Steve Bach: In Remembrance

Steve Bach: In Remembrance

Steve’s arrangements are as follows. Visitation this Friday, Sept.18,  9-10:30A with service @ 10:30A at Leonardis Funeral Home, 210 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park.  The burial will take place directly after the service. Please visit this link for everything: https://www.leonardismemorialhome.com/obituary/Steve-Bach

Steve passed away yesterday (Sept.15th) evening. Additional information will be posted. 

I am so saddened to have to report that we have lost another comrade in cycling. Steve Bach collapsed while riding last week, and despite the many heroic and valiant efforts by his friends, fellow riders, and EMTs, Steve was not able to survive the trauma  and on Tuesday, Sept 15th,  surrounded by his loving family, fellow club member Steve Bach passed away. 

During my years with the MAFW, I have had the opportunity to ride with Steve on many occasions.  His passion for cycling, exhibited by so many of our club members, is what has kept me riding with the MAFW.  Steve was one of the best…he will be missed by all.

As more information about services and opportunities to express your feelings about Steve to his wife Fran and his family becomes available, I will send it along.

RIP Steve

Andrew Stroukoff

9/8/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

To all MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS,                       9/8/2020

On our website when you log in please review the “Temporary Ride Guidelines.”  We are still limiting rides to 10 riders and rides at same starting point need to be spaced by 15 minutes.  These guidelines were put in for the safety of our riders and their families.  A few reminders and requests:

  • Don’t show up for a ride unless you have signed up.  No guests.
  • If ride is full you will be put on a waiting list and will be notified if someone cancels.
  • If you sign up for a ride please cancel if you change your mind and please cancel with enough time to give someone else a chance to sign up.  That means the night before a day ride. 
  • If you sign up for a ride at a certain time please stay with that time and please don’t jump to another time.  This may result with rides over the 10 rider limit.
  • Oldwick General Store (Gourmet Deli and Grill) is open.  They have tables outside and the usual outside sitting area for us. In addition to pastries, coffee, etc.  they now sell pizza, etc by the slice. It is pricey but they were pricey all along.  In the opinion of bikewithmario with the outside sitting area, rest rooms, cleanliness, quality of food, etc.  it is one of our best stopping places.  Check it out!!!
  • Thanks to Glen and the MAF Cue Sheet Team we now have rides in our library for the Lake George area.  There are 5 starting points and all start with LG.
  • Any questions on how to work the new website or on the temporary Covid guidelines check the website when you log in.  Always remember selecting the Freewheeler Logo top center brings you back to start of the website.
  • Recently I received some information on chip sealing and other road hazards and closures. These include Long Hill in Great Swamp and Back Brook Rd. For a thorough list of road closures and hazards check out “Road Closures/Hazards” maintained by Tony Marchand under “Rides”.  Also if there is an * next to a rides name on the schedule that indicates a road closure.
  • Finally, if you want to become a ride leader to help out the club please contact me.

Stay safe and ride safe,

Ride Coordinator

Manny

Club Election, Nominating Committee and Volunteers

As some of you have heard by now, my wife and I are retiring from our careers of 42 years and plan to move out of state to be closer to family.  It feels like no time at all has passed since you allowed me to serve your interests as Vice President, Ride Coordinator, and now President of MAF.  I thank you all for that opportunity.

I’m not leaving yet!  I’ll be here for a few more months.  But it is that time again to pick a new slate of Officers and Directors.

MAF, like most non-profit organizations, is a strictly volunteer operation.  Without your participation our Club cannot function at the high level we have come to expect.  We need your help to keep improving the experience for us all.

What we are asking right now is who among you is ready to step forward and volunteer your time, your effort, and most particularly, your opinions to move our Club forward.

Except for the positions of President, Ride Coordinator, Treasurer, and Website Designer, most of the positions do not require an undue amount of time, just a passion to serve.  And, as I have learned, almost all of you have an opinion to offer and a passion for cycling.

