Florida bound

[will dehne]

Hi guys.
I will be for 3-4 weeks in North Central Florida. There is a town called Inverness SW of Ocala. The motel is on a bike trail. 50 miles of paved trail. I will be there with my Treck Madone and a Tandem bike (Plus wife).
Here is my question:
I went there last year same time. Is there anything new I should know of regarding biking? Does anyone have good ideas where else to go in addition to this trail in Inverness?
I like to bike a lot. perhaps as much as 100 miles/day. I am afraid of solo on roads. Too many accidents here in Illinois with no sympathy or recourse for bikers. They tell us to get off the roads.
My impression of Florida drivers was not favorable. I did not see many bike lanes but perhaps I missed the good parts of that state?
Thanks in advance for any tips.
Will

[Proximo]

I visit family in the Kissimmee area twice a year. I wouldn't bike on the road anywhere around there. No bike lanes and tons of cars driven by older folks. Perhaps in more rural areas you'd be safer but I just wouldn't risk it.

[buelito]

if you are anywhere near Clermont, there are some real HILLS there-- and the triathlon training center, which can guide you regarding cycling routes in the area...

train safe-

[Tom Bombadil]

I'll be about 60 miles NE of Ocala in late January.

I doubt things have changed much around Inverness in one year.

I assume you've looked over this:
http://www.visitflorida.com/images/biketrails_b_v6.pdf

[Pat]

Hello Will,

I live in Central Florida. I almost never get over to Inverness. It is a pretty town and the trail is good.

There are some nice rides in and around Mount Dora and Clermont. You can download maps from the Florida Freewheelers web site. You could even possibly join some of the scheduled rides.

There are a number of roads out in the country in Florida which have low traffic volumes and are just fine to ride on.

Pat

[Artmo]

You might also look at the Withlacootchee Trail

[RockyMtnMerlin]

Hi guys.Here is my question:
I went there last year same time. Is there anything new I should know of regarding biking? Will
Besides the fact that all of us who live in the arctic (minus five here this morning) HATE you????:D :D

[67walkon]

http://www.afn.org/~froghat/

Thats a link to the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail. Its a teeny bit north of you, but probably within 50 miles or so. A road biker friend of mine really likes it.

http://www.afn.org/~froghat/

That's a link to the Gainesville Cycling Club. They have some good info posted.

My friend and his wife have a house a little SW of Gainesville, in Williston. He raves about the back country roads up there. You ought to call or email the Gainesville club and see if they can help you out.

Have fun!

[madli]

Hi! The Suncoast Trail is south from Inverness and might interest you (43 mile trail). There is also the Pinellas Trail running between Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg (about 37 miles of trail) a lot of stops for cross traffic. Heard good things about the Clermont trail but haven't ridden it yet. Weather has been warm so far, enjoy!

madli

[will dehne]

I visit family in the Kissimmee area twice a year. I wouldn't bike on the road anywhere around there. No bike lanes and tons of cars driven by older folks. Perhaps in more rural areas you'd be safer but I just wouldn't risk it.

I am really concerned because a few weeks ago, some young lady hit a biker while programming her cellphone ring tone. She got probation because she was not reckless driving according to Illinois law. The biker was severely injured or dead by now.

[will dehne]

You might also look at the Withlacootchee Trail

That is the trail behind my motel. It is a great trail for about 50 miles and goes through a state park.

[will dehne]

http://www.afn.org/~froghat/

Thats a link to the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail. Its a teeny bit north of you, but probably within 50 miles or so. A road biker friend of mine really likes it.

http://www.afn.org/~froghat/

That's a link to the Gainesville Cycling Club. They have some good info posted.

My friend and his wife have a house a little SW of Gainesville, in Williston. He raves about the back country roads up there. You ought to call or email the Gainesville club and see if they can help you out.

Have fun!

