From Edison · Rumson, Sea Bright & the Navesink

This full-day version starts in Edison (Menlo Park). The first 29 miles go out on back roads, mostly NJ-36 and NJ-35, to Rumson, where the good part begins. The core stretch, Rumson, Sea Bright & the Navesink, is a 19-mile loop that comes back around to Rumson.

The ride home is the quick way: 30 miles on the Garden State Parkway, CR-520 and NJ-440 back to Edison. All in, it's about 78 miles and 3 hours in the saddle, before any stops for gas, food or photos. There's time to take it easy.

Full-day version that starts in Edison: it adds the ride there and back to Rumson, Sea Bright & the Navesink. Here is what you'll find on the core stretch:

A short coastal loop: Rumson to Sea Bright, Ocean Avenue between the ocean and the river, Highlands, the woods of Hartshorne, and back along Navesink River Road to Red Bank. Gentle curves, water everywhere and views of the Manhattan skyline from the Highlands heights. A cruising pace, made for Monmouth County clubs or a summer evening. Beach season brings heavy traffic through Sea Bright; Sandy Hook is left out (it's out-and-back and charges for parking in summer).