Here is information on cycling in the Orlando area from an email with a distribution of over 1000 now.
Quick Highlights:
1. It'll be cool for the weekend with lows in the high 50's and highs in the mid ot low 70's. Possible precipitation over the weekend!
2. Sorry for the lack of the newsletter last week - Thursday and Friday were busy, bad days!
3. Thanks to all for a great New Years Day ride - I counted 112 at the start!
4. The Seminole Cyclists' Sunday ride now leaves at 8:00 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m.!
5. If you are looking for a 5K to get back in running shape for 2008 and you want to support a great cause, the Third Annual Miracle in the Sun 5K, to benefit former Bishop Moore basketball coach Rob Graham, takes place this Saturday at 8:00 AM at Bishop Moore High School. The entry fee is $25. If you don’t know 35-year old Coach Rob Graham, he is the basketball coach who had a heart attack 3 years ago at a District final basketball game in Tavares. Rob fell into a coma for over two months and was given less than 10% chance of surviving. Little or no brain activity was recorded during his coma. On Good Friday, Rob emerged from his coma and began to speak. Ever since, he has been fighting to get back to a normal life. A group of friends and family have held the Miracle in the Sun 5K in hopes of replacing Rob’s teaching salary each year. The race has averaged over 700 runners the past two years and hopes to go over 1000 this year. You can register at David’s World Cycle this Friday or at Bishop Moore the day of the race. Organizer Bob Lipscomb (an avid cyclist and all-round great guy) says, "Come join us!"
6. This Sunday, January 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the ladies can try out Trek's Women Specific Design bikes at the Lake Mary location of David's World Cycle. Arrive early for an 8:00 a.m., 25-mile ride on one of the bikes! On Tuesday, January 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m, Ross Rushin of the Trek Fit for Women Tour will be at the Lake Mary store to answer questions. All accessories will be on sale and participants will be eligible for prizes and coupons - food and drinks will also be provided! For more information, contact David's World Cycle at 407 942 1020!
7. Interested in a biking vacation? Check out Top 50 Biking Vacations at -> http://www.airlinecreditcards.com/travelhacker/top-50-biking-vacations/
8. Not content with one store, Retro City Cycles has opened a second location called "Sprockets" at 159 North Central Avenue, Suite L, in downtown Oviedo, directly on the Cross-Seminole Traill. The shop carries Jamis, Schwinn, GT and Louis Garnear products Contact Dave at 407 365 9494 for more information!
9. Many of you have asked about the Flagler Beach century that usually occurs in early May - not to worry, it's scheduled for May 4, 2008, with options for 27, 40, 62 and 100 miles! The routes will be new but will include the coastal village of Flagler Beach and a stretch along scenic A1A Highway. The ride starts at Flagler County Chamber of Commerce directly across from Flagler Palm Coast High School. I'll have more information later - check out www.flaglerbeachrotary.org!
10. Dennis Sutherlin and Rich Benton have opened the Family Cycling Center at the Winter Garden Station on the West Orange Trail. Named "Adaptive Cycling," the center provides rentals and sales of bicycles that allow family members with disabilities to ride. The shop has tandems, recumbents and recumbent trikes. Their focus is on "special needs" children who would otherwise never have the opportunity to ride a bike and will enable them to ride with their parents for recreation and therapy. The shop also features high-quality Co-Motion and Trek bikes and can accommodate children as young as 3 years old. Says Dennis:
We are just getting started as a weekend business to hopefully introduce cycling to many families who thought
it was never an option for them. Because of the expense of the equipment, we only have limited quantities to
start and ask anyone planning to come out to call us ahead of time.
We are hoping that everyone's love for the sport will encourage everyone to spread the word about what we are
doing to anyone we might be able to assist. We will be working with all special needs organizations from
Cerebral palsy, autism, spinal bifida, visually impaired, brain injury, Rett’s, and Down syndrome to name a few.
We are not out to compete against all the great bike shops in town or to provide typical single bike rentals.
Even though we will have the capacity to modify and repair most bicycles, we ask that you please use your
local bike shop for parts and service on you regular bikes. We will have emergency supplies like tubes or CO2
if you need it on the weekend.
Hal says: Contact Dennis or Rich at 407 877 8030. If you were on the New Years Day ride, you saw Dennis and his daughter Bree on one of the special bikes - it was pretty cool! Check out their website at -> www.adaptivecycling.net!
