September means it’s still warm enough the wear shorts while you ride, and cool enough not to bake under your helmet!
Here we are at the last long weekend of the
summer, ready for what will hopefully be a much cooler September … a little
less of a drenching under the helmet would be welcome!
There’s a whole list of events outside of the
huge Gran
Fondo next weekend … including classes for adults and kids, nature rides and
fundraising tours.
Before we say goodbye to August though,
remember that tonight is the Bike-in
Movie Night in Morristown,
featuring music, a movie and a group picnic right after the monthly Community Bike Ride.
If you know of a September event I’ve missed,
please email bettybike@jjournal.com, or
add it into the comment fields below for all to share.
Monday, September 3
Every Monday evening at 5:30 pm the Women’s
Beginner-Intermediate MTB Ride – the WEMOB — leaves from
the Sunrise Lake Parking Lot at Lewis Morris Park. Join them
for a fun, social, non-competitive all women’s ride through the hills of the
park. Here’s your opportunity to get into the fit sport of mountain biking –
laugh, make new friends and get a great workout! No drop ride. Beginners
ages 12 and up are welcome. Plan on arriving at 5:15 pm. Lewis Morris is not
very rocky, but it is relatively hilly. The pace will be slow to medium, and no
one will be left behind. You must wear a helmet on this ride, and you must
have a mountain bike. If you do not have a mountain bike, call Marty’s
Reliable Cycles and they can
get you onto one of their rental mountain bikes. Bring at least 1L of water to
keep hydrated. Contact Connie, the ride leader, at myriverpath@gmail.com with any questions.
Tuesday, September 4
East
Hanover REI is holding another
of their ever-popular FREE Bike Maintenance Basics classes from 7:00-8:30 pm. If you
ride a bike, you need this class! In this informative presentation you’ll
learn how to properly lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make
other minor adjustments to your bike. No experience is necessary and the
class is free, but space is very limited, so pre-register now at REI.com.
New to mountain biking? Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (JORBA) hosts Beginner Mountain Bike Group Rides at Allaire State Park, every Tuesday.
Be ready to start promptly at 6:00 pm, from the Hospital Road
parking lot. Although everyone is welcome, these rides are mainly for BEGINNERS
who want an easy-paced and friendly ride through the trails of Allaire. The
ride leaders will show you how to best avoid the bumps and bruises they’ve
encountered along the way. The group moves only as fast as the slowest rider,
and no one is ever dropped. Helmets, water, a bike, and a desire to meet some
wacky bike-centric folk are all that is required.
Wednesday, September 5
Paramus REI is holding another of their popular FREE Bike Maintenance Basics classes from 7:00-8:30 pm. If you ride
a bike, you’ll want this class – I know, as I’ve taken it myself. In this
informative presentation you’ll learn how to properly lube a chain, fix a flat
tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bike. No
experience is necessary and the class is free, but space is very limited, so
pre-register now at REI.com.
Thursday, September 6
TransOptions will
be teaching their Bike Right: Adult Defensive Biking Skills class in Morristown, starting this evening. The
class meets on 3 successive Thursday evenings, and by the end of the class, you
will know how to navigate in traffic, avoid crashes, fix a flat, and tons of
other helpful stuff. Defensive Bike Skills Training has something for everyone
whether you are a first-time bike rider, someone who is just getting back into
biking or a seasoned vet. In this fast-paced course you will gain confidence and
learn the skills you will need to capably bike on the road among traffic or on the trail. Register online here (click the adult button, and the class info suddenly
appears!). There is $35 registration fee.
Saturday, September 8
Gran Fondo NJ will be held on Sunday, but the
festivities start on Saturday
as all of Morristown transforms with
Fondo Fever. Visit the huge expo, watch movies on the Green, listen
to live musical entertainment, work off the great food at spin-a-thons and
have loads of other family fun. Events
today include the Fun Run/Doggie Dash,
the Kids Fondo, garden tours and the
Historic Bike Tour of Morris County. Up to the minute event details may be found
on the Gran Fondo NJ Facebook page and the official event
website.
