president's message - the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey

July Meeting: Annual Ice Cream SocialJULY 2012DIAMOND INTHE PELOTONBEGINNER’S CORNER:MORE ONTOURINGTOURING MIAMITO KEY WESTBOOK REVIEW:SLAYING THEBADGERBTCNJ MEMBER PROFILEDR. LEONARD DIAMONDCHAIR OF BIKE NEW YORKBCBT ASUCCESSCALL FOR RAMAPORALLY VOLUNTEERS

2President’s MessageSometimes a Cigar is Just a Cigarat the bit to help out.I know. You're thinking, what in the worlddoes this have to do with cycling? Patience.There is always a connection. No, it hasnothing to do with Sigmund Freud or BillClinton for that matter. Picture this. Acyclist is enjoying a leisurely ride on a quietEthan Brook meandering road. There were other cyclistsa short distance in front of him. He could see a car approaching. Thedriver seemed to be yelling and pointing at the riders as he approachedthem. As he got closer he could hear the driver yelling PIG,PIG, PIG! As the car passed our rider, the biker turned around, flippedhis middle finger at the driver - and that's when he hit the pig. Isthere a moral to this story. Probably many. I'll go with, "sometimes apig is just a pig."Now, the news. Our biggest and most important club event, theRamapo Rally is just around the corner. We are still in need of morevolunteers . We are a club of 1,531 members. Many of you are newmembers. This would be a great opportunity to pitch in and participatein a great event. You will be rewarded wtih lots of new friends,and a spiffy volunteer tee shirt. How can you top that? To get oneof those lucky volunteer slots, send an e-mail to Steve Greenbergsteve551@optonline.net, and let him know that you are chompingLetters to the EditorHistory tells us that, in 1783, George Washington invited his officersto Fraunces Tavern in New York City and bid them farewell. Now,many people have told me that I closely resemble the father of ourcountry – honesty, bravery, wooden teeth, and all. However, I willnot be following that particular example, as history also tells us thatGeorge was stuck with the bill for the dinner!But I would like to say farewell, as Sue and I leave New Jersey forSouth Carolina in two months’ time. We are giving up good pizza toget good shrimp and grits. I am giving up trying to dodge squirrelscrossing the road while riding my bike to evading alligators whileriding my bike. We are leaving the 7th-ranked bicycle friendly statefor the 32nd! Oh, noooooo!Over the past years, I have enjoyed riding and working with you,BTCNJ 2012 OFFICERSPRESIDENT • Ethan Brook ethanbrook@gmail.comVICE-PRESIDENT • Ralph Monti ralphm@mediaconsults.comSECRETARY • Diane McNally dmmcnally@optonline.netRIDES CAPTAIN • Wade Wegner w.a.wegner@gmail.comMEMBERSHIP • Terry Griffin info@btcnj.comLEGISLATIVE ACTION • Ted Semegran ted_semegran@hotmail.comMASTERLINK • Larry Schwartz btcnj.masterlink@gmail.comWEBMASTER • Thomas Hobbick webmaster@btcnj.comTOURS • Barbara Augenblick beejayaug@gmail.comVOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT Steve Greenberg steve551@optonline.netSPECIAL EVENTS • Linda Krauss krauski@gmail.com andDiana Shikiar dianashikiar@gmail.comPUBLICITY • Joel Ringer ringer@teammarketingsvc.comTREASURER • Joe Montigelli josephmonti@yahoo.comIf you prefer just doing a ride, no problem. There are six rides tochoose from. You can ride on your own, or join one of the manygroup rides. Did I mention food? There’s lots of food to keep younourished during the ride, and plenty of food and drinks at the endof the ride as well. What a deal! I'm beginning to sound like an infomercial.And if you register now you will receive a - never mind. Justcheck out the website to register.Last item. How about those Kenyans? There was an interestingarticle in the New York Times on June 21st. Not only do they havethe fastest long distance runners in the world, now they are readyto challenge the cycling world. This July they will be participating inthe L'Etape du Tour, which covers two legs of the Tour de France. Lastyear two riders finished in the top 20 out of 10,000 riders. The articleclosed with the following comment: "Everywhere you can run. As forcycling, I don't think it can become one of the main sports of Kenya,or in Africa. The first thing is the roads. The roads are terrible, andpeople drive crazy." Welcome to New Jersey.Have a great summer. Enjoy the rides. And above all ride safely. Seeyou on the road.-Ethan Brook, Presidentand have enjoyed serving the club as Vice President, President, PastPresident, Past Past President, etc. It’s been interesting, instructive,sometimes trying, but always fun! We are relocating to Bluffton, SC,which is just about 25 miles north of Savannah, GA, so you may nothave seen the last of me. After all, it’s just a short ride down to thestart site of Ted Semegran’s Florida rides...I’m also giving up my position as Executive Director of the New JerseyBike & Walk Coalition, but have already sent off my membershipcheck to the Palmetto Cycling Coalition – so my bike advocacy andbike education work, which means so much to me, will continue.I wish you all great rides over the coming years. You have a wonderfulbicycle club, and if you are not already involved to help run it, Iurge you to do that. And if you are ever down in the Bluffton area,just over the bridge from Hilton Head, get in touch. The best e-mailaddress to use would be jimnichlci@gmail.com.A list of people to thank would be very long, too long for the Master-Link. But a special “thank you” to both Gene Marsh and Bob DeMair,who gave me such great guidance along the way. See you on theroad – but watch out for the alligators!-Jim NicholsonOn the Cover: Club member Dr. Len Diamond, relaxing before aWednesday morning B*-ride. Len is the chair of Bike NY, which producesthe Five Boro Bike Tour.July 2012, Volume 35, Number 7. Circulation:1,500 via electronicdownload. The MasterLink is published 12 times per year as the officialpublication of the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, P.O. Box839, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Our website is www.btcnj. com.©2012 by the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, all rights reserved.

