I created some Women on Wheels rides for June 6 and they are listed as proposed rides. They are all Tour 802 but for the D ride you can shorten the ride and eliminate most of the climb by using my suggestions in the comments section. Construction on Sawmill should not interfere.
Month: May 2026
BOB’S VERMONT ADVENTURE
Bob Warren has once again put together a great multiday ride in Vermont. See details below and his Vermont Adventure is also posted on the MAFW ride schedule. The Ramapo Ski Lodge has a large kitchen and gathering area. This trip may also include a visit to South Hero Island from Burlington via bike trail and bike ferry.
Sign-Up for Vermont Biking 3-Day Weekend – August 21-24
This is a 3-day biking weekend in the flat section of North-Central Vermont. We will stay at the Ramapo Ski Lodge (ramaposkiclub.org) next to the Mad River Ski Area which is on the eastern side of the Appalachian gap off Route 17 in Vermont. The plan is to ride Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning, returning home Monday afternoon (to avoid the New York Thruway Sunday night traffic). Though the lodge can accommodate 40 people, the weekend is limited to 20 people maximum to avoid lodge congestion. So, please sign up early so I can monitor this limit. Car pooling is encouraged. The rides are rated as D+/C and include stopping at waterfalls, Vergennes day festival, Lake Champlain museum, Morgan Horse farm, Breweries/Wineries, Ice Creameries, etc. along the routes. On hot days, local swim areas will be visited after the rides. Also, the stay is quite inexpensive as the lodge is just $35 per night per person ($105 for 3 days or $70 for 2 day option). Meals can be prepared at the ski lodge and the nearby Mad River Base Lodge offers dinners. Participants must send a check to me made out to me at my address below and I will send a combined group check to the ski club treasurer for the group reservation. Note that I must receive all checks by August 17 as the ski club requires payment in advance from a member.
Bob Warren
15 Kenquit Road
Warren, NJ 07059
626-0130 (Land Line)
357-7183 (Cell)
FAR HILLS PARKING AND HEAT
FAR HILLS PARKING The directions below is information related to Far Hills Parking from our Start Point List. Be sure to park in the back of the lot. You can arrive after 9am with rides leaving at 9:30am. If you park before 9am, even for 5 minutes, you may be liable for a fine. If anyone as more information, please let me know. The 9am only applies to weekdays, free parking on the weekends.
Directions:
Meet at the Far Hills RR Station on Rt. 202.
Free parking on weekends but on weekdays free parking only after 9:00am. DO NOT SCHEDULE RIDES BEFORE 9:30AM. Parking at Fairgrounds limited to maybe 8 cars. Parking on street limited to 4 hours.
Restrooms: Indoor restrooms available at Butler’s Pantry in station, but closed on Sundays. Porta-john available at Far Hills Fairgrounds (South on Rt 202 then R on Peapack Rd at light, Fairgrounds on L). Note that club members have received tickets for public urination at this location.
SUMMER HEAT For these hot days be sure your riders have at least 2 water bottles and are drinking!!! Take breaks in the shade. For heat-related conditions, move rider to shade, drink cool fluids, loosen clothing and apply cool, wet cloths. If symptoms continue call 911.
Club Matters
Greetings, friends.
Over the next few days I’ll be sending a couple of emails of interest to club members.
Today’s email is about recent happenings with the NJ e-bike legislation, scheduled to take effect in July. The NJ Bike and Walk Coalition is holding a Ride and Rally this Thursday, May 21 to advocate for revisions to the current legislation, I plan to ride my class 3/motorized bicycle at this event and urge others to join, Details can be found at https://njbwc.org/. There is also an “E-bike Resource Center” on that website. While not claiming to be an expert on this issue, I’ve read the legislation and have contacted my local representatives. Personally, I don’t understand why the advocacy effort focuses only on removing registration and liability insurance requirements for low speed electric bicycles (formerly class 1) and excludes motorized bicycles (class 3). The law makes no distinction between ICE and electric motor vehicles whose top speed can be as high as 160 mph and those whose top speed is 120 mph. Further, I don’t see the need to wear a motorcycle helmet when I ride my class 3 bike. On a completely different note, Senator Scutari who made significant contributions to this bill was a big advocate for legalizing marijuana in NJ saying at the time that enforcing possession of small amounts of marijuana was a waste of valuable law enforcement resources,
I urge everyone to call your elected NJ representatives. Do not write or email as these are ignored. A few suggested talking points:
The real safety concerns apply to e-motos, throttle operated vehicles that can achieve speeds of up to 50 mph, and are frequently driven recklessly by adolescents who have no knowledge of, or choose to disregard, the rules of the road.
