Crafter

Hello, I live in NE New Jersey,

After a few years off the bike, I am getting back into it again mostly for fitness: Weekend club rides and a few centuries.

Looking forward to being here, It looks like a great place.

Thank you.

10 Wheels

Hey Crafter,

Good to have you.

Look around and have fun posting.

1nterceptor

Welcome aboard! What kind of bike(s) are you riding?
I got into cycling so I can get to work and get fit at
the same time. Like you I also do club rides; with the
Five Boro Bike Club and the New York cycle Club. I
have also started doing century/charity events. I
really enjoyed the Escape New York(NYCC) and BIKE MS
NYC(by the MS Society) centuries that I participated
in last year. PS, Where in Jersey are you? I'm by Hudson
county.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RByK0ya7vXM

qcpmsame 

Hello Crafter, welcome to BF, good to have you join in here. sounds like you are an experienced cyclist, check in to the Regional Forum for your area and find others in the NJ locales to ride with and for other Century rides they are participating in. Surf the various forums on the site and find the ones that suit your needs.

Bill

Crafter

Thank you very much for the tips!

I a not really super-experienced . Started club-riding in Florida when I lived there, getting up to b* rides.

Moved to Bergen County, South of Ramsey and I spent a few years doing B and C* rides with the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey (BTCNJ) till 3 years ago. I am signing up with them again.

The Escape NY ride is on my calendar, possibly also one of the upcoming MS rides, I will take it as it goes for a while, trying to get back in shape.

Thanks!!

Dannihilator

Welcome to the forums.

NW New Jersey here.

cafzali

BTCNJ is a great club and will give you lots of good riding options all week during the season. I ride with them too, although I'm in Rockland County about 20 minutes from you. Rides in Bergen and especially in Rockland and Orange counties in NY will often involve some climbing, but it's not that tough until you get to northern Rockland and into Orange. Harriman State Park also offers lots of nice, quiet riding during the week, although there are hills there.

Feel free to post up since you can't yet PM if you'd like additional info on routes, etc. There's lots of good cycling in the area.

Crafter

Thank you again to all!


Interceptor, I ride an old school Pinarello Stelvio - Steel - fitted with campagnolo

The bike rides much better than me .

chefisaac

How do you like the touring club? Thought about joining them bc I am new to touring.

Crafter

The BTCNJ is a great club, like cafzali says. I recall it is well organized and the rides where always "as advertised.

I do not recall if the BTCNJ organizes rides all the way down in your area, but I feel a club in general is a great resource: First, you get to ride with other riders, which is much safer than by yourself, in my opinion.
Second, you get motivation for going out to ride. Third, if you are new to an area, the leaders know all the roads and you never get lost, fourth, it gives you a benchmark to your performance.

At the c ride level at least I feel terrain has a lot to do with the style of riding you will do: When I lived in South Florida the wind was a big factor, so everyone learned to stay in a tight paceline for miles. Here in NE New Jersey is hills, so the line is a bit looser.