Philip Roth, arguably America’s greatest living writer, grew up in the Weequahic neighborhood of Newark and wrote about it extensively in the Pulitzer Prize winning “American Pastoral”. His home at 81 Summit Street was the destination of today’s ride.

It was a gorgeous day for the eight adventurers who showed up to ride. Bright sun, light traffic and remnants of last weeks’ snowfall that, seeming out of place at forty-four degrees, were a clear reminder of February’s fickle weather. We chose this predominantly north-south ride today because it faced us into the warm sun initially and kept us, for the most part, out of brisk western winter winds.

Among the sights we took in were both sections of Weequahic Park, a general tour of the Weequahic neighborhood, Philip Roth’s house, Weequahic High School, Newark Beth Israel Hospital, beautiful old houses along 11th and Littleton and the NJ School of Dentistry.