Just as a car that can reach speeds in excess of 100 mph is rarely, if ever, driven at such a high speed, a class 3 pedal assisted e-bike that can reach a top speed of 28 mph is rarely, if ever, driven at that speed.
The law does not differentiate between ICE and electric motor vehicles whose top speed can be as high as 160 mph and those whose top speed is 120 mph.
Some people have challenges that prevent them from obtaining an automobile license and rely on pedal-assisted e-bikes without a throttle for transportation.
Lower income individuals whose only form of transportation is an e-bike may not be able to afford registration and liability insurance.
The following are notes about e-bike regulations I presented at the kick-meeting:
Excerpts from E Bike Requirements Update: S4834/A6235 affecting MAFW members
- Eliminates prior e bike classification system, I.e. class 1, 2, 3
- Low speed electric bicycle: “2 wheeled vehicle, with fully operated pedals, that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour”; provides assistance when the rider is pedaling and has a maximum speed between 21 miles per hour and 28 miles 3 per hour on a flat surface ; “Motorized bicycle” means a pedal bicycle that is equipped with a helper motor characterized in that either the maximum piston displacement is less than 50 cubic centimeters or the helper motor is rated at no more than 1.5 brake horsepower; or (2) an electric motor that can provide assistance when the rider is pedaling or that, through the use of a throttle, can be used to exclusively propel the bicycle to a speed of not more than 15 miles per hour; (3) a helper motor that is powered by an electric drive motor that provides assistance when the rider is pedaling and has a maximum speed of 21 miles per hour and 28 miles per hour on a flat surface; or (4) or an electric motor that is capable of propelling the bicycle in excess of 15 miles per hour through the use of a throttle with a maximum motor-powered speed of no more than 28 miles per hour on a flat surface.
- Regulations apply to all e bikes regardless of maximum speed capability
- Effective date is 7/1/2026
- Must be at least 15 years of age to operate an e bike
- Must hold an acceptable driver’s license
- Registration and liability insurance required
- Required documentation for registration to be determined: bill of sale, some form of affidavit
- Small number of insurers currently offering e-bike liability insurance-do a Google search
- No municipality shall limit or otherwise restrict the operation of motorized bicycles on any public roads or highways under its jurisdiction in contravention of the provisions of this act or any regulations adopted by the director pursuant thereto.
- Must carry license, registration, and proof of insurance when riding an e-bike
The club as an organization has not been an active player but I have called my reps as an e-bike owner and as President of the club.
Recommend to call your state representatives and express your thoughts on the legislation. Calls must be logged, not emails, letters.
Lots of advocacy by a variety of organizations
Looking to see all of you during the peak riding season either on rides or at club functions.
Be safe; have fun.
Best regards,
Michael
May Party Ride and post ride pizza at Readington Brewery.
Hello All:
Have you looked at the weather forecast for Saturday? Sunny and warm with temperatures in the upper 70s. We will have 3 rides starting from White Oak Park in Branchburg. Currently we have a D plus, C and C plus rides posted. If a D ride leader volunteers, we can have a D ride as well. White Oak Park has indoor bathrooms if members want to change out of their biking attire afterwards.
After our rides are completed, we will drive 3 miles down Route 202 South to the Readington Brewery, 937 Us Route 202 South, Neshanic Station, NJ. There will be plenty of parking behind the brewery. We will be serving delicious pizza courtesy of the club. We are planning for the pizza to be delivered to the brewery at 12:30 p.m.
