A bumper sticker

As Connie Canty recalls it, about thirty years ago members of the Sandisfield Historical Society were talking about how to raise awareness about the town. Several admitted to having the same experience of people saying, "Sandisfield? Where the hell is that?" Someone suggested, "Why don't we use this to our advantage?" They decided to create a bumper sticker with that very sentiment as a fund raiser. "Where the H... Is Sandisfield?" soon appeared on cars around town. It was classic reverse psychology and it worked. For about ten years wherever those cars roamed, curious people saw the message, asked the question and learned a thing or two about our unique town. Brilliant!

Decades later awareness of Sandisfield outside of the Berkshires remains low. The advent of social media and this newspaper has made a dent, but lack of industry and commercial establishments are formidable barriers.

The Gravel Grinders. Organizer Han Kwan, right. (Photo: Ron Bernard)

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Beech Plain resident, Jack Denerlain recently joined the group and was part of that event. He told the Times, "I became aware of Berkshire Velo in 2019 when bikers passed by my place on North Beech Plain Road. Just before this ride I saw a temporary sign alerting residents and drivers that bikers were coming. I managed to sign up in time for the 'short' 46-mile ride.

"Because of the terrain most of the riding time is uphill. It took me five hours to cover the course. Experienced riders, which is most of the group, can do it in less than four hours. I am an avid rider in decent shape, but this was one of the toughest I have done.

"Beech Plain Road runs about six miles from Otis Wood Lands to the Silverbrook Cafe. It is an amazing stretch of uninterrupted dirt road with manageable climbs and descents."

But wait! There is an unexploited asset. It is our town's natural features and the lay of the land.

In recent years outdoors enthusiasts have discovered Sandisfield. Hanging Mountain is drawing rock climbers from a wide area. Hikers are coming for a soon to be connected six trail system with thirteen miles. Venues like this benefit from word of mouth and social media.

And now our roads, both the newly paved and, believe it or not, the unimproved, attract cycling and car clubs.

I sense a trend.

For example, on one Sunday last month about fifty colorful, powerful, and impractical cars (think Ferrari and Lamborghini) roared through town, albeit at posted speed limits. It was a spectacle, worthy of a fee I thought. Let's have more of these! The club had previously informed the Town that they would be coming which is a good sign.

"A Gravel Grinder"

Small groups and individual cyclists have been common here for years but on Saturday, October 5, I encountered something different, even astonishing - a large group of cyclists on public dirt roads.

I stopped at a rally point on South Beech Plain Road to chat with Han Kawi of Pittsfield-based Berkshire Velo. Formed just before the pandemic, the club already has six hundred members from the region. Its mission is to promote group riding in the Berkshires and, "to better the community and ourselves through the sport of cycling."

Event organizer Kawi said, "We hold monthly 'Bike-and-Brew' rides from local breweries, and we host numerous cycling events like the 'Fall Foliage Gravel Grinder.'"

And that is what I saw taking place. About seventy-five mostly experienced riders signed up for one of two dirt road rides of 46 or 66 miles. The event started in Tyringham and meandered through Otis and Sandisfield.

Heading down Beech Plain. (Photo: Jack Dennerlein)

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I asked how Sandisfield was selected and about the experience. "We scouted the area and conditions appeared to be just right," he said. Will you be back? "Definitely." For information, contact berkshirevelo@gmail.com.

"From small seeds, grow mighty trees." This saying may be an apt metaphor for Sandisfield's prospects as a nature and outdoors destination which could lead to bigger things.

Time for a new bumper sticker?