3BEGINNEr’s CORNERBy kevin gatelyMore onBicycle TouringAs I write, club member Brian Zino is wandering through Ohio onDay 59 of a cross-country self-supported bike tour. Good for him.Since we left you last time, you've bought a new touring bike andbags, or formed an intention of actually buying them someday, really,but you still don't know how to plan and carry out a bike tour.This article will answer that question. You should be ready to leaveby tomorrow afternoon. If you head straight west, you should runinto Brian somewhere around Harrisburg. Give him my best.First, decide how much stuff you're bringing. You'll hear everythingabout this, but in the end it's a personal choice. If you pack heavy,you'll just go a little slower, but if you're new to this, you might wantto give yourself a break. If you're willing to do a lot of hand laundry,a small load goes a long way. Remember that the heaviest materialsare paper, glass and liquids, so think twice about the hardback noveland the fifth of Stolichnaya. (I have a good story about that, butnever mind.) One thing you definitely do not need is a computer. Thehand-held email device is a great invention.Now you can plan your route. Where you go is your business, buthere are the main considerations.First, use a GPS. It allows you to plan your route on your computer,then send it to your handlebar GPS unit where it is displayed as anelectronic map if you're a man, or a cue sheet if you're a woman. Thesuperiority of this method over paper maps is huge, but the learningcurve is a little steep, so don't wait until a week before you're leavingto buy one.One important thing electronic mapping can do for you is to identifyhills. Unless you're touring Saudi Arabia, you will always climb hills,but on a 60-pound bike you don't want to do it any more than necessary.Some GPS software show grades, and some of the on-line toolsshow the climbing profile of the route you've chosen. If you don'tlike your friends, you can lay out a really hilly route and tell them it'sflat, then back out at the last minute.In the west, riding on highways is normal, and in many cases they'rethe only roads available, or the flattest route (the highway engineerswent that way for a reason). In the east, or in metropolitan areaseverywhere, the highways are frequently unrideable. I once saw aloaded touring cyclist pumping east on Route 4 at the intersectionof Route 17. No kidding. That's what happens when you just follow aline on a map.So you need information. A really good tool is Google Earth. It allowsyou to fly over a section of highway and even zoom in to seewhat type of road it is. The main thing to avoid is the fast four-lanehighway with no shoulders and hard curbs. Google Maps can beused both for satellite views and to find hotels, which will be more ofa challenge than you might think.The key to hotels in the U.S. is that they are usually found alongmajor highways or in the suburbs of large cities, i.e., the places youdon't want to ride. Even in New Jersey, if you’re not along the shoreor in the central corridor, it's surprisingly hard to find a hotel. Whenyou do find one, it's often like the Bates Motel, which is not good ifyou want to take a shower. The usual strategy is to try and engineera rural route that parallels an interstate, or that ends up each night insome population center. It can be challenging.If all this seems too imposing, here's a shortcut. Adventure Cycling isa non-profit organization dedicated to long distance bicycle touring.They're at http://www.adventurecycling.org/. They publish aninformative monthly magazine, Adventure Cyclist, and they sellmaps of good bike routes all over the United States. Of course, if youonly have a week, you can just do part of a route. Be aware, though,that they assume most of their users are camping, and hotels may bescarce in some locations. You will have to combine their maps withyour other resources to find hotels.Unless you're touring New Jersey (weekend in Perth Amboy, anyone?)you have to decide how to get your bike to the start line. Packingand flying is an option, sometimes the only one, but with loadedtouring bikes it's often easiest to just drive to the route. Getting aone-way rental to and from the end points is expensive, but may becompetitive with the alternatives, especially for a group.There's still one more thing to do before your first expedition,though, and that's to train. Riding a light bike fast on weekends andriding a heavy bike day after day for a week are different athleticskills. Set your bike up with the weight you will be touring with andget your legs ready. If you can't do a whole training program, atleast take a trial run with the weight on so you know what you're upagainst.One strange phenomenon about a loaded touring bike, which defiesthe law of physics, is that it actually gets heavier as the tour goes on.No one knows why this happens. Start out conservatively and takeyour time. Don't be afraid to go slow. Remember, if you're in a hurryto get it over with, why are you doing it at all?Kevin Gately is a 14-year member of BTCNJ who, like his touringbike, gets heavier as time goes on. His opinions, like his extra eightpounds, are his own.

4BTCNJ Screams for Ice Creamsocializing.Club meeting NewsOn Thursday, July 12th, the screaming forice cream within BTCNJ will stop! That’sright. It is time for our umpteenth AnnualIce Cream Social. I know that some of you(read BTCNJ officers) will be very disappointedby only having a brief businessmeeting but this is necessary to prevent atotal meltdown of the ice cream and ourhosts, Barbara Klein and Doug Chucka.For July’s meeting, BTCNJ’s focus will beon eating ice cream and (you guessed it)Information on ice cream flavor selections was not available in timefor July’s MasterLink although a few Ramapo Rally volunteers thatwere willing to sacrifice their hill climbing ability are busy on theIce Cream Taste Test Committee. Please contact Steve Greenbergat steve551@optonline.net to volunteer for anything including theRamapo Rally. We promise he will give you an exciting opportunitythat is less fattening.Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012Time: 7:30 pmPlace: Ridgewood Public Library125 North Maple AvenueRidgewood NJ 07450Reminder: We meet in a library so you scream, I scream, we allscream for ice cream will be no more than hushed whispers.- Barbara KleinJune Meeting Wrap-upMore than 70 BTCNJ members were in attendance as Dan Furphy, anAHA CPR/First Aid Instructor, and the featured June meeting speaker,discussed first aid basics and CPR.Dan has been in a leadership role at the Fair Lawn Ambulance Corpsince 2000 and most recently has been the Chief for the past 6 years.He also has been working per diem for Valley Hospital teaching CPRand First Aid.volunteer for the Ramapo rallyThe Ramapo Rally is August 19th this year. Registration is nowopen and we need to start getting volunteers. It takes about 200volunteers to have a successful Rally. Here are the volunteer opportunities:Prior to Rally day:• Arrow painting• Food pick-up• Friday water pick-up• Friday supply pick-up• Saturday site set-upAugust 9th Meeting ProgramWhy Bicycling Advocacy MattersPresented by Cyndi Steiner and Ted SemegranMany of us enjoy riding on club rides and participating in the manywonderful club activities that BTCNJ provides. But how many areaware of the cycling “scene” at the national level, and how cyclingcan shape the future of this country? Cycling impacts obesity rates,climate change, our dependence on foreign fuel, and how we designand build our cities and suburbs. Only 1.6% of federal transportationdollars are spent on bicycling and pedestrian projects, yet 10% of allDan answered numerous questions from the BTCNJ audience, rangingfrom the latest techniques in CPR to recognizing the signs ofdehydration and stroke. Most telling was when he touched on anincident about a biker falling off his bike for no apparent reason. Danintimated that a more serious health issue was probably the cause.BTCNJ will be scheduling a first aid/CPR certification session in thefall. In 2011, Dan and members from the Fair Lawn Ambulance Corpsran two first aid certification sessions with more than 30 membersfrom BTCNJ attending. Check future issues of the Masterlink and theBTCNJ Web Site for more information.- Ralph MontiDay of Rally:• Registration• Manning rest stops• Leading rides• Start site assistance• Breakfast (need team leader) plus members• Set-up and serve lunch• Parking• Clean-up• SAG.This is a great opportunity to give back to the club. For moreinformation or to volunteer, contact Steve Greenberg at steve551@optonline.net.- Steve Greenberg, Volunteer Developmenttrips taken by Americans are either walked or biked.Come to the August meeting and learn the important bicycling andpedestrian “numbers” at the national and state level and learn howyou can get involved and help influence the decisions that are beingmade, both in the US and New Jersey legislatures. This presentationwill be given by Cyndi Steiner, a long-time clubmember and a newlyappointed board member of the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition,and by our Legislative Affairs board member, Ted Semegran, who isalso a past board member (and founder) of the Coalition. We hope tosee you there!

