Note: This post was updated on Aug. 5, 2015 to change the date of the NJ Coastal Ride. Our ride is now scheduled for September 12, 2015. This change is due to a large scheduled event at Sandy Hook, the 2015 “Iron Girl” women’s triathlon, which will result in restricted access to the park on September 13.  

I’d like to provide notice to our Delaware Valley Trike Riders’ Club members that I will not be leading a “monthly” club ride during the month of August 2015. Over the past several months I’ve found that planning rides, mapping routes, and scouting trails I haven’t visited for a long while, all takes a fair amount of time – particularly when trying to match these rides with the feedback from club members regarding our current abilities and goals.

While I won’t lead a “monthly” ride in August, I will begin offering a repeating ride, the 30-mile “Odd Sunday Sundae Ride.” More information about this repeated ride will be available in an upcoming post.

If YOU would like to lead a club ride this August, perhaps along your favorite or familiar trail, or if you know of another ride that our club members might be interested in joining, something for fun, for charity, etc., please let me know and I will post the details online.

During this 2015 season – our first riding season – I’ve tried to offer rides that were easy, some more challenging, and one that someone said was insanely difficult. While most of these rides have attracted only small groups, the feedback I’ve received suggests that our club members want to continue group rides… and that is news I’m happy to hear. For much of the remainder of this season I will rely more heavily on destination rides as well as rides organized by others (see details below). These rides have been mostly selected for their trike-accommodating terrain, their proximity to our “home” region (thinking… “day trip”), their visual or historical points of interest and relative ease of access to food, restrooms and nearby mechanical support. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for accommodating weather!

Beginning again in September 2015, here are some club rides I hope you can join:

Sept. 12: NJ Coastal Ride from Long Branch NJ to Sandy Hook and back (<25 miles). The goal is to take a leisurely morning ride to soak up the last bit of summer sun, share a few laughs, catch some refreshing ocean breezes, view some of the historic structures along the route and wrap up with a hearty late lunch at a local restaurant.

Oct. 4: Tour de Pines Final Day, $40 fee, supporting the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (27 or 45 mile loops). This is the final day of five day’s of pinelands bike touring for a single fee. See http://www.pinelandsalliance.org/exploration/ppaprograms/tourdepines/ for details. Weather permitting, I also plan to ride the first day’s tour (Sept. 30) “Ride like the Devil”, a 48 mile loop. These are “follow the leader” (starting at 9:00 AM) or “on your own” rides that are typically well attended. Be aware, they do not provide SAG, so be sure to carry your repair kit. Average speeds on bike-friendly roads, following Tour ride leaders, are between 11 – 13 MPH.

Oct. 24 or 25: Lehigh Gorge Trail. One of two options will be selected depending on your interest (please contact me with your option and date preference). This trip is planned to take place before the end of the peak of fall foliage amongst some of the beautiful vistas  along the Lehigh Gorge Trail. We will likely take several brief stops along the trail to view the many waterfalls, white-water rapids and other points of interest within the gorge. Be sure to bring your camera!

Option 1 (parking fee only – about $6.00 per vehicle): Lehigh Gorge Trail, from Jim Thorpe to Rockport and back (30 miles). We’ll take advantage of a typically warmer, late morning start from Jim Thorpe and enjoy our home-packed lunch at the Buttermilk Falls before returning.

Option 2 (parking $6.00, and shuttle $19.99 per bike): Leaving at 10:00 AM sharp, we will be shuttled (by Pocono Biking) from Jim Thorpe to White Haven where we will proceed at a leisurely pace south along the Lehigh Gorge Trail, stopping to enjoy our packed lunch at the Buttermilk Falls before proceeding to Jim Thorpe. This is a 25 mile, one-way trip.

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For each of these club rides, more details will be provided as they get closer on our calendars.

Thank you for your support, interest and membership in our club. I know I’ve made some very good cycling friends these past few months, on both scheduled and ad-hoc rides, and I look forward to riding with you soon!

Wayne K