Recently, I sent a note to bikeforums own Tim (lancefanboy), who is one of the co-creators of BikeWire, to let him know that the areas that you could join under for NJ (Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City and one other that I can't remember), were very close together, and aren't towns you can really consider cycling areas. Since he is doesn't really know Jersey, he asked me to help pick some more appropriate areas. So, here I am, passing the buck. I'm thinking 3-4 towns/cities, with the requirements being they have to be more or less cycling hubs, and they can't be too close together. I think Princeton would be a good one, maybe another in, say, Monmouth county, and then another up in the northwest, sussex/warren/morris area, since there's such great cycling up there.

Any ideas?

Places I know of:

- Bed 1 - Bedminster
- North Branch Park, Branchberg
- Liberty Oak Park - Liberty Corners
- Village Park - Cranbury
- Thompson Park - Monroe Township
- Brookdale Community College - Lyncroft
- Monmouth Battle Grounds State Park, Freehold
- Sandy Hook

I don't know if that's useful. I know there are a lot more. Do you want destinations (a hub).

I'm definitely looking for the two or three biggest cycling hubs in the state, yes.

I'm definitely looking for the two or three biggest cycling hubs in the state, yes.

I can't think of any of the others right now but definitely the Deli and the Bakery in Allentown, NJ (not PA). It's near where Rt 195 and the NJ Turnpike meet. Also the Clarksburg Deli in Clarksburg NJ. Some of us refer to it as Le Chateau (sp?) du Clarksburg. It's not unusual to meet up with several different bike clubs, mid ride, at these locations.

+1 on adding Princeton or Allentown. I had to choose a place I never ride, or visit. Need some Central & S Jersey locales added.

Metuchen/Edison

Somerset/Bridgewater/Bound Brook/Piscataway
(Rutgers cycling team has rides in these areas AFAIK)

Try Hunterdon County around Flemington and readington NJ. The terrain is quite varied and very beautiful. You may also want to look in that same area around Stockton and Lambertville. For you trail riders, the Delaware/Raritan Canal Towpath going through those areas can be nice in the summer (but a bit buggy). Mercer County around Princeton and Hopewell also are nice areas to ride without alot of traffic.

Cheers,

Brian

+1 on adding Princeton or Allentown. I had to choose a place I never ride, or visit. Need some Central & S Jersey locales added.

Nixon's Deli in Tabernacle. ;-)

That may not be the most popular spot but I love riding to there as a destination from Central Jersey. They make great sandwiches and they have 'Pinie' T- Shirts (what more could you want ;) ).

Heard of it but can't say I know which way to point in order to get there. Relatively new to riding this area.

Heard of it but can't say I know which way to point in order to get there. Relatively new to riding this area.
Go to Google Maps, enter Tabernacle, NJ and then zoom in on the arrow a bit. Nixon's is on the corner of New Rd and Chatsworth Rd (Rt 532). It's towards the southern end of my routes though I currently need to work on getting some routes near the Delaware River south of Bordentown.

Since you're new to area let me introduce you to Dustin's http://www.njbikemap.com/. Dustin spent a lot of time researching those PDF files and they can tell you a lot about an area where you might want to ride. I've somewhat memorized the keys (the road colors) which makes selecting roads easier. I use those in conjunction with http://www.bikely.com/ to create my routes. I have a few routes I've put together but not tried that start at the Ranger's Station off Rt 72 in Lebanon State Forest (near the Rt 70/Rt 72 circle).

Found it, thanks..Looks like quite a haul from my area, but the surrounding area looks like some great landscape to throw miles on....

+1 on adding Princeton or Allentown. I had to choose a place I never ride, or visit. Need some Central & S Jersey locales added.

if you're adding true southern nj areas to ride in, check out the South Jersey Wheelmen bicycle club. we have 3 LAB sanctioned centuries, "get ready metric" in may, "bridgeton zoo" in august, and "jersey devil" in september. all are sagged, choice of 1/2, or full length, rest stops available as well!

beacon, action wheels, and the outdoor club of south jersey offer other quality rides down here!

t

if you're adding true southern nj areas to ride in, check out the South Jersey Wheelmen bicycle club. we have 3 LAB sanctioned centuries, "get ready metric" in may, "bridgeton zoo" in august, and "jersey devil" in september. all are sagged, choice of 1/2, or full length, rest stops available as well!

beacon, action wheels, and the outdoor club of south jersey offer other quality rides down here!

t


Town? If you had to name ONE main cycling town, one that other parts of South Jersey wouldn't have a problem relating to, what would it be?

