RAMAPO RALLY AND BOB’S VERMONT TOUR

This month we have 2 special events and both are on the MAFW calendar and on the ride schedule:

RAMAPO RALLY – This is a day event on Sunday 8/18 and run by BTCNJ Bike Club.  If you decide to attend this event you need first to register using the link below and then you can sign up on the ride schedule.  This will allow you to connect with other MAFW riders.

Ramapo Rally – Half the Hills are Down (btcnj.com)

BOB’S VERMONT TOUR – This is a weekend cycling tour in Vermont from Aug 22-25.  We will be staying in the Ramapo Ski Club Lodge that is across from Mad River Club Ski Resort.  Need to sign up via the MAFW calendar and then you can sign up on the ride schedule.

RIDE COORDINATOR UPDATE

1-ROAD WORK IN FREANKIN SOMERSET AREA

Listed below is a list of road work in the Franklin Somerset Area:

Blackwells Mills Rd Reclamation -Reclamation will begin on or about August 12, 24. Road will be closed for 24 hours a day for approximately 2 weeks.

Arden Area Resurfacing  -Concrete work in progress.

  • Shannon Ct
  • Arden St
  • Park St
  • Gary Ct
  • Laird Terr
  • Girard Ave (Easton Ave to Fairmount)

Mosher Rd Area Resurfacing -Mettlers Rd work to begin on or about 8/19/24. Weather permitting.

  • Mosher Rd
  • Acken Ln
  • Tournquist Ct
  • Washington Ave
  • Barbieri Ct
  • Eden St
  • Mettlers Rd

2-Please do your best to schedule your rides a couple of days in advance so riders can plan their schedule.

Thanks, Manny

MAFW August 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 August 2024 edition of our NL is online. To read: click
https://mafw.org/newsletter/

What’s in this issue:

  1. Freewheelers Election at November Members Meeting
  2. Morris Area Freewheelers Foundation’s CPR & First Aid Course Update – Rob Greenberg
  3. Connect with the MAF Bike Club on Social Media – Tracy Brown
  4. Ride Coordinator Update
  5. New Tours since October 2023
  6. Bristol Meyers Squibb Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer Cross Country Relay – Rena Odette
  7. Ramapo Rally
  8. BOB’S VERMONT 3-DAY TOUR AUGUST 22-25 – Bob Warren
  9. Tour de Bronx – October 6
  10. THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MILESTONE PARTY October 8 – Patricia Kipp
  11. Gettsyburg Fall Weekend October 25 – 27
  12. How to repair a punctured tubeless tire – What to do out on the road – Tony Marchand
  13. Photo Gallery
  14. Poet’s Corner – John J. Burns
  15. 2024 Calendar
  16. Roy’s Penn Dutch Weekend October 4 – 6, 2024
  17. MAF Bike Adventures 2024 See website for more detail
  18. Cycling Guides by Mark Jay
  19. People Cycling
  20. Safety by Paul Malinowski
  21. Club Sponsors
  22. 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

CHIP SEALING

I just want to bring to your attention that Rockaway Rd., Philhower Rd. and Potterstown Rd. west of Rockaway are all going to be chip sealed on or about August 1.  Many of our popular roads use these roads.

Manny

 

RIDE COORDINATOR REPORT

BON TON ROULET – This past week 10 MAFW members cycled and camped thru the Finger Lakes of New York with ~250 other cyclists from across the country. You did have the option of staying in college dorms or hotels.  5 of us did the century ride offered on Day 3 where we cycled to Lake Ontario. Great rides and great weather.  This ride is done every July and I recommend it.  I have done it twice and plan on doing it next year.

OTHER UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS – In addition to the rides on our ride schedule we have listed special rides on our calendar and some on our ride schedule.  For a special ride to be listed on the normal ride calendar I need a ride leader to take responsibility.  Below is a list of some of these special events from the calendar where you can register;

8/18 – Ramapo Rally. Half the hills are down and they do offer a 125 mile ride.

8/22-25 – Bob’s Vermont Tour. We will be staying at Ramapo Ski Club Lodge that is across the street from Mad River Glen Ski Resort (“BIKE IT IF YOU CAN”)

9/7 – Sourlands Spectacular. Remember that the “HILLS ARE NOT IN THE WAY, THEY ARE THE WAY”.

10/6 – Tour de Bronx

10/4-6 – Roy’s Penn Dutch Weekend. Be careful when riding in the Dutch country since the horse and buggies do leave presents along the road.

10/6-12 – Mountains to Coast Ride in North Carolina

RIDE LEADER AWARDS – To earn the MAFW Ride Leader Award you need to have led 12 rides during the period from 10/1/2023 to 9/30/2024.  You still have 8 weeks.

COLONIAL PARK – Regardless of the cue sheet all rides during the summer are from Howe Athletic Field that is located on the eastern end of Colonial Park between Elizabeth Ave and Colonial Drive. After summer we will switch to Lot C.

Manny

 

Chip Sealing in Tewksbury Township

I have just been alerted that chip sealing could be starting on or around Thursday Aug 1 on the following roads in Tewksbury:

  • King Street
  • Potterstown Road from King Street crossing over Rockaway Road to Uptom Pine
  • Rockaway Road from Potterstown Road to Mountainville
  • Hill And Dale entire length
  • Philhower Road entire length

May have to give it a week to settle.  If you do find yourself on fresh chip seal just take it easy.  Recommend ride leaders not post rides in this area during this period.

RVCC STARTPOINT UPDATE

When you decide to lead a ride from Raritan Valley Community College you need to send an email to John Trojan several days in advance of the ride.  John who represents RVCC needs to know for security purposes and his email is  john.trojan@raritanval.edu. This is not a lot to ask for the privilege of using RVCC as a starting point.  Mr. Trojan also asks us to use parking Lot#5 and this is the lot where you can park under the solar panels.  The solar panels are a great place to park since they provide shade and protection for your cars.  This information has been added to the RVCC startpoint.  Finally, RVCC has indicated that the Revolutionary Ramble can be held again at RVCC.

Manny

RIVERTON BELVIDERE BRIDGE CLOSURE

The Riverton Belvidere pedestrian bridge will be closed from July 22 until August 25.  Thanks to Bill Kolano for bringing this to our attention.

Five-week long walkway closure scheduled to begin July 22 at Riverton-Belvidere Bridge

Sidewalk Shutdown Needed on PA Side for Exigent Repairs to Underlying Wing Wall

BELVIDERE, NJ (Warren County) – The Riverton-Belvidere Bridge’s pedestrian walkway is scheduled to be shut down July 22 so needed repairs can be made to bulging masonry wing walls on the structure’s Pennsylvania side, according to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

Once started, the walkway closure is estimated to remain in place without interruption for up to 35 days. Weather permitting, that means pedestrian access could be restored by August 25.

SPECIAL RIDES

We have 3 special rides listed on our ride schedule.  For each event sign up and pay by accessing the event via the MAFW calendar.  After booking and paying for the event I recommend you sign up on the ride schedule so we know who is attending the event.

BON TON ROULET -July 20 to 27.  If you already booked and paid to attend this event please sign up on the ride schedule.  This is a week of cycling and camping in the Finger Lakes of New York.  Any questions feel free to contact Manny at 732-259-8990.

BOB’S VERMONT 3 DAY TOUR – Aug 22 to 25.  After booking this event please sign up on the ride schedule.  This event is limited to 16 cyclists and information on this event is on the MAFW calendar.

ROY’S PENN DUTCH RIDE – Oct 4 to 6.  After booking this event please sign up on the ride schedule.

Manny