11. It's official (well, as official as this can be)! The World Championships of Errol Estates will be January 26. To appreciate the event, you have to ride Errol (this is where the really skilled, really fast guys and gals go on designated Saturday mornings). Last year's championships were gonzo with over $400 in cash prizes and over $1,000 in gift certificates. Hey, maybe we should set up bleachers! Get more info by following the thread on the most excellent Windermere Roadies forums at -> http://www.windermereroadies.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3698!
12. Following the success of its first time trial, Team Armada has set the date and location for the second in the series. Armadan's Luis Hernandez, Bob Banker and Dave Perry are putting together the final touches on a hilly route, starting from the corner of Bruce Hunt Road and Buckhill Road, heading south and ending 2.1 miles later at the Turnpike Road intersection. It's planned for Sunday, January 20, with the first rider starting at 9:00 a.m. Prizes have not been announced but there will be separate categories for men and women. The men's winner, Dave Viney, received $100.00 at the first event! Go here -> http://team-armada.blogspot.com/ for more information!
13. Space Coast Velo Sport will host a time trial on February 2, starting at 8:00 a.m. in Deer Park, Florida; there will be a 10k, 20k and Team Time Trial. Go here -> http://spacecoastvelosport.com/ for more information!
14. Speaking of Space Coast Velo Sport, I've added their rides to the listings below!
15. The "B3 Café" (Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux) is in the midst of construction. Owners Darrell and Jennifer Cunningham report that the interior demolition is complete, the framing and electrical work is finished and installation of the sheetrock (walls) and painting are next! Their website (http://www.bikesbeansandbordeaux.com/) or (http://www.b3cafe.com) will launch next week so you can sign up for the newsletter and coupons! The café will be at 3022 Corrine Drive in Orlando, near Baldwin Park.
16. Want to report a bad driver (or a bad driving experience)? There's now a place! Go to -> http://www.platewire.com. As far as I can tell, this doesn't register a complaint with law enforcement but it does give you a place to vent. You can also opt to send a postcard to the registered owner of the car as long as you've got the license plate (http://www.platewire.com/mailwire.aspx)! Yikes - when I visited, five of the twelve most recent complaints were from Central Florida -> http://www.platewire.com/location/?Florida!
17. I was fascinated by a post on the Windermere Roadies website this week. A rider named "Sol" railed against the hammerheads at Lakemont because he was treated poorly when he attempted to keep up with the first group and found himself at the front slowing the group by pulling at 21 mph. The listing below makes clear (and we usually announce it before the group leaves) that the first group is going to hold 25+ mph. This may, of course, be my fault for failing to make clear the stratification of rides but, when you're new to a ride, the proper protocol is to stay in the back, watch and learn how the group operates. Then, when you're comfortable with how to fit in, go to the front. If, as was the plight of this poor fellow, you "magically" find yourself at the front when the speed is much more than you're capable of, get off. No one can fault you for getting safely out of the way. However, you become a target when you slow this group. Check out this thread at -> http://www.windermereroadies.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3690
18. Why I love the Team Armada blog (http://team-armada.blogspot.com/): Luis Hernandez posted this joke -> Question: What do you call a cyclist who doesn't wear a helmet? Answer: An organ donor!
Hal says: we don't have many riders who show up at Lakemont without a helmet and, when we do, they're usually told to go home or stay in the back. Even the Euro pros know it doesn't matter how good a cyclist you are, you can go down because of the joker next to you. Don't ride stupid, wear a helmet!
19. Cycling for the great majority of us is a lot of fun. We get great exercise, make new friends and get to see a lot of territory.
As I review this week's newsletter though, I don't want it to be remembered as the "Gloom and Doom" issue but we're recounting or reporting several hair-raising incidents occuring locally and nationally that involve either near-death or deadly circumstances. I'm a pretty up-beat kind of guy but the reality is that cycling on the open road or in an urban setting is fraught with danger. Our survival requires that we not only be aware of these dangers but that we constantly anticipate them and be ready - they happen all the time. It doesn't matter if you're on the "not-quite-as-open-as-they-were" routes of the Windermere Roadies, the scenic spaces of the Seminole Cyclists, the more urban Oviedo Loop or by yourself in a familiar setting - stop and think what you need to do every moment to keep yourself safe and keep those riding around you safe.