The Sourland
Planning Council will host its First Annual Sourland Spectacular Bike
and Hike, beginning
at 7:00 am at the Somerset County Sourland Preserve. The
bicycling event will offer challenging routes for serious cyclists, as well as
a shorter alternative for more casual bikers. Routes of 37, 50 and 63
miles are planned, all of which include some climbing, as Sourland Mountain is
beautiful, but not flat. All routes begin and end at the Somerset County
Sourland Mountain Preserve on East Mountain Road in Hillsborough Township. There will be coffee and snacks
at registration, and designated rest stops along the routes will offer
beverages, snacks and bathroom facilities. SAG services also will be
provided. Following the morning activities, both hikers and bikers
will join up for a picnic lunch at the Preserve, and all participants will
receive commemorative T-shirts. Proceeds will benefit the Sourland Planning
Council, a non-profit organization working to protect the ecological integrity,
historical resources and special character of the Sourland Mountain region. The registration fee is $35 per person, with discounts
available for early registration. The fee for children between the
ages 7 and 16 is $20. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by
a parent or guardian.
If you never learned to ride a bike or need to
relearn the basics, REI’s How to Ride a Bike for adults is the class for you! Out in
lovely Lewis Morris County Park, their
patient instructors use a series of skill-developing exercises to get you up on
two wheels. You’ll learn to start and stop smoothly while balancing comfortably
on a bike. This class is the foundation of all REI’s cycling classes, and is
designed to prepare first time riders to progress to the next class – Beginning
Bike Skills. This How to Ride a Bike class is for adults and kids 12 and older;
for children 11 and under REI offers a separate How to Ride a Bike for Kids
class. For those 12-17 years old, adults must be present at the class
location. The class will begin at 10:00 am, and goes
to 1:00 pm. The cost for REI
members is $65.00. Non-members will pay $85.00. Don’t have a bike? REI
will provide Novara mountain bikes at no extra charge. Please feel free to
bring your own personal helmet, but they will have helmets available for those
that do not have a helmet. Space is very limited for these classes, so
pre-register now at REI.com.
Take part in Birding by Bicycle at Duke
Farms in Hillsbourgh, a special program that
combines two of their visitors’ most popular activities – watching birds and
bicycling! Riding out at 9:00 am and
continuing until noon, group participants will visit several different
habitats, including forests, meadows and lakes, which will provide plentiful
opportunities to see various species of birds. This program is open to
anyone ages 12 to adult interested in learning about birds.
Participants are required to bring their own mountain bikes and
protective headgear for this ride, which includes both paved and gravel roads
and does include some inclines. Cost: $15 per person; $10 for members of N.J.
Audubon.
Sunday, September 9
How’d you like to spend a day learning how to
mountain bike from some pros in Lewis Morris Park? Well you are in
luck … REI is hosting an Introduction to Mountain Biking course with instructors who will teach
you the proper techniques of shifting, braking, hill climbing and descent, body
and pedal position, and navigating minor obstacles on the trail. Proper trail
etiquette and safety will also be addressed. The class will begin at 10:00
am, and is expected to last about 5 hours. The cost for REI members
is $65.00. Non-members will pay $85.00. This is designed as an
educational ride, not a guided tour; the idea is to teach you how to get more
out of your mountain biking experience. Don’t have a bike? REI will provide
Novara mountain bikes at no extra charge. Please feel free to bring your own
personal helmet, but they will have helmets available for those that do not
have a helmet. Space is very limited for these classes, so pre-register now at REI.com.
