If you led rides this past year you are invited to the Oct 19 Pizza Party.  For information on this event and to sign up please click here. Please sign up so we can have an accurate count for planning.

For the picnic we still need a few ride leaders.

Thanks, Manny

I created rides for the Sunday 10/1 Fall Picnic.  Let me know if you want to lead one of the rides. If you want to lead a ride and want to lead an alternate ride I am flexible.  I have times for the rides but in reality rides may leave sooner than scheduled.  I also posted a ride on the Columbia Trail but you have to drive to the trailhead.

Manny

If you are doing rides from Kittatinny over the next week, Creek Road in Green Twp is undergoing milling; paving will be next week.  DPW said we should be able to ride by next Friday, September 8th.  Thanks Lynda for this update.

I have just been alerted that chip sealing could be starting Monday Aug 28 from Old Route 28 in East Whitehouse to the junction with River Rd. West., which is at the bridge at the bottom of the steep little hill near the golf course.  May have to give it a week to settle.  If you do find yourself on fresh chip seal just take it easy.  Recommend ride leaders next week not post rides in this area.

Thanks to Lou Blanco for this info on Summer Rd:

As of today, Summer Rd. From 202 to Higgensville has been chip sealed. Higgensville has also been chip sealed for its entire length. You may want to avoid these roads for several days. The gravel was very loose and the downhills, especially, were difficult.

Also, the bridge is out on Rainbow Hill at Wertsville Rd. It’s possible to walk down the embankment and cross the stream for the adventurous.

Manny

SPECIAL EVENTS-In addition to our normal schedule we have special events listed on our ride schedule.  These include Maine Lighthouse Ride, Seagull Century, JFCS 3rd Annual Wheels for Meals, and the BCP Fall Foliage Ride.  If you are attending any of these special events, please sign up on the ride schedule so that the ride leader knows who is attending but you will need to register directly with the event.  In addition, check out our schedule for additional rides by other organizations.

MILESTONE PARTY-The 15th Milestone Party will be held Wed Oct 4.  There is a link on the MAFW website for more info and to sign up.  Proposed rides for the Milestone Party have been posted.  If you want to lead one of those rides or you want to propose an alternative ride, please contact me.

CANCELLING FROM A RIDE-If you decide to cancel within 2 hours of a ride, please remove yourself from that ride and also contact the ride leader.  The ride leader may have already printed out the signup sheet and probably has already left for the ride.

RIDE LEADER-If you want to give back to MAFW by being a ride leader please contact me.  If interested, I recommend shadowing a ride leader for several rides.

SAFETY-Strongly recommend all riders have a bell and front and back lights.  In addition to the lights you should also be wearing bright clothes to increase your visibility.

Thanks, Manny

To all, I just got this notice from Craig Levin that Meadow Rd will be closed until next year.  We use Meadow on many of our rides but there is an easy detour.  Just follow detour signs. Manny BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Meadow Road from Bridgewater to Bedminster will be closed to through traffic for the next six months, announced Bridgewater Police on Thursday. The roadway will be closed from Goldfinch Drive north to Country Club Road in Bedminster starting Aug. 1 through Jan. 26, 2024. This road closure is required for Somerset County’s bridge replacement project on Meadow Road over the Chambers Brook. The affected section of Meadow Road will be detoured via Goldfinch Lane to Ardsley Lane to Country Club Road.

To MAFW riders:  BTCNJ has a joint tour with People Cycling from Seattle-Vancouver-Victoria-Seattle from September 2-14. The tour was full, but there have been a few late cancellations, so we are reaching out and opening the tour to local cycling clubs. It’s being led by experienced multi-day, point to point leaders. Details about the tour can be found on our website here: https://btcnj.com/pages/storyShow.php?story=370&tour. For insurance reasons, participants would need to become members of BTCNJ ($25 annual fee). If you have questions, you can reach me at dbgoldstein37f@gmail.com or 917-929-6587. The BTCNJ tour leader is Rich Brookler. rbrookler@yahoo.com. Thanks so much for your attention to this matter.

David Goldstein, BTCNJ President

It has come to my attention that you can use Limecrest at Kittatinny on weekdays.  On weekends you have to use Goodall.

Manny

CHIP SEALING:

Just want to share with you roads that will undergo chip sealing this summer.  No exact dates set.

• CR641 Burnt Mills Road in Bedminster/Branchburg from CR640 Burnt Mills Road to Easton Turnpike
• CR567 Old York Road in Branchburg from Route 202 to North Branch Bridge
• CR567 South Branch Road in Branchburg from Old York Road to Chubb Way
• CR621 Elizabeth Ave in Franklin from Amwell Road to 300’ North of New Brunswick Road
• CR613 North Finley Ave in Bernardsville/Bernards from Route 202 to West Oak Street
• CR613 South Finley Ave in Bernards from West Oak Street to Cross Road

LAKE ROAD

Far Hills Train Station is a popular start point and ~22 of 29 rides use Lake Rd along Ravine Lake.  I rode Lake Rd yesterday and it is a rough road but very scenic.  If you want to use Lake Rd be sure to tell your riders that it is a rough road.  Recommend taking it slow and single file.  You can detour around Lake using Peapak Rd but I leave it up to you.  Comments???

PARKING

For Far Hills Train Station during the week you can use the far parking lot after 9am.  I don’t think there are any restrictions on the weekends. From Memorial Day to Labor Day you need to use Goodale startpoint instead of  Limecrest.

Thanks, Manny