Endings and Beginnings

Hope you are enjoying this festive time of year with friends and family. We have two activities for you - one to close out the year (and season), and another to start the new year!

• Tuesday, December 31 - 3 p.m. at the West Milford Family Pump Track. We will be covering the pump track with carpet and preparing it to endure the rest of the winter weather that is on the way. Wear your warm clothes and help us winterize the track! 
• Wednesday, January 1, 2014 - Happy New Year! Join us on what has become an annual tradition - a New Year's Day Hangover Hike! We'll meet at 11 a.m. at the Norvin Green parking lot at the top of Otterhole Road in West Milford (right on the West Milford/Bloomingdale border) and sweat out some of the sins from the previous night. Bring water, warm clothes, and your New Year's resolutions! 

Have a safe and fun NYE and a wonderfully healthy and happy 2014! 

Reindeer Ride for 12/22 for canceled!

Due to the forecast for less than festive weather for tomorrow, we are going to cancel our NYC Reindeer ride. If we can manage to reschedule, we'll let you know! 

Reindeer Ride December 22 details!

The weather forecast looks a little sketchy for our ride Sunday, but we will plow ahead with optimism! Everyone will meet at 8:30am at KC’s Bagel Shop on Route 23 South in Pompton Plains. Please keep an eye on the temps - we don't want anyone getting too cold! We might be doing a new route this year, still undecided, but the reindeer and Santa will be ready!  If the weather is bad (rain or heavy snow), ride is cancelled. Check back with us on Saturday for weather updates! 

As always, any questions, drop us a line at info@teamtowncycle.com. 

12 Days of Christmas Thanks starts today!

We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas a little early this year! Much of what we do wouldn't be possible without our team and product sponsors, so we hope you'll join us as we thank our 2013 Team Town Cycle sponsors!! So - sing it along with us ...   ♫♪♫♪♪♫♪
                          
On the first day of Christmas, for sponsors thankful are we ... 

A.C. Daughtry Inc. - TTC members David and Heather Kahl are not just great members of our cycling community, they are the owners of A.C. Daughtry, which provides security systems that integrate seamlessly into your home and/or company's day-to-day business. Their systems provide peace of mind and are as easy to operate as a touchtone telephone. They service the residents and businesses of the tri-state area with the latest in home and business security systems. Please visit them at http://www.acdsecurity.com for all your security needs! 

ACD also sponsors the Campmor H2H series Team Competition - another great team building event in the cycling community! 

Bear Hunt and 6 Day Firearm Deer season Dec. 9-14th

Don't forget - today starts the bear hunt in NJ (as well as the Six Day Firearm Deer season) - hunters with guns will be in the woods today through Saturday, December 14. Stay safe and stay out of the woods1

For more info - consult the NJDEP website - http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearseason_info.htm

Thanksgiving news and notes

• Although the weather doesn't look awesome for our T-day ride at Wawayanda tomorrow, nothing will be falling from the sky (rain or snow). It will, however, be chilly. We aren't planning on cancelling - some hardy (or foolhardy) riders will be at the boat launch at 8:30, cold be damned. If you come, bring all the warm riding gear you have - you'll need it! 

• Looking for way to work off that turkey and pie? How about a ride at 6 Mile in Franklin, Somerset County, on Sunday, Dec. 1. We'll meet at 11 a.m. at the Canal Road parking lot. We’ll ride a few hours at an easy to moderate pace. If folks want to bring the kids out, there’s the flat & easy fun D&R Canal towpath right there too. Definitely a variety of riding for everybody! 

          Here's a link to maps of Six Mile Run and D&R Canal towpath  =

 

          http://www.dandrcanal.com/pdf/SixMileRun_Trails_3-2010.pdf

 

          Precipitation of any kind on Sunday cancels. Check back with us early Sunday if you have               any questions about weather! 

• Save these dates! 
• December 22 - one of our favorites - the annual TTC Reindeer Ride! Exact time and place TBD, but block the day out NOW!
• January 17 - our annual TTC dinner! We'll get you more details as we get closer, but make sure you don't miss out on a great evening of food and friends! 

Among the many, many things we are thankful for this year, as always, our TTC family is right near the top of our list. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! 

Kids ride a go for Saturday, Oct. 12!

OK, all systems go for our JORBA kids ride today at Jungle Habitat - we can see blue sky, and the roads are completely dry! Join us from 10-12 as we take the kiddies around JH! Snacks and swag when we are done!

Kids Mountain Bike Ride Oct. 12 Jungle Habitat

OK, we finally got all of our ducks in a row - it's a go for our annual kids MTB ride at Jungle Habitat on October 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.! TTC and JORBA are teaming up to lead this fun day, and we hope you will be able to join us. As always - all ages and abilities are welcome. We'll practice some skills, then split into groups and ride. Snacks and schwag for all the kids when they are done! These rides are always lots of fun - bring your neighbors, your friends - all are welcome. 

Any questions, please drop us a line - info@teamtowncycle.com. Look forward to seeing everyone on the 12th!

New Paltz 2013 recap

Last Saturday was TTC's annual ride to New Paltz - you couldn't ask for a nicer day! TTC's treasurer Tom Gallagher sends in his recap - photo credits to Amy and Caroline! 

Twenty club members came out for the annual New Paltz ride on Saturday, September 14th. The day which started a little chilly, was a true beaut blue sky day to be sure, and the ride went off with a hitch…until club member John Murphy hit the pavement as the peleton rolled through Monroe.  Fortunately, John sustained only a few scratches; more importantly, his prized Waterford came through unscathed.  Big time kudos to Jeff Stern who pulled the entire 54 miles! The pace he set was perfect and allowed the entire group to stay together all the way into New Paltz.   As is the tradition, the group enjoyed a sumptuous lunch (and libations) in New Paltz at the Gilded Otter before 5 brave riders – Gerrard Hawkins, Dave Vallaro, De Hurst, Andrew Murphy, & Amy McCann (welcome back Amy!) ventured out to pedal home to West Millie.  Word is that “Super G” stepped up big time to pull the group home.  Special thanks to Wolf Von Bistram for driving the Sag Wagon.  All in all a perfect day on the bike!