5Home Baked Goods Needed forAnnual Ramapo Rally on August 19thMore Club News...We want to maintain our reputationas having the most, best homebaked goodies of any cycling eventaround. Remember our motto, “Eatto Ride, Ride to Eat.” Let’s keep thetradition and legend alive!We need all BTCNJ members, their spouses, friends, kids and relativesto provide those wonderful home-baked goods that our Rallyriders have come to expect.The Rally is just a few weeks away so start baking now and stock upthe freezer. Please try to bake items that are a bit more “healthy”(muffins, breads, bars) to help provide some great tasting quickenergy to our hungry cyclists.Please bring your goodies to the start site (or have someone bringthem for you) early the morning of the event.If you have any questions, please contact Linda Krauss. Email:krauski@gmail.com.- Linda KraussVolunteers of the Month - July 2012Allan Baer, Kimberly German and Louis WassongIt takes many volunteers to make an event like the 8th Annual BergenCounty Bicycle Tour that took place on June 3rd. Of these wewould especially like to commend three who were team leaders atthe event. They are Allan Baer, Kimberly German and Louis Wassong.Allan Baer headed up the food team and was responsible for leadinghis team in serving approximately 750 cyclists with excellent foodfrom Blimpie’s and drinks from a local store. This was his first attemptat such a role and he did a marvelous job. Allan is also very active asa co-leader of C* rides.Kimberly German took over the registration process for the first time.BTCNJ is Going Dancin' Once Again . . .Looking for an alternative exercise program? Want to have fun andget energized? Come join us for some enjoyable beginner dance lessonsfor BTCNJ members only on three consecutive Friday eveningsin August or September. Led by an experienced dance instructor,Sasha Valerie, you will learn to do the Salsa, Cha Cha, Meringue andother dances. (Sasha was the dance instructor that had us up anddancing at the BTCNJ Anniversary Party.) This is being offered atthe special rate of $35 per person for three Friday evenings. Classeswill run from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm each evening after which we willgo out for some light refreshments (or for the more adventurous,maybe to a dance club). Class will be limited to the first 30 people.Next New Club Member Ride Scheduled forSunday, July 29th, 9:30 AM, Ramsey, NJAfter joining the club, a new member may ask:• Gee, I like biking but I don’t feel comfortable on the roads in traffic.• I never rode with a group before. Can I do it? What do I need toknow?• Which level rider am I?At the New Member Ride we address these concerns. The ridesare led by experienced ride leaders, who emphasize good ridingtechnique and safety.It is an extremely important role since we had to get a count of thetotal number of riders in order to have adequate quantities of food,drinks and ice cream for the event. Kimberly has also volunteeredat other club events including the Ramapo Rally as well as last year’sBCBT as well.Louis Wassong gladly volunteered to jointly head up the SAG groupwith Bob Campbell, already a VOTM recipient. He assisted in paintingarrows for the 45 mile route. Louis recently has become an activeride co-leader for both C* and B rides.Congratulations Allan, Kimberly and Lou for being the Volunteers ofthe Month for July.-Ted Semegran, Steve GreenbergIf interested please confirm by e-mail to: charlescino@yahoo.comindicating which session you are interested in and send your checkfor $35 made out to BTCNJ to:Charles Cino, 9 Somerset Drive, Apt. 11F, Suffern, NY 109012 Options:1st Session: Aug. 3rd, 10th, 17th2nd Session: Sept. 14th, 21st, 28th.Location:599 Valley Health Plaza at Mariann’s School of Dance, Paramus, NJ- Charles Cinothe same route for the first three miles. We leave the start point inwaves, C* first, followed by C and then the D riders. Those who feltchallenged in the first three miles could drop back a level. The C*sand Cs continued together for the next five miles. This gave any C*rider who was uncomfortable with the pace the opportunity to dropback to the C level. This approach allows new club members to find acomfortable pace without the fear of getting lost.The next New Club Member Ride is scheduled for Sunday morning,July 29th. If you are interested you can sign up on the BTCNJWebsite.-Carmela and Don SchallerNew Member/New Leader Co Ride LieutenantsThe routes are chosen so that all three rides followed

6It’s the first Sunday of May, and over 30,000 cyclists are poised inBattery Park to start what for nearly all will be an event to remember,The Five Boro BikeTour. The Tour is todayperhaps the largest cyclingevent in the nation.Like many such events,it had humble beginningsstarting in 1977as the Five Boro Challenge.The Challenge,run by the NYC Board ofEducation and AmericanYouth Hostels (AYH), wasattended by some 250cyclists one of whomwas a skinny curly haired17-year-old bike enthusiastfrom Queens named LeonardDiamond.That skinny kid from Queens found his stride, continued ridingthat tour for 35 consecutive years, and today is not only a B* riderand BTCNJ member, but the chair of Bike New York, the non-profitorganization that co-produces the Five Boro Bike Tour with the NYCDepartment of Transportation. After that first ride, Len becameincreasingly involved with the ride and the organizations that eventuallytook over producing the ride. In the late 1980’s, volunteeringfor the Tour was Len’s second job. He would literally work 40 hours aA diamond in the PelotonI recently caught up with Len, now Dr. Leonard Diamond, and had achance to chat with him about Bike New York.In the early days,the ride was chaperonedby just two policecars, one in frontand the other in therear. As the cyclistsapproached eachintersection, one policecar would be infront while a volunteerbike rider wouldstop to preventcross traffic untilall the cyclists werethrough. The otherpolice car remained in the rearand rotated positions with thefirst. The goal of the initial ride,which was produced by AYH with assistance from the NYC Board ofEducation, was to promote bike safety and youth hostels.First year volunteers for the Five Boro Bike Challenge.4th from the left standing is 17 year old Len Diamond.Though the route has pretty much remained the same, the eventgrew and its purpose changed. It is now the main fund raiser for BikeNew York which uses the funds to pay for 100% of their educationalefforts. The money is used for cycles, helmets, and instructors to providefree bike education and safety programs. Another BTCNJ member,Cyndi Steiner, is one of Bike New York’s most active instructors.As you can imagine, an event of this size has it oddities. This yearthey introduced a crazy costume contest and many of the cyclistscame decked out as their favorite super hero and other colorful characters.They had one biker at the end of the tour propose to his brideto be in front of the entire crowd. In a previous year, they actuallyhad a biker fall from the upper deck of one of the bridges and landon the lower deck surviving the fall.The task of producing a bike event of this size is enormous, particularlyin New York. Len describes with angst that the number of city,state and federal agencies they have to deal with is staggering. Whilesome agencies, such as the Dept. of Transportation and Police areobvious, who knew they would have to deal with the Army and theCoast Guard. Add to that the MTA, the Bridge and Tunnel Authority,EMS, the Fire Department and the list goes on. One of their biggestchallenges is avoiding or coping with road construction. As everyNew Yorker will attest, there is constant construction in this area.7 survivors of the original ride at the 30th anniversary celebrationat Gracie Mansion where Len Diamond, 2nd from left inthe back row, gave a speech with Mayor Bloomberg.week at his paid job, and then another 40 hours a week volunteeringto help with the Five Boro Bike Tour.So what would motivate someone to take on such a monumentaltask? Well, since 2010, more than 17,500 people have enrolled inone or more of Bike New York’s classes. And it is in these classes thatsome learn how to ride a bicycle for the first time, or how to navigatetheir way by bike in a metropolitan area, or how to buy a bike, orhow to get fitted for a bike. At the end of the day, for Len, it is knowingthat his efforts will introduce so many young people to the sportof cycling, and educate so many others that make it all worthwhile.- Larry Schwartz