Found it, thanks..Looks like quite a haul from my area, but the surrounding area looks like some great landscape to throw miles on....
Where-abouts-you-at? I'm in Monroe/Cranbury area.

"one main cycling town" in the entire state of south jersey....? interesting question...!

the answer is perplexing, opinionated, and full of conflict. there are many great towns to ride in here, but to single to one specific, that others can relate to, is not possible. some prefer riding through tabernacle, others may prefer camden or high point. fortesque is good, cape may too, bellplaine, salem city, pitman...

the one town I (i) would say is "best" cycling town here in snj is the town i am cycling in at the moment! i think rosenhein or mays landing, depending on bicyclist intent, are the best!

if you're adding true southern nj areas to ride in, check out the
Tom, ROG is looking for places where Cyclist end up riding to, such as Sergeantsville, Allentown or Ringoes. Places that act as a hub for cyclists. You'd be amazed at the sheer number of cyclist who either stop or pass through Sergeantsville or Allentown on a give weekend day. I say that it's hundreds.

Let me add Sergeantsville (most definitely!), Cassville - the general store (this place is ancient) at Rts 528 and 571, the ??? store at the corner of Stump-Tavern Rd and Rt 571. Both of these are Monmouth County (I think), Manasquan Reservoir, it's both a starting point and a cross road of sorts (as opposed to a hub) and Liberty Oak Park in Freehold. Another starting point and cross-road.

I'm not sure this is what you had in mind ROG. Out of the bunch I think Allentown Ringoes, and Sergeantsville is definitely what you are looking for. The rest are a bit iffy though Cassville still fits your description.

I'm not really sure what Bikewire is for.

here's the criteria - three towns, one north jersey, one central jersey, one south jersey. Each one being a town that that particular regions riders could relate to, if not actually ride through. I'm in central jersey, and I could relate to Edison and Princeton both, even though I don't ride through either.

It doesn't even have to be the town that cyclists ride through most, so long as it is a cycling town, and easily identifiable as being from that region. I suggested just doing north, central and south jersey, but they want to do it by town/city right now.

As far as what bikewire is, its basically facebook for cyclists.

Where-abouts-you-at? I'm in Monroe/Cranbury area.

Robbinsville, about 5-6 miles south of Cranbury.

For the North, I'd say Ridgewood. Located between the western wilds, the Ramapos, the areas that the NYC cyclists frequent, and accessible to the popular cycling destinations in Rockland County NY; home to a couple good bike shops; the terminus of a well-used greenway; and has a NJ Transit station.

For the North, I'd say Ridgewood. Located between the western wilds, the Ramapos, the areas that the NYC cyclists frequent, and accessible to the popular cycling destinations in Rockland County NY; home to a couple good bike shops; the terminus of a well-used greenway; and has a NJ Transit station.


That's a great suggestion, zowie, thanks. I didn't even think of Ridgewood.

For the north end of Central or the Southern end of North I would suggest Stirling, NJ. This is located in a valley wtihin the Watchung Mountain range and is a hub for many bikers and there are a lot of published routes that run within the valleys and up along/over the ridges. Routes hit places like the Great Swamp, Jockey Hollow and Lake Road (most beautiful Rd. in NJ?). High Gear Cyclery has a big shop in Stirling and runs and publishes a bunch of rides from there. On a typical weekend I will see as many as 50 other riders over the course of my rides in this area.

Robbinsville, about 5-6 miles south of Cranbury.

Good news, you're in Princeton Freewheeler Country. :-) (Mercer County Park and Cranbury). You should come out and sample the rides (you can ride with the group once or twice without joining the club as a guest). I don't know where the Mercer Park rides are but I know where the Cranbury rides are.

somerville(area)

We added Princeton, Ridgewood, and Stirling. I hope that helps.