Monday, September 10
Every Monday evening at 5:30 pm the Women’s
Beginner-Intermediate MTB Ride – the WEMOB — leaves from
the Sunrise Lake Parking Lot at Lewis Morris Park. Join them
for a fun, social, non-competitive all women’s ride through the hills of the
park. Here’s your opportunity to get into the fit sport of mountain biking –
laugh, make new friends and get a great workout! No drop ride. Beginners
ages 12 and up are welcome. Plan on arriving at 5:15 pm. Lewis Morris is not
very rocky, but it is relatively hilly. The pace will be slow to medium, and no
one will be left behind. You must wear a helmet on this ride, and you must
have a mountain bike. If you do not have a mountain bike, call Marty’s
Reliable Cycles and they can
get you onto one of their rental mountain bikes. Bring at least 1L of water to
keep hydrated. Contact Connie, the ride leader, at myriverpath@gmail.com with any questions.
Tuesday, September 11
New to mountain biking? Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (JORBA) hosts Beginner Mountain Bike Group Rides at Allaire State Park, every Tuesday.
Be ready to start promptly at 6:00 pm, from the Hospital Road
parking lot. Although everyone is welcome, these rides are mainly for BEGINNERS
who want an easy-paced and friendly ride through the trails of Allaire. The
ride leaders will show you how to best avoid the bumps and bruises they’ve encountered
along the way. The group moves only as fast as the slowest rider, and no one is
ever dropped. Helmets, water, a bike, and a desire to meet some wacky
bike-centric folk are all that is required.
Saturday, September 15
Join the West
Windsor Bike and Pedestrian Alliance (WWBPA) for a Family Bike Ride. WWBPA’s goal is to help you feel comfortable getting
around by bike and show you some fun new routes. This ride will be a five-mile
loop down the Trolley Line Trail and along Penn-Lyle past High School South and
then back to the park. Meet at the tennis courts at Community Park (North Mill
Road entrance) at 2:15 pm; ride leaves
at 2:30 pm. No preregistration is
necessary for the ride; just bring a bike in good working order and a helmet.
The ride itself is free. Children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult. WWBPA
will adjust routes as needed because of road construction. Check the group’s website
or Facebook
page for final details.
Tuesday, September 18
The Boys
Girls Club of Newark Bike Exchange will be in Branch Brook
Park selling bikes, taking bike donations and doing
bike demonstrations from 10:00 am -3:00
pm at the 5k Run Walk – Day For Kids. The
fundraising event will feature a certified 5K Run and a 5K Walk, featuring free
t-shirt to all who register online, healthy breakfast foods and a nutritious
lunch, face painting, sponsored activities, carnival games and prizes including
exclusive prizes from Build A Bear Workshop and Dick’s Sporting Goods, and so
much more! Lenny Green (WBLS ‘Quiet Storm’) will be attending the event as the
official emcee. This is a family event you will not want to miss!
Wednesday, September 5
Paramus REI is holding another of their popular FREE Bike Maintenance Basics classes from 7:00-8:30 pm. If you ride
a bike, you’ll want this class – I know, as I’ve taken it myself. In this
informative presentation you’ll learn how to properly lube a chain, fix a flat
tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bike. No
experience is necessary and the class is free, but space is very limited, so
pre-register now at REI.com.
Monday, September 17
Every Monday evening at 5:30 pm the Women’s
Beginner-Intermediate MTB Ride – the WEMOB — leaves from
the Sunrise Lake Parking Lot at Lewis Morris Park. Join them
for a fun, social, non-competitive all women’s ride through the hills of the
park. Here’s your opportunity to get into the fit sport of mountain biking –
laugh, make new friends and get a great workout! No drop ride. Beginners
ages 12 and up are welcome. Plan on arriving at 5:15 pm. Lewis Morris is not
very rocky, but it is relatively hilly. The pace will be slow to medium, and no
one will be left behind. You must wear a helmet on this ride, and you must
have a mountain bike. If you do not have a mountain bike, call Marty’s
Reliable Cycles and they can
get you onto one of their rental mountain bikes. Bring at least 1L of water to
keep hydrated. Contact Connie, the ride leader, at myriverpath@gmail.com with any questions.
