All

The weather is finally warming up and be on the lookout for some additional details in what we have in store for 2024.  The Board and the various members helping in this 2024 campaign are excited and you will be as well.  I promise.

In the meantime, I wanted to bring a couple of upcoming events (including ours) to your attention.

1. The 15th annual Revolutionary Ramble is scheduled for June 8th and will be run from Raritan Valley Community College this year instead of Drew University due to scheduling conflicts.  The Revolutionary Ramble includes scenic rides through rolling terrain in the seat of the American Revolution, you can challenge yourself to one of five routes from 25 to 100 miles with the peace of mind provided by fully supported bike event — well stocked rest stops, and a fabulous post ride lunch.   We will be utilizing food trucks this year and you will all love it.  Several members of the club have stepped up and are playing key roles in the ride this year and its highly appreciated.   If you are not going to ride – please volunteer as we can use your help.   In addition, we are looking for sponsors.  If you are interested in volunteering or have some sponsorship ideas or contacts, please let us know and I will get you to the proper individual to take the next step.
2. From one of our club partners in NY comes the annual TD The 5 Boro Bike Tour on May 7th.  The organization reached out and asked the bike club to promote the tour as the NY Bike Club participates in our ride as well.  The tour provides a unique experience by allowing you to ride 40 miles car-free in one of the greatest cities in the world.  The tour, which is one of the most popular rides in America gets about 3oK participants annually and takes you on a unique journey through the 5 Boro’s as you take in some of the Citi’s most famous sites and breathtaking views. In addition, any rider who registers for Bike NY will get a chance to win a free ride in Twin Lights. Here is a link to the 5 Boro Bike Tour if you are interested in signing up: https://api.community.getplaiced.com/c/6afff77f45  I have participated in the past and had a great time.
3. Lewisburg Spring Bike Weekend in Lewisburg, PA, May 17-19, 2024.  Although I have not done this ride myself – several members from the club have participated in the past and have only had great things to say about the event.   This is an all-inclusive, 3-day/2-night (Friday-Sunday) weekend package of hotel stay, group rides with Leaders, ridewithgps.com links and cue sheets, meals, snacks, parties, etc.  They will have group rides for a wide variety of speeds and distances.  In addition, the bike routes are tandem-friendly, and they will have tandem teams joining as well. See link below for more details.  A little different then a one-day event but an excellent experience. Link to the Lewisburg Spring Bike Weekend: https://landingpages5.wixsite.com/lewisburg-bike-wknd

Regards

Joseph Reo
President

ACTION ALERT: Protect Access to E-bikes in NJ Dear Jim, Right now, the New Jersey Legislature is considering a bill (S2292) that will require everyone who owns an electric bicycle (e-bike) to obtain registration and insurance. This bill would limit access to e-bikes across the state by creating barriers to ride. Your voice matters! Help protect access to e-bikes. To view the pre-written letter addressed to your elected official visit the action alert page here. You can review before it is sent and feel free to add any personal comments in the letter that explain why this legislation would negatively affect your access to riding an e-bike. Use the link below to send a letter to your representative! SEND YOUR LETTER Help us spread the word! Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to join the movement by sharing this email and the link to the digital letter on your social media channels. The more voices we gather, the stronger our message becomes. Stay informed! To stay updated on the progress of Senate Bill S2292 and similar initiatives, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and visit our website NJBWC.org regularly. Knowledge is power, and by staying informed, you empower yourself to be a catalyst for positive change. Visit NJBWC Official Website

All

We lost another longtime member on Jan. 28.  Charlie Kinsley, age 89.   Let’s kindly remember one of the Morris Area Free Wheelers OGs.

Some insights from one of his riding partners – Lili.   Charlie joined the club in 1983 and immediately became one of the small group of riders who never missed a weekend ride. In those days, there was only one, alternating Saturdays and Sundays and alternating long and short. We went to work during the week and hoped fervently for good weather on the weekends. Once we met at the start at a coffee shop in Hackettstown and waited two hours for the rain to stop. It didn’t. When we did ride, Charlie was usually at the rear welcoming and encouraging new slower riders. He could have gone faster, but he enjoyed conversation and seeing the sights. We stopped to watch the goats play king of the hill and to admire the woolly lambs up in Warren County. Charlie would often do over a hundred miles on ride days, because he rode from his house to the ride start and then back home again after. Home to a typical start was 25 miles each way. He volunteered for years at the Multiple Sclerosis fundraising rides, coming in late on both weekend days, shepherding the riders at the end. He was a long-time treasurer of the club, retiring only when the club began doing its business on the internet. When he and I both stopped going even on slow rides, we still sometimes joined the bikers at lunch or after the ride, and last year he was still riding around his Parsippany Lake neighborhood.

