The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-03
70 POMPTON AWHEEL.
Pleasures Of a Ride Through Jer-
-sey's Picturesque Hill
Region.

One of the pleasantest bicycle tours
that can be taken in half day is she run
from Newark or Orange to Pompton, and
it is one that is very popular among those
cyclists that have good staying powers
There are some stif1sh hills TO be over
come, but the country Is a beautiful one
and one is we'll repaid for the trouble. AS
the ride to New ark along the Plank
Road is not especially attractive, it will
be found more agree able for Jersey City
cycl ers to take the train to there and be-
gin th cir trip on bicycle from Newark.
The route from Newark to Orange and
the nee to Montclair is too we'll known to
need any description, as there are
a choice Of roads, and all of them are
good ones. From Montc1air one should
take the route up the mountain by way
of Bloomfield avenue, and if one Is an
expert hill climber he will ride, other
wise walk, as the rise is sharp and steep
one. Reaching the top of the mountain
the route lies right on over the crest for
some two hundred yards, when the rider
should turn TO the right on a dirt road
that leaves Bloomfield avenue Mt quite an
ascent. This road runs in a direct line
for miles. 1t is a stony and hard ride for
a solid tire, but with pneumatic. or even
a cushion tire, there is no difficulty in
riding over it with comfort.
AFINE COAST.
About half mile from Bloomfield ave-
nue. the road beRins to fall rapidly and
there is an opportunity for fine coast,
At the foot of the hill one reaches Cedar
Grove, and the rider is six miles from
Orange and ten from Newark. Still the
rider must keep straight ahead, neither
turning to the right hand nor to the left,
and about two miles further on be will
come to the Passaic county line, and be-
yond this point the roads are macadam-
lied and kept in fine condition, and rid
ing becomes once more luxury.
Half mile beyond this point.
and the rider crosses the Passaic
River, and in the next three miles one
passes through the pretty little villages
of Mountain View and Wayne. About
mile beyond Wayne the road crosses the
canal and the river, and just before
reaching this point, the road forks.
Both branches lead to Pompton, but
the one to the right hand is good
macadam one, while the other is soft and
hard to ride. Five miles of steady pedal
ing over this f1ne macadam road and one
reaches Pompton, where one can refresh
ones self as is most desired
THE RETURN TRIP.
On the return trip the rider can, of
course, retrace his route, but this is not
the best thing to do. as by returning by
slightly longer route through Paterson
Que has the double advantages of going
over new territory and over roads with
fewer hills and less hard wheeling. To
take this route, the rider should retrace
his steps. il one can call wheeling STEP
ping, for about mile and then turn into
he first macadam road on the left, 1t is
the main road to Paterson and cannot
easily be missed. It passes over a num-
Der of hills aud affords oppor-
tunities for number of fine
coasts, some of them. however, SO
steep that they should not be attempted
without having the break in good order.
About five miles before reaching Pater-
son one will reach guide post directing
the rider 10 turn to the lefG TO go to
Paterson. Be sure and pay no attention
to this direction. as the straight ahead
road is the best and gives one OF
the best long coasts Hthat one can
find anywhere. ThK should not be
tried, however, by a<Yro, unless he has
an exceptionally gq&% brake on the ma
chine. The roadgeads right into the
heart OF Patersot to the Court House.
Then turn to he'right for single block,
and then agaiH to the left, and he rider
will come to thH D., L. & w. r. R. Depot.
Here the riderF should turn to the riQnt,
cross the canala and the railroad. and from
this point on, the road Is straight one TO
Montclair Heights and Montclair. From
here The rider can select his own route
home again. and find that he has covered
about thirty-six miles from Orange or
forty-four from Newark. The hills that
he hxs encountered will prove a good test
Of the riders sfendurance.