Kosciusko Road
It has been brought to my attention that Kosciusko Road in Whitehouse is getting chip sealed today. I recommend waiting a few days for the road to settle. 42st is a good detour.
Manny
Upcoming Events and a couple of Safety Announcements
Hopefully everyone is enjoying the summer and looking forward to cooler weather and the fall foliage. We have a series of events coming up that I wanted to share with you. We hope you will join us for one, two or all the events we have planned over the next couple of months.
August 31st – Freewheelers post-ride paddleboat races, swimming, and picnic! Join us on Saturday August 31, 2024, at Sunrise Lake in Lewis Morris Park for a day of riding, getting wet (or not), and fun: ). Rides will start leaving the park at 9AM and upon returning we will have picnic tables by the beach with empanadas, cold flavored seltzers and dishes by members. In addition to bike rides, paddleboat races, swimming and food, Len Friedman will be leading a 4-mile hike in Lewis Morris Park starting from Sunrise Lake. Be sure to sign up on the Ride Schedule if you want to hike. There is no charge for a member and a guest. If you are not joining a ride, you should be there by 11:30AM.
People whose last name starts with:
A-F | Please bring a Dessert. |
G-O | Please bring a Salad. |
P – Z | Please bring a Main Dish |
End of Summer Celebration Ride – 9/14/24. The Denville/Parsippany MAFW members have completed two successful Denville – Bike, Pizza and Beer rides earlier this year and we thought we may try this on a grander scale. The rides will start and end at the Diamond Spring Brewery in downtown Denville (opens at 12 noon on Saturdays). We will have the rides posted shortly but, in the end, we would like the ride leaders to utilize their $50 Celebration ride event to fund the Pizza. We will start off with 3-4 rides and we will expand if necessary. The Celebration ride funding was available for the first time in 2024, and we did not see the benefit utilized enough for our liking. The costs of drinks (beer, water etc.) will be each participants responsibility. If this goes well, we may also consider an Angry Erics Brewery ride from Kittatinny state park or a Burnt Mills Cider ride from Bedminster in the Fall. Rides should be up on the website shortly.
Semi-Annual Trek Inspection Ride – 9/21/24
The previously scheduled date was cancelled due to excessive heat. Many of you remember that last year we launched our first ever Trek Inspection Rides starting from Trek Stirling’s location. These events were very well received with all participants receiving Trek’s free safety inspection on their bikes. Trek will be offering a $50.00 discount on their level 2 service and $100 discount for Level 3 service, if needed. There will be refreshments, bagels, coffee and juices before and after the rides. Trek will also have Trek Fest specials inside their store for members to shop after the ride. We are staggering the start times of the rides, so that Trek can properly inspect and discuss their findings with our riders. Parking will be in the Trek lot, next door at the Day Care Center, and along Main Street in Stirling. Bathrooms are available in the store. Trek Service will be on duty at 8:00 am, so please arrive about 45 minutes to an hour before your ride starts. Rides are now available on our website.
Fall Picnic – 9/22/24 – Schooley Mountain Park. The MAFW Fall Picnic will be on Sunday September 22nd, at Schooley Mountain Park in Long Valley. For those that have not ridden out of the park it’s a beautiful location and the rides are fantastic as well. The picnic is free (and you can bring a guest). Please keep an eye out for the sign up so we know how many people to expect. Rides are now available on our website.
Now for a couple of safety announcements.
Morris County Dangerous Road Condition Reporting – At our spring kick-off there was a discussion about whether or not there is a website to report dangerous road conditions in Morris County. The good news is there is now a website to report such issues. Rebecca Feldman recently filed a dangerous condition report, and I encourage you all to do the same when an issue is identified. Rebecca’s email read as follows: “There is a dangerous condition on CR 646, Tempe Wick Road, both directions, in the vicinity of Primrose Brook. Repaving, or smooth edge-to-edge repair is needed – from the driveway of the Great Swamp Watershed Association to SR 202. Years of potholes and bumpy patching have made this section of winding road so rough that people on bicycles cannot stay out of the way of motorists. Drivers are speeding and blindly passing into oncoming traffic, while riders struggle to navigate a safe path between the patches. This busy rough section of Tempe Wick is now unsafe for everybody. When will Morris County make this section of Tempe Wick, a crucial east-west connector, safe? Rebecca P. Feldman Morristown”. Let’s keep our roads safe for all riders out there and feel free to use Rebecca’s email as inspiration.
The link is as follows: https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Departments/Engineering-Transportation/Report-a-Pothole-or-Road-Maintenance-Issue.
Warning Aggressive Drivers – We have become aware of several reports from MAFW and BTCNJ club members having a few close-calls with cars driven by aggressive drivers. In fact, one MAFW member encountered two aggressive drivers in one week. While we can’t prevent people from driving stupidly, we can take several actions to help make ourselves safer when riding on the road. Although not required, here are some things to consider:
Always wear a proper fitting bicycle helmet, to help protect your noggin if you go down (this is required by club rules)
Wear a bright colored jersey and bright socks
Use bright LED lights to make you visible to distracted motorists
Be predictable when riding
Never overlap wheels with the cyclist in front of you
Use a radar detector (such as the Garmin Varia). Personally, I think this has been the greatest new tool available to bike riders over the last several years.
