Call it a tuneup for the Gran Fondo.
Bright and early on May 25, four men will race from downtown Madison to the Hyatt Morristown in a test of environmental machines.
One guy will pedal a swift racing bike. Another will saddle up on workhorse bicycle with an electric motor. Yet another will bring his folding bike onto the 8:05 train at Madison, get off moments later in Morristown, unfold the bike, and ride furiously to the Hyatt.
Rounding out the field is a fellow driving a Chevy Volt, the new electric car.
“We’re trying to expose people to alternate means of transportation,” said race creator Marty Epstein of Marty’s Reliable Cycle.
That exposure will be courtesy of race participants Eric Noonan, Marty’s service manager; Bill Ruddick of “Backyard Bike Tours” in Randolph; and bike-commuting Morristown lawyer Matthew Vance of Newark. The Volt driver is a surprise. The vehicle is from Wigder Chevy in Livingston.
In August, Marty will host New Jersey’s first Gran Fondo, a weekend of long rides. These events are popular in Europe.
Marty has been known to leave other cyclists in the dust. Why isn’t he racing on Wednesday?
“I’m the coordinator, the promoter,” he said with a laugh.
Morristown has a long history of people stepping forward in pivotal moments.
When you chip in to Morristown Green, you’re helping your neighbors stay informed, strengthening our civic backbone, and carrying on the spirit that’s defined this town since its earliest days.
Rally for local news.
Thank you. Please come back often!
Hey I haven’t discovered a site like yours in forever. Thanks for keeping sites like this alive. I saved this page to my bookmarks. I’ll be back