7Slaying the Badger Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault and theGreatest Tour de FranceBy Richard Moore304 pp, VeloPress, $18.95By Ralph MontiIf you’re a seasoned sports fan,there’s absolutely nothing betterto get the pulse going thanwitnessing a great match-up.Nostalgic baseball buffs will harkenback to the days of the WillieMays vs. Sandy Koufax battles.Football fanatics will rememberthe Joe Montana vs. Dan Marinoduel in Super XIX. And tennis fanswill recall the ferocious volleyingof the 2008 Wimbledon finalbetween Rafael Nadal and RogerFederer.All of these were one day affairs, matching one top competitor fromone team or side, versus another. But how do you square a fiercerivalry between two great competitors on the same team? With bothfighting to win cycling’s greatest race—over a three week timeframe,to boot? What you get, of course, is what many consider the greatestand most dramatic Tour de France ever: The 1986 classic of Greg Le-Mond pedaling against his teammate, Bernard “The Badger” Hinault.Did You KnowBook Review: slaying the badger• that your club has an OUTREACH program?• that there’s a dedicated group of club members who’ve offeredto lend a hand, an ear, a shoulder, to visit or other assistance tomembers in need?• that you can volunteer to join this terrific group of people and feelreally good about doing so?• that you too might be in need of OUTREACH one day? (We hopenot, but you never know.)• that offering your services is as easy as contacting one of usbelow.If you become aware of any members who are ill, have had anaccident or a death in the family, please let usknow by getting in touch with our contact forthe month.Diana Shikiar 201.995.9101dianashikiar@gmail.comHenry Gozdz 201.892.4059hgozdz@hotmail.comOur contact for the month of July is:Mary Mullane mary_mullane@yahoo.comVeteran sports author Richard Moore weaves a most exciting, grippingand page-turning story, as he brings to life an extraordinaryrace rivalry, one that lasts almost to the final day in Paris. Indeed,what made the 1986 Tour so compelling and dramatic was the ethosthe LeMond-Hinault rivalry created: an on-going narrative of mistrust,betrayal, heroism, duplicity, jealously, fear, and politics. Indeedthat year’s Tour evolved into more than just a bike race, as these twowillful combatants waged mental and physical war on one anotherday after day.You know you’re in for a thrilling ride when you get drawn into thestory from page 1. Moore uses a storyteller’s ploy to hook the readerin, describing a nasty sequence of events that occurs during a midracestage. While it’s a story that would never make prime time, it’sa tale that is a precursor for the wearing psychological and physicalbrutality to come, from two of cycling’s great champions. And it’salso the beginning of a terrific read.Be a Part of Ironman HistoryJoin the inaugural Ironman U.S. ChampionshipVolunteer Team! Saturday, August 11th.Follow the links below to volunteer at the mile 11 and 64 bike aidstation in Alpine NJ on the PIP.BTCNJ - Bike Aid Station at Exit 3 - 11:30 am to 5:30 pmHere are the instructions to sign up as a volunteer:To sign up:1. Visit: http://www.doitsports.com/volunteer2/join-protectedgroup.tcl?event_id=2134182. Find our group name (BTCNJ) from the drop down list, be sure totake note of the shift you are registering for.3. Enter our group password (btcnj) for the shift you have selected.4. Fill out all of the required information and click submit!Thanks,Ellen Daviselledavis@verizon.netJAMES VINCENT BICYCLES8505 Bergenline avenue nOrth Bergen, nJ 07047OPensundays201-869-1901SALES SERVICE RENTALSClOthingshOestrainerslightshelMetsBring in this ad to receive an extra 10%off all in stock fall and winter clothing- MOUNTAIN BIKES -- ROAD BIKES -- COMFORT BIKES -- FOLDING BIKES -- KIDS BIKES -3.5%salestaXthuleCaMelBakMaviCBOntragergirO- TREK - CANNONDALE - SCHWINN -- GT - LEMOND - FISHER - DAHON -visit us Online - JaMesvinCentBiCyCles.COM

8BTCNJ ToursIn the table below is a summary of the upcoming tours hosted by BTCNJ. For a full description of the tours, please visit our website. Youmust 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 AVAILABILITYJuly 20-22 White Clay MTB varied VariedJuly 27-292012Aug 3--5Sept 7 - 92012Sept 21-232012Sept. 28-30Oct 5-82012Revisiting LakeGeorgeColumbiaCounty (NY) &BerkshiresBike the AmishCountryRhinbeck, NYAmagansett, LI3rd AnnualSaratoga Springs(Fall Foliage)Varied rollingto hillyVaried$200/person (basedon double occupancy)Varied Varied approx. $130/nightRollingVarriedrollingMostly flatto rollingVaried, flatto rollingmostlyVaried30-55 miles/ dayVaried 25 milesto 100Varied$150/person (basedon double occupancy)$190/person, basedon double occupancy$210/person (basedon double occupancy)$210/person (doubleoccupancy, 3 nights)Stacey (Anastasia) Condatoreaskotek@hotmail.comBarbara Mallachmallachb@gmail.comKen Stahlksbike453@gmail.comAlan Horwitzajh973@gmail.comRichard Finerichardfine42@hotmail.comAmy Hassamyhass@amyhass.comRobert DeMairrdemair@optonline.netLinda Krausskrauski@gmail.comFull. Wait listonlySpace availableFull. Wait listonlySpace availableSpace availableSpace availableMTB Tour:White Clay, Delaware July 20-22, 2012White Clay and Middle Run are two adjacent parks in Delaware thatcan be ridden together. They are considered most suitable for beginner/intermediatetechnical riders. White Clay is described as a fast,well-maintained, well-marked network of about 20 miles of trails.Middle Run offers 10 miles of more challenging trails. For a taste ofthe fun, check out these videos:http://www.singletracks.com/mtb/videos/3957 http://www.singletracks.com/mtb/videos/3950under the BTCNJ group. If you have any problems, ask for Raj andmention Stacey Condatore and/or mountain biking.Room rates for the weekend are $55 for a king and $59 for a double.Cancellations can be made with a full refund with 24-hours notice.Our block is being held with guaranteed rates only until July 6th,so hurry! Once you have signed up, email your tour leader, Stacey(Anastasia) Condatore (askotek@hotmail.com) to let her know youwill be joining the group. Questions? Just contact Stacey.-Stacey CondatoreWe will consider spending a day riding Fair Hill County Park, 15minutes away, in Maryland. This park offers 80 miles of trails! The mixof fire roads and varying levels of single track should accommodateall levels of MTB riders. Advanced riders may want to take it fast asthe technical reviews consider the trails to be beginner/intermediate.It is common knowledge that this park is "easy to get lost in." Thegroup will take extra precaution to ensure no rider is left behind!Join us for this fun weekend of discovering new places to ride! Oh,and one more carrot to dangle....not a ton of climbing since Delawareis notoriously flat compared with New Jersey or New York! Yourtour leader: Stacey (Anastasia) Condatore.To sign up, reserve your room at the Super 8 Motel in Newark, Delaware(http://www.mapquest.com/places/super-8-newark-newarkde-2414494/).The phone number is 302.737.5050. Book your room