Two weekend rides for you!

Great fall weekend coming up - 2 rides for you to enjoy the great weather!

• Saturday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. BJ will be leading a beginner cyclocross ride over at Tourne Park in Denville. Meet at the River Access parking lot on Old Denville Road/Norris Road, and BJ will walk you through the basics of cross. You don't need to plan on racing, or even have a cross bike - it's great workout, excellent skill building and a great way to learn about this increasingly popular part of the cycling world.
• Sunday, Sept. 22, Norm and Sherri will lead two mountain bike rides at Jonathan’s Woods and Wildcat in Rockaway. Two rides, one slow and steady and the other faster paced and designed to hit all the fun technical stuff. After the rides are over, everyone will meet up for a pot luck BBQ at their house. Please bring your favorite dish (apps, sides, or dessert) to share.  Meet at the Albrechts house at 10am.  (49A Meriden Road, Rockaway). For directions, etc. please call Norm - 973.879.0820.

As always - any questions, info@teamtowncycle.com

Really the last Ladies Wednesday night ride of the season!

Come join us for one last hurrah, ladies! Since it's going to be so summer-like tomorrow, let's try for one more ladies night ride on Clinton Road. Wheels down at the old Village Square Inn - intersection of Route 23 and Clinton Road at 5:45 p.m., and bring a change of clothes - we'll go out for drinks after!

Any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com .

Friday night and Saturday ride options - plus a NoTubes demo!

Well, it's curtain time for Friday night rides for the 2013 - so let's go out with a party! 

• Friday night, (hey, it's even Friday the 13th!) we'll be holding a Stan's NoTubes demo before our last Clinton Road ride of the season. Come see how easy it is to set up your wheels tubeless, and get a free Stan's sample for yourself. We'll be at the old Village Square Inn lot on Route 23 in Newfoundland before the ride - be there! 
• Wheels down for our ride no later than 5:45
• Post ride - let's go to Vreeland's Store on Macopin, have a drink and some tapas, and celebrate another successful season of Friday night rides. Can't make the ride, but want to join in? Meet us around 8 p.m. - 1383 Macopin Road. 

Then on Saturday, September 14, we have 2 options -

• The annual TTC ride to New Paltz. Do it one way (you arrange your own transport home) or round trip - weather should be perfect! We'll meet at the shop at 9 a.m. Please RSVP ASAP so we know how many people to make reservations for at the Gilded Otter for lunch. This TTC classic trip is a hoot every year - don't miss out.
• Closer to home, BJ will be holding another beginner cyclocross skills session over at the Tourne (river access lot on Old Denville or Norris Road) at 11 a.m. Focusing on skill, optional hot laps at the end. New to cross and only have a mountain bike? No problem - bring what you have!

Looks like a fabulous fall weekend - get out there and enjoy it! As always, any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com

Friday night ride update!

Hey - Friday night ride folks. TTC's BJ had a great idea! Let's change the Clinton Road Friday night ride routine up a bit. First, there was talk of doing organized pace line riding this week. If anyone is still up for giving it a try let's all connect just before the rollout and get it organized.

Afterwards, let's hit up the newly opened Vreeland Store on Macopin for a change. Bar is open and the tapas menu is pretty awesome!

Weekend rides

• Friday Night Ride - Clinton Road - 5:45 p.m. at the old Village Square Inn parking lot on Route 23 in Newfoundland - be there! Not sure how many more of these there will be this season, so make sure you don't miss out!!!
• Saturday, September 7,  TTC's own Vicki and James will be leading a mountain bike ride up at Stewart in Newburgh. You can either meet them at the first rest stop (Sloatsburg) on the NYS Thruway at 10 a.m., or meet them at Stewart at 11 a.m. (use 400 Ridge Road, Rock Tavern, NY 12575). They plan on doing the 10 mile race loop from the Stewart Six Pack at least once (your mileage may vary!). There are no facilities there, so please bring plenty of snacks and water, etc. This would probably be classified as an intermediate ride - not a lot of climbing, but  it will have a good amount of distance to it. Weather looks great for the weekend - this should be a fun ride! 
• Also on Saturday, Sept. 7 - TTC's BJ will be leading a cyclocross basic skills session at the Tourne Park in Denville (parking in the small lot on Old Denville/Norris Rd off of Powerville Road- the river access lot) at 11:30 a.m. He'll focus on skills such as barriers, shoulder carries and running starts, etc. - all the things that make a good cyclocross racer. Beginners are always welcome - and if you don't have a CX bike, bring your mountain bike! 
• The New Paltz ride is rescheduled!!!! Thanks to Tom G. and Jeff S. for stepping up, the ride will now take place on Saturday, September 14. Meet at Town Cycle at 9 a.m. For those of you who only want to ride one way, you'll need to arrange your own way home (but please let us know if you have any extra space!) Please RSVP by Thursday, September 12 so we can make lunch reservations at the Gilded Otter. Rain will cancel. This ride is a TTC annual tradition, and the weather should be great for a mid-September ride through the Hudson Valley to the Shawangunks. 

Lots of dates for your calendar - drop us a line at info@teamtowncycle.com with any questions! 

Stan's No Tubes demo and trail build!

For those of you who are staying in town this weekend, just a reminder that we are having a trail build session at Jungle Habitat on Sat., Aug 31 from 10-1. Last chance for H2H Paydirt as well!

Also - at 9:30 a.m., we'll be doing a Stan's NoTubes demo right outside the gate. Thinking about going tubeless, or know someone who should? Come check it out and get a free Stan's sealant sample!

