before the climb, we stopped for a quick look at Chesterfield Gorge, a Trustees of Reservations Property where I rode last fall, described here.

Purple house door, pink garage door

We missed the shortcut we intended to take and soon enough arrived in South Worthington, where we turned north on a section of Rt. 112 new to me. 112 was not too busy and had a good shoulder. Turns out that the Sevenars Concert series, a highly regarded classical music venue, is located here.

Heading back north there was a long but easy climb to Worthington Corners, where a general store provided water to refill our bottles. We rode east a bit on Rt. 143, then north and back to Cummington. If you ride this, the route on the Porter Hill Rd. section (at least on our map) were unclear. Bear right at the unmarked intersection where the road turns to dirt. Continue straight when Carter Rd. intersects from the right.

I don't really know when downhill riding becomes  "technical downhill riding," but zooming down one hill I realized I could see nothing around the curve and hit the brakes with some enthusiasm. Good thing, or I surely would have been crashed off the road.

And the door on a sprawling yellow house & barn

Roads: Fairgrounds Rd./ Ireland St. / Rt. 112 north / RT. 143 east / Old Cummington Rd. / Rt.112 north / Porter Hill Rd. / Fairgrounds Rd. north. Click here for this route on Map My Ride, with cue sheet, map and climbing details.


Berkshire Rides List