20. A scary incident last Saturday with the first group on the Oviedo Loop as they turned from Rouse Road to Lokanotosa: Rouse is a two-lane road that we're on for less than a mile; we turn off Rouse using a left-turn lane but last week, a teenage motorist crossed the double-yellow line and zoomed up alongside the group not realizing they were ready to turn. Fortunately, he was able to bring the car to a safe speed as those in those in front crossed; otherwise, this would have been a very bad situation. About a year ago, the third group had a similar encounter with a Firebird; in this instance, the driver hit 70+ mph; but, because of quick communication from the back, those at the front never started the turn; if they had, there was no way the Firebird could have stopped and riders would have been killed. About six months ago, an impatient driver along SR 426 attempted to pass the third group before Van Arsdale. She didn't realize how big the group was and, upon seeing on-coming traffic, headed for the ditch. If she had lost control of her car, riders would have also suffered horribly. These drivers are wrong but that won't save us - we know those threats are out there. We save ourselves by being vigilant and by communicating. This is why I say: "be careful and look out for each other!"
21. Many of you enjoy the "tidbits" section of this newsletter that I repeat from Ed Pavelka and Fred Matheny at www.roadbikerider.com. Those of you who've been receiving this newsletter for at least a year remember Ed and Fred detailing their training for Pac Tour's 166-mile-a-day Elite Tour across the U.S. in the early summer last year. Ed and Fred are past editors of Bicycling magazine with more miles than I can ever hope to log. Early in the Tour, several riders succumbed to extreme dehydration in the Arizona desert. Worse, Ed Pavelka suffered a broken leg during a crash on a downhill. Ed's situation has turned grave. This was the announcement today:
We've had to suspend regular newsletter publication this week due to complications suffered by
RBR editor/publisher Ed Pavelka after his hip replacement surgery in late December.
Several hours after he clicked the "send" button to e-mail last week's issue to you, Ed was back
in the hospital. He suffered a blood clot in his left groin that moved to his right lung. This is called
a pulmonary embolism.
A subsequent CAT scan found about 2 pints (1/2 liter) of fluid in the chest cavity between his lung
and chest wall. This caused severe pain when making almost any movement, which, unfortunately,
included breathing.
As you read this, Ed is still in the hospital. He's among a tiny percentage of pulmonary embolism
victims who suffer the double whammy of pulmonary infarction, meaning a portion of the lung has
died.
This nightmare began in June 2007 when Ed fractured the neck of his left femur during a
transcontinental ride. Improper bone healing and the onset of avascular necrosis required a total
hip replacement on Dec. 21.
Since I failed to get out the newsletter last week, I'm utilizing roadbikerider.com's tidbits from last week so that you'll be up-to-speed. Needless to say, it may be awhile before we have the benefit of Ed and Fred's insights.
22. Today's Quote: "You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do." Henry Ford (1863 - 1947, American industrialist),
Let's ride!
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Three (3) rides depart from the Aloma Shopping Center behind the Bank of America at the intersection of Lakemont and Aloma Avenues this Saturday, January 12, 2008, at 7:30 a.m.:
(1) the 25-mile Deer Run Run (Scott Levitt helps organize this ride - thanks, Scott!); given our troubles in the Tuskawilla area, the route now goes to Deer Run and polishes off loops around on Eagle Way and then heads back home!
(2) the 41-mile Oviedo Loop - four (4) groups: the first (25+ mph) goes straight through; the second (23+ mph) goes straight through; the third (20+ mph) and "old-school" groups stop at the 7-11 halfway to tell jokes;
(3) the Dave Roark Special - essentially an extension of the Oviedo Loop going off the back of the first group of riders at the fire station east of UCF. The total ride is about 56 miles. Do the Roark!
For Sunday, January 13, 2008, show up at the Bank of America parking lot at Lakemont and Aloma at 7:30 a.m. - the group decides the route!
Remember, we have no dues and no insurance - you show up, you ride at your own risk.
Keri Caffrey has put together maps of the Oviedo Loop, the Tuskawilla Run, the Fort Christmas Jaunt and the Panera Bread Frolic! They're on the BOBbies' website at www.luvbobbies.com! Just click on "Maps."
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Ben Anderon's Ride Every Saturday!
