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Bicycles + Hackettstown = Awesome
There is going to be a very competitive road race on Sunday, July 6 in Long Valley. It's an 11 mile loop with a two mile climb up Schooley Mountain Road. Check it out! http://www.racelistings.com/register/event...lyer.asp?ID=680 Jan
June 23, 2008 4:32 pm · Link
Deansangie, CJ
June 23, 2008 4:35 pm · Link
Dolly - Everywhere in Europe there are more bikes. People routinely ride 10 miles each way. Jan
June 23, 2008 7:36 pm · Link Oh yeah GC. I have that that Holland/Denmark problem since 5th grade. If they start making a pill for that, I'd take it! Thanks Ike! I towed some little duckies to safety along rt. 57. Left the pool on bike to head to Shop Rite for some groceries. I get on 57 and see two young scared looking bikers on walmart bikes stopped wondering what happened to the safety of the shoulder. The shoulder rudely disappears into a right turn only lane for Home Depot. No sidewalk. They're stuck. Normally this is a tough spot for me too, I take the far far left of the right turning lane and continue straight through that light depending on my visibility to keep my safe. They did'nt speak English so I kinda pointed at my back wheel, like 'hey, hop on, follow my line, we dont need not stinking sidewalks anyhow" So they did! They followed past all the other driveways and crazy shoppers in & out of the parking lots. It was kinda fun. Steady 8mph or so! I felt safer too, 3 cyclists are more visible than 1. They continued up Allen and I headed into the Shop Rite. That was my good deed for the year.
I just heard that Hackettstowns mayor is a cyclist. Where are our bike racks/share the road signs? Probably with the garbage cans I've begged for at the ball fields when softball season starts, LOL. Big Mt. Bike festival, riding distance from H-town in Waterloo concert field! http://www2.jorba.org/index.php?title=Fest I saw one of the Unicyclers today! He was riding on the west end of Main Street, heading towards Independence. It was so cool! The kids were so amazed! They want unicycles for Christmas now! LOL!! yes that unicyclist was probably me i head up that way quite often Hey Alex, are you interested in a ride possibly this Sunday late morning, up to Allamuchy and surrounds with a few two wheelers? 30-40 miles or so. shoot me an email ill join you depending on the time Last night the sun set so fast it really felt like fall. Anyway, I rode and did some shopping on Main St., coming back home I saw a fellow cyclist doing a shakey tracks stand at 517/46 light. It was nice to see a fellow biker with his lights blazing. It made me feel safer and less crazy for riding in the dark. I was in traffic so I only had a chance to give him a 'whoop whoop' as I rode by. Riding home from the train yesterday, spotted another cyclist coming through Hackettstown! woohoo! Man he had funny sporty sunglasses on. Looked like he was exercising hard down Main Street.
I knew it was WVR when I saw it in the side banner... hope your tires were properly inflated (-; To the unawesome dude in the Ford 'explorer' last night: You took my right of way away from me at the intersection, I'm used to that crap move, but then you went and took the turn way wide and pinched me to the curb. Your lucky I got myself outta your way very easily and your also lucky I'm a nice guy and only gave you a slight tongue lashing. I coulda easily caught you at the upcoming stop sign. Oops, Hackettstown bike ride is 10/24! I'm pretty psyched. I saw a family of wrong way cyclists the other day. Gosh it must be scary to ride head on at traffic. I get funny looks & funny questions/comments when people find out I like to bike alot. They're simple questions but I usually try to convince them that cycling is awesome and get way too deep into it and end up sounding a little crazy and I get a funny look. So I think I'm a little too emotionally involved, I feel the need to always defend and endorse cycling. I made myself a list of easy responses to typical questions/comments.
All day I had seen the fast bike guy with white hair riding helmetless through the neighborhood. I even drove by him a couple towns over and wanted be him on this fine autumn day. I had time to kill late Sunday and some errands to run so I got psyched up to ride. I rode past some bmx dudes who did'nt heckle me all helmeted and signaling left on my way to the park. A couple blocks away is a park that sits on old fish farm land, so there is lots of water and grass to ride around, all next to the river. Very scenic, today lots of dog walkers, duck feeders, leaf peepers, joggers, and a not so intense pick up volleyball game, they really seemed to be carrying the ball on every 'hit', my friends and I would'nt put up with those moves if we were playing. In the open field next to the river a crazy squirrel crossed right the heck between my tires for no good reason, I was surprised he made it out fine, and I guess he was too because he ran over to the side and looked me right in the eye and did a celebratory front flip, little daredevil. Leaving that park, there is a well groomed wide trail that goes maybe half mile into another park, took a muddy corner a little fast and fishtailed a bit and reached the old bridge crossing long since washed out. There were 2 kayakers, maybe wondering how to get around the crappy bridge and a girl reading a book on the bench overlooking the scene. Crossing the river here would get me to Blockbuster Video pretty quick, during the summer I could walk across the crap bridge with bike on my shoulder to the other side of the river, but with the recent rain, no way. So out to the main road. Passed a guy on a longboard skateboard. The guy has gotta be over 35, and riding a longboard, a sure sign that the world aint that bad. Made it to Blockbuster taking the lane when the highway gets shoulderless. Picked out the new Indiana Jones to try to continue the adventure. Next stop is the grocery store. Some nasty roads between here and there but not for me. Took the back way through the condos and out through the cemetery. Made the easy climb up to Tillie Smiths grave since its a great view, and the light is fading fast making for a slighly spooky time. Nice! In the calm quiet