9Ramapo Rally…coming soon…volunteers &bakers neededThe Aug 19 date of the Ramapo Rally is getting very close, and westill need many more volunteers to make this event a big success.Volunteers to: paint arrows, move materials on Friday and Saturdaybefore the Rally, work at breakfast, lunch or elsewhere at the startsite, staff registration, lead rides, drive SAG, crew rest stops, and lastbut not least help on site cleanup and return of our equipment tothe storage locker. Pre-registration to date is pretty even with lastyear’s record number, despite the big rain last year, and we will againhave a big exhibitor area, with many great sponsors. We hope thatTony Cruz (retired pro racer) will also return.We’ve had great reviews and feedback in recent years about ourroutes, rest stops, and incomparable volunteers, and WE NEED YOUto repeat this in 2012. Once again we’re the venue for the Davisclub tid bitsPhinney Foundation fund-raising ride to combat Parkinson’s Disease.They’ve chosen our event in addition to RAGBRAI and other majornational events, for their East Coast efforts.Please join the nearly 200 BTCNJ members who are needed to makethis signature club event better than ever. We have openings in allareas, so whatever your time availability, we can find a job for you.There are jobs before, during and after the ride. Please contact SteveGreenberg at steve551@optonline.net. or Ken Stahl at ksbike453@gmail.comOur Rally has always had a reputation for great home-baked goods,so those who can do so, please bake up a storm. What’s better at arest stop than home-baked brownies?-Ken StahlMemorial Weekend at the Landgrove InnNear Manchester, VermontThe weather gods were smiling on us - a group of 30 BTCNJ membersshared a special weekend of cycling and cameraderie at ourfavorite inn tucked away on the backroads near Bromley/Stratton inVermont. It's hard to think of a more special place. Weekend hostedby Diana Shikiar and Linda Krauss - we can't wait to return.What is a Gran Fondo?A Gran Fondo is to cyclists what a Marathon is to runners. For years“weekend warrior” cyclists have been looking for a competitive,challenging event. The Gran Fondo NJ addresses this void. Overthe past 3 years, Gran Fondos have become the most popularmass-participation cycling events for cycling enthusiasts in NorthAmerica.The second Gran Fondo NJ will be held Sunday, September 9, 2012leaving from the Morristown Green. In addition to the fun and riding,proceeds from the Gran Fondo NJ will benefit three charities:Seeing Eye, Homeless Solutions, Inc. and Grow It Green Morristown.The Seeing Eye has even named one of their puppies Fondo afterthe event!Gran Fondo NJ 2012 will offer four routes of increasing levels ofchallenge. The Gran Fondo is the longest ride of 103 miles. ThePiccolo Fondo (43 miles) and Medio Fondo (63miles) course willchange from the 2011 route for mile 10 through 16 so you will berouted the panoramic Lake Road now that the bridge has beenrepaired. For those wanting to experience the fun and excitementof the event, but are not up to a Piccolo Fondo, the 18 mile BreveFondo has been added. All routes with the exception of the BreveFondo will have hill climbs timed.For additional information about the Gran Fondo and the weekendevents of September 7, 8, 9 and to register go to: www.granfondonj.comor active.com.If you are not able to ride consider volunteering for this worthwhileevent. Contact Diane Doherty (973 771 0272) email: ddfromnj@gmail.com or Judy Lauber (201 723 0322) email:jamlauber@gmail.com. Please put GranFondo in the subject area. Also look for theGran Fondo on facebook!-Diane DohertyWisdom from Gandalf:To be sure of hitting the target,shoot first and call whatever you hitthe target.