As always, email us with any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com

Pump Track News and Weekend Events!

FYI for anyone who was thinking of going to the West Milford Family Pump Track this weekend - because of the Greenwood Lake Air Show, the track must be closed starting today through Sunday, as Farrell Fields are part of the safety zone for the air show. 

So - take in the air show (it's great for all ages!), or if your kids want to work on their mountain biking skills, take them down to the Hilltop Grasshopper Race in North Caldwell on Saturday. Geordie and his family put on a super event - your kids will love it! More info - http://tinyurl.com/mg4l8bm

Also, don't forget to check out the newest race in the H2H series on Sunday, August 18 - the Mountain Creek Summer Scramble. Spectators ride the lift for free, and the weather is going to be perfect so come on out and cheer (or heckle!) the racers, and then enjoy the post race awards and the biergarten! More info - http://www.mountaincreekbikepark.com/ . 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Greenwood Lake Air Show August 16-18 and Jungle Habitat

Reminder to anyone who is in the Jungle Habitat area this weekend - the Greenwood Lake Air Show is on next door to JH on August 16, 17, and 18. First off - the air show is a great event - everyone who goes loves it! However - if you were looking for a quiet ride in the woods this weekend, Jungle Habitat may not be your place. The air show uses the parking lot for parking, and the place will be swarming with people, planes, etc. The trails will be open to everyone as usual - it will just be noisier than usual! 

If you don't mind the noise - go for the two-fer - a ride and a great air show! For more info on the air show - http://www.greenwoodlakeairshow.com/

Trexlertown Velodrome road trip and Mountain Creek pre-rides

Couple of quick reminders - for anyone who would like to join TTC as we go out to Trexlertown, PA  for Friday night racing this Friday, August 16 at the Valley Preferred Cycling Velodrome- drop us a line ASAP, so we can reserve some seating at the finish line. We'll car pool as much as possible, and have a great evening seeing some cycling that we don't normally get to see in our neck of the woods! 

Also, our own Dave VW will be leading pre-rides of the Mountain Creek H2H race course this Wednesday and Thursday. Meet at the bike racks in front of the Red Tail Lodge at 5:30 p.m., and Mountain Creek will comp the lift ticket for the ride to the top! This venue is a great new addition to the Campmor H2H series - come see what all the excitement is all about. And Thursday, the biergarten is open late for beer, wings, and karoke - if you are brave!

Drop us a line with any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com . 

Pre-ride the H2H race course at Mountain Creek Tuesday 8/6, Thursday, 8/8 and Thursday 8/15

The Campmor H2H race series has an exciting new venue for the 2013 season - Mountain Creek Bike Park. Many people know Mountain Creek for their gravity events, but did you know they have a great cross country trail system as well? TTC's own David Van Wart has laid out the course for this race (race day is August 18), and will be leading pre-rides with Jeff Lenosky on Tuesday August 6th, Thursday August 8th (weather permitting), and Thursday, August 15th. We'll meet at 5:30 p.m. at the bike racks in front of the Red Tail Lodge. For those joining in on these pre-rides, Mountain Creek has generously offered free cross country lift tickets. And on Thursday, the Biergarten is open until 10 p.m. to enjoy some post ride beer and wings!

If you can't join us on either of these dates, a GPS file will be up on Tuesday for the course, and you can purchase a single use XC lift ticket for $7. Current JORBA members - bring your JORBA membership card and get a $3 discount on a single use ticket or $5 on a full access ticket - another great reason to join JORBA!

For those who are curious - on race day, all registered racers will receive an all day full access lift ticket as part of their registration fee. All spectators will receive a free pedestrian lift pass - no bikes, but free access to the start/finish area, feed zone, etc.

2 Road trips for August!

Hope you are enjoying this lovely break from the summer scorching temps! We have two fun events coming up - hope you will be able to join us. 

• Sunday, August 11^{th -}  Beer garden- Statue of Liberty ride. TTC members Caroline and Wolf will be leading this fun day. We’ll meet at KC Bagels on Rt. 23 at 9:00 am and caravan down to the Pilsner Haus beer garden in Hoboken(www.pilsnerhaus.com, 1422 Grand Street). From there we’ll ride along the riverfront to Liberty State Park and return to the beer garden around 1:00p.m. for beer and schnitzel. About 20 miles round trip, mountain bikes recommended. Rain will cancel. Please RSVP to Caroline: caroline@wolfsworld1.com .
• Friday, August 16 - a trip to the velodrome in Trexlertown, PA to watch the Friday night racing at the World Series of Bicycling! If you've never seen track cycling in person, this is a great way to start! And the food service at the track is provided by the famous Rodale Institute, world renowned for their organic and local approach to food. It's approximately a 2 hour ride to Trexlertown from the West Milford area and the racing starts at 7:30 p.m. We will try to car pool as much as possible. If we get our RSVP's in by Friday, Aug 9 - 10 a.m., we will be able to reserve a block of seats near the finish line to get a birds eye view of all the excitement. Please RSVP ASAP with the number of people in your party. We'll coordinate meeting times and carpooling as we get our RSVP's. 

Stay tuned for pre-ride info for the newest venue on the Campmor H2H race circuit - Mountain Creek! 

As always, any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com . 

I Dig Tuesdays CANCELLED for tonight, July 9

Check in with us for next week's updates!

Road ride, Sunday, July 7

Looking for an easy paced ride to start off your Sunday? We've got one! TTC's Sherri and Heather will be leading a road ride in the morning . Meet at the shop at 9:am, ride around Greenwood Lake, up Warwick Turnpike (or folks can opt not to go up the hill), down Clinton , loop around to Union Valley and back to shop.  Easy pace. It will be hot, so bring plenty of water! 

I Dig Tuesday is on for today, June 25!

