It's not about the bike - the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey

NOVEMBER MEETING: BICYCLE AND SKI SWAP
DECEMBER 2012
BEGINNER’S CORNER:
IT’S NOT ABOUT
THE BIKE
BOOK REVIEW:
THE SECRET RACE
2013 YEAR IN REVIEW
THURSDAY JANUARY 10, 2013
CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION
RIDE CAPTAIN UPDATE
NEW BTCNJ DINER
JERSEY FOR SALE
CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

2
Time To Pass The Torch...
But First Another Story
BTCNJ 2012 OFFICERS
PRESIDENT • Ethan Brook ethanbrook@gmail.com
VICE-PRESIDENT • Ralph Monti ralphm@mediaconsults.com
SECRETARY • Diane McNally dmmcnally@optonline.net
RIDES CAPTAIN • Wade Wegner w.a.wegner@gmail.com
MEMBERSHIP • Terry Griffin info@btcnj.com
LEGISLATIVE ACTION • Ted Semegran ted_semegran@hotmail.com
MASTERLINK • Larry Schwartz btcnj.masterlink@gmail.com
WEBMASTER • Thomas Hobbick webmaster@btcnj.com
TOURS • Barbara Augenblick beejayaug@gmail.com
VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT Steve Greenberg steve551@optonline.net
SPECIAL EVENTS • Linda Krauss krauski@gmail.com and
Diana Shikiar dianashikiar@gmail.com
PUBLICITY • Joel Ringer ringer@teammarketingsvc.com
TREASURER • Franklin Wimer FBWimerjr@gmail.com
PAST PRESIDENT • Ken Stahl ksbike453@gmail.com
President’s Message
Actually the story comes later. Stick around.
First things first.
This will be my last article as President of
BTCNJ. Ralph Monti, our current Vice President
will take over as President on January 1,
Ethan Brook
2013 in a bloodless coup. I think he has forgiven me for twisting his
arm to the point where the redness is still slightly visible. If you want
to congratulate him, left hand only. Thank you Ralph for all your
help this past year. You made my life much easier. And thank you for
supplying your birth certificate in a timely manner. I wish you good
luck as President of this wonderful organization. I’ll spend most of
my spare time building my library. I also want to thank Charles Cino
who served as Vice President for the first two years that I was President.
Both Charles and Ralph were responsible for almost all of the
programs that were presented at the monthly meetings. Trust me.
That was no easy task.
As for the rest of you, our past, current, and incoming Board members,
volunteers, ride leaders, the 1,500 or so members of BTCNJ, and
any category that I missed, thank you for your help, your participation
and the terrific camaraderie that is a hallmark of this organization.
It has always amazed me that this club, this bicycle club, has
been around since 1978. How did we do it? Most businesses don’t
even last that long. Should I bring up marriages? Never mind. So
what’s the secret? I’m not sure, but I do know this. Thanks to all of
you it’s working.
And now for the story that you’ve been waiting for. Wait. Just a few
more items. Some important dates to put on your calendar.
Our opening event for 2013 is our annual Year In Review on Thursday,
January 10th at the Ridgewood Library at 7:30 P.M. For those of
you who have been there before you already know that it has always
been a sellout. For new and old members, it’s a great opportunity
to see a year’s worth of events, combining video, photographs, and
some great music. Get there early, or else it’s SRO.
On Saturday January 19th at 7:00 P.M. we will be celebrating our 35th
Anniversary Party at the Indian Trails Country Club. If you haven’t
registered, what are you waiting for? This is one super event with
great food, a professional disc jockey and a fantastic dance instructor
who keeps the party rolling. All under a pretty spiffy roof. AND....
your friends and fellow cyclists will be there in normal clothing,
something you may have never seen before.
And Finally. A group of cyclists were out riding in an unfamiliar rural
area on a Sunday afternoon. There was beautiful scenery, bright sunshine,
a perfect day for a ride and a chance to really smell the roses.
As they passed a church that was located on a curve in the road
they sped by a group of people holding up a sign that read: “The
end is near! Turn around before it is too late!!” They held up the sign
as each passing cyclist whizzed by. Some of the riders just laughed
it off. Some of the others were not so polite. Fingers flew in the air.