10RIDE CATEGORIESCategoryAverage Speed(mph)DescriptionA 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 milesMTB - BMTB - CMTB - DB 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.A, B*, B Categories: No obligation to wait for stragglers if advertised pace is kept and writtendirections (cue sheets, maps) are issued. C*, C, D Categories: Group will wait for stragglers andassist 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 variedobstacles. Extended ascents/descents.Uneven trail surface with minimal obstacles and gradual, moderate climbing. Some singletrack.Wide trails with a flat, obstruction-free riding surface and little change in elevation.TERRAIN DESCRIPTIONSHilly: Numerous long and steep climbsModerately Hilly: Numerous climbs, with no “killer” hillsRolling: Some small hills, farmland ups and downsFlat: Minimal gear shifting requiredResponsibilities For LeadersBring maps and/or cue sheets. Discourage riders with unsoundbikes from joining the ride. Within the first few miles, urge riderswho are unable to maintain the advertised pace to leave the ride.Adhere to the advertised speed of the ride. Advise riders exceedingyour intended pace that they will be considered to be on theirown. RIDE LEADERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR SIGN-IN SHEETS TO EARNRIDE LEADER POINTS.Responsibilities For RidersRiders 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 ifyou are making an unscheduled stop or leaving the group. Rideswill not go in the following conditions (unless otherwise noted inthe rides description): rain, snow, wet or icy roads, or temperaturesunder 32°. Rides will leave 15 minutes after the published meetingtime (unless otherwise noted.) For rides longer than 15 miles,bring snacks, for rides over 30 miles, bring lunch (unless a delistop is indicated). Note: anyone under 18 years of age must beaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian on all rides.Every rider is required to wear a helmet that meets CPSCPerformance Standards on all club rides. Headphones are notpermitted on rides.Btcnj Ride CategoriesRide Leader UpdateI hope this finds you well and enjoying some great rides and toursnow that it is officially summer. Thanks to all our outstanding rideleaders for volunteering their time and riding skills to create a fullschedule of rides for classic rides and new routes. On June 9th, Ijoined our BTCNJ team of 12 to do my second The Longest Day ridefrom Port Jervis to Cape May. It turned out to be a gorgeous day anda strong group of riders to cover over 210 miles in a day. It's surprisingthe people you get to meet and get to know better on a long rideto cover the length of NJ. Having excellent sag support was pricelessto keep us fueled, motivated, and smiling, especially after the first100 miles. You can't help but loosen up a little too when you're onthe bike for 10+ hours and up before 5am to get ready to ride. I'll tellyou that an iced coffee never tasted so good as it did in Robbinsvilleat mile 98 (thanks Gary for the coffee by the way), and not to forgetto tasty grilled chicken sandwich at the last rest stop (thanks Jim). Ifyou've never thought of the longest day or brevets, it's a great way toget in steady endurance miles, having a firm training goal, and havingthe chance to share in an epic ride with fellow riders and friends.Who's in for 2013 and what other states can we ride across?If you ever want to see a fast and fun local criterium race in NYC withpro riders, why not visit the Harlem Skyscraper Classic in June? Thisyear's race was on Sunday, June 17th and I raced in the cat 4 field atthe Skyscraper Classic on an idyllic father's day. It was a fast courseand a big crowd since the pro race was on the USA Cycling NationalCriterium Calendar event and teams like United Healthcare, JamisSutter Home, CRCA/Foundation and so many others at the pro race.For me it was big thrill to race the same course and push it in a fullfield, even if I got caught up in a crash with 3 laps to go. Nice job toZach Koop for his 2nd place finish in the cat 2-3 race and Mike Zakfor another strong performance in the cat 2-3 race. The pro race wasbroadcast on TV locally and available online if anyone is interested.I hope you're all enjoying excellent trips and rides. If you are a newride leader and want to learn the want to learn ride leader fundamentalsand some advanced skills, please join us on July 22nd from4-6pm for the new ride leader clinic. Please contact Don or CarmelaSchaller, New Ride Leader/ New Member Co-Lieutenants, at schacd@optonline.net to reserve your spot today. Please contact me if youhave any ideas on how to do things better or want to share an exceptionalride. Have a great ride and I hope to see you on a ride soon.-Wade Wegner, BTCNJ Rides Captain

11bergen county bicycle tour Write-upOur 8th Annual Bergen County Bicycle Tour, on Sunday June 3rd wasa blast. Cyclists loved the new 25-mile route (designed by Bill Mayserand Ted Semegran) and the new 45-mile route (designed by FredMandell). We got lots of kudos regarding our new rest stop locationat the Old Tappan Library , and folks raved about the Blimpie’s(Dumont) sandwiches (some vegetarian for the first time) and hotdogs. All of which was followed by ice cream from Confetti’s Creamery(Bergenfield). We want to also thank Dole who donated bananasfor our rest stop.Over 570 cyclists registered for the Bergen County Bicycle Tour(BCBT) this year. A bit more than half of these pre-registered for theevent. Over 50 of our club members volunteered as ride marshalsand leaders and another 25 or so took charge of set-up and closedown(headed by Nick Mangino), registration (Kimberly German),food handling (Allan Baer), SAG (Louis Wassong & Bob Campbell),rest stop (Harriet Einschlag, Beth Talini and Glenn Barnes), and arrowpainting (Tom Rochford, Gerald McBride, Louis Wassong & Andres Tirbocchi)activities. We also sold over $1,000 of club merchandise.We again collected significant funds for our two charities, Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon and Bergen Community College (BCC). The moneyfor our newest charity, BCC, will provide scholarships for its students.On event day the weather was great and we managed to concludethe event before the big rains hit later that afternoon. The 12-milersrode our well proven route through Ridgewood and almost 100kids and parents did the annual 5-mile family ride in local streets inParamus near the college.The primary aim of the BCBT is to enable cyclists to learn aboutroutes in Bergen County and to become familiar with our bike club.It also helps get families, especially those with young kids, to ride forfun and health. As a result, we seem to get many new BTCNJ membersafter the rides.We hope to again host the 9th Annual BCBT next year on Sunday,June 2, 2013 at Bergen Community College.-Coordinators of the BCBT, Bill Mayser and Ted Semegran

12april 2012 miami to key west tripAlmost all of the 18 of us going on the Miami to Key West trip met atmy Haworth home in early March to discuss details of the April 15thtrip. All were as excited as I was. It would be a repeat of the “great”March 2007 trip when twelve of us did it that year. The only differencewas that Nick Mangino would be my co-leader and we wouldrent a van similar to the one used in the Ottawa to Montreal trip lastsummer to take the bikes (even a tandem).This trip, in addition to having 50% more folks, would have manymore bike trails and paths than in 2007. Inaddition, US Route 1 had a wide enoughshoulder to get to Key Largo from Miami. So,instead of taking Card Sound road, a road withno shoulder and where cars would routinelytravel up to 50 mph, we took Route 1.Day 1 - We loaded the bikes in the van Thursdayafternoon, April 12th. On Friday morning,Ray Nutkis and I started the 1300-mile rideto Miami. We stayed over in Florence, SouthCarolina Friday night – a bit more than halfthe trip. On Saturday we got down to Ft.Lauderdale, about 25 miles from our Sundaydestination, the Mack Cycle Shop in Miami.The bike shop didn’t open till noon on Sunday.However, almost all of us were there early tounload the bikes and re-attach the front wheels and pedals. By 1:00PM, we started our short ride (almost 20 miles) to motel number 1in Cutler Bay. The route was through beautiful homes and trails andeven a food market, the Cutler Bay Farmer’s Market with great localfare. From there we went onto the La Quinta motel in Cutler Ridge.Day 2 - On Monday morning we had the motel breakfast buffetand started the 40-mile route to Key Largo. I had told everyonethat as soon as we got to the Keys, we would likely have a tail wind.The prevailing wind direction in the Caribbean is due East. Whatsurprised us was the strong headwind – up to 20 to 25 miles fromthe South, for the first 30 to 35 miles. Welcome to Florida! We werelucky enough to go 10 mph on much of the route even though itwas totally flat. Eventually, about five miles from our Key Largodestination, the winds were on our backs. Finally, we reached oursecond motel at mile marker 100 in Marina Del Mar, Key Largo. Wewere quickly all poolside except for a few that went to John PennekampCoral Reef State Park to try some snorkeling.Day 3 - The 50-mile to ride Marathon was one of our many pleasantsurprises. Most of the route had bike trails. A Florida Keys cyclingspecialist, Marcia Wolls, had even sent us an itinerary map whichidentified each of the trail start points using mile markers. Most ofour ride to Marathon Keys was accompanied by the expected mildtailwind. We had views of the ocean on the left and the gulf on theWest. For lunch some of us stopped at a great seafood restaurantin Marathon near our motel, the Ocean Beach Club.Day 4 - The remaining 50 miles to Key West that we planned endedup as a 65-mile ride. However, with a modest tail wind, beautifulweather and great scenery, who cared? First, it was breakfast at the7 Mile Bridge Diner with its crazy signs and tough talking waitress.Then we cycled across the 7 mile bridge. What a kick! Beautifulweather, a wide enough shoulder and the ocean and gulf on eitherside of us.Biking towards MarathonOn the way down to Key West we also stopped at Deer Key wheresome of us saw a crocodile and small (belt high) deer. Then westopped at a great restaurant, Mangrove Momma, suggested by parttime Florida and NJ BTCNJ member, Jerry Boyarsky, for a final repastbefore our destination.Day 5 and 6 – Our stay in Key West was as much fun as we all hoped.Some went to the Hemingway House, others went to Truman’sSummer House and the rest hit the localbeaches, art exhibits, and key lime ice creamshops. What more could 19 of us want for avacation in April? The reason we were 19 isBob Pina, another part-time Florida and NJmember joined us at Cutler Bay for the restof the trip. Our Key West motel, El Patio, waswithin a few blocks of the beaches and a fewmore blocks of downtown Key West. However,when you have a bike, everything is atmost 10 minutes away.Next year you ask? Lou Wassong and I areworking on another Florida trip for April.This time it’s Jacksonville to Melbourne or abit over 200 miles. That’s along the AtlanticOcean. However, we will no longer count ona tailwind – just great times we hope.-Ted Semegran

