Author Topic: I am new and would like to take my first tour  (Read 9518 times)

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Offline chef

I am new and would like to take my first tour
« on: April 20, 2012, 08:05:13 pm »
Hello all! I have been riding for about and year and love it. Commute to work daily and have been riding a lot on the weekends. I would like to get into touring and do not really know where to start.

I live in NJ (and just moved here) so still getting used to where things are, etc. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a 150 mile tour to start. I was thinking of riding the GAP as an out and back trip but I am new to touring so I am really not sure.

Any advice or suggestions?

FredHiltz

  • Guest
Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2012, 11:18:37 pm »
The ACA web site has a wealth of information about touring. Start with the articles listed in the How To Department page.

Fred

Offline John Nelson

Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2012, 11:50:33 pm »
Also, go over to crazyguyonabike.com and read the journals and forums (and reviews and articles if you want). You can search for journals by locale and find where other people have toured in NJ.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/locales/?locale_id=51183&doctype=journal

Offline ezdoesit

Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2012, 07:45:49 pm »
You might also be interested in this tour High Point,NJ to Cap May,NJ from here http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/tours.shtm
I am wanting to do this tour this year.
What ever you decide have fun.
Remember it's mind over matter
you don't mind it doesn't matter

Ride more Drive Less

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2012, 07:59:00 am »
You might also be interested in this tour High Point,NJ to Cap May,NJ from here http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/tours.shtm
I am wanting to do this tour this year.
What ever you decide have fun.

FYI...This is a tad bit inaccurate now thanks to NJT's revised bike policy.  NJT runs the Port Jervis train service for NY and its bike policy applies to this route. NJT's new bike policy only allows you to board and detrain at stations with high level platforms. Port Jervis does not have such a platform. You would have to detrain at Middletown, NY and start from there. You can take U.S. 6 from Middletown to Port Jervis.  Twenty or so miles IIRC. You can also climb up to Otisville and take U.S. 209 to Port Jervis.

Offline paddleboy17

Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2012, 12:53:38 pm »
The GAP would be fabulous for a first time trip.  There are lots of places to camp or stay if you don't want to do the tent thing.  If you want to learn more about the GAP, my trip blog can be found here: 

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=8028&v=FW

The GAP connects to the C&O in Cumberland, and give you the option of going on (or coming from) Washington, DC.  The C&O is a canal towpath, and I have not ridden it.  I do hear that it can be a mess when it rains, so planning is everything.  The GAP is crushed limestone on a railroad bed, so it is a great surface for touring.

I googled rail trails in New Jersey, and it looks like there are a lot of things you could investigate.  Anything paved, crushed limestone, crushed stone is good riding.  Anything that is unimproved, is going to be a lot more difficult, and may be the exclusive domain of a mountain bike.
Danno

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2012, 04:08:35 pm »
Beg you wife to drive you to Port Jervis, NY, ride down the river following ACA's Atlantic Coast route, and get her to pick you up in Lambertville. This segment is quite nice. You might see a bear between Port Jervis and Delaware Water Gap. The NJ portion south of Belvidere will expose you to a different side of the state. It's gorgeous all the way down to Milford. From Frenchtown to Lambertville there is a wooded trail. Just rode it Easter weekend as part of a short tour. It's in good shape. You could even continue on to Trenton.

You could camp at Worthington State Forest and in Upper Black Eddy, PA, just off route across the river from Milford, NJ. If you want to motel it, there is a Best Western not too far off route from Delaware Water Gap, PA. There is at least one motel in Philipsburg, NJ and at least one across the river in Easton, PA, where you can visit the Crayola crayon operation, although it's mostly a kid thing.

Offline bent4me

Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2012, 04:24:01 pm »
The GAP and C&O are on my bucket list. Another great short tour is The Pine Creek Trail in PA. It stars in Jersey Shore Pa, about 4 hrs from central NJ. It is 62 very scenic miles on hard packed gravel trail. 2 miles after the end you can get a motel in Wellsboro, a gaslight quaint town and ride the 62 mile back the next day. The best time to go is mid week as the trail is least crowded. Make sure to book your motel in advance. The nice thing, it is not far so you can make last minute arrangements based on the weather. I have a small writ up and pics on my blog go to 9/3/10.
Marty
http://marty-thejerseypedaler.blogspot.com/

Offline bikeguyrich

Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2012, 10:02:53 pm »
Find a local bike shop that is on the ACA website and visit them. If you live in S Jersey check out Erlton Bikes in Cherry Hill as a couple of those guys have toured and are into it. 

Offline PJinNJ

Re: I am new and would like to take my first tour
« Reply #9 on: July 01, 2012, 09:20:57 pm »
I'll second the PineCreek trail in PA, but TheD&R canal trail which starts in Frenchtown and ends in New Brunswick is also 62 miles and very nice to ride. Being you're from Jersey I'd suggest it as a start. There is also the ride to Cape May but I suggest starting in Belmar, NJ. Good luck either way and if you need fellow riders just post it up here. A stretch but very nice ride is the Erie Canal ride from Buffolo to Albany. Relatively local but a bit longer than you mentioned.