Is ZTrek a race?
No. This event is not a race. Some of the routes are challenging and some are easy. Participants should obey all traffic rules and are responsible for their own safety.
Will we be riding as a group?
That is entirely up to the participants. We will provide cue sheets and GPS data so those who want to may ride at their own pace. While there will be a mass start, you are also free to start whenever you wish as long as you are back at the check points by the cut-off times. We expect there to be several groups that form quickly on the road, based upon fitness and friendship. We suggest you ride in a manner that is most comfortable and safe for you.
Where is the starting location for the riders?
The start is at the Zarephath Christian Church Children’s Ministry Center, 595 Weston Canal Rd., Franklin Twp. NJ 08873.
What type of support does the ride offer?
Cue sheets will be provided at registration, and GPX route files will be available for download (help with GPX route files is available below). There will be stocked aid stations and a post-ride picnic in the festival area.
Is the course marked?
Yes. Additionally, a detailed cue sheet will be provided at registration and GPX route files will be available for download (help with GPX route files is available below).
Will there be any SAG, technical support or medical services?
There will be support personnel riding along the route providing assistance. Riders must be self-sufficient, and capable of making their own minor repairs. All participants must bring spare tubes, tires, tools, and anything else you might think is required to perform repairs yourself. Treat this like you would a normal training or club ride. We will have an emergency number so you can call our support crew in case you are experiencing difficulty. There will not be emergency medical services on the course; thus if you need or see someone who requires immediate emergency medical attention, please use your cell to call 911.
Is there an entry fee for ZTrek?
Yes, please see the course information page for details. Volunteers can ride for free! Details here.
What do I get with my entry fee?
Entry fee includes a great day on the bike with unique and challenging course choices, aid stations, and a post ride celebration with complimentary food and hydration. T-shirts are guaranteed for all riders who pre-register by 7/22/18. All net proceeds from registration will be donated to the Po River Medical Clinic and My Neighbor’s Pantry, ZTrek’s two causes. So while you are experiencing all the event has to offer, you are also helping to improve the lives of many people in need.
Who is the ride open to?
ZTrek is open to any cyclist who wants to support an awesome cause while cycling through beautiful NJ countryside. Riders under 18 must have the written permission of their parent or guardian. Riders under 12 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.
How do I register?
Our event registration form is available here.
I signed up for X miles, but I want to ride a longer/shorter route. Can I do that?
Yes. If you want to change your registration to a longer or shorter route, please contact us at info@ztrek.org. Also, during the ride if you feel you cannot complete the distance, you are welcome to switch to a shorter route at any time. Just follow the color coded course markings for your chosen route. We ask that those riders who wish to switch to a longer route contact us so that we can maintain an accurate headcount to ensure that each of our rest stops are sufficiently stocked for the expected number of riders.
Will bad weather cancel the ZTrek event?
Bad weather is always a possibility and July can bring thunderstorms. Our ride will take place rain or shine. That said, rider safety is paramount, and if conditions warrant (such as an Official Storm Warning from the National Weather Service), the ride will be rescheduled (severe weather rescheduling date to be announced). Please check this website or our Facebook page the morning of the ride for cancellation notices. An email message will also be sent to all pre-registered participants.
What type of bike should I ride?
The road course is suitable for the use of standard road bikes or hybrids. Helmets are mandatory for all riders.
Are there any awards?
Participants will receive a ZTrek finisher’s medal.
Is fundraising required?
No. While we appreciate and encourage our riders to raise additional funds, fundraising is not required to join the ride.
I can’t ride the event, but I’d like to volunteer.
We’d love to have you volunteer! Volunteering is a great way to enjoy the event, support cycling in NJ and support a great cause without riding the event. Details on volunteering.
Where can I learn about New Jersey cycling laws?
As a cyclist you have responsibilities on the road for your safety. Please see the official link – NJ Cycling Laws
Where can I get the route GPX (map) files?
Please see the ZTrek routes page.
I opened the route on my smartphone and it tells me I need to upgrade my Ride With GPS membership to use the route. I paid for the ZTrek event, why do I have to pay for the map too?
You are not required to pay for or use Ride With GPS to participate in the ZTrek event. ZTrek will provide printed cue sheets of our routes to all riders at check in. In addition, the routes will have road markings and signs to help riders navigate. The Ride With GPS links to the routes are provided as a courtesy because Ride With GPS is a common method for cyclists to share routes with one another.
In addition to being a method to share the routes, the Ride With GPS smartphone app has capability to provide GPS navigation during your ride. However, if you wish to use the Ride With GPS application on your smartphone to provide turn by turn directions during your ride or if you attempt to download the route within the app, then you are required to have a paid Ride With GPS account to enable these services.
Ride With GPS has several membership levels, from free starter accounts to premium accounts. See https://ridewithgps.com/choose_account for details. The free starter account though can’t be used for navigation, but any paid membership level can use the navigation features.
Even without a paid membership to Ride With GPS, the ZTrek routes may be viewed on the Ride With GPS website and in the smartphone app for free. In addition, the routes can be exported as .FIT, .GPX, or .TCX for use with GPS based bike computer or other apps from the Ride With GPS website for free. The Ride With GPS smartphone app, however, does not provide a method to export .FIT, .GPX, or .TCX files, only the web interface has this capability.
I don’t ride often and I don’t need the full features of the Ride With GPS app, is there a free app that I can use to follow the route on my smartphone?
There are thousands of smartphone apps and we can’t make a list of all possible apps which might provide this feature. What that said, one free app which does provide navigation for bike routes is BikeGPX. The BikeGPX app is not as full featured as other apps such as Ride With GPS or Strava, but it can be used to follow the routes of the ZTrek event without requiring a membership fee.
There are multiple ways to load routes into the BikeGPX app. Below are instructions for one method to load routes into BikeGPX for use on a smartphone.
- Install the BikeGPX app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play.
- Open the ZTrek route information page in a browser.
- Copy the link address of the route map you want to ride. A long press on the route map link will give you a menu option to copy the link address on many smartphones.
- Open the BikeGPX app.
- Press ‘Select Route’.
- Press ‘Add Route’.
- Press ‘Enter a web address’.
- Paste the previously copied link address into the web address field and then press ‘Submit’.
- Press ‘Start Riding’ to begin navigation.
Note, you can load the routes prior to the event and then select the route the day of the event.
In addition to its basic navigation capabilities, BikeGPX also has a premium version for a one time upgrade fee which adds the capability to view an elevation profile of the route during your ride and to provide a notification sound prior to turns.
I use Strava instead of Ride With GPS, how do I copy the routes to Strava?
Strava Labs has a web tool to convert a GPX route into a Strava Route. On a PC you will need to export a GPX Track from the Ride With GPS web page and then use the Strava Labs web tool to convert the exported file into a Strava route. The following link will take you to the Strava Labs web tool to convert the GPX route: Strava GPX to Route Tool
See the following question for links to details about exporting routes from Ride With GPS.
I have a GPS bike computer such as a Garmin Edge or Wahoo ELEMNT, how do I load the route onto my bike computer?
The Ride With GPS online user help has excellent articles that walk through downloading routes to various bike computers. Please see their instructions in the links below.