This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Bike Ride

The is coming to Mahwah this Sunday, and the charity event is looking to attract bikers of all makes and models.

Riders who want to tackle either 12, 25, 45, 62, 100 or 125-mile courses can come out to Campgaw Mountain this Sunday. The first ride kicks off at 7 a.m.

The Ramapo Rally, put on annually for the past 33 years by the Bicycle Touring Club of New Jersey, has two main goals: to introduce bikers to scenic (and sometimes challenging) routes throughout Mahwah and Northern New Jersey, and to raise money for a nearby charity.

Part of the proceeds raised by the Rally will benefit Camp Sunshine in Ridgewood, a center for disabled children and young adults.

Though challenging courses that cross through Bergen and Morris Counties are part of the Rally, novices should not be discouraged from attending. New riders can bike in packs led by experienced leaders, relax at rest stops along the route, and have the security of wagons available to help with mechanical or physical problems that riders might experience.

For more experienced riders, self-guided tours are available via cue sheets and road markings.

Everyone is served a complimentary lunch at the end of the ride.

According to a release sent out by the Rally, “Pro cycling champion, Tony Cruz, will lead one of the rides and will conduct a riding clinic in the afternoon. Cruz was US Criterium and US Olympic Time Trial champion. He also rode with Lance Armstrong on the US Postal and Discovery Channel teams.”

This year, the number of cyclists and volunteers involved in the event is expected to jump from about 1,250 people last year to over 1,600. According to the BTCNJ, enthusiasts from across the Northeast come to Mahwah for the Rally.

On-site registration will be accepted Sunday, up to 1400 riders. More information is available at the Ramapo Rally website.