Thanks:)

[will dehne]

Hi! The Suncoast Trail is south from Inverness and might interest you (43 mile trail). There is also the Pinellas Trail running between Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg (about 37 miles of trail) a lot of stops for cross traffic. Heard good things about the Clermont trail but haven't ridden it yet. Weather has been warm so far, enjoy!

madli

Thanks, we think anything over 50 F is toasty. I have been biking in lower 30's weather out of desperation. Got a headache for a few days from that due to cold wind and not enough head cover I guess. Anyway, Florida sounds great.:D

[robb webb]

I know it is already mentioned, but you might enjoy the suncoast trail. It is fairly close to the Withlacoochee trail that you will be riding on. The suncoast trail is fairly hilly (for Florida). We live 6 miles from the Withlacoochee trail and it is our favorite. To get to the North end of the suncoast trail take highway 44 from Inverness to Lecanto (about 10 miles) and go south on CR491 about 20 miles and turn right at the stop sign on US 98. The North trail parking area is about 3 miles on your left.

[mollusk]

The weather has been great down here the past week or so. Today in Gainesville it was almost 80 F.

Lots of folks love the Gainesville-Hawthorne rail trail and I ride it fairly often, but lately I have been riding FL 20 between Gainesville and Hawthorne more often instead. The road is a relatively lightly traveled 4 lane divided highway with a wide paved shoulder, excellent sight lines, and NO STOP SIGNS OR TRAFFIC LIGHTS between the towns. The rail trail has stops signs every couple of miles and poor sight lines. Personally I feel safer on the road than the rail trail, especially on days when I want to go fast. I have had no close calls on the road and numerous close calls with inattentive trail users and wildlife on the trail.

[Artmo]

That is the trail behind my motel. It is a great trail for about 50 miles and goes through a state park.

We did a century on it on our tandem last April. I forgot it was near Inverness. Lovely ride.

[Tom Bombadil]

The weather has been great down here the past week or so. Today in Gainesville it was almost 80 F.


When I go to Florida, this is what I'm afraid of encountering. I don't like 80s. I'm going in late January, to Palatka, in the hope that I hit a lot of mid-60s. Morning lows in the mid-40s would be nice too.

I'd like to get in some biking while there, but haven't yet figured out a way to do so. I'm thinking about trying to find a used bike shop, buying something, and then leaving it at my mother's house for use when I visit. But Palatka is a kind of sleepy town and the big Wal-Mart Super Center has pretty much wiped out most of the small businesses. Don't know of any bike shops around there.

[madli]

No telling what the temp might be In January. 30's-80's, have appropriate bike wear for that range. Some of the paved trails like the Pinellas and Withlacoochee have bike rental shops for daily rides. Another option would be thrift shops, Salvation Army shops and the like, to pick up something to use on your visits to the "Sunshine" state.

madli

[Tom Bombadil]

Yes, I know the temps can be volatile then. I've been along the NE coast in January when it has been below freezing and the citrus groves were covered in sheets of ice. Even coming from the North, the beaches still feel very cold, with the winds whipping the cold spray in your face.

On three separate trips to Florida in the 1980s, I was there for record setting low temperatures.

Yes, I should think about hitting a Goodwill or Salvation army store to look. There was one in Palatka when I last visited there.

[Artmo]

<< When I go to Florida, this is what I'm afraid of encountering. I don't like 80s. I'm going in late January, to Palatka, in the hope that I hit a lot of mid-60s. Morning lows in the mid-40s would be nice too.>>

It reached 82 today but that was about 3.00pm, then it begins to cool off. The mornings are great: 70s and no humdity, but it's going to cool off by Christmas to highs of 70-ish. Still great riding weather. Difficult to believe it's December.

[Tom Bombadil]

Just checked Orlando's weather. They are predicting hi-67, lo-46 on 12/27. To me that is perfect weather. I start getting uncomfortable as the temp climbs past 75 and I love cool mornings.

