 |
 |
 |
|
Biking Update Hi Gang,I am happy to say that the response to the bike ride has been encouraging and the weather for Saturday looks fantastic for riding! I did get some requests for more information to help folks decide if they would joint so I thought it a good idea to send this to everyone in case your still on the fence! So here is the final installment of information about the ride, it should be lots of fun and I hope many of you will join the fun! Route and Difficulty: A number of you asked what a .Green. equivalent meant to a novice cyclist, vs. my .advanced. perspective. To help answer this I put together the attached word document which shows two route variations that we can choose on Saturday morning. It includes both a cue sheet and a map for each and the cue sheet includes comments, by segment, that should lend more clarity. However in a nutshell I believe that a novice cyclist or one in less then great shape will get a good workout but will absolutely be able to ride the full route. That said however if anyone is still concerned about their ability to handle the whole distance or the rolling hills section of the ride I will also have an .out and back. route ready to go that will be a little shorter and covers only the flattest half of the route. This will allow these riders to start out from the same spot, connect with the loop riders at the rest stop and then all ride the remainder of the route together. Leading the group: As I mentioned in my earlier email this will be a social style ride at a leisurely pace. Since I can only ride one route at a time if we split, I will go with the larger group. I.ll bring enough copies of each route so that anyone that wants to ride the other route can do so with confidence. I also plan to enlist a leader for the second route if it goes that way. Each route leader will ensure that someone waits at each turning point in the route for the last rider so that nobody is left behind or lost. Meet Time: Everyone should plan to meet in the Parking lot of the Meyersville Inn at 9:45 ready to ride. Directions to the Inn from Scotch Plains are below. Before we set out we will determine which route(s), distribute cue sheets and I will provide a little advice about safe group riding practices for anyone that has not ridden in a group before. What to Bring: Suggested items include Sunglasses, Water and/or a Sport drink, spare inner tube, energy snack, sun block and your cell phone. I plan to wear my bike shorts/shirt and helmet for both safety and comfort and suggest you wear what ever is most comfortable for an hour to two on the bike. Rest Stop: All the routes include a planned stop at the Green Village deli where you can get cold drinks, coffee or if your hungry a wide range of food. They have some picnic tables in the back of the lot that are a nice place to sit and take a break. This spot will also serve as a decision/meeting spot. For those on the loop ride this is where we decide which loop variation to take. For those that take the out and back this is where the two groups will meet and combine into a single group for the remainder of the ride. What if you can't make it? If you find partway through the ride that you can.t finish for any reason this will not be a problem, it will just require a little patience. Should this his occur we will find a nice spot for you to rest and wait and when I finish the ride I will come and pick you and your bike up where we left you. Directions to the Meyersville Inn from Scotch Plains (15 to 20 minutes est.):
If you have any problems or if you get lost please call me on my cell at 908-305-1965 Mark Mintz |