Spring is coming – Details on a couple of upcoming ride events (including ours)

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

PLATTEKILL SKI TRIP

Watchung Amateur Ski Club is running a bus trip to Plattekill this Sunday and has a few openings.  Cost of trip for nonmembers is $135 and includes bus transportation, breakfast, apres-ski snacks and lift ticket.  Rentals can be arranged and trip open to families. Bus leaves from Hyatt Golf Course in Clark at 6am. Alternate pickup in Mahwah on RT17. At least 6 members of WASC are also members of MAFW and during the year we run joint cycling trips.  If interested, you can contact me at mannyt66@gmail.com or call me at 732-259-8990.  See below for more info.

Thanks, Manny

Experience an “old school” skiing experience at Plattekill!

February 25, 2024

HOP ON THE BUS; LEAVE THE DRIVING TO US!

Located in the Northwestern Catskills of New York, Plattekill Mountain is the last family-owned and operated mountain in the region, a variety that is becoming few and far between in today’s changed skiing industry. Their motto – FIERCELY INDEPENDENT – describes them best, not owned by a corporation or group of mountains, but by a family. That’s what makes a visit to Plattekill unique: a good old-fashioned family atmosphere with a laid-back, authentic, “independent” vibe feeling. BIG mountain terrain and SMALL mountain charm. Choose from 40 trails, cruise down Plattekill’s 2-mile long beginner run, and charge down the steep double black diamonds with 1100′ of vertical drop. There truly is something for everyone.

BUS INFORMATION

Click here to download bus pick-up times, locations & other information

INCLUDED IN THE TRIP

• Round-trip bus transportation
• Breakfast on the bus***
• Après ski snacks on the return trip
• All-day lift ticket

NJ Bike & Walk Coalition – Protect Access to E-bikes in NJ
 
 

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

Charlie Kinsley

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

MAFW February 2024 March 2024 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@mafw.org

MAFW has 2 main guidelines or mottos that riders and ride leaders should follow:

  1. Nobody rides alone including the ride leader
  2. Ride leader sweeps for all rides except B and faster

Just a reminder that the February 2024 March 2024 edition of our NL is online. To read: click https://mafw.org/newsletter/

What’s in this issue:

  1. 15th Annual Revolutionary Ramble June 8, 2024
  2. CPR Course Status Update – Rob Greenberg
  3. Connect with the MAF Bike Club on Social Media – Tracy Brown
  4. Ride Coordinator Update
  5. What causes road rage between cyclists and drivers – Rob Greenberg
  6. Never Blame Others for the Road You’re On – Jay Marowitz
  7. Riding in NYC – Jay Marowitz
  8. Bike Fit: Fine Tune Your Position to Increase Comfort! – Tony Marchand
  9. Photo Gallery
  10. Poet’s Corner by John J. Burns
  11. One Of The Best Campgrounds In New Jersey Is Open For Adventure Year-Round – Round Valley
  12. 2024 Calendar
  13. MAF Bike Adventures 2024 See website for more detail
  14. Cycling Guides by Mark Jay
  15. People Cycling
  16. Safety by Paul Malinowski
  17. Club Sponsors
  18. 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 Betsy Eastwood at the following email address: membership@mafw.org

Periodically Rob Greenberg will be instructing a no-cost CPR course sponsored by the Morris Area Freewheelers Foundation. For those interested, you can contact Rob by phone at 973-334-0125 or by email at robdg01@aol.com for the next available session and more information.

Good Reading. Thanks,

Patricia Kipp
Editor

Woodfern Bridge Closed

During this recent storm a tree fell on the Woodfern Bridge as you can see in the attached picture.  The bridge will be out of action for several months and don’t plan on crossing the bridge while being repaired.  One easy detour is make a right turn onto Woodfern Rd from Three Bridges Rd, left on Amwell, left onto Blackpoint after very short distance, and then right onto Woodfern.  Woodfern from bridge to Amwell is a little bumpy but you are on Woodfern only ~1/2 mile and it is level and paved.  If coming from Wawa take Summer Rd to Briar Way to Lehigh.  I will leave it up to you to determine best detour for your ride.  Today the Blackpoint bridge was OK but road from the bridge to Woodfern was a little flooded but should be OK tomorrow.  Duke Island Park is closed due to flooding but should be open soon.  Time for John Storey to schedule a kayak trip but just duck when going under the bridges.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/bridgewater/branchburg-bridge-closed-several-months-after-storm-damage

SPECIAL RIDES CALENDAR

In addition to the rides on our schedule we have special rides listed on our calendar and there will be more posted.  Recommend you check out these rides.  Several of us have registered again for the Bon Ton Roulet, a multiday ride in the Finger Lakes of New York.  About 8 MAFW riders did it last year and had a great time.  If you have any questions about Bon Ton feel free to contact me.

Manny

RIDE LEADER STATUS

Just to be clear I sent the email about ride leader status to all ride leaders, even if you led a ride since 10/2022.  In the email I did say if you did not lead a ride this past year and still want to maintain ride leader status to contact me.

Manny

RIDE COORDINATOR UPDATE

Today MAFW kicked off 2024 with three rides and 27 riders.  Could not ask for better weather for New Years Day.  Weather permitting, we will continue winter rides.  Thanks to Chris Hartman who will be once again kicking off indoor Zwift riding tomorrow.  I do have one resolution for ride leaders and that is to lead more rides this year and earn the ride leader award.  If you are not a ride leader another resolution is to become a ride leader.  If you want to become a ride leader, just contact me.

Happy New Year, Manny

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