I Dig Tuesday trail building at Jungle Habitat is on for tonight - bring plenty of water, bug spray, and gloves - come help us do good work in the woods! Added bonus of the cicada soundtrack at no extra charge! 

Weekend rides for June 21-23

A quick list of activities for those looking to take advantage of this awesome weather! 

• Friday, June 21 - TTC race team member Mike M. will be pre-riding the Campmor H2H race course at Lewis Morris Park in Morristown Friday afternoon. He'll be leaving West Milford by 2, and or be ready to ride by 3 p.m. at the Sunrise Lake parking lot. Fair warning - the cicadas are out in full force! 
• No Friday would be complete without a Friday night Clinton Road ride - and it's the first full day of summer! Wheels down at 6 p.m., at the intersection of Clinton Road and Route 23! 
• Saturday morning, June 22 - trail work at Jungle Habitat! Racers, don't forget your PayDirt! Meet at the gate at 9 a.m., we'll work until 12 p.m. 
• Saturday afternoon - easy downhill runs at Mountain Creek! Meet TTC's BJ in the main lot at 2 p.m. Check the Mountain Creek website for details on lift tickets, etc. These are easy downhill runs - any 5" travel bike will do fine. Rentals are also available, if you prefer. 
• Sunday, June 23 - Campmor H2H Race #4 is at Lewis Morris Park in Morristown. If you wanted to get a start in mountain bike racing, this is a great introduction! 

Enjoy this first weekend of summer, everyone! 

Easy downhill runs at Mountain Creek on Saturday, June 22

So you've been wanting to check out the whole downhill scene at Mountain Creek, but were a little nervous about heading out there alone? We've got you covered! Join TTC's own BJ as he does some easy downhill runs on Saturday, June 22. Meet him at 2 p.m. in the main parking lot. 

No downhill bike? No problem. Info on rentals, day lift passes, etc. can be found here at the Mountain Creek website. Also, ladies? 50% off for lift tickets and rentals for you on Saturday! 

I Dig Tuesday cancelled for Tuesday, 6/18 - rescheduled 6/22

Between weather, etc, we are cancelling I Dig Tuesday trail maintenance tonight - but never fear! We are rescheduling for Saturday morning, June 22 from 9 - 12. Meet us at the Jungle Habitat gate, bring gloves, sunscreen, bug spray and water - we'll supply the rest! 

West Milford Family Pump Track's First ever Pump Jam a success!

 The West Milford Family Pump Track had its' first ever Pump Jam this past Sunday - and it was a blast! 

Lots of prizes, lots of riding, lots of families - a perfect day! Looking for more photos of the day? Find them here !

Thanks to everyone who came and and supported the track by buying a t-shirt, some snacks, or donating to our "tip jar"! The West Milford Family Pump Track is completely funded by donations and maintained by the efforts of volunteers. It's become such a great place for kids and adults alike to gather, ride, and have fun, and we couldn't do it without you! 

Stay dry!

Goes without saying, but Friday night Clinton Road ride cancelled for tonight! 

Don't forget about the Bike Rodeo at Queen of Peace Parish Festival on Sunday, June 9, from 1-7 p.m. TTC's own Jon Sherwood will be there, and can always use a hand! 

Stay dry everyone, and have a great weekend! 

Dates to mark on your calendar

Hope you are all keeping cool in this first heat wave of the season! A few dates for you to pop into your calendar app -

• Don't forget, Friday night rides now leave at 6 p.m. Great way to start off your weekend - unwind, relax, ride with some great people. As always, we meet at the old Village Square Inn parking lot at the intersection of Clinton Road and Route 23 in Newfoundland. 
• June 15 - TTC Board member Sherri is a also a board member of the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, which does great work helping to preserve open spaces in New Jersey. They are having a great family friendly ride, Pedal for Preservation, on June 15. There will be food, raffles, etc., so take the family out, have a great time, and support a cause close to all of our hearts! 
• Looking for a destination event? TTC friends Jason and Alyssa recommend the Carrabassett Back Country Cycle Challenge in Carrabassett Valley, ME July 13-14. A quality event and superb location- Jason and Alyssa can fill you in on the details.
• This year's annual TTC New Paltz ride will take place on September 7. Times and details to follow - but save the date now! 

Also, best of luck to all of our friends and TTC members who will be racing in the Bear Scat 50 this weekend - stay cool, go fast! 

I Dig Tuesday canceled for today, May 28.

Once again, Mother Nature is messing with our plans. Due to rain, we are canceling today's trail maintenance at Jungle Habitat. 

Next week, we'll have 2 dates for those who are looking for some PayDirt hours - Maintenance Mondays at the West Milford Family Pump Track from 6-8 p.m., and I Dig Tuesdays at Jungle Habitat, from 6-8 p.m. 

After today, the weather really heats up - so stay tuned for more ride info! 

Crappy weather = no Friday night ride

Have a great weekend - see you next Friday! 

Rumble in the Jungle - the Soggy Version!

Well, the weather man said it wasn't going to rain until the afternoon - unfortunately, he lied! Of course, extraordinarily-heavy-mist-that-we-refused-to-call-rain wouldn't stop hearty mountain bikers from mixing it up at Jungle Habitat. Thanks to everyone who braved the soggy conditions to take a lap or 3 around - we think you guys were the true heroes of the day! Thanks all the families who came out and supported our racers, and of course our volunteers - we couldn't do it without you. 

We'll start posting results as we finalize them. We know there are a few names misspelled, times missing, etc. - we'll start to fill them in after we get these slightly rough and soggy versions up. 

• Cat 1 results
• Cat 2 results
• Cat 3 results

Again, thanks so much to all the hardy racers that came out - you all are a cut above! Don't forget the next race in the Campmor H2H series is on June 23 at Lewis Morris Park in Morristown - a great way to kick off the summer!

Ladies Road ride CANCELED!