While many of the Directors are willing to continue their service in their same capacity there will be some key vacancies, especially among the Officer positions.  These include Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.  The Director position of Safety Coordinator will also need to be filled.

A description of the Duties of the Officers and Directors can be found on pages 6 and 7 in our current Bylaws on the Club’s website.  Here is the link:

https://mafw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/BYLAWS-Nov-28-2018-FINAL-form-1.pdf

The nominating process:

Step 1 is to find who is interested in volunteering.

Step 2 is forming a Nominating Committee comprised of three individual Club members as well as two current board members.

Step 3 is the Nominating Committee will field a slate of candidates.

Step 4 is to hold the election in November, as per the Bylaws.

I have appointed the Club Treasurer, Michael Swearingen, as Chairman of the Nominating Committee. We are in the process of identifying the other required Committee members.  So please, if you have any interest in volunteering for the Club, you can email or text Michael as soon as possible.  We need your responses no later than Friday, September 4th to give the Nominating Committee time to develop a complete slate of candidates.

Contact info for Michael is:         

Email:  treasurer@mafw.org     Mobile Phone:  201.400.1864

While I am excited for my move to South Carolina, I have enjoyed my time with MAF immensely.  I will miss you all, but I am sure you will be in good hands.  Many thanks to you all.

In the meantime, see you on the road.

Andrew Stroukoff

8/24/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

  • Since reopening June 15 I am pleased to report that we have had over 346 rides compared to 287 rides for same time period last year and I want to thank the ride leaders who have led these rides.  Many of you have stepped up to be new ride leaders and if you want to become a ride leader let me know.  Please continue to follow the Covid guidelines outlined under “Temporary Ride Guidelines” on the website.
  • A reminder again that if you sign up for a ride and decide you can’t make it please cancel yourself from the ride and please don’t wait 30 mins before a ride.  This allows others to join the ride.  Jon Eiseman has set up a waiting list if a ride is full.  If a ride is full and you cancel from that ride the first person on the waiting list gets to ride. 
  • Please be sure to update your profile.  After logging in hover over “Logged in your name” and select ‘Edit My Profile’.  It is important we have emergency contact numbers as well as your personal cell phone.  If you don’t put that information in it forces the ride leader to ask for that info at the start of the ride.
  • Any questions on how to work the new website or on the temporary Covid guidelines check the website when you log in.  Always remember selecting the Freewheeler logo top center brings you back to start of the website.
  • Recently I received some information on chip sealing I want to share with you.  Usually after a road is chip sealed I was told it is OK to ride on after 3-4 days.  For a thorough list of road closures and hazards check out “Road Closures/Hazards” maintained by Tony Marchand under “Rides”.  Also if there is an * next to a rides name on the schedule that indicates a road closure.
    • Started 8/18 and may be OK now: Meyersville, Woodland, Miller between Green Village and Pleasantville, Blue Mill between Spring Valley and James St (affecting your section from Red Gate to Dickson’s Mill).
    • Starting 8/31 weather permitting: Please be advised that the Township of East Amwell will chip seal the following roads: • Back Brook Road • Boss Road • Garboski Road • Iron Horse Drive • Melbourne Lane
    • Station Road Bridge Construction North Branch: Do not attempt to cross this construction.  We tried yesterday and it is dangerous.  Use Readington Rd as a detour to Station Rd and then Miller.  Adds 3 miles.

Stay safe and ride safe,

Ride Coordinator

Manny

7/16/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS,                       7/16/2020

The day before a ride please verify starting time and location of your ride.  Also verify hours before a ride that it was not cancelled due to weather.  This weekend due to heat some of the rides are starting earlier than originally posted.  Both Bed 1 rides on Sat are starting earlier.  Also Sam’s Sunday ride was changed from Limecrest to Goodale because we have an agreement on weekends and holidays not to use Limecrest.

If you have a friend who wants to ride with MAFW please have them register as a member so they can officially sign up on line for a ride.  

