2nd Annual LGBTQ+ Pride Bike Ride on Ashuwillticook Rail Trail (Adams, MA)

Join us as we dust off the cobwebs on our bikes, fill up the tires, lube our chains, and get our bikes ready for an easy eco-ride on the Ahuwillticook Rail Trail with queer folks from all over the region. We will have a couple bike mechanics standing by to help you with easy repairs & lubrication before the ride. If we can't get your ready ready for the ride or you don't have a bike, we can rent either a bike or e-bike for you.

This is an easy ride on a paved trail that runs through wetlands, forest, and by two spectacular lakes and best of all we will not be bothered with car traffic on the rail trail, except for a couple of well-marked intersections where the trail crosses Route 7. We will stop for lunch at Whitney's Farm Store in Cheshire, which has great sandwiches, including gluten free bread, and eat our lunch next to a reservoir, where Alison Dixon, a Berkshire Regional Planning Commision Naturalist will talk teach us about how climate change is affecting these eco-systems.

TUNE UP OR RENT A BIKE: If your bike is in bad shape, we highly recommend you get it tuned up well before the Pride Ride by calling

• Berkshire Outfitters in Adams (413) 743-5900,
• The Arcadian Shop in Lenox, (413) 637-3010
• True Wheels in Sheffield (413) 248-6177
  And If you don't have a bike, Q-MoB can rent you a regular bike or e-bike if you let us know that you'll need a bike when you register

WHAT TO BRING

• $10-$20 Donation paid online, as cash, or check made out to BSCC (Q-MoB's 501(c)3 Fiscal Sponsor)
• whatever equipment your bike may need to ride safely, & you could buy some of these items at Berkshier Outfitters (e.g., air pump, spare bike tube, bike tube changing tool, lube for your chain, windex or other cleaner for your bike, rag, basic bike tools
• rain-gear (rain coat & rain pants, ideally high visibility color with reflective strips)
• appropriate footwear,
• high visibility vest, jacket and helmet (we strongly recommend you wear a helmet)
• flashing bike lights on the front & back of your bike (red in the back & white in front)
• snacks & water,
• waterproof gloves & balaklava, depending on the weather forecast
• Glasses, Sunglasses, or Goggles to protect your eyes from dust, debris, & sunlight
  
  WEATHER & & COMMUNICATION: Please check the weather the morning before the ride so you can make sure you have the right clothing & equipment if conditions change, which they often do in June in the Berkshires. We will only cancel the ride if there is more than 60% chance of thunderstorms or heavy rain predicted the morning of the ride, and we will text you in the unlikely event we have to cancel or reschedule because of a weather emergency. Please provide us with your cell phone number and an emergency contact when you register.

CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARE: Because parking is very limited at Berkshire Outfitters, we strongly encourage biking there or carpooling and arriving early if your bike needs a little help from our volunteer bike mechanics. Carpooling is a great way to get to know other people, save money on gas, and help to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet. If you need a ride or are open to carpooling, please indicate that when you are registering, & our ride coordinator will try to match you with people nearby who are interested in carpooling or offering rides.

DONATE OR BECOME A MONTHLY SUSTAINING MEMBER: Please donate $10-$20 to help assure Q-MoB can continue to offer more than 20 activities & multiple resources & services to rural queer men all over the region. If you attend 2 or more Q-MoB events/month, please consider becoming a monthly sustaining donor member. By donating $25, $50, $75, or $100/month you can help to sustain the incredible variety of activities, services, and resources Q-MoB provides and assure all of these activities are accessible to men regardless of their age, income, or ability, and best of all you can avoid having to donate at each and every event you attend. Monthly Sustaining Members pay only once a month and then can attend all our activities with no further donation.

REACHING US DAY OF RIDE: If you have trouble finding us, will be late, or can't make it, please call/text Bart at 503-734-6508.