Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 8 66 JERSEY SHORE ACTIVITIES NEW JERSEY BY BIKE, continued from page 65 Tour de Farm New Jersey's Mitch Morrison isn't the only person to realize that New Jersey's countryside is a perfect place to marry food, farm visits, and cycling. Jake Herway, an avid cyclist, was raised in Belgium, but came to New Jersey for work in 2011. "I went through an emo- tional process of trying to 'get back' to [the culture of Europe] when I moved to New Jersey. For two years, I spent hours and hours cycling down obscure dead end New Jersey roads…and unexpectedly I found a real European flair in the history, architecture, and agriculture." He continues, "Ironically, New Jersey was as close as I could've gotten to a European experience. I thought, 'I need to share this and get people appreciating all the richness of New Jersey.' Sometimes we don't recognize what we already have." Herway created his first cycling event in 2014 and started offering private guided tours in 2016. Today, his company, NJ Bike Tours (www.njbiketours.com), offers four themed jaunts for a variety of fit- ness levels primarily in Mercer and Hunterdon counties: Farm to Table; Magical History; Vineyards & Views; and Fitness Scenic Spin. "The Farm to Table is everyone's favorite, including mine," says Herway. While all Farm to Table tours include a farm to table meal, education, and at least two farm visits, riders can choose from an Advanced Tour that runs about five to six hours through hilly terrain, an Intermediate level for basic fitness with some hills, or a Beginner Tour of flat roads appropriate for everyone. While the tours tend to attract mostly intermediate riders, Herway wishes more at the beginner fitness level would give it a try. With routes that loop around smaller distances and customizability, "Most beginners end up doing fine," says Herway. "We take our time." For those wor- ried about their abilities, NJ Bike Tours even offers rental of electric bikes, which allow the rider to either pedal the bike normally or use the integrated motor for an extra boost of power. "We want to be inclusive," comments Herway. With highlights such as the last covered bridge in New Jersey, the car-free D&R canal, local wine, deli- cious organic food, and Einstein's Princeton commute, participants from all over New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania get a real taste of some of the best "really cool tidbits" of New Jersey. "I've gotten so much support from farmers, vine- yards, and historical societies. With cycling—the connection to nature, the breathing—it's such a better way to experience New Jersey. It's a kind of joy." Cost of tours generally run from $110. to $140. per person, with $20. deducted for booking a weekday ride, and require a minimum of just two people. For those whose particular inter- est is in wine, Pour & Pedal Cyclists pause in front the Graduate College at Princeton University, on a ride guided by NJ Bike Tours. courtesy of NJ Bike Tours

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