Ladies road ride on Clinton Road is canceled for today, Wednesday May 15. Check in with us next week - hopefully all the stars will line up then!

Rumble in the Jungle 2013 maps

Just in time for the weekend - course maps for the 2013 edition of the Rumble in the Jungle! A few notes - 

• Course changes may be made up until race day depending on trail conditions, weather, and the mood of the course designer - so be nice to him!  
• There are still a few blowdowns, branches hanging, etc. left over from Hurricane Sandy, winter snows, etc. We will be working over the next 2 days to clean up them up and clear any leaf covered connectors, etc., but please exercise caution as you ride the lap for the first time! 
• Course is basically the same as last years, with a few very small, minor changes. It will run the same direction as the last few years - counterclockwise, starting at the top of parking lot. Finish will be coming into parking lot out of tunnels.
• By this Friday night (May 10), we will try to have a few arrows up around to point out connectors that you may not be familiar with, etc. Course will be marked before sundown on Friday, May 17 - feel free to come by Friday afternoon to help out! 
• Cat 1 - will be doing 3 laps. Cat. 2 will do 2 laps (except Cat. 2 Juniors 10-14), Cat. 3 rides 1 lap. The course is very slightly different for Cat 2 & 3 - make sure you pick the correct map/GPS file for your class. 
• If it is wet this weekend/week, please be considerate of the trails and try not to tear them up too much. 

Cat 2/3 crayon lap map is here, and GPS file here. Map for Cat. 1 lap is here, GPS file here.

Go forth and conquer! 

Team Town Cycle had an awesome day at the 2nd race in the Campmor H2H series at Wawayanda State Park this past Sunday, May 5 - here's some proof!

More pics can be found here - check them out! And be sure to come check out the action at the next race in the H2H series at our very own Jungle Habitat on May 19!

West Milford Bike Rodeo May 11

Although most of our followers are pretty bike savvy, we all know people who might need a little help in that department. Enter the West Milford Bike Rodeo on Sat., May 11, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the parking lot by the West Milford Family Pumptrack on Lycosky Dr.

Get an informal helmet and bike safety check and more for kids grades K-5. Info can be found here - http://tinyurl.com/c959edy .

Ladies Road Ride Canceled for May 8

Ladies, due to unpredictable weather for this afternoon, the Wednesday Ladies Road Ride on Clinton Road is canceled. We'll try again next week!

For our Junior racers!

For all of the junior riders out there, don't forget that this Saturday, May 11, is the Team Bulldog K-12 Mountain Bike race at Kittatinny State Park in Andover, NJ. More info atwww.teambulldog.com. Another great way to give your junior an intro to mountain bike racing!

I Dig Tuesdays at Jungle Habitat are Back!!

Yes, it's that time of year again - time for the return of I Dig Tuesdays trail maintenance work sessions at Jungle Habitat. Meet us at the gate at 5:45 p.m, and bring yourself some water, bug spray, and gloves-we'll supply the tools. We'll head in by 6 p.m. to do some work on Boulderdash. 

All you H2H racers out there - before you know it, the 2013 Paydirt deadline will be around the corner, and you'll be scrambling for your hours. Do them now instead of going crazy in August! 

As always, any questions, drop us a line - info@teamtowncycle.com .

Juniors in the Jungle - Done!

What a day! Perfect weather, great turnout, fantastic racers - another Juniors in the Jungle Mountain Bike race is in the books. We had over 100 racers come out to try their hand at some of Jungle Habitat's friendly trails, and they had a blast! From the great race in the Middle School Men's A class that was undecided until the very end of the last lap to the 21 racers that battled it out in the Grade 2-3 Boys race, our young racers had a great time, and showed great sportsmanship.

Photo by Steve Boshart

Photo by Steve Boshart

Special thanks go to our prize sponsors - John Florey of Highland Sports Group and Shimano, Mountain Creek and Hugh Reynolds, Jeff Lenosky and Clif, Dana DeLaRosa of Giant Bicycles, Sneaky Pete's Beverage and Town Cycle. And of course, we couldn't do it without all of our volunteers - special thanks to Tom Hennigan and Tim Warchol for once again being our favorite bike patrollers!

Don't forget to check out www.teambulldog.com for details about their race on May 11, 2013 at Kittatinny State Park in Andover, NJ - great race at a great venue!






Rides for May 1-3

• May 1 - Wednesday night Ladies Only Clinton Road ride - meet at 5:45 p.m., old Village Square Inn parking lot, Rt. 23, Newfoundland.
• May 2 - Pre-ride of the Wawayanda race course. Meet at the boat launch parking lot at 5 p.m. - we'll try to get the whole course in before dark.
• May 3 - the ever popular Friday night Clinton Road ride. Meet at 5:45 p.m., old Village Square Inn parking lot, Rt. 23, Newfoundland.

Don't forget - Juniors in the Jungle is this Saturday, April 27th! Giant Demo and more!

Don't forget that Saturday, April 27th is our 5th annual Juniors in the Jungle K-12 Mountain bike race at Jungle Habitat. Details for all the racing can be found on our left sidebar, or on our events page. The weather looks beautiful, the trails are getting their final prep, and we're excited to see our favorite event of the year get underway!

In addition, we will be hosting the Ride Life, Ride Giant demo trailer - bring your helmet and shoes, and try out the latest road and mountain bikes from Giant!

We'll also be having Stan's No Tubes demos, samples from Sneaky Pete's Beverages, and more, so come on out!

Any questions, please let us know - info@teamtowncycle.com . See you in the Jungle!

