Bikers wanted! Join ‘Ride for the River’ on May 18

Motorcyclists looking to support a great cause – protecting clean water – are invited to join the 21st annual “Ride for the River” on Saturday, May 18, an event that benefits the local conservation nonprofit Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA). The annual 60-mile “poker run” takes bikers on a scenic tour of rural backroads in the upper Raritan River watershed of Hunterdon, Somerset, and Morris counties. The country roads featured on the ride include many that parallel or cross rivers and streams. Ride for the River starts and ends at Rollin’ Fast Cycle Sports on Route 22 in Lebanon, and will be followed by a barbecue lunch and bike show. “It’s a fun, leisurely ride showcasing the beauty of the watershed, and the rivers and streams that RHA works to protect,” said Mara Tippett, Executive Director of Raritan Headwaters. “Over the past 20 years, motorcycle enthusiasts have raised more than $210,000 to help protect water quality local rivers and streams. We’re very grateful for their support, and for the amazing job done by Rollin’ Fast Cycle Sports, the event’s main sponsor.” Ride for the River honors the memory of the late John Belle, who founded the event in 2003 with his wife, Amy Greene. Belle, an avid motorcyclist and environmentalist, passed away in 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. Check-in at Rollin’ Fast begins at 8:30 a.m., and a light breakfast will be offered. Bikers can leave any time after 9 a.m., and the route is designed to take about two hours. During a poker run, riders collect playing cards at designated stops; by the end of the ride, they’ll have five cards to make a full poker hand. A barbecue lunch and fun activities await riders upon their return to Rollin’ Fast Cycle Sports. Riders can meet up with friends, compare poker hands, and admire bikes on display at the show. Riders with the best poker hands will win prizes, and “people’s choice” awards will be given for the best motorcycles. Bikes of all makes are welcome. The cost is $40 per rider or passenger, which includes a commemorative T-shirt, poker hand, and lunch. The event will be held rain or shine. To register online, go to https://www.raritanheadwaters.org/event/21st-annual-ride-for-the-river/ .  Riders can also sign up on the day of the event for $40, but on-site registration does not include a commemorative T-shirt. Anyone interested in sponsoring Ride for the River can contact Kate Arnao at karnao@raritanheadwaters.org for more information. About Raritan Headwaters Since 1959, Raritan Headwaters Association has focused on clean water. RHA engages citizens and decision makers in the protection of the Raritan River headwaters region and beyond through science, education, land preservation and advocacy. RHA’s 470-square-mile region provides clean drinking water to 300,000 residents of 38 municipalities in Somerset, Hunterdon, and Morris counties and directly impacts over 1.5 million homes and businesses in New Jersey's densely populated urban areas. To learn more about Raritan Headwaters and its programs, please visit www.raritanheadwaters.org or call 908-234-1852.

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