Category: Mountain Biking

When riding in NJ don’t call it an E-bike. Say it’s an E-tractor.

Just drag a lawn mower blade behind the E-bike and say it’s an E-tractor. No license, registration or insurance required for those in NJ. And you get to do some trail maintenance. It’s a win/win!

I do some trail building and maintenance and try to help out JORBA when I can. There are some volunteers who do a LOT more work than me. I wish I had more time, but I do what I can. From what I understand whenever trees fall and block the trails, the volunteers who do all of the chainsawing, not all of them, but some of them have e-bikes to help them carry a chainsaw and gas can for the several mile round trip to the fallen tree and back. Without e-bikes, this work may not happen as fast or at all. Some of the chainsawers are retirees. Instead of being still and inactive in their retired years, they are giving back time, work and service to the cycling community. They are willing to do the work, but their knees and other joints may give them trouble carrying equipment over rugged terrain for miles and miles. These volunteers are an asset and blessing to the community. I support them. All cyclists are my friends, whether they ride acoustic bikes or ebikes.

Cut Down The Head Bangers – Trail Work

Went to Stephens today and worked 1 mile in/out of Lower Maze, and 1/2 mile in/out at the NICA Trail (Blue Rock) with loppers and a corona saw. I focused mostly on branches in 4 different spots that were low enough for a helmet to bang on. On my walk out, I did spend some time using the corona saw as a machete to cut down any face slappers and thorn bushes.  Here are some before and after photos.

Allamuchy

This is Allamuchy Mountain in Warren/Sussex County NJ. Photo was taken from the Lake Tranquility Area.

The ground where I stood to take the photo is about 600 feet above sea level. The peak of Allamuchy is over 1200. So there’s 600 feet of elevation gain, which is about the height of a 60 story residential building.  The trail to the peak is about 5 to 7 miles (depending on what switchbacks you choose). So riding to the peak is like riding a bicycle up a 60 story building, not going straight up, but going around and around and around, stretching it over 5 or 7 miles. It’s kinda like walking up the stairs in a building. Stairs don’t go straight up like a ladder does. Stairs have a more gradual angle of incline than ladders. Depending on what shape you are in and what skills you have it could take 1 to 4 hours. It’s a cardio workout pretty much the entire way. I love it!

Here is what some of terrain looks like on the way up to the peak.

Woodpeckers are really having a blast with what’s left of this tree!