Ride recap for the week of April 15

Quick recap of rides for this week -

• On Wednesday, April 17, meeting at 4:30 p.m. at Blue Mountain, we will have a pre-ride of the race course for Sunday's Chain Stretcher race.  At least 2 fast, race pace laps, so bring your snacks, water bottle, and race face! 
• Also on Wednesday, weather permitting, will be the first Wednesday night Ladies only Clinton Road road ride of 2013! Meet in the old Village Square Inn parking lot  at the intersection of Clinton Road and Rt. 23 in Newfoundland and be ready to ride at 5:45. Great place to learn about group road riding with a great group of ladies!
• A second pre-ride of the Chain Stretcher course at Blue Mountain on Thursday, April 18 - meet at 5 p.m., wheels down at 5:15. One easy lap to study the course, then one lap at speed. 
• Friday, April 19 - Friday night ride on Clinton Road - great for all levels of riding! Meet at 5:30 at the aforementioned Village Square Inn parking lot at 5:30. Long range weather forecast doesn't look great for Friday night, but they've been wrong before ... 

info@teamtowncycle.com for questions. Have a great week, everyone! 

Wednesday night Ladies Road rides on Clinton Road starting 4/17!

It's time to start up the Wednesday night Ladies only rides for 2013! Weather permitting, we will plan to ride at 5:45 p.m., starting at the old VIllage Square Inn parking lot on the island at the intersection of Route 23 and Clinton Road in Newfoundland. 

Dust off that road bike, put on a few layers, grab a friend, and join us! Don't worry if you are not a seasoned road warrior - that's what these rides are all about. Different paces, learn to ride with a group, have some fun - we have it all. 

If it's raining or the roads are very wet, we will cancel - check in with us on our blog, Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates. 

Chainstretcher pre-rides over at Blue Mountain

The first Campmor H2H race is coming up on April 21, so we'll be headed over to Blue Mountain Reservation in Peekskill, NY for a few rides. 

First ride will be Sunday, April 14, 10 a.m. Probably something short of race pace, but still a good ride. 

Second ride will be Thursday, April 18 - time TBD. We'll update you during the week. 

Not racing in the H2H series? No worries - come out and check out the park. Great place - technical, yes, but oh so fun! 

West Milford Family Pumptrack opens Saturday, April 13 at noon!

Great news! The West Milford Family Pump Track will re-open Saturday, April 13  for the 2013 season at noon. The pump track caretakers and always essential volunteers have had machines and shovels out over the the last 2 weeks to re-tool the jumplines and repair the damage from winter storms, and it is ready to roll! 

Come on out and re-acquaint yourself with the track, see some old friends, and have some fun! 

You know them, you love them - Friday night road rides are BACK!

Yes, it's true! Our ever popular road rides on Clinton Road are back! Weather permitting, we will start this Friday, April 12th, at 5:30 p.m. (Start times will change in May to 6 p.m.) 

For those of you who are new to the Friday Night Ride, we meet at the old Village Square Inn parking lot, which is on the island at the intersection of Clinton Road and Route 23 in Newfoundland. We break into groups and head out and back on Clinton Road. For the mileage junkies, there can be an optional lap around Upper Greenwood Lake. Every level and pace is accommodated - it's a great way to learn to ride on the road in a big group, or as part of a pace line. 

Rides are usually weather dependent - we might ride in light rain or misty conditions, but not in rain heavier than that. You can always check our Twitter or Facebook page for updates. 

Questions? Ask away - info@teamtowncycle.com. See you on the road!

Weekend plans

Saturday, April 6th - JORBA trail work at Jungle Habitat, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bring gloves, water and sturdy shoes - we may hike in to Boulderdash. 

Sunday, April 7th - Beginner/newcomer ride at Jungle Habitat. New to mountain biking? A little rusty from a few years off? Never ridden at Jungle before? TTC's Mike will take a beginner group around The Hab. Meet him at the gates at 12:30 p.m. for a tour. 

Weather finally looks like spring - hope you have a chance to enjoy it! 

Juniors in the Jungle News - Giant Bicycle Demo Day!

As you know, our 5th annual Juniors in the Jungle kids race is on April 27th at Jungle Habitat - we're very excited to once again host this fun event! We have a race for everyone from kindergarten to high school seniors - see the links to the flyer on our side bar or Events page on our website for more info.

As if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, we're also happy to host a Giant Bicycle "Ride Life Ride Giant" demo day as well! The Giant demo trailer will be there from starting at 9 a.m., with the last ride out by 2 p.m., with both road and mountain bikes for everyone to demo. A great way to try out a new bike on familiar trails and roads - we're psyched to have them be part of our day.

We'll also be holding Stan's No Tubes demos throughout the day, for those of you who are thinking of going tubeless - we'll show you how easy it is to convert to tubeless!

So please mark your calendar for April 27 - it'll be a great way to spend a Saturday!

Questions? Email us at info@teamtowncycle.com .

Pancake Breakfast and Road Ride reminder!

Quick reminder - pancake breakfast benefiting West Milford's own Music at the Mission at Applebee's tomorrow morning, followed by a road ride in Kinnelon/Denville, etc. - more info here!

The weather looks like it may finally have turned the corner, so have a great weekend, and Happy Easter, Passover, and Spring to all! 

Late Notice - Hike on Sunday, March 24

Hike in Ringwood tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. Meet on Crescent Dr. in Ringwood (Westbrook to Magee to Burnt Meadow to Crescent) -look for gray Ford F250 for your hike leader, Heather. Plan on 2 hours of hiking. Still a bit of snow possible on the ground in some places, so plan accordingly.

Any questions, drop us a line at info@teamtowncycle.com.  Have a great weekend!

Badminton is on for Saturday, March 23

Winter just won't give up, it seems. No worries, we'll keep moving anyway. Join us for Saturday badminton this week at 4 p.m., at NJ Badminton in Montville. Racquets are available to rent if you don't have your own - all pricing is on their website. Great way to get a little indoor exercise and hang out with some friends - hope you'll join us!

We're working on some weekend hiking plans as well, so stay tuned for that update! 

Dates for your calendar!

