The Jersey Shore Series:

 

 June, 7, 15, 29

October 24-26 2008

Co-Leaders: Josh Gosciak & Alfredo Garcia

 

While most rides head out on a northernly route, such as Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Bergen or Rockland counties, we've decided to change the orientation and head South -- contrarians that we are -- flying pretty much as avians such as the Crow, or the Sea Gull.

 

A Note on Rail Travel to the Jersey Shore.

 

Many of you who are accustomed to traveling via Metro North or LIRR, will be pleasantly surprised at the ease and comfort that train travel is by bike to Bay Head and other Jersey Shore destinations. First, no need to look for a bike permit, or to purchase one, as they are not required. (You might flash your Metro North/LIRR pass, but it wont impress them.) Consequently, you wont be given a hard time, because there's plenty of room for you and your bike! No need to juggle, squeeze, tilt, or remove anything, as bikes will fit quite nicely in the wheelchair spaces provided. There's even a convenient bar you can tie your bike to -- or 3 or 4 -- stacked and tied together. But the conductors will probably ask that you limit the bikes to two per car, which is fine since every car has these spacious areas, and they are clearly marked on the outside, so they're easy to spot. From the outside of the train, the handicap sign is placed where the space is, and it's usually by a door, and easy to get to. Best of all, where you tie your bike up, you're right next to the bathroom. No need to wander down two or three cars to leave your bike unattended! This is a civilized way - or a way in the right direction -- to travel with your bike on the train. So a shout out to NJ Transit!

Jersey Shore Ride #1, June 7: Sandy Hook. Meet 8:30 at Pier 11, for a ferry ride to North Jersey. A circuit of 23 miles or so, with a splash in the ocean at the famous North Beach of the Hook. So bring swimming gear! 

 

Jersey Shore Ride #2, June 15: Henry Hudson Rail Trail. Meet: 8:30 AM, Penn Station. There are two options here, both really good and worthwhile. Option number one is a ride from Bay Head to Freehold, where we have lunch and then pick up the Henry Hudson to Matawan, which is about 35 miles. (Click here for the route and cue sheet.) The other option, if we're in a more rail trail mood, is to head off from Manasquan, right onto the Manasquan Rail Trail, and then connect with the Henry Hudson. This is about 31 miles. (Click here for that route and cue sheet.) While both rides will end in Matawan, with a train ride back, Alfredo will lead a spur out to the Highlands and Sandy Hook, for an addition 20 miles and a Seastreak ferry to NYC. Along his route, you'll visit Keansburg, a seemingly forgotten town that still has a few amusements, and respects will be paid to famed NFL coach & icon Vince Lombardi, whose legendary whereabouts only Alfredo knows.

 

Jersey Shore Ride #3, June 29: The Barnegat Circuit -- The Shorter Version. We train it out to Bay Head (8:30 AM, Penn Station), circumnavigate Toms River, skirt the northern edges of the Pine Barrens, and lunch an an old boat yard on the bay. The ride's about 55 miles, and this'll definitely be a training ride for the Cape May Century, though it'll also be scenic and flat. (Click here for a map of the route; double the mileage, since the mileage is for one way.)

 

Jersey Shore Ride #4, TBA, Late August or September/early October: The Barnegat Circuit -- The Longer Version. We'll do a 65- or 70-mile Barnegat Circuit, with a lunch stop at Vinnie's Italian Restaurant, in Barnegat! The Pine Barrens are to the west of us, tidewaters to the east, and lovely Ocean County all around. It's just a wee 40 miles more to Cape May. Are you game?

 

Jersey Shore Ride #5, October 24-26: The Cape May Century. This'll be the last big ride of the season before winter, so take advantage of it, especially if the weather is warm. A heated indoor pool, whirlpool, and dinner on the boardwalk at the Grand Hotel, in historic Cape May, awaits us; the next day, an all-you-can-eat breakfast-bunch, and Lucy the Elephant, in Margate. We head back from Atlantic City by van (and having lost our socks on the slots to boot!). Okay, so you want a ride that's challenging, flat, unsuburban, coastal, self-contained, with a great group of cyclists? This may be it! (Stay over Friday in Bay Head, or catch the 7:07a out of Penn Station on Saturday. Return by Sunday evening.)

 

See the 5BBC weekend page for more details. More info on the Grand Hotel, if you are interested; for a little history of Cape May, click here.

 

  

Ride the entire series and get a special embroidered cycling patch. And if we don't have patches by the end of the ride, Alfredo promises to buy everyone a beer when we get into Cape May -- or later, in New York. What better way is there to end your long-distance riding season? 

               ++++     

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     (Above)  Sunset at Sunset Beach, West Cape May - the southernmost tip of New Jersey.

 

 

Oh, and did someone mention the whereabouts of the infamous Jersey Devil? No, not that cyclist on the left -- although he may ride like one -- which if you really want to prepare for the century, we recommend that you accompany Alfredo on his 4-ride cycling marathon to Staten Island, Sandy Hook, Coney Island, and on through the Lincoln Tunnel -- all in one continuous seamless day, on August 9.

 

<--- In between last year's 3-ride marathon, Alfredo, left, takes a breather, at Sandy Hook's North Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, no. The real thing's

off the Jersey Shore,

south of Barnegat,

at Leed's Point,

and she wont

be napping!

 ----->