[fthrud]

Anyone have experience with a good route from the Gulf (Sarasota) to the Atlantic and back? I've done a couple of overnighters, want to try a weeklong CC tour. It is an option to have my wife drop me off and pick me up at any designated start and finish points in-State. I'm aware of the ACA routes, and have ordered the Florida connector and Atlantic route maps. However, I'd prefer to do a there-and-back from my home in Sarasota.

I can be VC and take the lane when appropriate, but I'm looking for lower stress, take my time, enjoy the ride, wide shoulders, bike lanes and back roads. 70 miles is my best day to date, so I'm hoping that 50-70 miles per day is realistic. I'm an early riser, like to hit the road at 5 or 6AM and be somewhere shady with a nice beverage by mid afternoon. Going to travel light - 3 shorts, 3 jerseys, tools, spares, clif bars, water, water and water. Cheap motels, fresh produce and one big meal a day.

SR 64 has a good shoulder from Bradenton to Zolfo Springs, haven't gone beyond that yet. Would 64 to 66 to 98 to Florida Cracker Trail to Ft. Pierce be feasible? I've driven SR70 many times, taking my bike there would be tantamount to a deathwish...damn shame, it's the closest thing to a straight line in the whole state.

Cross posting to touring and SE regional. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience, particularly first hand knowledge of local roadways.

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[TomM]

Have you taken a look at the Florida Double Cross route?

[wfin2004]

Anyone have experience with a good route from the Gulf (Sarasota) to the Atlantic and back? I've done a couple of overnighters, want to try a weeklong CC tour. It is an option to have my wife drop me off and pick me up at any designated start and finish points in-State. I'm aware of the ACA routes, and have ordered the Florida connector and Atlantic route maps. However, I'd prefer to do a there-and-back from my home in Sarasota.

I can be VC and take the lane when appropriate, but I'm looking for lower stress, take my time, enjoy the ride, wide shoulders, bike lanes and back roads. 70 miles is my best day to date, so I'm hoping that 50-70 miles per day is realistic. I'm an early riser, like to hit the road at 5 or 6AM and be somewhere shady with a nice beverage by mid afternoon. Going to travel light - 3 shorts, 3 jerseys, tools, spares, clif bars, water, water and water. Cheap motels, fresh produce and one big meal a day.

SR 64 has a good shoulder from Bradenton to Zolfo Springs, haven't gone beyond that yet. Would 64 to 66 to 98 to Florida Cracker Trail to Ft. Pierce be feasible? I've driven SR70 many times, taking my bike there would be tantamount to a deathwish...damn shame, it's the closest thing to a straight line in the whole state.

Cross posting to touring and SE regional. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience, particularly first hand knowledge of local roadways.


Well fth, we do have a problem here in central Fl. Like you said Rt. 70 is a suicide route. 64 is not much better. I have found many smaller local roads that I have used to go long distances although I have yet to cross the state. If you go to http://www.routeslip.com/routes/35652 you will find a great site devoted to what you are looking for. Mileage, elevations and everything else you might need is all right there.