13Most members join BTCNJ for the day rides or multi-day tours. If youthink about it, “rides make the club go ‘round.” However, without rideleaders, there are no rides – and no club. We now have over 1,500members. And even though we have many dedicated ride leaderswe need more volunteers to keep up with the growth of the club.I started leading rides three years ago. I enjoy the social aspects ofriding and showing riders parts of New Jersey they haven’t seenbefore. On tours of far western New Jersey I often hear the comment,“Are you sure we are still in New Jersey?” It also feels good to hear“thank you” after a ride and know that I helped involve newer ridersWANTED - RIDE LEADERSAfter speaking with two of our experienced ride leaders I thought itwas time to interview one of our new leaders, Sharon Hurwich. Sharon’sfirst day of ride leading, and coincidentally one of her best rides,was the 2011 Bergen County Bike Tour. “I enjoy teaching new ridershow to ride safely and courteously. It’s just fun to share my love ofbiking with other people.” After that experience, Sharon started toco-lead rides. Now she is creating a ride of her own, Tour de Montclair,so she can, “show off the sites of my hometown. I am lookingforward to planning the route. I think it will be fun to ride with myBTCNJ pals and show them my home town and some of my favoriteplaces, as well as the celebrity homes in Montclair.”The leaders I interviewed:• All experience an enthusiasm and excitement forriding, which they want to share with others.• Clearly enjoy the social side of biking.• Find satisfaction from the gratitude they get fromthose on their rides.• Enjoy the freedom to lead a ride when and wherethey want.• Enjoy developing new routes. Since not everyonemay want to develop their own routes, there is a cuesheet library on the BTCNJ website that can do this foryou.in a sport I enjoy. I decided to ask a few other leaders what they getout of leading, in hopes that some of you will feel ready to give it atry.First, I spoke with Ted Semegran who has led C* rides for the pastnine years. Ted’s rides, such as the Katz’s Deli Ride, the Hudson Loop,and the Jersey Shore Ride are a magnet for many BTCNJers. WhenTed first joined the club, he went on many rides led by Joel Seidensteinthrough the streets of New York City, as well as much of NewJersey. Joel was a bit of a tour guide, giving the background on sitesthe group visited. After Joel moved on to other activities, Ted, bittenby the ride leader bug, developed cue sheets for Joel’s rides anddeveloped a few new rides of his own.When asked why he leads rides Ted responded, “I get to do only therides I enjoy and I get a kick out of meeting new club members.” Tedis noted for the social aspects of his rides. Riders stop for lunch andget to know each other. Laughingly, Ted says that by leading a fewrides a week, “I get to eat more and especially good places.” AmongTed’s best days riding have been his multi-day tours of Canada andFlorida. “The seven mile bridge across the Florida Keys is a real kick.”I hope you will want to give ride leading a try. Here area few resources to get you started:• On Sunday, July 22nd from 4:00 to 6:00PM we will hold a NewRide Leaders Workshop. We will cover tips on ride leading, howto use the BTCNJ website to enter a ride (a bit daunting at first –but easy after you have done it once). Contact Don and CarmelaSchaller at schacd@optonline.net or 201-327-4047 for moredetails.• Kevin Gately wrote an excellent on the how to of ride leadingfor the March 2012 edition of Masterlink (available on the BTCNJwebsite – go to Masterlink Archives or click link in prior line).• Ask a ride leader if you can co-lead a ride with them. This is agreat way to get a feel of what it is to lead a ride.Finally, thanks to Ted, Ralph and Sharon (and all of our leaders) fortheir time and enthusiasm.-Don SchallerNext I spoke to Ralph Pantuso, a B ride leader with twenty years ofexperience. “When I first joined BTCNJ I lived in Hackensack andthere were always plenty of club rides nearby. I moved to Mahwahand the only way to avoid driving to the start site was to lead ridesfrom Mahwah or Ramsey, so I started to lead rides.” In addition tohaving the freedom of time and start site, Ralph said, “There is asatisfaction when someone tells me what a wonderful ride it was.I’ve also found when leading a particularly challenging ride or a ridethrough a remote area that people were extra glad that someonewas able to help them finish.”