Consider using a video camera (such as Cycliq) – – although this won’t keep you safe, it will provide visual documentation in the event of a crash or incident (and it’s great at capturing license plate numbers). However, if you are using a video camera – please inform everyone on the ride during the safety talk that you are doing so. Some individuals are not happy being potentially recorded without their prior consent.
See you out on the road
Joseph Reo
MAFW President
Great Swamp Flooding
It was reported to me that there is flooding in the Great Swamp area as indicated below:
- The gravel road connecting Whitebridge and Lord Stirling road is closed due to flooding. Long Hill has blocked off the bridge at the intersection with Carlton.
- Long Hill road is flooded but open at the first bridge going from Whitebridge to Pleasantville Rd. Cars were using only one lane to get thru and then very slowly. I saw one car turn around. I have no info about the condition from there to Pleasantville Rd.
- Pleasant Plains was flooded but passable between Whitebridge and the small bridge.
Sunrise Lake Beach Party 8/31
In addition to bike rides, paddleboat races, swimming and food, Len Friedman will be leading a 4 mile hike in Lewis Morris Park starting from Sunrise Lake. Be sure to sign up on the Ride Schedule if you want to hike.
CORRECTIONS
When you log into the MAFW website links to buy the new T-shirts and to sign up for the beach party are there. Link to the beach party is also available in the calendar.
MAFW T-SHIRTS
MAFW is offering purchase of MAFW cotton t-shirt. The link to purchase these t-shirts is on the MAFW calendar.
Product Details
Brand: JUST FOR KICKS
Wear your Morris Area Freewheeler shirt proudly. Comes in 50/50 Cotton/Poly for $18 or dri-fit for $21. The minimum order for our club is 12. It will take 2 to 3 weeks from the time of the order until it’s ready. Order early so you can pick up your shirt at the fall picnic.
Questions? Contact Roy Fischman: royfischman@gmail.com
SUNRISE LAKE END OF SUMMER PARTY
Freewheelers, family and guests join us on Saturday August 31, 2024 at Sunrise Lake in Lewis Morris Park for a day of riding, paddleboat races, swimming, getting wet (or not), and fun.
Rides will start leaving the park at 9AM and upon returning we will have picnic tables by the beach with empanadas, cold flavored seltzers and dishes by members. Rides are posted.
For more information on this fun event go to the MAFW calendar where this event is posted and where you can sign up. Please sign-up so we have a head count for the picnic. There is no charge. If you are riding, sign-up for a ride on the ride schedule. If you are not joining a ride you should be there by 11:30AM.
RIDE COORDINATOR UPDATE
REGIONAL CALENDAR – I want to again share this calendar of regional events in Pa, NJ, and DE that was prepared by Suburban Cyclists Unlimited. This is a great source of information for cycling events outside our normal MAFW schedule. If you want to be the ride leader for any of these events, please let me know.
https://www.suburbancyclists.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=694201&module_id=253585#Sep
RIDE LEADER – The more ride leaders we have the more rides we can offer the membership. As a ride leader you can pick the rides you want to do from a library of over 1000 rides. You can also decide the pace, time and date. Becoming a ride leader is a simple process and I am willing to step you thru the process and even sign up for your first ride as long as you pick C pace or slower and promise not to drop me.
RIDE LEADER AWARDS – For current ride leaders you need to have led 12 rides to qualify for the MAFW ride leader award. Cancellations count as 1/2 a ride and you have until end of Sept. to complete the requirement. If you are not sure of your status, please contact me.
SUNRISE LAKE BEACH PARTY AUG 31- MAFW has scheduled a beach party at Sunrise Lake in Lewis Morris Park that will involve swimming, paddleboat races as well as rides. Rides have been scheduled and I wish I could have set up flatter rides but blame George Washington for choosing that area to winter his troops. Jockey Hollow is next to Lewis Morris and recommend visiting Jockey Hollow, especially the Visitor’s Center. More information to follow on this event.
MAFW FALL PICNIC – Sunday Sept 22 is the MAFW Fall Picnic that will be held at Schooley’s Mountain Park. Rides have been posted and I do need a few ride leaders. More info to follow.
CHIP SEALING – Chip sealing is in progress on Rockaway from Potterstown Rd to Mountainville and on Hill and Dale. Recommend holding off rides in that area for a week or two until the chip seal settles. In addition, fresh gravel has been added to the gravel section on White Bridge Rd. Recommend walking that section until the gravel has a chance to settle.
MOUNTAINS TO COAST NORTH CAROLINA – This is a weeklong ride from Oct 5 to 12 in NC and this event is on the MAFW calendar and ride schedule. If interested please contact me.
FLEECYDALE RD – Yesterday a group of us did a ride involving Fleecydale Rd that goes from the Delaware River at Lumberville, Pa. to Carversville Pa. It is a steady climb but we all considered it one of the most scenic roads in our library of rides. The road is currently closed to cars but not to bicycles. Thanks to Pat and Tony for creating Fleecydale Follies. The Carversville Inn is closed but due to open soon.
Manny
WHITEBRIDGE RD GRAVEL SECTION
I have been alerted that fresh gravel has been placed on the gravel section of Whitebridge Rd from the bridge to the Environmental Center. One rider fell on this section today when he encountered the deep fresh gravel, but he is OK. Recommend you walk thru this section or take the detour via Skyline.
Manny