“Leave us alone you nuts!” yelled the fist cyclist as he sped by. From
around the curve the sign holders heard screeching tires and then
a big splash. One of the sign holders turned to the others and said:
“Do you think we should put up a sign that just says ‘Bridge Out’
instead?” True story? Don’t really know. But, it’s a reminder to keep
your eyes and ears open when you’re on a bike ride. Safety first, and
second and third. There’s still riding left to do for 2012. Be careful
out there. Enjoy the holiday season. See you on the road.
Sign Up for the 35th Anniversary Party
Saturday January 19, 2013!
Ethan Brook- President
BTCNJ’s most festive gala, the 35th Annual Anniversary Party, is
scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the Indian Trail Club in
Franklin Lakes, NJ (across from the Market Basket). Festivities start at
7:00 P.M.
Once again music will be provided by BTCNJ member DJ Chris
Andres (andresentertainment.com). Sasha, (gifttodancestudios.com)
our ever-popular dance instructor, will also be on hand to get your
off-bike mojo working.
You can make your reservations by clicking on the PayPal icon in
the ad that appears in this issue. PayPal takes all major credit cards,
so you don’t need a PayPal account to register online. The $40 per
person registration includes music, hors d’oeuvres, buffet dinner
and soft drinks. A cash bar is available and bottles of wine can be
purchased for $25. So trade in your spandex for your party best, and
let’s have some fun. See you there!
- Ralph Monti
On the Cover: “Bicycle Island” is a photo of flooding caused by
Hurricane Sandy taken by Eric Heupel
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/eclectic-echoes/)
Dec 2012, Volume 35, Number 12. Circulation:1,500 via electronic
download. The MasterLink is published 12 times per year as the official
publication of the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, P.O. Box
839, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Our website is www.btcnj. com.
©2012 by the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, all rights reserved.

3
BEGINNEr’s CORNER
It’s time to wrap up. I’ve gone through almost everything important I
can think of that I know and a beginner doesn’t (a short list), and I’m
tapped out. It will still be possible, I hope, for newcomers to access
the archives and read through as many of the installments as they
want, if that’s their idea of a good time. In any event, the series is
being published as a paperback in the spring, so get it now, while it’s
still not copyrighted. (I’m kidding about that.)
By coincidence, my leadership of the infamous Every Wednesday
Ride also concludes this year. The ride may continue next year, but
under new management. I felt that seven years was enough. The
movie based on the ride, called “EFW - Men in Tights”, will be out
in the fall, with Tommy Lee Jones as me, and Joe Pesci as Rick Vara.
Bring the kids.
So how do we wrap this all up? When I first started doing this column
two years ago, I asked the question, “Who is the beginner?” I think I
have a better answer now, but it will take a minute to explain.
I used to be a beginner myself. When I first started this thing, about
twenty years ago, it was all about the bike, no matter what Armstrong
said. The idea was to buy a bike, get some equipment, and
just get faster and faster. That would make me fit and strong and, I
hoped, kind of cool. I bought a basic hybrid bike and got a book on
cycling from the library. What could go wrong?
As it turned out, everything. I quickly became rich in mistakes. I
found that I really did need all those cycling clothes I had been
knocking, and that my poor hybrid was not really an all-terrain bike,
as I’d thought. Lesson learned.
Then I got a mountain bike with toe clip pedals (believe it or not) and
started trying to do everything it said in Mountain Bike magazine. I
crashed into everything. My wife, Andrea forbade me to come home
injured even one more time. One day I crashed so hard that I almost
ended up lying in the woods alone until the bears got me. I quit
mountain biking. Lesson learned.
Then I got a road bike. Having no idea what I was doing, I bought
a bike that didn’t fit, along with clipless mountain bike pedals and
racing shoes (believe it or not). I put up with it for two years, before
I bought better equipment that worked well and more or less fit me
correctly. Lesson learned.
Thing is, for all the lessons learned, it was still about the bike. If I just
kept on buying better stuff and building up miles, I would eventually
succeed at this. I would be a good cyclist and that would make me
happy. No problem.
Then, when my wife was dying, I discovered something unexpected.
