Garden State Stage Race

[merckxman]

"After four long years, stage racing is returning to New Jersey!! The Rutgers University Cycling Team and Automatic Lonely Hearts Racing are excited to present the Garden State Stage Race, a weekend of bike racing in the Garden State. Below, you can find notes that answer many questions about the weekend’s races for collegiate (ECCC) and non-collegiate racers (USAC)."
https://www.bikereg.com/64640

The back side of Round Valley could make for some good uphill racing.

[AngryScientist]

Hey, that's awesome!

I dont see the course posted yet, but I'll be curious what the 75 mile course looks like. Some good riding in that area for sure.

[Nickt]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Hey, that's awesome!

I dont see the course posted yet, but I'll be curious what the 75 mile course looks like. Some good riding in that area for sure.

Looks like it's going to be x5 laps of this:
https://www.strava.com/routes/22646327

[thegunner]

i'm low key bummed that i can't make this one, especially since i grew up in lebanon that course is phenomenal.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by Nickt

Looks like it's going to be x5 laps of this:
https://www.strava.com/routes/22646327

good find.

i may go do a loop later today!

[ChainNoise]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

good find.

i may go do a loop later today!

When? I was planning on doing some of that loop today if I can squeeze it in

[Hank Scorpio]

We do similar loop but in reverse. Descending Stanton Mountain road would not be high on my list. If I was planning this I would definitely want to flip the course. The descent behind round valley is mega bomber and can easily hit 50 plus.

[Hank Scorpio]

Oh thinking about the direction they chose it does allow for a right onto Dreahook so no stopping at the light. Also prevents the left from Main onto Mountain. I hope this is a closed course.

[ChainNoise]

Originally Posted by Hank Scorpio

Oh thinking about the direction they chose it does allow for a right onto Dreahook so no stopping at the light. Also prevents the left from Main onto Mountain. I hope this is a closed course.

I'm getting the feeling it isn't closed. Not sure I'd want to race on 523 and Stanton with traffic...

I think the current direction is by far and away the safest aside from the descent on Stanton Lebanon Rd. Very fun on my own, but with other people who don't know the course...hard pass

[mlc]

I know one of the organizers, and have heard from him that they're planning to have marshalls stopping traffic at multiple key areas of the course (descents/turns), and have had to do some course redesigns for rider safety as the local police haven't been willing to shut down roads for riders coming through. I don't know many details beyond that, but do know that they're still looking for marshalls if folks are free to volunteer!

[AngryScientist]

Needed to be out in that area today anyway, so took the bike along and rode one loop of the RR.

Beautiful roads, good road surfaces. Didnt see all of the comments here, so rode the course in reverse as initially suggested.

I would agree that it would be hard to race on all of these roads without closing them, or having a good marshalling plan. Perfectly fine to ride solo or with a small, non-racing group though.

That aside, I think this would be a fun and challenging course to race on. 5 laps of this definitely enough to put the hurt on, and enough elevation change to keep it interesting.

So thankful to finally have some sun in the garden state today, felt glorious, despite being in abysmal cycling form right now.

[Hank Scorpio]

I would be concerned descending Stanton as there are many shaded spots and sharp corners. If there is any rain near race day I would expect damp spots.

[OtayBW]

Gee - I dunno. A stage race in NJ could have some unforeseen consequences...

[fredd]

Buddy of mine is an organizer, and it's not their first rodeo. I'll be out there racing and marshaling. Really nice seeing stage racing in these parts.

[Hilltopwalters]

Most excellent!