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Fri Sept 4, 2026 - Friday Frolic Special: Annual Frenchtown to Merrill Creek Reservoir Challenge + Ice Cream, New & Improved Route by Charlie B. 53-mi Short-Cut Option Available.
Level B-/C+: 13-14mph, 63 or 53 miles. Meet at Frenchtown - parking lot just below Bridge St, between river and Canal Trail. The ride leaves at 8:00 am. [This ride usually takes place on a Saturday, but this year, the Tour de Trail NYC event ride takes place on Saturday. https://www.911trail.org/events/tour-de-trail-nyc-2026]

Hilly but pretty loop through Warren and Hunterdon Counties, NJ, to the scenic Merrill Creek Reservoir. New & improved route by Charlie B. Ice cream at mile 58. Includes a couple of 400-ft climbs, and one 640-ft climb, but the vistas from the summits are magnificent. We'll be riding mostly on quiet and shaded country roads, but also passing through the quaint towns of Milford, Riegelsville, Stewartsville, and Bloomsbury. Initial and final stretches of the route, along River Road, are flat. The challenging hills section, ~10 miles of climbing, is in the middle. Total elevation gain on the 63-mi route is 4090 ft, but we will stop to regroup as needed. Food stops at mile 24 in Stewartvsille (before climbing to the Reservoir), and at mile 46 in Bloomsbury. (We'll also have a brief photo/scenery stop at the spectacular Reservoir at mile 31.) From the food stop in Bloomsbury, we'll descend to the village of Little York, then return to Milford and Frenchtown via downhill-to-flat roads. Depending on where you live, please allow an hour for the drive to Frenchtown. 53-Mi short-Cut Option: Charlie B. has developed a 53-mi alternate route which avoids the steep climb to Merrill Creek Reservoir, but still stops at the Tauro market rest stop.
This is the link for the 53-miler: ridewithgps.com/routes/37360255, with 2990 ft.
On-line route map for the 63-miler is https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48209311.
Linda McGrane, mcgrane_linda_a@yahoo.com, 267-251-7862