The only (sane and sober) thing that took my mind off of what was
going on was the bike. The process of riding took just enough concentration
to take my mind off of what was happening, and focused
me on what I was doing. It was a world in itself, just me, the bike
and the road, where I could merge myself into the process and find
peace.
It didn’t save Andrea, but it saved my sanity. The next few years I
It’s Not About
The Bike -- Really
started riding a lot. Nights could be bad, but days could be filled
with the transcendental experience of humming along, focused, flying
a fast light aircraft four feet above the ground. I formed an idea.
Bicycling, I thought, was about freedom and excellence. The rest was
nonsense.
In short, I had come to love bicycling. Now it was not about the bike,
it was about riding, about the almost spiritual feeling of power and
accomplishment. It was more than just riding a bike, but it was still
something that involved only myself. I had one more step to go.
In 2006, Rick and I started the Wednesday ride and like many steady
rides, it quickly became a clique, which grew into a gang. The coffee
stops at Dunkin’ Donuts got longer and longer, and soon we had
exhausted everything we knew about bicycles and began to learn
things about each other. As it turned out, my fellow riders were
more interesting than I was. Imagine that. They had become not just
other bicycles, but friends. I found myself wanting to ride with these
people not because it was a B ride on a day when I wanted to ride
and the weather was good, but because I liked them.
And when I landed on my head and went near-psychotic, I had
friends. Once again I was in the black hole, and once again it was
bicycling that helped pull me out, but this time it wasn’t riding by
itself, it was my cycling friends standing around the edge of the hole
and throwing me a rope.
And that is when I reached maturity as a rider. It’s not about the bike,
or the love of the bike, it’s about the people on the other bikes. We
ride our bikes because these thirty pound mechanical couplers connect
us to other people, and we need those other people.
Yes, it’s freedom, and excellence, and a sense of mastery and accomplishment,
but it’s even more about connecting to other people who
are attuned to the same thing.
So who’s the beginner? To me, it’s the person who still thinks that
having good equipment and being able to ride fast is all there is, no
matter how long he’s been at it.
I stopped being a beginner when I realized that not only was it not
about the bike, it was also not all about me.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone.
Kevin Gately is a 15-year member of BTCNJ. His opinions are his own.

35th
ANNIVERSARY
PARTY
MUSIC - DANCING - HORS D’OEUVRES - BUFFET DINER - SOFT DRINKS
$40.00 PERSON - CASH BAR (BOTTLES OF WINE AVAILABLE FOR $25.00)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013
FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ
ACROSS FROM THE MARKET BASKET
REGISTRATION $40.00
RESERVE TODAY!
Music provided by BTCNJ member
DJ CHRIS ANDRES
andresentertainment.com
201-694-4171
SASHA, our ever popular Latin
Dance instructor will also be
returning
giftofdancestudios.com

5
The BTCNJ November MovieXpo
BTCNJ members were treated to an evening of films, as the club
presented bicycle videos from Streetfilms, an organization that
produces film shorts showing how smart transportation design and
policy can result in better places to live, work and play.
The evening kicked off with a film showing the bicycle culture in Holland,
followed by films highlighting Cargo Bikes in Copenhagen, the
imperative for having physically separated bike lanes in future urban
planning, and short features on an innovative bicycle signal in Portland,
Oregon, and a short on NYC cyclists dressed as clowns and how
they move cars from bike lanes using humor and a gentle touch.
The evening closed with a rousing bike video (not a Streetfilms
presentation) featuring Marty Ashton doing some memorable bike
riding. If you missed the meeting, check out the Marty Ashton Road
Bike Party YouTube on the bottom of our website’s home page
It’s BTCNJ’s 35th Year! Help Us Celebrate
Club meeting News
- Ralph Monti
December Meeting: Bike and Ski Swap
Thursday, December 13
Ridgewood Library 7:30 pm
Got a set of pedals, a saddle bag, light or any other bicycle accessory
you’re not using anymore? Have a bike that’s collecting dust in
the basement? Looking to swap a set of skis? It’s time for the annual
BTCNJ Bike and Ski Swap + Shop Meeting, to be held on Thursday,
December 13. Here’s your chance to bring any bike-related item that
you wish to sell or trade—or perhaps donate.
