Northeast - Mount Greylock Auto Rd

The auto road going up Greylock is going to be closed for repairs for the 2007 and 2008 seasons?

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/pr11-1-2006.htm

I did it once in 2004 and I was hoping to make it back this year but never did. Now it will have to wait two years.

Hallelujah !!

The auto road up Mt Greylock is downright dangerous and LONG overdue for repairs.

I cycled it again this summer and the holes in the road could swallow an entire bicycle. The scariest thing is descending with the slimy moss growing out of the cracks and crumbled pavement and forget about the switchbacks on the way down > not a good combination.

Some century rides, such as the MS Society, finally got to the point where they mandate the cyclists to be sagged down the mountain because the descent is so dangerous.

Too bad all of the roads (rather than one side at a time) will be closed, but I am certain that it will be well worth the wait.

Thanks for the link! I am so happy that they are fixing that road!

Will this affect the Mt. Greylock century next year ???

http://www.berkshirecycling.org/rides/greylock.php

It had been on my list.....

It sounds like once the work starts, all of the mountain roads are going to be closed :( . If that is the case, the Mt Greylock Century looks pretty much toast next year. The website says that the trails will be open to hikers and mountain bikes, but it doesn't sound like they are going to allow pedestrians on the roadway.

I am certain that the Berkshires Cycling Association will devise a new plan and just add the approximate 20miles to the route somewhere else. It is dissapointing to not do Greylock, after all, it is the Mt Greylock century - but Mt Greylock always feels like the easiest climb of the day (10 miles up, but very doable). It certainly would not be a total loss just to cycle the rest of the route. It is a kicker.

That road is dicey! Descending into clouds and fog with your tires on a thin film of moss and big-ass potholes everywhere was downright crazy. I missed the Greylock century this year and was hoping to do it next year. Maybe they can come up with a suitable alternative.

...Maybe they can come up with a suitable alternative.

We need a transition area at the base of the mountain where we can switch to our mountain bikes. Wouldn't that be cool...? (well, for those of us who also enjoy mountain biking anyways).

The wait will be well worth it. Have you been up Mt Wachusett before and after the roads were repaired? It is really sweet now.

We need a transition area at the base of the mountain where we can switch to our mountain bikes. Wouldn't that be cool...? (well, for those of us who also enjoy mountain biking anyways).

The wait will be well worth it. Have you been up Mt Wachusett before and after the roads were repaired? It is really sweet now.

I've been up before, but not after.

The mountain biking would be awesome! That's a great idea, but I don't think they would be able to pull that off. I'm about 50/50 road/mountain, so I like getting dirty, too. :)

Does the Greylock century share any of the same roads as the Climb to the Clouds ?

http://www.crw.org/CTTC/climb2clouds.htm

This was another one I was looking at for 2007....

Any of you folks do that one before ?
Mirona, how's the shoulder doing ?

Does the Greylock century share any of the same roads as the Climb to the Clouds ?

http://www.crw.org/CTTC/climb2clouds.htm

This was another one I was looking at for 2007....

Any of you folks do that one before ?
Mirona, how's the shoulder doing ?


No - Mt Greylock and Climb to the Clouds are nowhere near each other. Climb to the clouds is okay, but not nearly as scenic as cycling in the Berkshires.

Does the Greylock century share any of the same roads as the Climb to the Clouds ?

http://www.crw.org/CTTC/climb2clouds.htm

This was another one I was looking at for 2007....

Any of you folks do that one before ?
Mirona, how's the shoulder doing ?

CTTC is way east. And, as spindog said, not nearly as scenic.

The shoulder is doing pretty good. I actually crashed really hard on Friday while mountain biking. Wrapped my arm around my head :o Thankfully, I didn't destroy anything in my shoulder but it sure is sore.

CTTC is way east. And, as spindog said, not nearly as scenic.

The shoulder is doing pretty good. I actually crashed really hard on Friday while mountain biking. Wrapped my arm around my head :o Thankfully, I didn't destroy anything in my shoulder but it sure is sore.

Glad to hear you're not seriously hurt....
Yeah I could never get past crashing part to really enjoy mountain biking.....
I'm 43 and I already have a few non-biking related injuries I have to train around.
I have no desire to add to them.

Sounds like CTTC isn't that great ??

Joe,

I will give you my personal opinion of CTTC, which may be different from Mirona's ....

There are two memorable climbs on this ride. One comes after about an hour or so and is in more of a residential area. It is pretty steep and after an hour of riding flat and thinking "this ride is not what they advertised (lots of climbing)", suddenly this hill pops out of nowhere and will certainly get the blood flowing and the heart pumping.

The second memorable climb is Mt Wachusett itself. There is a good steep and steady portion (only about a mile or mile and a half, I am guessing) to the visitors center and then the access road up the mountain and then back down the other side to the same vistior center. The access road goes up, gets flat, goes up, levels and goes down, etc etc > in other words, it is not steady and very doable. They have repaved the terrible roadways and it is very pleasant now.

The rest of the ride is not "bad" nor is it something to write home about. I have done it so many times that perhaps I am completely bored with it. It is a good ride and I recommend doing it at least once. I also have cycled the century route a couple of times with a friend without support and all you need it a cue sheet and some $$ for snacks and beverage and can pick a nice day and go. The pavement is usually marked pretty well (a lot of rides go through this area so I reccommend a cue sheet).

The Kings Tour of Mt Quabbin is much better IMO. The 125 mile is way better than the 100 mile, though. It is worth going the extra 25 miles and everyone who has done it will tell you the same. This ride is one of my favorites in MA and there is plenty of climbing.

The Seven Hills Wheelmen sponsor the Quabbin ride in June. It is sag supported with rest stops and costs $10
http://www.sevenhillswheelmen.org/centuries.htm

Rode up Greylock this year from the Pedrosfest mtb festival, even borrowed a shinny new system6. On the way down I got into a 2 wheel slide a few switchbacks from the bottom. Rode it right to the edge of the road, somehow managed to stay upright. The Iron Horse rep was behind me and let out the most girlish yelp I've ever heard.:p

I've rode the MS "Greylock Challenge" a few times. My favorite hairy moment is the corrugated drainage tube protruding out across the road on the descent. I don't bunny hop well at 40 mph.

I called the Greylock reservation today and whomever answered the phone said that the road would be opening (officially) on May 20-21st.

Does anyone know if the Greylock Century will be held this year? The website http://www.berkshirecycling.org/ has a link for the ride that says it won't be held in 2007 and 2008 but it hasn't been updated.

I called the Greylock reservation today and whomever answered the phone said that the road would be opening (officially) on May 20-21st.


Oh, I hope that is so! Can't wait to ride the new road. I won't miss the old bumpy one.

Now if it opens "officially" on May 20th I wonder if it's rideable for bikes before that? I'm sure there's still snow up there right now, though.

Do you know if you're allowed to ride it on a bike whenever there isn't tons of snow? I know Mt. Washington can only be ridden 2 days a year by bike.

Do you know if you're allowed to ride it on a bike whenever there isn't tons of snow? I know Mt. Washington can only be ridden 2 days a year by bike.


There are fewer restrictions on the Greylock road because it is a state owned road. The Mount Washington road is a private road with many more restrictions esp on bikes.

Looks like the century is on for July 11,2009!!

http://www.berkshirecycling.org/rides/greylock.php