For Tues and Thurs night rides I want to make clear you are not locked into Bed 1 and Loantaka as starting points.  RLs should feel free to experiment.

Be sure to bring a mask and sanitizer on all rides and be sure to hydrate.  It is up to you to wear the mask while riding but is necessary at rest stops, especially if you enter the store.

Ride safe,

Manny

7/13/2020: FOR ALL MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS

To all MAF RIDERS AND RIDE LEADERS,                       7/13/2020

  • Since reopening June 15 I am pleased to report that we have had over 100 rides and I want to thank the ride leaders who have led these rides.  The more ride leaders we have the more rides that can be posted.  I ask all ride leaders to continue to post rides and if you want to become a ride leader let me know.  To get the ride leader award you only need to post 10 rides and you have until Oct 1.  Never too late!!!
  • On another note if you sign up for a ride and decide you can’t make it please cancel yourself from the ride and please don’t wait 30 mins before a ride to cancel.  Jon Eiseman has set up a waiting list if a ride is full.  If a ride is full and you cancel from that ride the first person on the waiting list gets to ride.  If you are on a waiting list for one ride and join another ride please cancel yourself from the waiting list.
  • I led a ride yesterday that was full at 10 and only 7 riders showed up.  This is very unfair to those who wanted to do my ride.
  • Last week the Board voted to maintain 10 riders per ride but allowed riders to sign up 30 mins before a ride and allowed rides to be within 15 mins at same start point.  These ride guidelines were decided on by the Board to protect all riders and others during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The Board will be constantly revisiting these guidelines.
  • One way to get around the limit that has worked this past weekend is to post multiple rides from the same starting point 15 mins apart but we need ride leaders to do this.  I led a C ride at 8:30am and Maddy led a B ride at 8:45am ride from Summer Rd, both doing same ride.  There were 3 D+ rides out of Kittatinny doing the same cue but 15 mins apart.
  • Please be sure to update your profile.  After logging in hover over “Logged in your name” and select Edit My Profile.
  • Any questions on how to work the new website or on the temporary Covid guidelines check the website when you log in.  Always remember selecting the Freewheeler logo top center brings you back to start of the website.

Stay safe,

Ride Coordinator

Manny

Calling all Ride Leaders

MAFW ride leaders are the foundation of our club and we do have a great group of experienced ride leaders. 

If you lost your status as a ride leader due to inactivity and want to be reinstated just email me and I will immediately reinstate you.  I apologize for any misunderstanding.

If you never were a ride leader and want to become one please contact me about steps to become a ride leader.  Don’t worry if you don’t know how to change a flat.  We can teach you.  Many of us find being a ride leader very rewarding.

Stay safe,

Manny

We are back in the saddle again.  The ride schedule is open!

Good morning,

We are back in the saddle again.  The ride schedule is open!

Many thanks to Gen Benfiglio, Arlene Whalen, Les Garber and Arnie Cohen for starting us up again by leading four rides yesterday in four different start points.  And we have six rides today led by Fred Bennett, Barb Delaney, Marty Siegel, Kathi Caccavale, Xue Li and Pam Gregory. 

While these friends have jumped in and started leading rides again, we always need more ride leaders, and now more than ever while our ride sizes are limited.  You can contact our Ride Coordinator, Manny Coelho at ridecoodinator@mafw.org if you want to become a ride leader.  He will help you get started.

We have several new guidelines in place for the next couple of weeks, that we will be adjusting as the situation demands.  The guidelines can be found on the website.  During this uncertain period, we must all adhere to these guidelines.  Thank you all for your cooperation.

As of yesterday, all current members received a three-month extension of your membership automatically.  Your renew date was changed within the system and there is no action necessary on your part.

As I have mentioned before, there are several of you who will need more time before you feel comfortable riding in a group.  For you, we have left the cue sheet library open until the end of September.  You can use our tours to ride solo or with a buddy that you know well.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and enjoy this beautiful weather.

See you on the road.

Andrew Stroukoff

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