The New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition has offered to collect any unsold
or un-swapped item at the end of the evening and will donate
them on behalf of BTCNJ to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark Bike
Exchange. These items can be left in the bin provided and NJBWC will
take them to the Newark Bike Exchange. There will be forms available
if you wish to receive a letter for tax purposes. The Newark Bike
Exchange will take all bike accessories, gear, and clothing, except for
used helmets.
So scour your basement, attic, shed, etc., for any worthy bicyclingrelated
gear that looks like it has a second life, and bring it to the next
member meeting to sell or swap. See you on December 13!
Dear BTCNJ Members,
I am looking forward to seeing all old and new friends at the BTCNJ
35th Anniversary party being held at the Indian Trail Club on January
19th, 2013. Last year we danced the night away to amazing
music from DJ Chris Andres, a member of our bike club. He will be
there again with some added surprises. Sasha, a fantastic dance
teacher, will again join us to remind us of the dance steps we might
have forgotten and teach us new ones. Music, dancing, lessons, dinner
(including vegetarian meal), desert, an open cash bar and the
chance to socialize with bike friends, who aren’t wearing spandex
helps to make this evening special.
- Ralph Monti
I hope to see you all there.
Warmly,
Barbara Infeld
You can register online to reserve your place at the BTCNJ website.
(Registrations will not be accepted at the door.)
Year in Review Pictures Needed
This has been a great year for taking some spectacular photos and
videos of club activities. As you know the month of January and the
2012 Year-in-Review show are right around the corner (Thursday,
January 10th.) While the Year in Review
is well under way by Jeff Martz with
the show being finalized and the final
edits being put into place, if you have
a picture that you feel is really special,
feel free to send it in.
You can forward them to Jeff Martz
3-4 at a time to BTCNJYIR@gmail.com.
Charles Cino
2012 Year in Review Committee

6
The Secret Race
Inside the Hidden World of the
Tour de France:
Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning
at All Costs
by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle
290 pp, Bantam Books $28
Book Review
during his era. Indeed, the intense
pressure to gain a coveted spot on
a team riding in the Tour de France,
and then to ultimately win—a stage,
a circuit race, the Tour de France!—
was so great, it forced many teams
and their cyclists to dope.
By Ralph Monti
It’s a sorry place to be when you reach
the pinnacle of your career and you
harbor the ugly realization that cheating
and lying was required to get you there.
But as you berate yourself for your transgressions,
you are at once justifying your
behavior because you know everyone
else is breaking the rules too. Such was
the conflict Tyler Hamilton found, and
decidedly indulged himself in, as he rose
up the ranks of world-class competitive
cycling.
Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de
France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning
at All Costs, is Hamilton’s all-in testimony
that documents his pervasive doping, as
well as those of his teammates—most
notably Lance Armstrong’s—whom
he rode with on the US Postal Team.
Hamilton chronicles a tale so sordid you
soon wonder if anyone was riding clean
Did You Know
• that your club has an OUTREACH program?
• that there’s a dedicated group of club members who’ve offered
to lend a hand, an ear, a shoulder, to visit or other assistance to
members in need?
• that you can volunteer to join this terrific group of people and feel
really good about doing so?
• that you too might be in need of OUTREACH
one day? (We hope not, but you never know.)
• that offering your services is as easy as contacting
one of us below.
If you become aware of any members who are
ill, have had an accident or a death in the family,
please let us know by getting in touch with
our contact for the month listed below:
Ted Semegran
ted_semegran@hotmail.com
If you would like to join our Outreach committee, please contact
dianashikiar@gmail.com 201 995 9101
JAMES VINCENT BICYCLES
8505 Bergenline avenue nOrth Bergen, nJ 07047
OPen
sundaYs
201-869-1901
SALES SERVICE RENTALS
ClOthing
shOes
trainers
lights
helMets
While Hamilton’s tale is part critical
analysis, it also details the extraordinary
lengths he and his teammates
went to cheat: From surreptitiously
injecting blood doping boosters like
EPO and testosterone, to ultimately
indulging in full-blown blood transfusions.
In many instances these
transfusions often involved private
jet, international travel to off-thebeaten-path
hotel rooms where
Hamilton and his teammates would
lay on beds side by side, with blood
bags attached to their arms. Could it
get any more unseemly?
