“It’s a hill – get over it!” The seventh annual Sourland Spectacular bicycle rally is just around the corner on September 8, 2018. Cyclists from all around the tristate region will enjoy one of five Sourland region routes: Five Mile (almost flat) Family Fun Ride, 28 miles, 37 miles, 53 miles or 66 miles. The longest route, the Metric Century, includes a total of 3,288 feet of climbing!
Event registration is open now at http://www.sourlandspectacular.com/tickets: $50 Adult; $25 children 12-16 years; children under 12, free.
All rides begin and end at the Otto Kaufman Center at 356 Skillman Road, Skillman, NJ. Parking will be available at the Montgomery High School. Riders will choose their own start time between 7am and 10am. Volunteers will greet participants with fresh coffee and bagels provided by Small World Coffee and Bagel Barn.
Riders will follow cue sheets that are available online now at http://www.sourlandspectacular.com/routes/ and at registration. Temporary arrows will be affixed to the roads, marking every turn. Each route is marked using a different colored arrow.
Aid stations staffed with volunteers will be set up along the route for riders to rest and revive with all-natural peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pretzels, a variety of fresh fruit, Gatorade, and water. Bathroom facilities will also be available.
Riders should choose a start time that will allow them to finish between 11am and 1pm to enjoy a gourmet lunch: Brick Farm Market’s local pasture-raised Berkshire Beer Brat, a mild sausage, accentuated with beer from Troon Brewing. Rounding out the great sandwich is a house-baked roll and their special Coffee Mustard Relish, plus a side of cole slaw. Riders may also choose their favorite wood-fired pizza by New World Pizza & Café. Dessert, of course, is the Spectacular’s signature brownie sundae: ice cream provided by The Bent Spoon, home-made brownies and special Sourland chocolate sauce.
Sourland Cycles’ friendly staff will be on hand at the Otto Kaufman Center to help with rider questions and mechanical issues and pump tires. In addition, Sourland Cycles will be providing SAG (support and gear) services for the event. If riders cannot complete the route for any reason, they can call the number on the cue sheet, and a friendly SAG volunteer will bring tools and supplies for minor repairs – or bring the cyclist and bike back to the Otto Kaufman Center.
Event proceeds benefit the Sourland Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to protect, promote and preserve the Sourland Mountain region – 90 square miles of forest, wetlands and grasslands, home to many endangered and threatened plant and animal species, and a critical stopover for migratory birds. Covering parts of seven municipalities and three counties within the heavily developed central corridor of New Jersey, the Sourlands region is also rich in opportunities for human recreation, refuge and renewal, with hiking trails and historic sites.
The Sourland Conservancy would like to thank event sponsors, Small World Coffee and Bagel Barn, and its annual business partners who support their educational, advocacy and stewardship initiatives all year long: The Ryland Inn, Kilbourne & Kilbourne Recognition Awards, Bank of Princeton, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sourland Mountain Spirits, Sourland Cycles, the bent spoon, and The Brothers Moon.
The seventh annual Sourland Spectacular will begin and end at the Otto Kaufman Community Center, 356 Skillman Road, Skillman, NJ – rain or shine – on September 8, 2018 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Parking will be available across the street at Montgomery High School. For more information, call the Sourland Conservancy at 609-309-5155, email [email protected] or visit the event website at www.sourlandspectacular.com.
