This year, our riders and crew collected $40,000 which was divided between our beneficiaries, the eight non-profit organizations that provide services, housing, and meals to people with HIV/AIDS and  education to keep those at risk from contracting the disease.

As they accepted their checks, each beneficiary told us why these funds were so important to them.  South Jersey AIDS Alliance, for example, appreciated that the funds are given without preconditions, allowing them to use it for the things that grant money does not cover.  NJ-WAN will use their check to buy Christmas presents for children of their HIV+ clients.  And Sussex County AIDS Task Force was most appreciative because the county has cut off all funding.

Everyone at the party was also quite touched and inspired when two of our own (a rider and a crew member) told us why, as clients of one of our charities, this money is so important to them personally.

The next ride is set for Sept 21-23, 2012.   Registration forms will be posted soon.  You can still donate!  Click Pledge at the top of this page.

Riders pedaled themselves up some steep hills, then relaxed at some great rest stops, like Mrs. Hann’s deck, Estell Manor Park (where we threw around the football), WaWa (where we had ice cream), and Woodbine (where we danced to salsa music).

All this led top Cape May and a very emotional finish.  It was quite a site to see all those riders with red AIDS ribbons on their back ride over the bridge into Cape May and on to St. Mary by The Sea, where we hugged and cried and heard our beneficiaries express their gratitude for the money they’ll receive due to all our hard work.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for next year’s ride!

Everyone is excited.  The new folks are wondering what to expect.  There may be some rain, which in my opinion just makes it a more memorable ride.

Tonight most of us meet at the Port Jervis Comfort Inn so we can get a good nights sleep before our early start on Friday.  But it will be hard to sleep with the anticipation.

I am so looking forward to this weekend and seeing the results of all the hard work preparing, training, and gathering donations.  It always amazes me seeing what we do and how much we make for those in need.

-Rick

When packing your bag for the weekend, think about getting 2 quart ziplock bags. Pack each day’s riding clothing into each bag and use a 4th bag for the extra socks, gloves, jackets, etc. Squeeze all of the air out of them and then you have lots of room in your suitcase or bag. Then at the day’s end you have an empty bag to use for the dirty clothes. When you get home, you’ll have three full bags that can be emptied directly into the washing machine and anything still damp and funky will be contained. Also, remember that your bags are being transported for you, so please think about how you can pack lightly, but efficiently.

Bring bike lights with you. Sometimes it does rain or it’s cloudy or it’s just getting late as we pull in. If you have flashing rear lights (front lights are a good choice too) you are much more easily seen by cars. If you don’t have lights and you want some, there is a nice selection of lights at Pete’s and you get a 10% discount. So, if you need lights, let me know.

Pack some extra tubes and carry one on the bike with you. Be sure your bike is tuned up and ready to go before Friday a.m. Make sure your tires are pumped to the correct psi so you are ready to roll. Carry at least one water bottle on  your bike. If you have room for two, that’s even better.

Think about all possible weather scenarios. Toe or shoe covers are great for cold wind and rainy conditions. Leg, knee and/or arm warmers are great because they can easily be removed and put in your special needs bag that will be at every rest stop. A good lightweight, breathable rain jacket is also important to have just in case. If we’re prepared for rainy weather, it makes it so much easier to ride. Long finger gloves are a nice extra in case it should be cold in the mornings.

Lastly, please remember to say thank you to all of the crew as they help you cross intersections, carry your luggage, rub your back, change your tire, make your lunch and everything else that they do for three days with smiles on their faces.

If  you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. You can reach me at carylh7@embarqmail.com or at 908.581.8273.

I’m looking forward to riding with you to raise awareness and money for our beneficiaries — and also to having fun riding for three days. Remember the hard work of raising money has been done. Enjoy every pedal stroke of the Ride. See you all Friday morning.

Caryl
Rider #7

By now, you should have registered, sent in forms and fee, sent in your pledges, and done as much training as you could. Time to think about packing!

Please, please, please don’t over pack. You’ll be gone for three days of biking or crewing, so you don’t need much.

Remember to bring something warm. It will probably be chilly at High Point.
Remember to bring rain gear. This is a rain-or-shine event.
Bring something comfortable to change into in the evening.
Riders MUST have HELMETS

Oh, and don’t forget your bike!

See you there!

-Rick

The NJ Transit train to Port Jervis is out of service due to the hurricane. I took a look, and there is a Coach USA/Shortline bus out of Port Authority that takes you only 5 blocks away from our hotel. Bus times are 10, 2:30, 3:30, 4:35, 5:35, 7, and 11 PM. The bus ride is approximately 1:50 mins from the Port to Port Jervis. Fare is 22.50. There’s also a bus from Ridgewood NJ (near Paramus) at 7:32 pm.

There are a few things you should have done by now to make things run smooth:

You should have already arranged transportation to High Point on Friday and back from Cape May on Sunday. If you need a ride, send email to njraa2011@googlegroups.com and see if anyone can help.

You should have already made reservations for a hotel room at the Port Jervis Comfort Inn if you are joining us Thursday night. If not, meet us at 6:30 at the monument at High Point State Park on Friday morning.

You should have already mailed in registration fees and all remaining donations to Pat. We’d rather not have to keep track of all that money on ride weekend.

You should have mailed in all your paper work to Pat. Again, not something we want to deal with on Friday morning.

Don’t forget to tell family and friends to meet us in Cape May and help cheer in the riders. We’ll be arriving at St. Mary’s by the Sea (Lehigh Ave at Lincoln Ave, near the lighthouse) at about 2:00 PM on Sunday.

More info to come!

Registration deadline is September 1st!

Please let us know if you had planned on attending.  We’ll make alternate arrangements.  Or you can come to our next orientation in July in Asbury Park.