Those looking for a slam-dunk
indictment of Lance Armstrong in
Hamilton’s account will be disappointed.
While Hamilton roundly
characterizes Armstrong as the
ringleader of US Postal’s doping
activity, and often describes scenes
seeing Armstrong handling and storing
dope, Hamilton never describes
actually witnessing Armstrong injecting boosters or undergoing a
blood transfusion. Hamilton comes close in several chapters, but
never pulls the trigger. Given that they were best and trusted pals
at certain periods of their relationship, (but later had a falling out)
you have to wonder why Hamilton was not in the same room with
Armstrong when he injected, as Hamilton had done with other fellow
teammates. But this disputation really doesn’t matter. The world
watched Armstrong’s rapid downfall soon after Hamilton’s book was
published.
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7
BTCNJ Tours
In the table below is a summary of the upcoming tours hosted by BTCNJ. For a full description of the tours, please visit our website. You
must be a BTCNJ member to participate in a tour hosted by BTCNJ. If you are interested, don’t delay. Sign up today!
DATE TOUR TERRAIN DISTANCE PRICE CONTACT CAPACITY
April 6-12
2013
Jacksonville to
Melbourne, Florida
Flat 50 miles per day TBD
Ted Semegran: 201.452.7264
Louis Wassong: 201-896-1956
Open
May 24-27
2013
Annual Memorial Day
Weekend in Southern,
VT at the Landgrove Inn
Varied
Gentle rolling
to hilly
$310 (3 nights,
2 dinners, breakfasts)
Linda Krauss
krauski@gmail.com
Open
June 21-23
2013
Lake George
Varied
16-65 miles
per day
$210/per person
based on double occupancy
Barbara Mallach
mallachb@gmail.com
Open
June 28 to
July 14
2013
Bavarian Bratwurst,
“Brezels,” and Beer
Rolling
500-600 miles
total
TBD
Ethan Brook
ethanbrook@gmail.com
Barbara Augenblick
beejayaug@gmail.com
Taking
names for
wait list
July 15 -22
2013
Finger Lakes, Seneca
Falls, NY
Varied 30-42 miles TBD
Bill & Peggy Telgheder
telgheder@aol.com
peggytelgheder@aol.com
Open
Tour Talk
With a record-breaking 17 tours, the 2012 tour season is winding
down. This year our tours visited six states plus the District of Columbia
and two countries, and there was lots of diversity.
We had two new mountain bike tours -- White Clay (DE) and Raystown
Lake (PA), and for the first time BTCNJ visited the nation’s
capital. This summer BTCNJ members participated in the Maine
Bike Rally, visited the France’s Loire Valley, and for the strong and
adventurous there was a pannier tour of New Jersey. BTCNJers who
wanted to prepare for the season cycled from Miami to Key West.
Two favorite tours from the past were brought back by popular
demand -- Lake George and the Amish country. And then there were
the old standards that people never tire of -- the MTB Kingdom Trails
tour, two tours over Memorial Day weekend in Vermont, Rhinebeck,
Columbia County, Amagansett, Saratoga. and Cape May.
have an interesting place in mind that you would like to share with
our BTCNJ members, think about leading a tour. It is rewarding and is
a fast way to earn points towards a ride leader jersey.
The 2013 season is off to a good start with five tours already posted,
and a few in the planning stage. If you are not sure if the ride level
is for you, call the ride leader and check it out. Just about all of our
tours in 2012 sold out, so don’t procrastinate -- sign up early!
Wishing you all a happy holiday season and signing off --
- Barbara Augenblick, Tours Director
This was my seventh tour season, and I am now signing off and
leaving the tours in the capable hands of Bill Telgheder. I would
like to thank all of the tour leaders over the years -- I refrain from
naming them for fear of leaving someone out -- who planned such
interesting trips and enabled BTCNJ members to see our magnificent
country and to see the world on a bicycle. I would also like to thank
the BTCNJ participants, as you pitched in when help was needed.