14ken and cecile younermemorial spokes of hope rideReminder—Ken and Cecile Youner Memorial Spokes ofHope RideSaturday, July 14, 2012Marc Musman will be joining us for the ride; we also expect a visitfrom Ken’s two young granddaughters, Rachel and Abigail.The ride will be led in two groups:Please join us for the Ken and Cecile Youner Memorial Spokes ofHope Ride on Saturday, July 14th. Dr. Ken Youner was a longtimemember and frequent ride leader of BTCNJ who passed away onFebruary 14, 2012 of kidney cancer. His beloved wife Cecile passedaway in November 2008 of cancer. Your support of this ride furthersthe work of Ken and Cecile, who both fought tirelessly against thisdreaded disease as advocates and as victims. Ken is the co-founderof Spokes of Hope, an organization that raises awareness of cancerand the need for advocacy through cycling.The ride will meet at 9 am at Englewood Hospital, where riders willbe greeted with a welcome from the hospital. Our next stop will bethe John Theurer Cancer Center of Hackensack University MedicalCenter, where hospital staff will greet us before we head north alongroads Ken enjoyed riding. We will stop at Nyack Beach State Park, afavorite place of Ken’s, then continue to the town of Nyack for a shortbreak. Riders can stop at the Runcible Spoon, or other cafes beforeregrouping and heading back to Englewood. All riders are theninvited to Dr. Youner’s home in Englewood to enjoy his JapaneseGarden and have some refreshments.Ken’s children Melissa Musman and Jason Youner and son-in-law1. C* and B levels, led by Cyndi Steiner2. B* led by Nate MorgensternThe C*/B level ride length will be about 50 miles; the B* versionabout 55 miles. The slower group will follow a shorter route so thatwe reach the stopping places at about the same time.Registration for the ride is $25; you may register online at active.comor that morning. Registration will open at 8 am that morning. Riders,Ken’s and Cecile’s friends, cancer advocates and others are welcometo contribute beyond the minimum. All registration fees and donationswill benefit Action to Cure Kidney Cancer, where Dr. Youner wasthe medical director.We hope you will join us for this very special ride. If you have anyquestions, please contact either Cyndi Steiner (steincy@gmail.com)or Nate Morgenstern (nmorgenstern@hotmail.com)Cyndi SteinerNate MorgensternEvent Co-organizersRecycle those used tubes!How many times have you changed a flat tire and discarded the oldtube, wishing you could do something with it other than throw itaway? Now you can! Starting with the July 2012 meeting, you cannow bring your used bicycle tubes to the meeting to be recycled.There will be a labeled bin at the back of the meeting room whereyou may deposit them.In addition to tubes, we are also recycling other bike parts. Pleasefeel free to bring to each meeting for recycling the following useditems:1. Bike tubes2. Chains3. Cassettes4. Tire valve nuts- that nut on the valve that everyone throwsaway when they install a new tubeWe have found several bike products vendors who use these recycledparts to create their products. In the interest of sustainabilityand recycling, we are making available to club members the abilityto recycle these items.We have also installed recycling bins for these items in two localshops: Cosmic Wheel in Ridgefield Park and The Bikery in Montclair.You can take these items to these two shops to be recycled. If youhave large quantities of these items (particularly tubes), pleasebring them to the meetings instead.If you have any questions, please contact Cyndi (steincy@gmail.com) or Diane (ddfromnj@gmail.com).-Cyndi Steiner, Diane Doherty

15Support Your Local Bike ShopThe owners of all these shops support BTCNJ. Please tell them you saw their shop in the MasterLink. Show them your BTCNJ membershipcard for a 10% discount off accessories and parts. They are skilled bicycle pros, and we urge you to use their services. Please note that thediscount may not apply to sale items and may not allow credit card payment. Bike shops listed in bold are advertisers in this issue, look fortheir ads. Please note that the individual shop owners have sole discretion over the definition of “accessories and parts” and of the items intheir stock to which any BTCNJ-related discount applies.Allendale Bike Shop Allendale 201-825-0952D.J.s' Cycles Belmar 732-681-8228Brookdale Cycle Bloomfield 973-338-8908Get-a-way Cycle Center Bloomingdale 973-291-4163Bikeland Caldwell 973-403-3330Bikeland II Chatham 973-635-8066The Bike Path Clifton 973-574-9001All Body Training Closter 201-768-3086Congers Bike Shop Congers, NY 845-268-3315Steve's Moped & Bicycle Dumont 201-384-7777Sam's Bicycle Repair Elmwood Park 201-797-5819Bike Master Englewood 201-569-3773Strictly Bicycles Fort Lee 201-944-7074Carrera Cycles Glen Rock 201-857-0106Marty's Reliable Hackettstown 908-852-1650Bike Pad Hawthorne 973-427-9400James Vincent Jersey City 201-420-5151Ramsey Outdoor Ledgewood 973-584-7798Bicycle Tech Lincoln Park 973-694-6775D.J.'s Cycles Long Branch 732-870-2277Peddler Long Branch 732-229-6623Cycle Craft Long Valley 908-876-5600Madison Bicycle Shop Madison 973-377-6616High Gear Cyclery Millburn 973-376-0001Diamond Cycle Montclair 973-509-0233The Bikery Montclair 973-744-7252Marty's Reliable Morristown 973-538-7773Cycle World New City, NY 845-364-2384James Vincent North Bergen 201-869-1901Chelsea Bikes NY, NY 646-230-7715Gotham Bike NY, NY 212-732-2453MasterLink SubmissionsMaterials for the MasterLink are due the 23rd of each month forpublication in the following month’s issue. Please send articles,photos, letters, or comments to MasterLink, at our email addressbtcnj.masterlink@gmail.com. Materials may be edited by the MasterLinkstaff for length and clarity. Publication of materials submittedis at the discretion of the Editor. All materials submitted forpublication become the property of BTCNJ.Issues related to MasterLink advertising should be addressed to theAdvertising Coordinator and sent to our email address btcnj.masterlink@gmail.com.Rides are listed online only, and are no longerprinted in the MasterLink.Toga Bike NY, NY 212-759-0002Nyack Bicycle Outfitters Nyack, NY 845-353-0268Pedal Sports Oakland 201-337-9380CampMor Paramus 201-445-5000Ramsey Outdoor Paramus 201-261-5000The Bicycle II Paramus 201-632-0200Cycle Sport Cyclery Park Ridge 201-391-5269Cycle Craft Parsippany 973-227-4462Bicycle Depot Pearl River 845-735-8686Heino's Ski and Cycle Pequannock 973-696-3044Piermont Bicycle Piermont, NY 845-365-0900Cycle Center Pompton Lakes 973-835-6339Bicycle Source Pompton Plains 973-835-7595Bike & Ski Shop Ramsey 201-327-9480Ramsey Outdoor Ramsey 201-327-8141Cury's Sport Shop Ramsey 201-327-4561Marty's Reliable Randolf 973-584-7773Cosmic Wheel Ridgefield Park 201-440-6655Ridgewood Cycle Ridgewood 201-444-2553Bikeworks Rochelle Park 201-843-6409The Bike Path Rutherford 201-636-2355Original Bike Shop Saddle Brook 973-478-6555Valley Cycle Spring Valley, NY 845-356-3179High Gear Cyclery Stiriling 908-647-2010Bicycle Workshop Tenafly 201-568-9372Toga Bike Upper Nyack, NY 845-358-3455Town Cycle West Milford, NJ 973-728-8878Albert's Westwood Cycle Westwood 201-664-1688Whippany Cycle Whippany 973-887-8150Wyckoff Cycle Wyckoff 201-891-5500Due to copyright laws, articles, photos, cartoons, art, etc., that haveappeared in other publications may not be published in the Master-Link without written consent of the copyright holder. Photos in theMasterLink may not be reused or republished.As proof of BTCNJ membership, youwill need to print your membershipcard through the BTCNJ website. Logonto the site, select MembershipCard under the Membership tab.Printing instructions are provided.