There will be a celebration of life service on February 17, 2024, at 11:00am at the Parsippany United Methodist Church, 903 South Beverwyck Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Arrangements are under the direction of the Par-Troy Funeral Home.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Charles’s memory can be made to the United Methodist Church of Parsippany. 903 S Beverwyck Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054 (https://parsippanyumc.org/) or Parsippany Animal Control and Shelter. 1069 Parsippany Blvd., Parsippany, NJ07054 https://www.parsippany.net/Departments/animal-control-shelter

Obituary information for Charles W Kinsley

partroyfuneralhome.com

Regards,

Joseph Reo – President

Sad news – the passing on October 21, 2023 of longtime bike racer and adventurer Jack Brohal, beloved husband of Lili and a member of the Freewheelers since the early 1980’s. Look in our newspaper archive for some of the tales of his bicycling life. There are no services, but Lili will be sitting shiva at home, 19 Amackassin Road in Blairstown, NJ, Monday October 30 and Thursday November 2, both days 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Limited parking. If you are coming same time as friends, you can park at the Acme and carpool up.

I met Jack for the first time at one of our ride leader pizza parties.   He and Lili were full of life and had a pure love for riding their bikes.   You will be amazed to find out about Jack’s accomplishments and depth of knowledge.  He led an amazing life and lived it to the fullest.   The club lost a good one.

I encourage all of you to look back and take some time to read about this wonderful individual in our archives. The Jack Brohal newsletters are on our website in the newsletter archive directory.
You will immediately see that Jack was a very detail-oriented man!

The links to the newsletters are noted below:

• Special Edition Jack Brohal
• Special Edition Sea to Shining Sea Part 1
• Special Edition Sea to Shining Sea Part 2
• Special Edition Sea to Shining Sea Part 3

Regards
Joseph Reo
Club President

All

We are looking to finalize the headcount for the fall picnic on Sunday October 1st. Weather looks to be perfect as of this evening (low 70’s and partially cloudy).  The picnic is free (and you can bring a guest), but please sign up using the form at the top of our web page so we know how many people to expect.    People whose last name starts with:

A-F	Please bring an Appetizer.
G-O	Please bring a Main Dish
P-Z	Please bring a Salad.

There is a full ride schedule for the day of the picnic, with rides at all paces.  There is also a ride on the Columbia Trail, but you have to drive to the start. There should be a ride for anyone who is interested and remember to sign up for the ride you plan to do in addition to signing up for the picnic.

Directions to Schooley’s Mtn. Park: From the traffic light in Long Valley, take Rt # 24 up the mountain towards Hackettstown, turn right on Camp Washington Road, then right on East Springtown Road to Schooley’s Mtn. Park on the right. Meet at rear parking area.

See you all on Sunday.

Regards

Joseph Reo

Sunday October 1st – Bring your climbing shoes as the Fall Picnic will be held at Schooley’s Mountain Park.  Rides for all levels and elevation profiles are now available.  We are looking for some ride leaders – Sorry folks but Jay Raju has already graciously accepted the role as the B ride leader.  I am sure you are all sorry that you missed that opportunity:).  There is a ride for anyone who is interested and remember to sign up for the ride you plan to do in addition to signing up for the picnic. You can sign up for the picnic here.

For those that have not ridden out of the park before it’s a beautiful location and the rides are fantastic as well.  The picnic is free (and you can bring a guest), but please sign up so we know how many people to expect. The tradition continues, the club will provide fried chicken, but everyone is expected to bring a dish based on their last name to supplement the chicken. People whose last name starts with:

A-F	Please bring an Appetizer.
G-O	Please bring a Main Dish
P-Z	Please bring a Salad.

Regards

Joseph Reo

President

A couple of key dates to place on your calendar.

Sunday October 1st – Bring your climbing shoes as the Fall Picnic will be held at Schooley’s Mountain Park.  Rides for all levels and elevation profiles will be available.  Details will be provided shortly.

Saturday October 7th – John Storey has set up another kayaking event since the first one was a splashing success.   Interested parties will be kayaking down the South Branch of the Raritan River from Clinton to Flemington.  Rentals will be available.

Thursday October 19th – Ride Leaders Pizza Party from 6-8 PM at the Village Tavern 342 Valley Road Gillette NJ.

Beach Day TBD – I received a lot of positive comments about a potential beach day, I have yet to pick a weekend in September – let’s see if the impacts of the potential hurricane cause any issues before adding a date.

Safety Message

Given the storms over the last several days and the potential winds from the hurricane next week.   Please keep an eye out for branches and other miscellaneous items on the shoulder.   Riders should call out and point to the obstruction if you feel comfortable enough to do so.