Participating in a tour is a great way to make new friends, renew old
friendships and meet club members outside of your ride level, as
many of our tours are multi-levels. If you have been on a tour and
Barbara Augenblick

8
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the
contours of a country best, since you have
to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually
are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses
you, and you have no such accurate
remembrance of country you have driven
through as you gain by riding a bicycle.
ride captain’s update
--Ernest Hemingway
When I read Hemingway’s words and think of the places I’ve been
able to see on a bicycle, I think of getting my first real road bike (a
bright red Bottecchia 989) and exploring the foothills of the Italian
Alps in the mid-1990’s. I had seen the bike in the front window of a
bike shop in Pordenone, on Main Street on a sunny Saturday morning,
and I knew this would be a great way to explore the local roads.
I think I took one of the shortest test rides I’ve ever done, as I rolled
down the cobblestone street to the train station and back. When
the shopkeeper saw me return, we gave each other a brief look and
agreed we should put the bike aside and I would be back to pick it
up later that week.
smiling days after the ride thinking of when I could do it again.
I hope you take the time to enjoy exploring the local countryside,
wherever that may be, and get the chance to do some bike trips to
experience the splendor of nature the best way possible, while on
the open road on your bike. Whether you are on your favorite NJ
roads, or on a trip to Europe or upstate, there is so much to see and
enjoy. We are fortunate to have so many experienced ride leaders
who offer such a range of rides for all riding levels and a variety of
trips throughout the year. I’m also happy to report that we continue
to have more members volunteering to lead rides, and I encourage
you to lead or at least co-lead a ride and see how much fun it can be.
I’m looking forward to exploring new areas and going back to
Europe to rediscover parts of Italy I saw a few years ago. The trip to
Puglia in the south of Italy in the summer of 2011 made me realize
how much I missed living and riding in Italy. Anyone who was on the
trip got to see the rich history, taste the delicious cuisine, and experience
the warmth of the locals we got to meet. I can still picture the
gentleman in Matera who, after seeing our difficulty navigating the
roads out of town, got into his late model Mercedes and lead us out
of town waving us on -- mille grazie. The people you meet on travels
and the things you can experience are priceless.
On the bike to meet friends in San Quirino I saw fields of orange
poppies growing in a meadow about 15 minutes away. I remember
the Sunday I woke up and decided to ride to the beach one sunny
summer day, only to realize later that it was over 75 km each way.
It didn’t give me much time on the beach, but it was an incredible
ride and I got to see the coolest little villages along the way. I met a
mother and her son on the beach in Lignano Sabbiadoro who said
they saw me riding about 45 minutes before. It was a gorgeous day
to be riding, sunny and in the 80’s. The sun faded only near the end
of the ride and I got caught in a late day thunderstorm and got a flat
tire about 10 minutes from home. I rolled to a nearby farmhouse
and asked if I could stay under the cover of the garage awning to
stay out of the rain. They were the nicest family and invited me in for
dinner. The pasta and seafood turned out to be incredible and the
dinner full of lively conversation. Even with a good sunburn, I was
I’d like to thank the ride leaders, ride lieutenants, board members,
and everyone else for all their support over the past year. It has been
an honor to serve as rides captain. We are truly fortunate to have an
outstanding group of members and rider leaders. Thanks to everyone
for their contributions.
Please join me in welcoming Andres Tiribocchi as the new rides
captain for 2013 as he seeks to help improve the rides and rider
programs available to you through our club. I look forward to seeing
you on a ride soon, and please let us know if you have any suggestions
for ride enhancements or stories on memorable rides or trips.
Enjoy the ride!
- Wade Wegner
Standing to the far left is Wade Wegner on a bicycle tour in Spain

9
Return of a classic!
The original
Eat to Ride! Ride to Eat!
BTCNJ “Diner” Jersey
For the past couple of years, many club members have been asking when we would have more of this
very popular jersey available. We’re pleased to say that you can now sport our favorite club motto, wearing
this eye-catching, retro graphic design jersey. Sizing and fabric for this jersey, made by Champion
Systems, is the same as last year’s Ride Leader jersey and the same as our more recent Club Map design
jersey (also made by Champion). The jerseys are available in men’s and women’s, short sleeve and
sleeveless, from size XS to size XXXL. We plan to place our first order very soon in an effort to have this
order delivered before the Christmas/Chanukah holiday.
