BATTLE OF MONMOUTH RIDE

A cycling trip with something for everyone—even folks who don’t want to bike!

If cycling up hills is not your cup of tea, join us on Princeton Ski Club’s Battle of Monmouth Tour, a pleasant 28.5-mile circuit ride through the gently rolling countryside of Monmouth County.

(Full disclosure: The following description has been paraphrased from “A Tour Guide for Cyclists,” published by the Bicycle Advocate Division of NJDOT, from whose map our route has also been derived. Also, read on for shorter distance and non-cycling options.)

Our route will be a loop, starting and ending in Monmouth Battlefield State Park, with a rest stop midway at Holmdel County Park. (For you history buffs, Monmouth Battlefield is the site of one of the longest and largest battles of the Revolutionary War, where Washington’s troops clashed with British troops under Sir Henry Clinton.) Along the way we’ll pass acres of orchards, beautifully manicured horse farms, woodlands, suburban developments and historic sites, including Molly Pitcher’s Well and the Battle of Monmouth Monument.

For those who prefer not to do the full circuit, it’s easy to abbreviate the ride by taking an inner loop that is roughly 15 miles long. Turn-by-turn instructions will be provided at the ride’s start, enabling riders to choose the shorter course at the outset, or to divert to the shortcut along the way (after notifying one of the trip leaders about your change in plans).

Monmouth Battlefield Park contains 25 miles of hiking trails, plus a Visitors’ Center where you can learn more about this National Historic Landmark. Non-cyclists should easily be able to keep themselves enjoyably occupied, while their peddle-pushing friends, family members and significant others are rolling along the countryside. Riders and non-riders alike can all meet for lunch once the cyclists have returned to the park.

The outing is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, with a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 13. We will meet immediately outside the park’s Visitor’s Center at 9:15 a.m.  Based on an average pace of 10 mph and rest stops en route, we expect to be back at our starting point at around 1:00. There are plenty of picnic tables near the Visitor’s Center, so we suggest packing a lunch. (Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the park.) For those who prefer not to dine alfresco, nearby downtown Freehold has lots of places to eat.

For Participating Cyclists: Virtually any type of bicycle will be fine, provided that it’s in good working order. (If you haven’t had your bike serviced in awhile, this would be a good time to take it to your local bike shop for gear and brake adjustments, cleaning, lubrication and any needed repairs.) Helmets are required for all riders. Be sure to carry water en route (either in a plastic bottle or hydration pack); snacks, a spare tube, tire levers, patch kit, and small first aid kit are also recommended. Minors must be accompanied throughout the ride by an adult. Non-PSC member cyclists are welcome, but must sign a waiver before the trip departs.

While not officially part of the bike tour, NJ Audubon Society will be conducting a birding walk in the park, starting at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, meeting at the Visitors' Center. Then after lunch, we are arranging an optional guided tour of the 18th century Craig House, home of John and Ann Craig and their 3 children during the Revolutionary War.

Now the best part: The cost of for attending any or all of these activities is…nothing, nada, zilch. Even so, advance registration is requested, to give us a rough idea of how many participants to plan for.

So where is Monmouth Battlefield State Park?  Click here for directions.

Ready to sign up? Click here to open the online registration form.  Please submit a separate form for each participant.

If you have any questions, please contact the trip leader, Marty Bloomenthal, via phone or email.