• FYI - No badminton this weekend - stay tuned for our next date! 
• Mark March 30th on your calendar! For those interested, West Milford's wonderful Music at the Mission is holding a Flapjack Fundraiser on Saturday, March 30, from 8-10 a.m., at the Butler Applebee's. Tickets are available at the Music at the Mission website. Afterwards, TTC's own Steve and Martha will help you work off those pancakes with a road ride, meeting at at Silas Condict Park in Kinnelon at 10:30 a.m. It'll be a 2+ hour ride through Kinnelon and Denville. Rain will cancel. 
• Don't forget to mark June 15 for the Land Conservancy of New Jersey's Pedal for Preservation ride. It's a great family ride, with various lengths for all levels! The Land Conservancy does all kinds of great work in our local area, and this is a super fun way to support them. 

More dates to save coming soon - stay tuned!  

Ladies Hike, Sunday March 10th

Ok ladies-it's been a while since we got together, and it's still a bit sloppy out for riding-so let's hike! The weather is supposed to be sunny and in the 50's Sunday-perfect for getting out and stretching our legs.

We'll meet at the larger Norvin Green parking lot (on Otterhole, just down the road from Kahl's driveway entrance) at 9:30 a.m. Wear appropriate footwear, and plan on 3+ hours of hiking.

As always, let us know if you have any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com. Looking forward to a great hike!

Juniors in the Jungle is April 27th!

Yes, it's hard to think about anything but the snow falling outside right now, but before you know it, it will be spring - promise! And that means our 5th Annual Juniors in the Jungle K-12 Mountain Bike race can't be far away! This year, it will be on Saturday, April 27th, at our own Jungle Habitat, and we couldn't be more excited!

There is a class for everyone from kindergarten through 12th grade, so bring your own kids, your neighbors kids, your nieces, nephews - everyone is welcome.  Participation gift for our K-5 racers, as always, and great swag for the top 3 in all the classes.

Information about the kindergarten through 5th grade races can be found here, and for our 6-12th grade races here. Stay tuned for more details about the race as we get closer!

Last Chance for Cadence Foundation donations!

We are doing one last run down to Philly this week with donations to the Cadence Foundation, so if you have any donations, please get them to the shop by Tuesday, March 5. Items they are most in need of are - good condition apparel (summer and winter). They have a Triathlon Team, so running gear usually is used by them. They are not in need of road handlebars or seats at this time. Things they are always are in need of are helmets, road shoes, cleats, pedals, kits (summer and winter), tires, and tubes - wear and tear items, geared mostly to road riding. We have a box at Town Cycle for collection - if you have anything to donate as you do your spring cleaning, please consider dropping it by. 

Thank you again for your generosity! 

As always, any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com . 

Badminton for Saturday, March 2 is ON!

If you haven't come to join us for one of our Badminton Saturdays - you are missing out on a ton of fun! We meet at NJ Badminton in Montville at 4 p.m. $10 for juniors, $15 for adults, $5 for racquet rental. We'll play for about 2 hours - it's a great way to shake off the mid-winter blah's and have some fun! No previous badminton experience necessary - we've got lots of patient people to help you out! 

Hopefully the weather will break soon, and we'll back out on the bike soon - in the meantime ... don't miss out on the badminton fun! 

Any questions - info@teamtowncycle,com. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Weekend plans and updates

A few quick updates/reminders - 

• Badminton - Saturday, February 23 - 4 p.m. www.njbadminton.com - be there! It's going to be a rainy, miserable afternoon - what a better way to spend it than getting a little exercise and having a ton of fun! You can rent racquets there as well - just bring clean shoes (avoid wearing your street shoes to play in, if possible), and show up and have a blast! 
• For anyone who had signed up for the Saturday MTBNJ short track races over at Stephens State Park next month, they have been canceled due to some permitting issues. Contact the promoter through BikeReg for more info.
• We are still looking for items to be donated to the Cadence Foundation. When I asked what items specifically they needed most, they said - good condition apparel (summer and winter) can generally put to good use. They have a Triathlon Team, so running gear usually is used by them. They are not in need of road handlebars or seats at this time. Things they are always are in need of are helmets, road shoes, cleats, pedals, kits (summer and winter), tires, and tubes - wear and tear items, geared to road riding. We have a box at Town Cycle for collection - if you have anything to donate as you do your spring cleaning, please consider dropping it by. We'll do one more donations run around March 6-8, so don't delay! 

That's it everyone - have a great weekend! 

Ringwood trails closed until April 15th

For those of you looking for a winter ride or hike, please be advised that many of the trails at Ringwood State Park will be closed from now until April 15, due to construction on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline. Trails will still be accessible from the top of Skyline - for a complete list of trail closures, etc. , check their website. 

NJ Gran Fondo info

Quick reminder - today is the last day to register for the NJ Gran Fondo at the reduced price - entry fees go up $25 starting tomorrow, February 1! Several TTC members have done it the last few years and loved it! More info - http://granfondonj.com/

Team Town Cycle clothing order ends TODAY

Last day to order new TTC clothing! Besides the usual jersey, shorts, etc., there are vests, jackets, hats, free ride/BMX jerseys, etc. All kinds of great ways to wear the TTC plaid! Just go to BikeReg.com and search for Team Town Cycle. You can renew your membership all in the same order! 

Don't forget our special kit deal - a jersey (Traffo) any cut or sleeves, and Elite shorts, bibs or regular, for $110. Current club members only. Order on BikeReg, and we'll refund your discount at pick-up.

Reminder - kit order closes Jan. 31!

Just a reminder - if you're looking for some new TTC duds, our Verge kit order closes at the end of the day on Thursday, Jan. 31. It's all online on BikeReg - just point and click yourself some shiny new plaid, and be ready to be stylish as soon as the weather warms up!