Saturday, September 22
Duke Farms’ Scenic Bike Tours are a fun way to enjoy Hillsborough‘s
Duke Farms. Held on Saturday mornings once a month, these
seven-mile guided rides will take you past the Farms’ lakes,
waterfalls, bridges and
sweeping vistas. Participants are required to bring their own mountain
bikes and protective headgear for this tour. The leisurely-paced ride is
suitable for all riders who can ride for two hours, unassisted. The ride includes
both paved and gravel roads and does include some inclines. Bike seats or
trailers are encouraged for younger or less secure riders. Each group is
limited to 20 people; the cost is $10 per person or $5 for children in a bike
seat or a trailer. Bike Tours will start at the Farm
Barn/Orientation Center at 1112 Duke Parkway West. Bike Tours will
be held 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Please pre-register online.
Join New Jersey
Audubon Naturalists on a Bicycle
Tour of the Habitats of Duke Farms in Hillsborough. On the tour you’ll examine, compare and
contrast the plants and animals in each separate nature zone. This program
is designed for adults and focused young people – this is not a tour for tots.
Participants are required to bring their own mountain bikes and helmets, or you
may now rent a bike at Duke Farms. The ride includes paved and gravel roads and
does include some inclines. Open to riders age 12 and up. Cost:
$15 per person; $10 for members of N.J. Audubon.
Sunday, September 23
Bike Walk Montclair is
planning a Bike-in Pot Luck Picnic
at Edgemont Park from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Details are sketchy right now, but check the BMC website for details as
the date comes closer.
Monday, September 24
Every Monday evening at 5:30 pm the Women’s
Beginner-Intermediate MTB Ride – the WEMOB — leaves from
the Sunrise Lake Parking Lot at Lewis Morris Park. Join them
for a fun, social, non-competitive all women’s ride through the hills of the
park. Here’s your opportunity to get into the fit sport of mountain biking –
laugh, make new friends and get a great workout! No drop ride. Beginners
ages 12 and up are welcome. Plan on arriving at 5:15 pm. Lewis Morris is not
very rocky, but it is relatively hilly. The pace will be slow to medium, and no
one will be left behind. You must wear a helmet on this ride, and you must
have a mountain bike. If you do not have a mountain bike, call Marty’s
Reliable Cycles and they can
get you onto one of their rental mountain bikes. Bring at least 1L of water to
keep hydrated. Contact Connie, the ride leader, at myriverpath@gmail.com with any questions.
Tuesday, September 27
East
Hanover REI is holding another
of their ever-popular FREE Bike Maintenance Basics classes from 7:00-8:30 pm. If you
ride a bike, you need this class! In this informative presentation you’ll
learn how to properly lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make
other minor adjustments to your bike. No experience is necessary and the
class is free, but space is very limited, so pre-register now at REI.com.
Saturday, September 29
The Rotary Club of
Vineland is collecting donated bicycles as part of its Pedals for Progress Program. The drop-off point will be manned from
9:00 am to 1:00 pm, at 2260 East
Sherman Ave. Those interested in donating bikes or portable sewing machines
need not wait until Sept. 29. Just call 856-457-7815 before Sept. 15 or contact
Henry Hansen at 856-696-0643 after Sept. 15 to arrange a drop-off or pick-up
for your donation.
Sunday, September 30
The Bachmann-Strauss
Dystonia Parkinson Foundation presents the Fifth Annual Jake’s Ride for Dystonia
Research at Hartshorn Elementary School,
400 Hartshorn Drive, Short Hills.
Jake’s Ride is a community fundraiser with several bike riding courses
including a one-mile, five-mile, 10-mile and 20-mile route traveling through
Millburn/Short Hills as well as a one-mile walking course. The event will kick
off at the starting line at 9:00 am. Pre-registration fee is $40 for adults and
$20 for children until Friday, Sept. 16. Registration after that date is $55
for adults and $30 for children. This event is filled with live entertainment,
raffle prizes, free food for all attendees, tents promoting local
businesses/sponsors and much more. To find out more information about Jake’s
Ride for Dystonia Research, visit JakesRide.org.