Florida

[noworries]

 I am looking for any advice I can get about cycling in Florida. I am recovering from a back injury and would like to find a good place in southern Florida to get back in the saddle. I would prefer it to be in southern Florida where it is warm and I can stay at a camp ground as I hope to make this a two month workout. Thanks for any advice.

[Tourista829]

One quick suggestion, you could ride around Lake Okeechobee. It is flat, safe and I believe you can camp. If you want to go further, you could take Rt. 27 south to Rt 84 east to Ft. Lauderdale. You might be more comfortable on a recumbent or trike.

[noworries]

 Thanks for the info. As far as the trike or the recumbent, I'll be fine on a bike. The back is not that bad as much as it caused a lot of inactivity and therefore weight gain. I just want to take some time to get back at it and get back in shape. Thanks again.

[DNault]

The Tampa / St. Pete area has some very nice trails like the Pinellas Trail that goes from downtown St. Pete to Tarpon Springs 45mi. one way, The Suncoast Trail, The Withlacoochie Trail and a huge riding comunity with more organized rides than any other part of the state (as I have been told). It does get warmer in the southern part of the state but be careful what you wish for. 

[weight loss log]

love florida never biked there so  good luck with that hear this time of the year it's kinda cold ;P

[litespeed]

I've lived and bicycled in the Tampa Bay area for 35 years. Besides the Pinellas, Suncoast, Withlacoochee and Nature Coast Trails there is superb cycling in eastern Pasco County - lots of lightly used country roads around Dade City, Brooksville and San Antonio. Park at the little league complex in San Antonio and you can bicycle a different route every week of the year.

[Tourista829]

The recommendations for Tampa Bay area are great. I really like the Pinellas Trail, I have taken it from Tarpon Spring to St. Pete. 33 miles each way. Dundedin (20 miles r/t) is a nice break and has a very good ice cream shop. You could divert and take Curlew Rd west over the causeway to Honey Moon and Candesis Island. Good beach and nature preserve. (30 mile r/t) Clearwater (30 miles r/t) is nice and Seminole has Bicycle Outfitters on the Pinellas Trail. (50 miles r/t) I like that south of Clearwater there are a lot of bicycle overpasses. However, be careful when you get closer to St. Petersburg, there has been a lot of crime, on the trail. Cyclist have been mugged, money and bikes stolen. Of course, I did not know this, until after I have ridden the route several time and saw it on the news. For those concerned about our weather, thanks, but it will be hot soon enough.

[mikedirectory2]

I've neverbiked in Florida, but it should be awesome.  Have fun!

[fiddler4060]

I've lived and bicycled in the Tampa Bay area for 35 years. Besides the Pinellas, Suncoast, Withlacoochee and Nature Coast Trails there is superb cycling in eastern Pasco County - lots of lightly used country roads around Dade City, Brooksville and San Antonio. Park at the little league complex in San Antonio and you can bicycle a different route every week of the year.

[/i][/color]

Litespeed, I live down in Ft. Lauderdale and would like to do a little three day (two nights) self contained camping trip. If I were to start, as you suggested in San Antonio on day one, is there a loop that you would suggest, between 40 and 50 miles each day where I could end in San Antonio on day three and camp each night? I rode the Withlacoochie trail last month and it was beautiful. Riding up in your neck of the woods is so much nicer than down here.

[noworries]

Hey fiddler. While on my way to Fl. I had to pull over to read the response you sent in case it changed my plans. I ( as politely as I know how ) suggest that if you want to have a conversation with lightspeed, you do so somewhere other than under my topic. I would hope that when someone asks for information, they wuld not have to weed through your conversation looking for answers to their question. Thanks, Happy riding

[staehpj1]

Watch out for those Florida drivers.  In my experience they are some of the worst in the US.

[DaveB]

The FL Department of Tourism has "Bicycle Route" maps for various areas in the state.  I've seen them in the Florida Visitors Center on I-95 as soon as you enter the state and I'm sure other places have them or you can get copies from the Tourist Bureau by phone or e-mail.

[DNault]

http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/stateNRT/FLnrt.html

Hrer is a resource for trails in Florida.
Hope you find what you're looking for.

[pptouring]

Watch out for those Florida drivers.  In my experience they are some of the worst in the US.

Please let's not confuse the "Florida drivers" as being someone from Florida. Most of these "Florida drivers" were originally from somewhere else in the US. (i.e. New York, Boston, Philly, Detroit, Jersey, Canada, etc...) and I'd have to agree with you they are the horrible drivers! 

[tonythomson]

Hey Rob don't leave us Brits out as we are buying up most of Florida - there was a time when cyclist fitted a red circle on an arm to extend into the road in an effort to make motorists give us more space.  Most drivers thought it was a target.