Any questions? We've used Verge now for the last year, and can help you with sizing questions, etc. Drop us a line at info@teamtowncycle.com if you have any questions.

Weekend notes

• For those of you who are willing to brave the cold, BJ is leading a ride on Patriots Path on Sat., Jan. 27. Meet at 11:30 Speedwell Park in Morristown, on Speedwell ave (Route 202). Corner of 202 and Cory road. Great ride for cyclocross bike and single speeders, but all are welcome. 
• For those looking for something inside, badminton is on! Saturday, 4 p.m., at NJ Badminton in Montville. Check or cash only - no credit cards. Bring your own racquet or rent one there. We'll play for 2 hours - it's tons of fun! 
• Climbing is on Monday night at the Gravity Vault on Route 17 in Upper Saddle River. We'll be there starting at around 6. Bring your own harness or rent one there. 

And don't forget - deadline for ordering Team Town Cycle gear is January 31 - go onto BikeReg and place your order now! 

As always, any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com. And stay warm! 

Reminders, renewals, and kit orders!

To everyone who didn't get to our TTC dinner last week, not to worry! We have links for everything you need.

• Team membership renewal is right here. If you are planning on ordering any new kit pieces, you can renew right on the same page!
• Team kit orders! Once again, we are using Verge as our kit supplier - the feedback has been very good on them. All prices are the same as last time, and the design is basically the same. Our order deadline is January 31 - no exceptions. As before, we will need a minimum order of 6 of any item (regardless of size) - if we are unable to fill an item order, we will let you know and refund your money. Also, we are again having the club member kit special - $110 for a Traffo jersey and shorts (bib or regular). This is for renewed 2013 club members only! Place your order through BikeReg, and when you pick up your order, you will receive your credit (cash!). 
• Looking ahead to warmer weather - registration for a few local races is already online. Registration is already open for the Bearscat 50 and the Stewart 6 Pack on BikeReg, and the Singlespeedapalooza registration opens on February 3. Start planning your calendar now! 

We'll be back later with some weekend plans - stay tuned! 

Weekend fun and some dates to put on your calendar!

• Saturday, Jan. 19 - we're playing badminton at NJ Badminton in Montville, 4 p.m. $15 for adults, $10 for junior, racquets for rent or bring your own. Cash or check only please, and please don't wear your street shoes on the court! We'll hit Mr. Sushi in Wayne afterwards - anyone interested in joining us for dinner, let us know! 
• Sunday, Jan. 20 - taking advantage of the last day of warm weather for a while and heading south to Allaire State Park for a mountain bike ride! Meet at the Hospital Road parking lot at 10 a.m. Travel time is approx. 90 minutes from center of West Milford. Super place to ride for all levels - we'll have some local JORBA members there to show us around! Check www.jorba.org for directions. 
• Monday, Jan. 21 - starting our weekly Monday night climbing at the Gravity Vault on Rt. 17 North, Upper Saddle River. Monday is Buy One, Get One Free admission, so bring a friend! 
• TTC has a group of members going to Burke, VT on February 14-17 for some winter fun. If you are interested in joining us, and need info on accommodations, contact Heather by January 25. 
• Mark your calendar - it's the return of the Banff Mountain Film Festival presented by Ramsey Outdoor, February 26 and 27 at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern NY. Tickets are available now at all 3 Ramsey Outdoor stores. We've attended this for a few years now, and they outdo themselves every year!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

TTC dinner recap - then, let's play!

First off, a great big thank you to everyone who came out to our annual Team Town Cycle dinner last week. We got a ton of food donations for the food pantry at the West Milford Presbyterian Church and plenty of cycling donations for the Cadence Foundation, which we will be delivering very soon. If you didn't get a chance to attend, here is the annual slide show, and here is a copy of the evening's program. 

Congratulations to all of our award winners~ From Most Improved Junior Rider (Marty Tranes), to his dad Pete who was named Mayor of the Pump Track, and Michael Hoek who got the Humpty Dumpty Award, a great time was had by all. Our biggest award of the evening went to the father/son team of Jay and Ethan Huggins, as Club Members of the year. Besides the truly endless hours they put into making the West Milford Family Pumptrack a reality, and their personal financial donations to get the whole ball rolling, they are a constant at our family rides and races, and represent the TTC plaid very well at our local BMX race tracks. 

Onto some dates! We're back to playing badminton this Saturday, Jan. 19, at 4 p.m. at NJ Badminton in Montville. A great way to get some exercise and have some fun during the cold winter months. Racquets are available to rent or for sale, and special deals are also available for 10 punch passes. Last time we had 25 people join us - no, really! We're going to try to make this a regular Saturday event, so mark it on your calendar today! We'll head out to dinner at Mr. Sushi afterwards - let us know if you plan on joining us for dinner so we can give them a heads up! 

Second date - we're also going to go back to a regular night for climbing. Starting Monday, January 21, 2013, we'll start climbing again at the Gravity Vault on Route 17 North in Upper Saddle River. Monday nights are Buy One, Get One Free, so bring a friend! We'll be there starting at 6 p.m., but come on by whenever you can. 

Tomorrow, we'll have more dates and events, so stay tuned!

Bearscat 50

We'll be back with real news soon, but just a quick reminder - registration for the Bearscat 50 opened today! It's a 50 mile mountain bike endurance race at Waywayanda on June 2, and only 300 riders can take place. Many of our club members have done it and loved it. More info here .

Badminton - yes, Badminton!

OK, so the riding weather isn't great - time to move onto plan B. And of course, B is for Badminton! Join us at NJ Badminton in Montville on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 4 p.m. We'll play badminton for a few hours, then for those who are interested, head out to Coney Island Pizza in Riverdale for a slice. Great way to get a little exercise and have a ton of fun! Directions, fees, etc. are all at the NJ Badminton site.

Any questions - info@teamtowncycle.com. Come on out and join us - it'll be a blast!