The cool crisp predawn air in Sussex County. Racing down Route 206 at the crack of dawn. Riding along the Delaware & Raritan Canal around 10 a.m. to sounds of frogs croaking.

Skirting around Princeton to arrive in Allentown around noon, all decked out in red, white and blue for the upcoming Fourth of July, while smelling the fresh bakery on the corner.

Hitting the farmlands of Central and South Jersey in the early afternoon, watching the farmers tend their fields. The smell of the pine trees while zipping through the Pinelands later in the day and seeing all the miles of cranberry bogs.

Then, finally, making it to the fresh breeze and tang salt water of Cape May County as the lighthouse rises from trees.

Those are just a few of the things that you’ll experience on the “The Longest Day,” the 200-mile ride of the New Brunswick-based Central Jersey Bike Club on June 10.

Bicyclists have until May 28 to join the club and register for “The Longest Day” at a discount. Two additional 50- and 100-mile rides are available. After May 28, fees that are now $10 to $30 will increase by $10 each.

“We have been cycling as a club for over 50 years,” said Steven Seigel, president of Central Jersey Bike Club. “The attraction for our members has been the friendliness and variety of our rides. We have a ‘no-one-gets-left-behind’ attitude, and our rides are rated so that our members can choose the rides that best fit their desires."

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The Longest Day Ride goes from Port Jarvis, New York, to Cape May.

“We have broken the ride up this year to include 50 and 100 miles,” said Seigel, a South Plainfield resident. “In years past, we just had the 100 and 200-plus miles. This ride, which is very challenging and scenic, gives an opportunity for the riders to have a good time, while challenging themselves as they ride through the state. There are not many organized 200-plus miles one-day rides in the country. This ride comes complete with a SAG, meaning that there will be someone available to pick anyone up that finds themselves either broken down or simply cannot complete the ride for any reason. New for this year, thanks to Kevin Smith, ride captain, will be rest stops along the way that will have snacks and bathrooms.”

Smith describe the club of 200 members as a network for cyclists.

He said that for 30 years, “The Longest Day” has been a ride for endurance cyclists who train for months to participate in the trek that goes right through the Somerset Hills, Bridgewater and Montgomery.

“The opportunity to see all of New Jersey in one day is a magical transition from the mountains of North Jersey to sandy white beaches in Cape May,” Smith said. “Many cyclists see ‘The Longest Day’ as a badge of accomplishment.”

Member benefits

In order to participate in any of the three “Longest Day” routes, riders must be members of the club. Registration can be accomplished at www.cjbc.org/.

“The Longest Day” obtains new members and helps to retain current members, Seigel said.

“CJBC has given me the opportunity to go on and lead rides that fit my riding comfort level,” Seigel said. “It allows me to give back to the community in terms of providing bicycle safety programs for children, providing outreach to the community, and fund-raising activities to the people who are in need, such as Habitat for Humanity. I’ve also become an active promoter of bicycling safety with the help and guidance of the NJ Bike and Walk Coalition and the League of American Bicyclists.”

After completing “The Longest Day” in 2014, Smith, a Piscataway resident, promised himself that he’d try it again the following year. He then joined the board to help improve the ride experience.

This year, “The Longest Day” also is introducing a pre-ride dinner for members and drivers who can accommodate riders who can’t finish the journey for whatever reason.

“This ride from the beginning in its history was a three consecutive-day event and shortly after was found to be more challenging as a single-day event,” Smith said. “‘The Longest Day’ is kind of a play on words too. It's not only nearest the actual longest day of the year, but also the longest distance one could ride in New Jersey. The posted ride is actually 205.9 miles, but, hey, who's counting?”

Other offerings

While “The Longest Ride” lives up to its name as the club’s farthest ride, the organization’s most popular event is the “Farmlands Flat Bicycle Tour,” which offers fundraising opportunities the first Saturday in May.

Depending on the weather, the tour can draw as many as 700 riders, Seigel said.

“This year, we were able to raise money for the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County, and the Lincroft First Aid & Rescue Squad,” he said.

“It offers six different loop rides from Brookdale Community College of 15, 25, 35, 50, 62 and 100-mile options,” Smith added. “It is well-stocked with several rest stops. It is known in the cycling community of New Jersey to be the first major cycling event of the season. This ride also is our club's bread and butter and lets us give back to our members and the community.”

The club’s other accomplishments include donating a bike “fixit” station to the borough of Metuchen and offering bike safety awareness to communities.

More fixit stations may be built, Seigel said.

“We truly work as a team,” he said, “and wish for others to join us! If you ride a bike and always wear a helmet, you are welcome to join!”

What you can do

If you would like to participate in one of the country’s longest bike rides, the 200-mile “Longest Day” on June 10, join the Central Jersey Bike Club at www.cjbc.org by May 28 to get a $10 discount on registration. The cost is $30 and will go up to $40 after May 28.

Price includes a pre-ride dinner on June 9 at Godfathers Italian Restaurant, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, near the start on the North Jersey border; discounted hotel rates at Best Western, also Matamoras, and three rest stops stocked with snacks, energy drinks, and water, as well as bathrooms and assistance for cyclists if needed.

Two other rides that are 100 and 50 miles also are available and both come with the same perks, except fewer rest stops. Their cost is $20 and $10 through May 28, then also an additional $10. “The Longest Day” rides are available to Central Jersey Bike Club members only, but the club offers other rides to non-members throughout the year.

Staff Writer Bob Makin: 732-565-7319; bmakin@gannett.com