Hoping everyone has been enjoying the weather now that the wind has been calming down.   The club has been very active, and I am impressed with the number of rides we have been able to complete so early in the year.  As we head towards summer and peak riding season I wanted to bring a couple of items to your attention.

• Spring Picnic on May 11 – Duke Island Park.  We are looking to finalize the headcount for the Spring picnic.  The picnic is free (and you can bring a guest and non-club members as well), but please sign up using the form at the top of our web page so we know how many people to expect.  Use this event as a springboard to attract new members and grow the club.  There is a full ride schedule for the day of the picnic, with rides at all paces.   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. One of the club members suggested that we set up a SWAP TABLE – The swappers just need to bring their unwanted gear to sell or exchange.  The individual just needs to supply a note and $ wanted.   Its spring – clean out your garage and give away, swap or sell your unwanted gear. People whose last name starts with:

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

• Revolutionary Ramble – Volunteers Needed – The Ramble is scheduled on June 8th out of the Raritan Valley Community College.  Run by the foundation arm of the club, The Ramble includes 25, 35, 50, 70, and 100-mile rides and showcases some of the beautiful rides and scenery we all enjoy on a daily basis.  This is a great opportunity to demonstrate that bicycles belong, and to raise money for our local emergency squads, NICA and other educational and safe cycling programs.  We provide great food, ample rest stops, etc. but that also requires members of the club to participate.    We strongly encourage all club members, if they are available and not riding the event to volunteer and participate in the great event.  Your family members can help as well, and volunteering looks great on our kids resumes.  There are many opportunities to volunteer on days leading up to and during the event.   Please spend the time to review the volunteer opportunities via the link on our website or click the following link: ramblestuff.org

• Nomination Committee – Are you interested in being a Board Member or participating in a sub-committee from time to time.   There is at least one Board Opening and there may be others as each member wraps up their two-year term.  If you are interested in hearing more. Please reach out to Mark Jay @ recorder.dulcian@gmail.com

• Club Century Ride – On May 18th out of Colonial Park, Manny Coelho and I will be leading a flat 100 miler out of Colonial Park.   We had a large turnout a couple of years ago for this ride and you will not be disappointed.   It’s a perfect way to complete your first century or to build up some endurance miles on our legs.  In addition, it’s a little easier than the Revolutionary Ramble 100 miler but you can do both and use this as a practice run for the event on June 8th.

Now for some sad news – Laurie Hagerich – a club OG (Original Gangster) for over 35 years recently passed away after a very short illness.  The viewing will be on May 10th at Dangler Funeral Home in Madison from 5-8PM.  The funeral service will be at the Methodist Church in Madison on Saturday, May 11th at 11AM.  If you want to send a card to the family her address is 19 Seven Oaks Drive, Madison, NJ 07040.

Regards

Joseph Reo

Club President

Hoping everyone has been enjoying the weather now that the wind has been calming down.   The club has been very active, and I am impressed with the number of rides we have been able to complete so early in the year.  As we head towards summer and peak riding season I wanted to bring a couple of items to your attention.

• Spring Picnic on May 11 – Duke Island Park.  We are looking to finalize the headcount for the Spring picnic.  The picnic is free (and you can bring a guest and non-club members as well), but please sign up using the form at the top of our web page so we know how many people to expect.  Use this event as a springboard to attract new members and grow the club.  There is a full ride schedule for the day of the picnic, with rides at all paces.   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. One of the club members suggested that we set up a SWAP TABLE – The swappers just need to bring their unwanted gear to sell or exchange.  The individual just needs to supply a note and $ wanted.   Its spring – clean out your garage and give away, swap or sell your unwanted gear. People whose last name starts with:

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

• Revolutionary Ramble – Volunteers Needed – The Ramble is scheduled on June 8th out of the Raritan Valley Community College.  Run by the foundation arm of the club, The Ramble includes 25, 35, 50, 70, and 100-mile rides and showcases some of the beautiful rides and scenery we all enjoy on a daily basis.  This is a great opportunity to demonstrate that bicycles belong, and to raise money for our local emergency squads, NICA and other educational and safe cycling programs.  We provide great food, ample rest stops, etc. but that also requires members of the club to participate.    We strongly encourage all club members, if they are available and not riding the event to volunteer and participate in the great event.  Your family members can help as well, and volunteering looks great on our kids resumes.  There are many opportunities to volunteer on days leading up to and during the event.   Please spend the time to review the volunteer opportunities via the link on our website or click the following link.  ramblestuff.org

• Nomination Committee – Are you interested in being a Board Member or participating in a sub-committee from time to time.   There is at least one Board Opening and there may be others as each member wraps up their two-year term.  If you are interested in hearing more. Please reach out to Mark Jay @ recorder.dulcian@gmail.com

• Club Century Ride – On May 18th out of Colonial Park, Manny Coelho and I will be leading a flat 100 miler out of Colonial Park.   We had a large turnout a couple of years ago for this ride and you will not be disappointed.   It’s a perfect way to complete your first century or to build up some endurance miles on our legs.  In addition, it’s a little easier than the Revolutionary Ramble 100 miler but you can do both and use this as a practice run for the event on June 8th.

Now for some sad news – Laurie Hagerich – a club OG (Original Gangster) for over 35 years recently passed away after a very short illness.  The viewing will be on May 10th at Dangler Funeral Home in Madison from 5-8PM.  The funeral service will be at the Methodist Church in Madison on Saturday, May 11th at 11AM.  If you want to send a card to the family her address is 19 Seven Oaks Drive, Madison, NJ 07040.

Regards

Joseph Reo

Club President

The MAFW Spring Kickoff meeting is right around the corner and the weather is getting better by the day.

Please take the time to register for the Spring Kick Off, as it allows us to ensure we are properly set up for the meeting.  In addition, please sign up for one of the great rides we have planned for you all.  During the meeting, we will look back at some of the changes we implemented in 2023 and the exciting enhancements we have planned for 2024.  I am happy to report that you do not have to listen to me talk for the entire session.  We are excited to share a couple of great videos and we will have a guest speaker.   Brendan Poh the owner of Cycle Craft in Parsippany NJ and the acting Board President for the Revolutionary Ramble will be stopping by to discuss the importance of a proper bike fit.   The presentation is titled “Demystifying the dark art of bike fitting – a common sense guide to getting it right.”  If you do not know Brendan, he is a great businessman, loves bicycling and has been a strong supporter of the Club and Revolutionary Ramble for many years.

The Board and I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

Regards

Joseph Reo

MAFW President