Starting tomorrow Seth Cohen will start Tuesday night training rides. Seth is hoping to run five Tuesdays in a row to cover group riding, paceline basics, climbing, etc.
The first ride is just to learn group ride basics and get the rust off from the winter. Over the next few rides, we’ll work on riding in a paceline, climbing, and maybe even a little sprinting.
For the first ride, he will ride at “TB-” pace. This is a no-drop ride, and we’ll work to keep everyone together.
APR 6 SPRING KICKOFF – Spring Kickoff will be held at Brookside and you can sign up at the main page for the meeting and at the ride schedule for the ride. Rides will take place after the meeting, and we still need a ride leader for the B ride. To sign up as a ride leader for a proposed ride go to the Ride Schedule, select the ride and under Tour/Signup select Become a Ride Leader. The proposed ride will then become a scheduled ride so all members can see the ride. Right now, only ride leaders can see proposed rides. Note that only kickoff rides will be allowed on Apr 6.
APR 12 TREK INSPECTION RIDES – Trek Inspection Rides will take Apr 12 and you can sign up at the main page for the event and at the ride schedule for the ride. Note that only Trek inspection rides will be allowed on Apr 12. Right now, we need ride leaders for the rides. Food will be supplied, and you don’t have to have your bike inspected.
HOWE ATHLETIC FIELD VS LOT C – Right now for all Colonial Park rides we are allowed to use Lot C where there are bathrooms. As soon as porta johns are placed at Howe Athletic Field we will switch to Howe. My guess is porta johns will be placed soon. If you see them there, please contact me. Park Rangers requested that we not take up parking spaces at any of the Colonial Park parking lots during their active season.
OTHER BATHROOMS – Please let me know when bathrooms at Summer Rd, Pluckemin and Pickell Park are reopened.
E-BIKES – There has been some recent discussions on which E-Bikes are allowed on MAFW rides. MAFW policy is “Class 1, no throttle”. I checked with BTCNJ and PFW and they also do not allow E-bikes with throttles. Since the introduction of E-bikes to our rides no one has reported any negative issues. Some riders have reported to me that switching to an E-bike has allowed them to continue riding. That is a good thing!!!
PACES – With a new cycling season upon us, you may encounter riders that can’t keep up at your stated pace. Please be patient with them, stay with them and give them advice on trying a slower pace. Thanks for your help.
THANKS!!!! – Thanks for being ride leaders and continuing to make MAFW an active and successful club.
Manny
On April 6 MAFW will have its Spring Kickoff at Brookside in Mendham. For more info and to signup go to the main page of the website. In case you don’t know how to get to the main page of the website, just select the wheel at top left of the page.
After the meeting we will have rides for all paces. For new members who are unsure what pace they should select, the C, D+ and D rides all are doing the same tour. If you select the D+ ride and feel you can’t keep up, you can fall back to the D ride. In addition, I will be leading the D ride and will classify it as a “New Member Ride” and will be giving additional instruction. On March 29 weather permitting I will post a D+ ride with emphasis on new members.
Manny
I have posted rides for the Kickoff Meeting on Sunday April 6th. You can sign up to lead these rides by clicking on the Tour/Signup column for any of these rides and then click on the Become the Ride Leader button.
You can also find the instructions here: https://mafw.org/kickoff-meeting-rides/
This method can also be used for leading Proposed rides added by the Ride Planning Committee. They will start adding proposed rides for rides starting in the first week in April.
“Needs Leader”has been changed to “Proposed Ride”. Now, any ride leader can choose to lead a Proposed Ride by going to the Ride Schedule and clicking on the Tour/Signup column and then clicking on Become the Ride Leader. Only ride leaders can see Proposed Rides on the Ride Schedule.
Once you sign up to be the ride leader then the ride becomes a Scheduled Ride and members can then sign up to join the ride. Please sign up for the proposed rides for the kickoff meeting. Board is requesting that you don’t put any rides in that would conflict with the kickoff meeting. Thanks for your cooperation. Manny
Greetings, family.
