Large Scale Bike Race In Morris County Next Summer

Morris County, NJ, to be site of 100-mile bike race next summer

BY VANESSA VERA ROMAN • STAFF WRITER • DECEMBER 3, 2010

MORRISTOWN — Marty's Reliable Cycle is partnering with a Clinton-based sports production company to put on a large-scale bike race next summer.

The Gran Fondo New Jersey — which means "great ride" in Italian — is scheduled for the last weekend in August and will include 100-, 60-, and 30-mile timed races originating in Morristown and stretching out west as far as Hunterdon County, said Marty Epstein, owner of Marty's Reliable Cycle, which has locations in Morristown, Randolph and Hackettstown.

"That's where the nicest roads are," Epstein said. "We want New Jersey to become more and more known as a cycling-friendly state."

Epstein expects anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 cyclists to participate.

Though the ride will be competitive, Epstein said there will be something for every kind of cyclist - from racers to family riders.

The Morristown event will start Friday, Aug. 26 with various cycle-related events and end on Sunday, Aug. 28, with the races.

Nusbaum expects the event to have "a festival type of vibe," he said.

Epstein said the race will benefit a charity (though one has not yet been chosen) and will have a sustainability theme.

He hopes it will also help make New Jersey became a place synonymous with cycling.

"New Jersey really is starting to get quite a reputation," Epstein said. "We want people to experience our roads and how nice it is to ride out here."