Florida Rides

[Mark5]

Hi, I'm looking for rides in Florida in the remaining months of 2009.  Thanks.

[fnegron44]

Hi:  I'm in South Florida but have ridden all over the State of Florida.  Where are you planning on riding and we'll see if we can help find you the best rides.  Take care

[tonythomson]

Check out the Rails to Trails site - the ones I know are the Withalacoochi (no idea of correct spelling) also called Tammy Trace - this is a great ride - can even take a couple of days for a relaxed ride both ways.

From Tallahassee to St Marks another Rails to Trails. Just love em. 

Where are you in Florida and if anyone knows of closer places near Kissimmee I would be v interested.

[DaveB]

The Gainesville Cycling Festival is the weekend of October 24 and 25 and is very well organized.  Here is the link:

http://gainesvillecyclingclub.org/gcf/index.html

I rode the "Horse Farm Hundred" a few years ago and it was a great ride.

[Mark5]

Thanks a bunch.  Anywhere in Florida.  Weekdays are not a problem either.  Great input, thanks.

[litespeed]

There are plenty of organized rides here in Florida but not this time of year - mostly in the spring and fall. Check with the bike shops. Chainwheel Drive is the biggest one around this area.

[tonythomson]

Hi Mark,
finally remembered another nice easy rails to trails, at Winter Garden - this is really nice and great coffee shops there also!

Are you anywhere near Kissimmee as there is a club in Celebration who organise rides of 30 to 60 miles.

I have a great little book about all sorts of rides in Florida from quite roads to off road mountain bike type trails.  But it is in my house in Florida (I live in the UK) so not much help there I'm afraid.  I'm due to be back there in September so if still interested will post the details.
If you do find other be much appreciated if you can post them here as I'm always looking for something new.
Tony

[ToddBS]

Tony, I wonder if you are talking about this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Florida-2nd-ed-Oswald/dp/156164403X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251253933&sr=8-1

I checked it out from the library a while back and found it a very nice guide.  I'm tempted to buy my own copy so I don't have to keep checking it out, though so far no one else has been waiting on it.  Sad as it's a top notch guide I've found.

[tonythomson]

Hi Todd
yes that's the one I think it is excellent and def recommend it - coming from the UK - it's sometimes hard to get local information as I tend to stay only for a couple of weeks at a time.  Have a house in Celebration.  So if anyone can recommend good ride in that area be very gratefull.  Plan to buy a van when over next time to transport the bike further afield. 

[fnegron44]

Thanks a bunch.  Anywhere in Florida.  Weekdays are not a problem either.  Great input, thanks.

I rode around Lake Okechobee - there is a levee around a majority of the Lake.  It's a little over 100 miles.  I have also ridden through the Ocala National Forest for a few days and the Appalachicola Forest.  I will be travelling around Jacsonville and Nassau counties as soon as it cools down a little.  There is another bike on Florida Bike rides put out by the Pineapple Press which is quite good.  I live in South Florida so if you make it that far south don't hesitate to ask for specifics.   

[george7100]

check at florida rest areas they have a free booklet on florida trails or google florida greenways,lots of free info

[Tourista829]

One of my favorite rides is from Sarasota to Fort Myers. I take Route 41 south out of Sarasota to Venice. Once you get into Osprey, the traffic thins out. Their is a great little ice cream shop, over the bridge, in Venice, I can't remember the name. Travel south through North Port. There is a Russian store called The European Store. It has the best layer cakes. I stayed in Punta Gorda. There is a restaurant in Port Charlotte, prior to crossing the bridge. It overlooks the bay. The next day 35 miles to the ferry to Key West. I have not taken the ferry yet, but I hear it is a nice trip. I have been to Key West and it is a perfect place for bicycles. I did not camp on this trip.

[tonythomson]

How about the Van Fleet rails to trails and then join up with the Withlachoochi Trail (sp) was looking at that to get me from Kissimmee to ST.  Must be close to 80-100 with only a short distance in the middle with traffic.

Can't wait to get back to Florida in 3 weeks.

[FLami]

My favorite organized rides are:
 the Horrible Hundred in Clermont, FL...sorry, just last weekend (Nov).  Very well organized, over 2,000 riders and the worst intersections have police letting you safely through, beautiful area and wicked steep hills, though brief.  They always have the best t-shirts...colorful and cute...and it finishes with a lunch that includes salmon or some other really great fish well done as well as the usual burgers and brats.
Mt Dora Bicycle Festival, Mt Dora, FL ....Oct  Pretty area with lots of lakes and hills, antique shops, beautiful terrain, and a folk music festival the same weekend in a nearby town.
Tour of Sebring Bicycle Event, starts and finishes at Kenilworth Lodge, Sebring, FL   Stay in an old grand hotel from about 1915, fun events like ice cream social, DJ night, and really nice riding.