Get out the calendars and mark down 2 epic dates:
Sunday, April 6
Morris Area Freewheeler Kickoff Meeting at Brookside Community Center. Featuring refreshments, friendships, exciting club news including the monthly Party Rides beginning in April, and more. Rides will take place after the meeting. Watch the Club’s ride schedule for details!
Spring is coming. Let’s ride!
Have fun; stay safe!
Michael
Saturday, April 12
Free bike inspection at Trek Stirling followed by Morris Area Freewheelers Party Rides
Bring your bike for a free comprehensive inspection with rides of all paces to follow. Trek will have TrekFest specials and MAF club member specials. After the ride, relax and eat sub sandwiches with your fellow riders as we launch our maiden monthly Party Ride. Watch the Club’s ride schedule for details!
Get ready for the return of the annual Philly Bike Expo, March 8 & 9, at the PA Convention Center, North Broad & Cherry Streets. This is one of the largest bike shows in the US! All details are here: https://phillybikeexpo.com/
Bon Ton Roulet is a 5-day bike ride in the Finger Lakes of New York. 2 nights are spent at Hobart Williams College and 2 nights at Keuka College. You can tent camp or stay in dorms. I did the last 2 Bon Tons and already signed up for this year’s Bon Ton. Attached below is the link to Bon Ton and it is on the MAFW calendar. I created the ride on the MAFW schedule so after you register with Bon Ton, please sign up on the MAFW schedule so we know who is going. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Manny
Greetings, Friends.
By now you’ve received several calls to volunteer at the 2025 Revolutionary Ramble which will take place on June 7, 2025 at Raritan Valley Community College (www.rambleride.org). What you probably don’t know is that our Club receives $3000 from the Morris Area Freewheeler Foundation for the services that the club provides to the Ramble. This is the second largest source of revenue for the Club and is increasingly important to the financial solvency of the Club given the significant decline in Club membership.
Last year, the number of volunteer positions filled 4 weeks prior to the event was so low that the Freewheeler Foundation was concerned that the event would need to be cancelled. Fortunately, with an aggressive push by some key Club members, all of the necessary positions were filled. We do not want to be in that position this year so I urge you to look at the volunteer positions and sign up for 1 or more. And while you’re at it, have family members and friends join you in volunteering! Having held a number of Ramble volunteer positions over the years, I can assure you that it will be a gratifying and enjoyable experience that will only require a few hours of your time. If you are not available on the day of the Ramble, there are volunteer positions during the week prior to the Ramble. Volunteer positions can be found at www.ramblestuff.org or by clicking on the Volunteer link at www.rambleride.org.
This year, the Ramble will offer road rides of 25, 35, 50, 70, and 100 miles and gravel rides of 25 and 40 miles. Total elevation of the routes has been decreased from that of last year. And we are particularly excited that this year’s lunch caterer is Local Smoke BBQ. Lunch options will be pulled pork, pulled chicken, and pasta primavera for vegetarians and carb cravers. There will also be green salad, corn bread, and gluten free slider rolls. Jeff Sperling, myself, and our wives have sampled the food and we found it quite tasty!
Lastly, we are asking all Club members who work for a business or corporation to assist with identifying potential sponsors. If you work for a business or corporation that provides charitable donations, please obtain the name and contact information for the person responsible and provide it to me. I or one of the Freewheeler Foundation Board members will contact that person to discuss sponsorship opportunities. Obviously, the more sponsors the more proceeds will be available to be given to the causes supported by the Ramble.
Thank you, in advance, for volunteering a few hours of your time to the Revolutionary Ramble. I guarantee a money back refund if you don’t find it to be an enjoyable experience.
Best regards,
Michael Chenkin
Greetings, friends.
The Board is asking for suggestions for a topic and a speaker for the annual Kick-Off meeting. Please send your ideas to me.
Trek Stirling is offering special savings on Level 2 and Level 3 service packages for MAFW members for a limited time. Level 2 service is discounted by $100 and Level 3 service is discounted by $150. You need to present your MAFW membership card to get these special discounts. You can find a link to print your membership card under the “Membership Info” tab on the club’s website. Have your bike serviced before the spring rush.
Stay safe and have fun.
Best regards,
Michael