I see the average temps for Inverness in late Dec / early Jan are hi-70, lo-44. Sounds very nice.

[Tom Bombadil]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but Wikipedia has an entry on Florida bike trails:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Florida_bike_trails

In fact, Wikipedia has a LOT of info on bike trails. If you search on "bike trails" you get 1680 hits.

[will dehne]

I know it is already mentioned, but you might enjoy the suncoast trail. It is fairly close to the Withlacoochee trail that you will be riding on. The suncoast trail is fairly hilly (for Florida). We live 6 miles from the Withlacoochee trail and it is our favorite. To get to the North end of the suncoast trail take highway 44 from Inverness to Lecanto (about 10 miles) and go south on CR491 about 20 miles and turn right at the stop sign on US 98. The North trail parking area is about 3 miles on your left.

Robb
I posted this so I get suggestions like yours. Thanks, we will check it out.
We are in Valdosta, GA now and going to start biking tomorrow from Inverness, Fl.
Will

[will dehne]

The weather has been great down here the past week or so. Today in Gainesville it was almost 80 F.

Lots of folks love the Gainesville-Hawthorne rail trail and I ride it fairly often, but lately I have been riding FL 20 between Gainesville and Hawthorne more often instead. The road is a relatively lightly traveled 4 lane divided highway with a wide paved shoulder, excellent sight lines, and NO STOP SIGNS OR TRAFFIC LIGHTS between the towns. The rail trail has stops signs every couple of miles and poor sight lines. Personally I feel safer on the road than the rail trail, especially on days when I want to go fast. I have had no close calls on the road and numerous close calls with inattentive trail users and wildlife on the trail.

Mollusk
I know you are a serious biker and I do understand your point. I had three people plus do go across a bike trail. I had to stop. The guy was on a mission and told me to do what I want, which means what? Run him or his dog over? Also, had a girl look at me and run straight into my bike with eyes wide open.
That is why guys like you prefer roads. But we are targets for retarded people there. At least we do not get killed on trails, just aggravated.

[will dehne]

Tom and madli:
The mid day temperature in Inverness was 53 to 85 F last year same time. Very high humidity. i had to learn to use lots of Cortisone cream between legs to fight infection. It was touch and go for a while. I did 100 miles/day for 10 days.
I am prepared for weather between 40 and 100 F.
I got a new shiny Treck Madone and cannot wait to use it a lot.

[madli]

Looks like we'll be having a wet weekend prior to the holiday. Hope you have the chance to check out the Suncoast Trail as well as the Withlacoochee. Good luck with your riding and have a safe and happy holiday season!

madli

[Tom Bombadil]

I decided to stop by a Goodwill store tonight to check out what kind of bikes might be at such a place. There were some junk Huffy's and Murray's, but there was also a good condition Schwinn Sprint, early 80's I think, with Suntour Hero components. I didn't see any rust on it. They were asking $15 for it. Not a bad deal.

[PopCycleKen]

If you like a trail on which you can go fast, is almost dead flat, virtually no road crossings, and has traffic only the first mile or two at either end, try the Van Fleet. If I recall, it's just under 30 miles one way. It's northern end is east of the southern end of the Withlacoochee. Some find it boring, and it certainly doesn't have the charm or scenery of Withlacoochee, but there is some wildlife (boar, butterflies, etc.).

Haven't been there in 3 or 4 years, but it's not a place subject to a lot of change, I think.

Ken

[wfin2004]

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/eastcentral/trails/general_james.htm



http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/suncoast.htm

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/with_state.htm


All these trails are within 10 miles of Brooksville and each one very long.

[will dehne]

I will be there 3-4 weeks. Plenty of time to try all these trails. Thanks for the links wfin.:)
This far I did a fast 50 miles and next a century. Today a 50 with the wife on a Tandem. All of it on the Withlacoochee. It is a nice trail and the weather is perfect for fast biking.

I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you Marry Christmas and a happy New Year