neighborhood streets I yelled out 'boo' to a guy who was adorning his yard with halloween decorations. I know I did'nt scare him but I hope he did'nt think I was being a jerk, I was just being a nerd. No problems biking the unfriendly to the non-motoring public road (such a shame; the shopping center I'm heading to is surrounded by hundreds of homes, if anyone tried walking from their homes to the shopping, they'd likely be scared to death) Front door parking at the shopping center like always, sweet. Had to beg the checkout gal to keep filling my shopping bag and not use those pesky plastic bags, I explain I need one bag to throw into my shopping bag pannier mounted on my bike while shes looking at me like I'm a dork, so I fill my own bag and giver her her plastic ones back. Back on the bike, rolling home, man this bike handles well with nearly 30lbs of groceries. Get to an intersection at the shopping center and stare at a red barn in a farm field still holding on for dear life between strip malls. Switch on the lights and take the easy way home through the little sidewalk to the high school avoiding a minor hill. Passed 2 more bmx dudes, twins actually, with little white boy afro hair. They actually stopped at a stop sign, respecting my right of way through the intersection. Nice! Made it home no problem. Man that was a nice relaxing ride. yesterday was fun on the unicycle i wont do a long write up but unicycle + snow = fun Alex it was nice seeing you yesterday in my store keep cycling boy! Alex - I saw you this morning trying to navigate on the sidewalks which still had snow and ice on them. Good balancing act! :) Jan
October 29, 2008 3:54 pm · Link Sunday I went for a quick 75 minute or so ride up into the hills around the northwest side of h-town. Its been a long time since I've ridden alone and with no destination, just exploring. Chilly windy day, headwinds only for a bit and got some good pushes up some hills, thats a great feeling, that free speed. The countryside of course was wonderful up on the roads wayyyyy less traveled. I smell burning wood, it smells old. The bike disappears under me and its easy to pretend I'm in another time, maybe 2 centuries earlier when I see the old lonely red doored hilltop church lovingly constructed from fieldstone and simple rustic yet stately farmhouses surrounded by worm fence. A cluster of old buildings, a few homes and a mill, a town! Rugged subsistence farmer type folks homesteading in a land still inhabited by rogue Indian tribes and mountain lions. The open farm fields are safe feeling but whats lurking out in the woods? The fact that almost no cars are out on these roads helps keep me in this mindset nearly the whole ride, only being rudely interrupted by a couple of noisey leaf blowers. Big climbing but generally pretty gradual...great view of the ridge that Jenny Jump State Park sits on (I dunno the proper name for it) and some more climbing to a Water Gap view! Long downhill back into town and this ride is over way too soon. Got some Rico Pan & big can o' beer on the way home. I love the guy who rides around (i usually see him down by the middle quik chek on sitger) on the blue 4 foot tall one... Thanks for the comment That unicycle is a very large one Hey Alex, I'm hoping to get in a rail trail/road ride this Sunday morning. Maybe 8:30 or so. very cool alex! that is a really big unicycle! For the past six years on my drive to work I pass an older man on a bike at least twice a week (until it gets too cold or there's snow on the ground). Passed him today. In the early years he'd be trudging along in his corduroys with a pained look on his face. Now he's out there in his biking gear flying along! I always get a smile when I see him and miss him when he's not there. monaco
November 20, 2008 2:03 pm · Link oh who is the kid who rides up 517? everyday he rides up 517 in red and black and used to wear whatever clothes? Omgod - all this talk about bicycling is getting me motivated!! - I have an adult sized 3 wheeler sitting in my basement - think I'll clean it up this winter and get it out when the weather gets warmer - . do I still need a helmut for 3 wheels - hate hat hair!! mam
November 20, 2008 4:16 pm · Link
ugh i wish i had a three wheeler!
I know the hand cyclist in the area Dean. and as for sunday riding I would have to say not this week sorry. if it were in 2 weeks i probably could. And yes I am the clown in one of Dean's pictures. Bike does have a big basket in the back - my son fixes and rebuilds bikes - someone who he deals with gave him these bright green tires that he put on it - . not looking to get rid of it yet - but if I ever do I'll keep you in mind muffin. mam
November 21, 2008 9:32 am · Link thanks mam! i would love love LOVE to have one of those. I go to a lot of music festivals in the summer and would love to have one to haul things around, vend sometimes and so on! Alleycat race in h-town this coming saturday!!! Should be fun! 3pm. Martys website has details. I'll be winning on my geared bike. well if you go geared I'll go fixed (if I can fix the darned bottom bracket)even though the fixie still kinda scares me (pedal pedal pedal pedal dont coast!) I hope there are lots of hills. ill kill you either way geared = top speed over 60 if i push it I've been riding 500 miles a month since like March. Boy I'm gonna look good on that podium. Sure........... i put over 1k on in august and 750 in sept and about 750in oct nov i slacked like 400 dec ..... havent ridden much more than 1 mile.... thanks d, i sent them a message if it was still for sale, but it is 300 and frankly as much as i would LOVE one, i cannot throw that lloot around... Why have'nt you been riding Alex? I havent had much time with everythign going on. I haven't even been riding to and from work. i love that the cargo bike is for fitting 4 kids and has a lid and a few air holes! Alley Cat Race Last Saturday was fun But we needed more people. That was really really fun. Cant remember the last time I drew in chalk, hit a baseball and jumped a fence. Goofy fun! I love it! Anybody read bikesnobnyc? Cargo Trikes nudge delivery trucks! deansangie
December 31, 2008 11:37 am · Link Comment on this Topic
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