CONFLICTING RIDES-The Board agreed that the following applies to conflicting rides with respect to social rides:
It was decided whatever location the social ride is scheduled, no rides will be allowed to be scheduled 2 hours before start of ride or 3 hours after the ride is started. Rides from other locations will be allowed.
To be clear the time constraints only apply if you decide to do a ride from the same location as the social ride. However, as always there can’t be any conflicting rides during the Spring and Fall picnics.
PACES-Definition of paces can be found after logging into the website. Select RIDES>MORE RIDE INFO>PACE AND TERRAIN DEFINITIONS. It’s important that when you decide to lead a ride that you ride the pace. As the ride leader you lead from behind and to reduce the chance that you may be riding alone you can request regrouping.
RIDE LEADER HANDBOOK-Minor changes have been made to the ride leader handbook and the new version will be posted by 9/14.
People Cycling is running a cycling trip to Cape Cod Sept 23-30. I will be going and I was just notified by Rick Gallo, the trip leader, that there is room for one female. I did a 10 day cycling trip back in May with Rick and I know some of you have done past trips with him. He is a great trip leader. If interested please contact me. For more info on this trip go to the People Cycling website.
Manny
This Sunday Sept 14 is the MAFW Fall Picnic from White Oak Park and weather looks good. If you plan on attending the picnic, be sure to sign up on the MAFW calendar (not ride schedule) by 2pm today so we plan on food. If you plan on riding, please sign up on the ride schedule and please ride the pace you signed up for. If you are not sure of paces you can find them under RIDES>MORE RIDE INFO>PACE AND TERRAIN. As always arrive 30 mins before the start of the ride so you can prepare. So far we have 61 signed up for the picnic and 38 for rides.
In addition, the Sourland’s Spectacular is this Saturday.
Thanks, Manny
RIDE LEADER COORDINATOR UPDATE
-We are heading to the end of our cycling year. If by Sept 30 you have led 12 or more rides you are eligible for a $50 gift certificate or a ride leader jersey. If you have led 8 to 11 rides you are eligible for a $25 gift certificate. Thanks to every ride leader for leading!!!
-Sept 14 is the Fall Picnic at White Oak Park and the Club is supplying some great food, except for dessert. We still need a few ride leaders so please sign up.
-Sept 27 is the next Bike, Brew, Pizza Ride from Denville. Club will supply pizza. This is a joint ride with BTCNJ but we still need a few ride leaders so please sign up.
-I want to remind you that by accepting the responsibility of being a ride leader you agree to sweep. In other words, you lead from behind. A, B+, TA and TB rides don’t require a sweep and B rides don’t require a sweep if the ride leader stipulates no sweep in his comments.
-Ride leaders should try and maintain the ride pace and this may require regrouping. Ride leader can put in their ride comments that the ride will be regrouping. One issue with regrouping is that there are too many riders to regroup. Ride leaders can limit the number of riders so that they can better manage their ride. BTCNJ tries to keep their rides to ~10 riders.
-C is our most popular pace. I would like to see more ride leaders backing up C rides from the front as a C+ ride and from the back as D+ ride.
Any concerns or comments feel free to contact me.
Sincerely, Manny
Stopping at red lights is one of the simplest yet most important responsibilities for cyclists.It isn’t just about following the law – it’s about safety and respect on the road.A cyclist who rolls through a red light puts themselves at risk of colliding with vehicles, pedestrians, or other riders, often at intersections where crashes are most likely to occur.Obeying lights also helps build trust with other road users. Drivers are more likely to respect cyclists’ space and rights when they see consistent, responsible behavior.By stopping, you’re showing motorists that cyclists belong on the road and play by the same rules.There’s also the powerful effect of setting an example. When one rider stops, others behind are more likely to do the same, normalizing safe habits within the cycling community.In short: stopping at red lights protects you, earns respect, and makes cycling safer for everyone.
The message above also applies to stop signs and other rules followed by vehicles. In a related safety topic, if you are riding in a group and half the group makes it through a traffic light, the part of the group that makes it thru the light should wait for the part of the group that did not make it thru the light. Don’t try and go thru a red light to stay with the group.
This Sunday Sept 7 is the Scenic Schuylkill Century and this event has been added to the MAFW Calendar and the MAFW Schedule with Marty Pratt as ride leader. If you want to go you need to register via the link below and then sign up on the schedule so we know who is going and we might ride together. This well-supported event gives you the opportunity to ride in new territory.
2025 Scenic Schuylkill Century — Sunday Sept 7, 2025
Saturday Sept 13 is the Sourlands Spectacular with Dennis Budnick as rider leader. If you want to go you need to register via the link below and then sign up on the schedule so we know who is going and we might ride together.
Sourland Spectacular – Pennington, NJ
Sunday Sept 14 is the MAFW Fall Picnic to be held at White Oak Park with rides at all paces. Be sure to sign up.
On the MAFW Calendar are other special rides and events you should check out.
Standard preparation for MAFW riders after signing up for a ride:
Any questions or if you want to become a ride leader to help the Club, feel free to contact me at 732-259-8990, Manny
My apologies but I will have to cancel the ride leader meeting scheduled for next week.
This will be the 10th weekend of fun in the Penn Dutch area in Lancaster County. Pa. This is the second year that this event will be in the fall because we have found it to usually be great weather for bicycle riding, To get more information on this event please go the MAFW Calendar.
Good Evening All:
Our next party ride will be on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Harry Dunham Park. The club will be providing those amazing sloppy joe sandwiches from Avenue Deli in New Providence, as well as chips, fritos, watermelon, and beverages. And we will be having some drawings for some nice giveaways at the end of the ride. So that we get an accurate head count for the food quantities, please sign up for the rides asap. The weather forecast looks ideal. Come join us for our August party ride.
Jeff
Good Evening All:
I just want to remind you that our next party ride will be this Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Harry Dunham Park. We will be providing delicious sloppy joes, some veggie wraps, watermelon, chips, fritos and beverages. In addition, we will having drawings for some nice giveaways. We posted a great C+ ride, #612, a 45 miler that is need of a ride leader, so if you are available, we would appreciate you leading that ride. So we have an accurate head count for the food, please sign up asap. The weather forecast looks great. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Thanks,
Jeff
