I seem to be hearing that 'alternate reasons' to congregate at a shop would be good.
Be it just to enhance the shopping experience, or make it a draw outside the bike world.
Maybe run into a friend there, for a quick coffee while planning the next group ride??
It would be nice if there was coffee and/or cold drinks for a group ride organized by the shop,
and then a beer, and food when we get back. You know, a beer where you aren't going to get a ticket if spotted by a LEO a few
minutes after the sun sets. But what shop owner would want that responsibility? And once i'm in my car, i'm probably
not driving anywhere but home. Salt Gastropub has this going with its hashers - of course they don't sell sneakers.
Perhaps something more like Eataly - where it is a group of shops making the destination. Food & drink is sold nextdoor, in
close collaboration - somewhere outside. This all seems so "not in NJ" to me.
I go to Cabelas and/or Pro Bass once a year. They still seem to be in business. There is your megastore with online e-tailer.
It does take money to make money, and it would be a huge undertaking. I'm not sure this model would work.
Look what happened at Effingers. generations of families would make the trek. They assumed they would keep coming.
Service didn't get better, and prices were always high. Even their clearance prices were high when they were closing up.
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What i see around me....
The watchung wheelman folks are still planning on launching out of the HG parking lot for their club road rides. at least until the place turns into a chipotle (or whatever).
It was nice to grab a gu, or replace a tube before a ride. After ride gathering was usually the sterling hotel - although i have been handed an adult beverage in the
parking lot. Some of the loops are busy in chatham and through the swamp, others run out towards mendham, and are a bit more quiet.
MTB need not apply.
I've seen liberty cycles - got nothing to say either way there - no experience. Would be the same road experience as HG.
Somerville Cycles - think i've been in there twice. 3 mile ride to CR/newman's lot. Nice warm-up climbing over the watchung ridge to start!
Even closer to the top of the red trail, near the cell tower. I'm not sure the location adds more than newmans' lot - or parking behind the pizza place.
Halters is a nice place to launch a road loop from the lot - a little busy for a few miles into the hopewell area, but then it quickly calms down
after turning up the sourland ridge. it is 8 miles (about 1.5 road to the D&R) to the 6MR canal lot. - that adds too much mileage to a mtb ride.
Plenty of space in the parking lot, and a few places to grab a bite to eat. But i wouldn't hang in that lot - too exposed to the highway.
Bike N Gear isn't far from 6MR on south middlebush, but that is one scary road. Would be cool to have a dirt connector across those grassland preserves.
Has a restaurant right there, but it closes at 4pm. Stage house is a block away, with some outside areas to hang. Not sure how fancy that place is now.
Sourland Cycles is in hopewell. I haven't done any of their group rides. I know they have a vending machine for tubes/CO2/bike-food
outside the store. Also a water bottle fill station in the store.
I think there is a pump and a few tools outside also. again, no access to mtb. Plenty of small places in hopewell for food/drink - like troon!
Cycle Craft - Road riding out of there is tough - basically work through lk hiawatha, into montville, up taylortown road. try to get back into boonton twp, kinnelon, etc.
It is a zoo for the first and last bunch of miles. Parking lot is even a bit intimidating with all the cars cutting through. Couple of good places for food/drink, but
not to hang for an hour after a sweaty ride.
Pure Energy has a nice setup. Good road, tow path, and water co trails accessible out of the lot. Not much parking, beyond the D&R access lot, which fills quickly.
Plenty of places within walking distance - not sure if there is a handy beer garden, where sweaty mamils can hang for a bit.
Marty's/randolph has Dickerson Mine behind it. Road riding is out towards chester/flanders, not bad, but is busy locally - esp riding on rt 10.
While small, DM is fun, and can be ridden at night with the authorized people present. I've never ridden with them.
HB Summit. I drive there. I may have ridden there once. I really don't want to add to the mtb heat map where there shouldn't be any new lines.....
HB Madison. I drive past there! (not a dig, just haven't been in) - HB does a good job communicating where they are riding, and their different events
at the shop, and on the road. Creating a nice community feel to it. Maybe i'll stop in and see
@Funk Freshington one of these days.
V5 - They have a core group of mtb people that rotate trail systems. I get the alerts - and have been out a couple times. fun group. They are located in
the flemington redevelopment area of the old racetrack - so there are plenty of chain restaurants and just a few turns from conclave. Plenty of parking, it is
primarily going to be good road riding (although i know a way through deerpath, over round mountain, and into RV....)