If you want to place an order, please let Linda Krauss know ASAP. Email: Lkrauss@att.net with the style
and size you want to order. Price: $55 short sleeve/$50 sleeveless. If you wish to have your jersey
sent to you, please add $3.00 for shipping.
Make checks payable to BTCNJ and send to Linda Krauss, 6 Horizon Rd. #1108, Fort Lee, NJ 07024. Please
include a note with all of your contact info and what you are ordering. But, please email me first to tell
me what you’ll be ordering. If you have any questions, email Lkrauss@att.net or call Linda at 201-224-
9551.
Front and back view are the same

10
RIDE CATEGORIES
Category
Average Speed
(mph)
Description
A 17+ For strong/experienced cyclists. Stops every 30+ miles.
B* 15 - 16.9 Average speed on flats 17.0 - 18.0 mph. For Strong cyclists.
Stops every 20 - 25 miles
Btcnj Ride Categories
TERRAIN DESCRIPTIONS
Hilly: Numerous long and steep climbs
Moderately Hilly: Numerous climbs, with no “killer” hills
Rolling: Some small hills, farmland ups and downs
Flat: Minimal gear shifting required
B 13 - 14.9 Average speed on flats 15.0 - 16.0 mph. For solid cyclists.
Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C* 11 - 12.9 Average speed on flats 13.0 - 14.0 mph. For solid cyclists.
Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C 9 - 10.9 Average speed on flats 11.0 - 12.0 mph. For average cyclists.
Stops as needed.
D Under 9 Average speed on flats 10.0 mph. For new, inexperienced cyclists.
Frequent stops.
F Varies For families, frequent stops, child friendly.
Responsibilities For Leaders
Bring maps and/or cue sheets. Discourage riders with unsound
bikes from joining the ride. Within the first few miles, urge riders
who are unable to maintain the advertised pace to leave the ride.
Adhere to the advertised speed of the ride. Advise riders exceeding
your intended pace that they will be considered to be on their
own. RIDE LEADERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR SIGN-IN SHEETS TO EARN
RIDE LEADER POINTS.
MTB - B
MTB - C
MTB - D
A, B*, B Categories: No obligation to wait for stragglers if advertised pace is kept and written
directions (cue sheets, maps) are issued. C*, C, D Categories: Group will wait for stragglers and
assist those having mechanical difficulty. MTB rides: the slowest participant dictates ride pace;
no rider is ever left behind.
Challenging, commonly rocky, trail surfaces. Primarily single track with many and varied
obstacles. Extended ascents/descents.
Uneven trail surface with minimal obstacles and gradual, moderate climbing. Some single
track.
Wide trails with a flat, obstruction-free riding surface and little change in elevation.
Responsibilities For Riders
Riders must obey NJ motor vehicle laws. Bring tools: tire irons,
pump, and spare tube. Bicycle must be in good working order.
Don’t ride in a category that is too difficult for you. Advise leader if
you are making an unscheduled stop or leaving the group. Rides
will not go in the following conditions (unless otherwise noted in
the rides description): rain, snow, wet or icy roads, or temperatures
under 32°. Rides will leave 15 minutes after the published meeting
time (unless otherwise noted.) For rides longer than 15 miles,
bring snacks, for rides over 30 miles, bring lunch (unless a deli
stop is indicated). Note: anyone under 18 years of age must be
accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on all rides.
Every rider is required to wear a helmet that meets CPSC
Performance Standards on all club rides. Headphones are not
permitted on rides.
Below, Ethan Brook in Washington DC
Photo by Ray Nutkis

11
Support Your Local Bike Shop
The owners of all these shops support BTCNJ. Please tell them you saw their shop in the MasterLink. Show them your BTCNJ membership
card for a 10% discount off accessories and parts. They are skilled bicycle pros, and we urge you to use their services. Please note that the
discount may not apply to sale items and may not allow credit card payment. Bike shops listed in bold are advertisers in this issue, look for
their ads. Please note that the individual shop owners have sole discretion over the definition of “accessories and parts” and of the items in
their stock to which any BTCNJ-related discount applies.