All

I hope you had an excellent summer on and off the bike.   The end of summer is near and the best season for bike riding is right around the corner.  Hopefully everyone had an opportunity to get away with and without your bike and are recharged for the fall season. In case you are wondering where I have been – I took a fall on a gravel ride and took the handlebars to my face and split my upper lip.   Like a good boxer, I got up finished the ride then got sent to the locker room for stitches.   I looked like the “Joker” for a couple of weeks but now all is well, and I am back on the bike and yes, the bike is fine.

Now a couple of serious items.

1.  I have received a couple of complaints from solo bike riders and drivers.  The solo bike riders state that we are not providing clear warnings when we are coming up behind them.  Let’s make sure to announce that we are coming up on the left when we are passing of club members or solo riders to avoid startling them.  It’s the proper and courteous thing to do.   As for drivers, a couple of individuals felt obliged to complain about the club riding two three deep in the swamp.   I always assume it must be some other club, but let’s make sure we are riding single file when there is traffic.  Last thing we want is an overzealous driver trying to teach us a lesson which results in a terrible accident like we saw in Arizona last year.
2. Some of you may have heard that the club had a ride leader/ride participant issue in the second quarter.  Although we are a bike club, we are family and family have quarrels from time to time.  The Board takes safety seriously and we appointed a separate independent panel to evaluate the situation and provide a recommendation to the Board.  In the end, a formal warning was issued with the threat of a future suspension or being kicked out of the club if we continue to see such egregious behavior.   The Board is working on a Code of Conduct that we will share with you all later this year.  We have not determined how we role this out at this time but stay tuned.

Fun Stuff

Labor Day is around the corner.  Weather permitting, I am planning a Washington Crossing Ride for this glorious holiday.  I will put in a place holder a C ride, but we can break it up into different classifications if we get enough people.  If you are around and not traveling, please join us for this wonderful ride.  If we get enough people, we can have a pizza party or make Linda bake desserts for us all.  Only kidding on Linda but Pizza or something else is possible.

Fall Picnic.  We are currently looking for a location for the Fall picnic.  Once the location is locked down, I will send a note.

Good or Bad Idea – you decide.   I was down at the shore this weekend and while I was riding, I was thinking we should have a beach day in September once all the Bennies are gone (oh wait we are the Bennies).  For those who do not know what a “Bennie” means – it’s an affectionate term by the locals for individuals that come down and overwhelm their towns to benefit off their beaches.   September is the best time of year at the shore – don’t tell anyone.  You can get into restaurants and there is no traffic.  The beach is empty, and the water is at its warmest for the season.  My bike loop is about 20 miles and is relatively flat except for wind that can make it feel like you are riding uphill if it is strong enough.  Let me know your thoughts – individuals can do one, two or three loops to get in a metric century if they feel inclined to do so.   I had some head wind today and average 15.7 without much effort.  We can park outside the park and enter for free on our bikes or park in the park where there are bathrooms, showers etc.   If there is enough interest, we will look into it and set something up.  Feel free to respond back to this email with your thoughts.

Regards

Joseph Reo

MAFW President

Sorry about that the only reference to the name was in the email subject line.   Name added.

Al Mende’s Celebration of Life

My dad was a MAFWer for many years, riding in NJ and all over the world until his cardiologist said no more road cycling! He then took up spinning at the Y and was often the oldest spinner in the class. This got him lots of perks like a birthday party for his 88th birthday. He continued his spinning until covid hit in 2020–he was 90 by then. His best racing bike hung inside the front door of his condo waiting for a rider. In November 2022 Jack Brohal rebuilt it and Dad gave it to my son. Another generation rides.

My dad passed away on April 21, 2023. We are holding a Celebration of Life on September 9th 1-4 pm at Pickett’s Village Bar in Maplewood. We welcome riders who knew my dad to join us–please call me at 862-368-5233 for more details and to RSVP.

Thank you for sharing this with your members.

Kathleen Good

—

Kathleen Good

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”

                                                              – Vincent Van Gogh

(862) 368-5233

FYI, I received this email earlier this week.  Hopefully some members can go to celebrate the life of this member.

My dad was a MAFWer for many years, riding in NJ and all over the world until his cardiologist said no more road cycling! He then took up spinning at the Y and was often the oldest spinner in the class. This got him lots of perks like a birthday party for his 88th birthday. He continued his spinning until covid hit in 2020–he was 90 by then. His best racing bike hung inside the front door of his condo waiting for a rider. In November 2022 Jack Brohal rebuilt it and Dad gave it to my son. Another generation rides.

My dad passed away on April 21, 2023. We are holding a Celebration of Life on September 9th 1-4 pm at Pickett’s Village Bar in Maplewood. We welcome riders who knew my dad to join us–please call me at 862-368-5233 for more details and to RSVP.

Thank you for sharing this with your members.

Kathleen Good

—

Kathleen Good

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”

                                                              – Vincent Van Gogh

(862) 368-5233