Bicycle Tour of Newark

I participated in the 2010 Bicycle Tour of Newark on Saturday, September 18^th. A couple of NJ friends invited me along, and I’m so glad they did! 25 miles all over Newark, under the care of the Team Newark Cycling and Major Taylor Cycling Club of Newark. The event was well organized, well executed, and an all-​around great time on a Saturday morning when I’d otherwise likely be sleeping in.
First of all, the event is FREE. In addition to the two groups above, the event was sponsored by the Harbourton Foundation and the City of Newark. The Mayor of Newark even came out, welcomed the crowd and participated in the 5 mile kids ride.
Upon arrival, registrants received free bike helmets and t-​shirts. Volunteers were on-​hand to provide bike tune-​ups, put air in tires, adjust seats, grease wheels, etc. Once the ride began, the volunteers stayed with the group and there were police escorts marking the course the entire way.
And who knew that Newark was so pretty? We rode through a bunch of neighborhoods and past a really pretty park. It was suburban and rather quiet the entire ride. There were also water stops, granola bars provided at the halfway mark, and a raffle for ten brand new bikes.
Note that this wasn’t a competitive «race»…it was a fun group ride involving several hundred people. The staff and other participants were all very friendly and everyone encouraged each other along the way. That said, 25 miles at even a moderate pace is still a great workout. Thankfully, participants differed widely in age and athleticism, and anyone in moderately good shape would enjoy themselves immensely.
What a great way to promote healthy living, energy conservation, and foster a fun community spirit! I look forward to the next one.