Allendale Bike Shop Allendale 201-825-0952
D.J.s' Cycles Belmar 732-681-8228
Brookdale Cycle Bloomfield 973-338-8908
Get-a-way Cycle Center Bloomingdale 973-291-4163
Bikeland Caldwell 973-403-3330
Bikeland II Chatham 973-635-8066
The Bike Path Clifton 973-574-9001
All Body Training Closter 201-768-3086
Congers Bike Shop Congers, NY 845-268-3315
Steve's Moped & Bicycle Dumont 201-384-7777
Sam's Bicycle Repair Elmwood Park 201-797-5819
Bike Master Englewood 201-569-3773
Strictly Bicycles Fort Lee 201-944-7074
Carrera Cycles Glen Rock 201-857-0106
Marty's Reliable Hackettstown 908-852-1650
Bike Pad Hawthorne 973-427-9400
James Vincent Jersey City 201-420-5151
Ramsey Outdoor Ledgewood 973-584-7798
Bicycle Tech Lincoln Park 973-694-6775
D.J.'s Cycles Long Branch 732-870-2277
Peddler Long Branch 732-229-6623
Cycle Craft Long Valley 908-876-5600
Madison Bicycle Shop Madison 973-377-6616
High Gear Cyclery Millburn 973-376-0001
Diamond Cycle Montclair 973-509-0233
The Bikery Montclair 973-744-7252
Marty's Reliable Morristown 973-538-7773
Cycle World New City, NY 845-364-2384
James Vincent North Bergen 201-869-1901
Chelsea Bikes NY, NY 646-230-7715
Gotham Bike NY, NY 212-732-2453
MasterLink Submissions
Materials for the MasterLink are due the 23rd of each month for
publication in the following month’s issue. Please send articles,
photos, letters, or comments to MasterLink, at our email address
btcnj.masterlink@gmail.com. Materials may be edited by the MasterLink
staff for length and clarity. Publication of materials submitted
is at the discretion of the Editor. All materials submitted for
publication become the property of BTCNJ.
Issues related to MasterLink advertising should be addressed to the
Advertising Coordinator and sent to our email address btcnj.masterlink@gmail.com.
Rides are listed online only, and are no longer
printed in the MasterLink.
Toga Bike NY, NY 212-759-0002
Nyack Bicycle Outfitters Nyack, NY 845-353-0268
Pedal Sports Oakland 201-337-9380
CampMor Paramus 201-445-5000
Ramsey Outdoor Paramus 201-261-5000
The Bicycle II Paramus 201-632-0200
Cycle Sport Cyclery Park Ridge 201-391-5269
Cycle Craft Parsippany 973-227-4462
Bicycle Depot Pearl River 845-735-8686
Heino's Ski and Cycle Pequannock 973-696-3044
Piermont Bicycle Piermont, NY 845-365-0900
Cycle Center Pompton Lakes 973-835-6339
Bicycle Source Pompton Plains 973-835-7595
Bike & Ski Shop Ramsey 201-327-9480
Ramsey Outdoor Ramsey 201-327-8141
Cury's Sport Shop Ramsey 201-327-4561
Marty's Reliable Randolf 973-584-7773
Cosmic Wheel Ridgefield Park 201-440-6655
Ridgewood Cycle Ridgewood 201-444-2553
Bikeworks Rochelle Park 201-843-6409
The Bike Path Rutherford 201-636-2355
Original Bike Shop Saddle Brook 973-478-6555
Valley Cycle Spring Valley, NY 845-356-3179
High Gear Cyclery Stiriling 908-647-2010
Bicycle Workshop Tenafly 201-568-9372
Toga Bike Upper Nyack, NY 845-358-3455
Town Cycle West Milford, NJ 973-728-8878
Albert's Westwood Cycle Westwood 201-664-1688
Whippany Cycle Whippany 973-887-8150
Wyckoff Cycle Wyckoff 201-891-5500
Due to copyright laws, articles, photos, cartoons, art, etc., that have
appeared in other publications may not be published in the Master-
Link without written consent of the copyright holder. Photos in the
MasterLink may not be reused or republished.
As proof of BTCNJ membership, you
will need to print your membership
card through the BTCNJ website. Log
onto the site, select Membership
Card under the Membership tab.
Printing instructions are provided.