All beverages consumed , alcoholic and non alcoholic, on the Readington Brewery premises must be purchased by the member. So we get an accurate head count for our pizza order, please sign up for the posted rides by Thursday night. Any other questions, please let me know. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Jeff
May Party Ride—May 16, 2026 and then Readington Brewery
All:
As I had mentioned at the kickoff meeting, we are pleased to announce our May party ride will start from White Oak Park next Saturday, May 16, 2026 . At the conclusion of our rides, we will have a short drive of 3 miles to the Readington Brewery, 937 US Highway Route 202 South, Neshanic Station, NJ 08853. They will have ample parking behind the brewery. As was the case last year at Diamond Springs Brewery in Denville, the club will provide an array of delicious pizza at Readington Brewery for our post ride meal.
Members will be responsible for purchasing their own beverages, both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages while on the Readington Brewery premises. We have rides posted already for C and D plus rides, so please sign up as soon as you can so we can get an accurate count. We are still in need of a ride leader for the C plus ( 34 miles) and the D ride (21 miles), and they will subsequently be posted as well. Come out and join us for a fun morning ride and post ride cheer. Any other questions , please let me know.
Jeff
MAY PARTY RIDE 5/16/26 —READINGTON BREWERY.
All:
As we discussed at the kickoff meeting, we are pleased to announce the May party ride for next Saturday, 5/16/26. . This month our rides will commence from White Oak Park in Branchburg. After the completion of the rides, we will drive 3 miles to Readington Brewery where we will be serving pizza at appoximately 12:30 p.m. Beverages consumed will be the responsibility of the member. All beverages consumed must be purchased from Readington Brewery while on their premises. We are looking for 2 more ride leaders, for the C plus#1297 and D rides #1298. Those rides are listed as proposed on the schedule for next week. Arnie and I are leading the D plus and C rides respectively. Come out and join us on this fun Saturday next week. Any questions , please let me know. Thanks again.
Jeff
MAFW May 2026 Newsletter Available
Hi Freewheelers,
Watch the website to see information on upcoming events, communication from our club president and ride coordinator, and ride guidelines.
Our Social Coordinator, John Storey, is always in need of your help for a number of our activities. Please email if you are interested: social_coordinator@mafw.org
MAFW has 2 main guidelines or mottos that riders and ride leaders should follow:
- Nobody rides alone including the ride leader
- Ride leader sweeps for all rides except B and faster
Just a reminder that the May 2026 edition of our NL is online. To read: click Newsletter
What’s in this issue:
- Lynn Khesghi leads a ride a from Bed 1 on a mild April spring day
- In Memory of Lili Brohal
- Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
- Proposed By-Law Changes April 9, 2026
- Connect with the MAF Bike Club on Social Media! – Tracy Brown
- 2026 MAFW Calendar
- Welcome new members
- Click Torque Wrench Tips: Dos and Don’ts – Tony Marchand
- Lake George Getaway 2026 – Glen Hukins
- Photo Gallery
- Nostalgia
- Inspiration
- Bicycle Adventures 2026
- Cycling Guides – Mark Jay
- People Cycling
- Safety – Paul Malinowski
- Club Sponsors
- Club Officers
Enjoying your E-bike, trike, gravel bike? Let’s hear about your experience.
Folks, many of you have taken some interesting trips this year or in the past. So why not share your stories & photos with fellow club members?
We welcome any articles that you feel would be of interest. WHEN YOU HAVE A SPARE MOMENT, PLEASE SEND ME A STORY AND PICTURES OF YOUR BICYCLING ADVENTURES. Submit any information by the 24th of the preceding month at the following email address: newsletter@mafw.org
If you have any issues with your login credentials, please contact Membership Coordinator Lisa Gentile at the following email address: membership@mafw.org
Good Reading. Thanks,
Patricia Kipp
Editor
