News

Heat maps of club rides from 2022. The club had about 750 individual member ride-days this past year.  

http://www.exmayor.com/2022/07/07/close-route-629-this-dog-dont-hunt/

Clinton Township has already approved the recommendation to permanently close Route 629 north of Round Valley Reservoir once the dam reconstruction project is finished.

A lot of this is common sense, but these are important tips for us all, from roadbikerider.com:

1. Behave like a car. Ride just like you’d drive.

• Signal your intentions to turn right or left.
• If you will be going straight ahead at an intersection, don’t get in the right turn lane.
• If you are going to make a left turn stick out your left arm, check behind you and move onto the roadway before turning left. If possible move to a left turn lane — don’t just dart across from the shoulder.

2. Be predictable. For example, don’t move right between parked cars and then back into the traffic lane.

3. Don’t ride against traffic. You wouldn’t think of riding down the shoulder against traffic. If there is a two-way bike path adjoining the road and you ride on it against traffic, a driver entering the road from the right will look left for oncoming traffic and won’t notice you coming up on the right.

4. Ride on the road, not a path. You are much more likely to be seen by a driver if you are riding on the shoulder than if you are on a separate path along the road. Not all experts agree with this and depending on the circumstances a separate well-signed bike path may be safer.

5. Obey all laws. Following the law makes you safer and makes a good impression about cyclists on drivers.

6. Yield to cars — they’re bigger. Even if you have the right of way, if you're not sure if it’s safe to proceed then yielding is probably prudent.

7. Always wear a helmet and wear it correctly. If I hadn’t been wearing a helmet when the truck hit me I would have been an organ donor. You shouldn’t be able to move your helmet more than about 1/2 inch (1 cm) with your hands.  The Snell Foundation is an excellent resource on how to buy the proper helmet for your head and how to adjust it.

8. Use a mirror.  Another Boulder rider was killed because he moved left without looking behind himself. I use helmet mirror because I ride several different bikes and the mirror is always with me. Some riders prefer a mirror on the glasses — this works as long as you remember to put it on. Some riders prefer a mirror on the end of the handlebar; however, the rider has to look down from the road to see in the mirror.

9. Look twice. A mirror is good for monitoring what’s going on behind you; however, if you’re about to move or turn left also look over your shoulder to be sure the road is clear.

10. Look for yourself. If you’re riding in a paceline and the lead riders yell “clear” as they enter an intersection look for yourself to see if it’s clear as you approach it.

11. Use only one ear bud. If you like to listen to music while you ride only use one ear bud in your right ear. Your hearing is a good supplement to your mirror.

12. Scan continuously. Fighter pilots are taught to scan the sky rather than looking ahead; they’re more likely to spot changes, which could be significant.

13. Be aware and anticipate. As you scan the road, anticipate potential problems. Especially in a group keep looking around for potential problems.

14. Be visible. For a dozen years I led the UltraMarathon Cycling Association and also ran my JHnFriends bicycle tours. I produced different jerseys each year and most of them just hang in my closet now — they aren’t very bright.  I’ve also started using a flashing headlight and taillight day and night. My riding partner John Elmblad has written a column on Rear Lights for Daylight Riding.

15. Assume you are invisible. Even with a bright jersey and flashing lights don’t assume that the driver of the car about to make a right turn or exiting a parking lot sees you.

These tips will help avoid an accident riding in a group.

16. Know your fellow riders. If you’re riding with a group you don’t know well be cautious because you don’t know how they’ll behave.

17. Call out your intentions. In a group either signal your intentions or call them out before you turn or move sideways.

18. Guard your front wheel. In a group don’t let your front wheel overlap the rear wheel of another rider. If he moves sideways he’ll knock you down.

19. Feather your brakes. In a group brake lightly to slow down so you don’t take out the rider behind you.

20. Use both brakes and get your weight back. Most of your braking power comes from the front brake. If you have to brake hard use both brakes and slide back in the saddle so you don’t go over the bars.

21. Practice cornering.  Set up a slalom course in an empty parking lot and practice riding through it.  Start slowly and gradually go faster.  Here’s a column on how to countersteer, an effective way to get through a corner faster.

22. Practice riding a straight line. In a large empty parking lot practice riding in a straight line on a white line separating parking spaces. You can also practice this on a road with very little traffic. Practice riding on the white line separating the shoulder from the road while using your mirror to watch for traffic coming from the rear.

23. Practice balance. See how slowly you can ride across a lawn just in case you fall. Ride with a friend to see who can go slowest.

Well known in local cycling circles for many years, Dan Rappoport of Princeton, is primed and ready to go for his next title.

PRINCETON: June 7, 2021 --Known as Dashing Dan, the Perimeter Man, for his pursuit of miles logged for the Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc, Rappoport is part of an elite group that specializes in circumnavigating geographical locations. These rides precisely follow the outlines of towns, counties, states, lakes and anything that can be ridden around. Rappoport has logged well over 4,000 perimeter miles since 2008 when he began his quest.

Dashing Dan is out for the record of famed cyclist Joan Joestling-Mahoney, who cycled the perimeters of Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Iceland, Ireland and many more countries. His ride, started on Memorial Day weekend 2021, and to be completed the first weekend of June, covers the perimeter of Somerset County and will tie Joestling-Mahoney’s record for most counties circumnavigated. He aims to break her county perimeter record of 26 with a two-day ride around Middlesex County with a ride on Labor Day weekend.

“In the winter of ’08, an ad in “Adventure Cycling” for The Perimeter Bicycling Association of America caught my interest. Since then, I’ve done 25 county perimeters, two states, two mountains, three rivers, and a township.” Rappoport’s routes have taken him through Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Each perimeter route must be at least 50 miles. “Unfortunately Princeton is not on my list because our town is too small,” he says ruefully.

To qualify a ride for the record book, the rider must secure written statements from businesses along the route attesting to the date and time that the rider passed by, validating the route and the distance.

Rappoport has been an avid rider for years and was one of the original incorporators of the Princeton Freewheelers. He is a member of the Central Jersey Bicycle Club, as well as other biking groups in the area including the Western Jersey Wheelmen where he is an at-large Trustee. He also serves on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee for the town of Princeton, which promotes walking and bicycling and advises the Mayor and Council on pedestrian and bicycle accommodations.

Contact Dan Rappoport at bikefar@hotmail.com or Sallye Williams of the Perimeter Bicycling Association of America at perimeterbicycling.com

One obstacle to using Herman Thau Rd has been eliminated.

The other obstacle - the steep hills and rolling contour, remains.

Due to the Corona-virus emergency, the League of American Bicyclists recommends that bike clubs not sponsor club rides for the next several weeks.

The Western Jersey Wheelmen will follow this recommendation and is suspending group rides until further notice. Solo rides are encouraged.

Let's hope everyone stays healthy.

Regards,

Kurt Grabfelder, President

As you may or may not know, memberships in the Western Jersey Wheelmen run from March 1 to the end of February. If you've already renewed your membership for this year, thank you. If not, please consider renewing now. By renewing your membership, you help us 'keep the lights on' and help pay for the hosting of the website and other expenses the club incurs during the year -- such as insurance and the club's membership in the League of American Bicyclists -- to keep the club running. Membership dues also help pay for the events the club hosts throughout the year, like the Club Century in July, the Ride-a-Palooza in October, and the Longest Day and Shortest Day rides in June and December, and of course the Winter Party in January.

NOTE: If you joined after November 1 of last year, your membership for this year has automatically been extended until next March.

You can renew your membership in 2 ways:

- Either click on the avatar/picture in the upper right corner of the homepage, click on 'View Profile', then scroll down and click on the 'RENEW' button, and then follow the instructions to complete the renewal process. You can pay either by credit card or check, but note that if you pay by check, the renewal won't take effect until payment is received.

- Or alternatively, click on the 'Join Us' link from the menu bar on the homepage. You'll see a message that you're already a member, followed by a link to 'Edit your member profile'. Click that link and follow the same instructions indicated above.

If any difficulties send an email to info@bikewjw.org.

Thanks!

Observant web surfers will notice a slight change to the club's homepage.  Under the slideshow, at the top of the center column you'll now see a link to the full Ride Calendar.  If you click this link, you'll be taken to the full-page Ride Calendar.  (You can also reach this by clicking 'Events' in the menu bar at the top of the webpage.) 

Below the link to the Ride Calendar, you'll see details on some upcoming rides and events.  Below that, you'll see a list of all of the past rides for the year.

If you have any questions, email info@bikewjw.org.

Cooler weather means your body needs a little more time to adjust to riding. To get your muscles ready, do a warmup loop near your home. If you’re the one making the route, loop by your house or car early in the ride so you can shed any layers that seemed like a good idea before you started pedaling. If not, gear up with easy-to-shed layers such as light jackets or vests, arm or knee warmers.

You might also enjoy feeling faster. During the summer months, the heat can sap strength and make intervals feel a lot harder because your body is under more load and struggling to cool itself. The brisk fall weather means that you will probably see improvements in your power and even a slightly lowered heart rate and perceived exertion. This is the perfect time to keep your base strong before the winter.

Got Gear?

The key with transition-season gear is to add pieces that are lightweight and removable to your current summer kit instead of switching out your whole summer wardrobe for winter gear. Adding accessories like arm warmers, which you can easily peel off mid-ride and stash in a pocket, means that whether the day warms up or the clouds roll in, you’re prepared. Try these must-haves:

• Arm Warmers
  
• Knee Covers
  
• Toe Covers
  
• Vest
  
• Pocket Rain Jacket
  

Don't forget hydration!

When it’s not super hot out, it feels less crucial to reach for your water bottle. But that’s a huge mistake. Make sure you’re drinking around one bottle per hour even if you don’t feel as thirsty as you did when it was 100 degrees out, you still need to hydrate. If it’s really cold, you can even start your ride with warm or hot water.

Ride smart this Autumn, but get out and ride!