Says Ben, "The Lake Apopka Loop has been changed to the Lake Emma & Bay Lake Loop. These are quieter roads on Saturday for our ride. This is typically a 19 - 21 mph average speed ride of 57 miles with one stop. Interested riders can also contact me at (321) 945-7090 or e-mail at: Ben@C5Registry.com."
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Don't forget to check out the Florida Freewheelers rides every weekend - you can visit their website at http://www.floridafreewheelers.com/ and see their schedule anytime (it's also got directions and phone numbers for the ride leaders). On Saturday, January 12, Fairlie Bagley will lead a 22-mile social ride starting from Cady Way Park at 8:00 a.m.; Nancy Matteson will lead the Mount Dora Sampler with options of 40, 50 and 60 miles starting from Gilbert Park; Sarah Herald will lead the Flamingoes in the 50-miler Up-N-Down Lake County ride and Myrna Clayton will lead a 22-mile Flamingoes "D" ride in the Pinecastle/Conway area starting from the CVS at the corner of Hoffner and Conway; on Sunday, January 13, Bill Harmon will lead the West Volusia Wander with options of 30 and 40 miles leaving from Blake Park in Lake Helen; Connie Fisher will lead a 26-mile Social ride from the Apopka Station on the West Orange Trail; Tracie Dondey will lead the 18 and 25-mile Minneola/Minnehaha Loop Loop for "B" and "C" riders leaving from the Clermont Trailhead.
All Freewheeler rides start at 9:00 a.m. (unless noted differently) - the Freewheelers have a deserved reputation for being prompt: 9:00 a.m. means 9:00 a.m.!
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Ah, the "infamous" Windermere Roadies' rides: Also check out the Roadies' new website design at www.windermereroadies.com. Manny Otero devotes tremendous time and talent to keeping things fresh! (the descriptions below are verbatim from the Roadies' website):
Start time: 8:10am
Location: Windermere Elementary
Description: The Infamous Sunday Ride leaves from Windermere Elementary at 8:10am. Why 8:10am? I have no idea. It's just the way it is.
The first 6 miles of the ride are usually very nice and social but, at the turn at Marsh Rd, the racers open the hammer. Marsh Rd is always very fast and it's usually where the group will break up into several packs of different skilled riders.
About 1 mile before US27, the racers will turn right at Hancock Rd en route to their brutal hill workout. Most of the rest of the groups will continue on to US27 and on to do their own rides. Please be careful near Hancock as some riders will be turning and others will not.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced racer, the Sunday ride has something for you.
Saturday Ride:
Start time: 8:00am
Location: Windermere Elementary
Description: The Saturday Ride leaves from Windermere Elementary at 8:00am.
This ride used to be a nice social ride, but it has morphed into a pretty fast, and sometimes painful ride. The route and distances vary depending on the group that shows up, but don't be surprised if you find yourself hammering through Groveland at speeds of 25mph+.
The route is usually shorter than the Sunday ride, but it can be just as painful.
More details are available at http://www.windermereroadies.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=15
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Lake Mary Cycles weekly rides (these have changed based on information given to me by Karen Whitney - the website does not list these changes):
On Sundays, three (3) groups leave at 7:30am from Colonial Town Park by Dexter's and the movie theater just north of Heathrow in Seminole County on 46A near I-4:
• A group (22-24 mph) 40+ mile ride.
• B+ (20-23 mph) - 40+ mile ride
• B group (18-20 mph) 40+ mile ride (the B and B+ riders start together and split up after SAG)
• C group (beginners) 22 mile ride (mostly trails, some road).
Hang out at the café after the ride to socialize – the Coffee Café offers a 10% discount and always has pitchers of water on each table.
Call Karen at Lake Mary Cycles for more details, (407) 324-5566.
Tuesday 6:00 p.m. 30 miles Level A+
Friday 7:30 a.m. 30 miles Level A+
Note: these rides are better suited for experienced riders familiar with group riding. Pace is fast and constant. Slow riders will be dropped. Call Lake Mary Cycles to confirm times and for more info, 407-324-5566. Website http://www.lakemarycycles.com.
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BikeWorks has a Sunday afternoon ride at 4:15 from the Winter Springs store at 5950 Red Bug Lake Road. Call 407 696 6555 for more information!
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The Airport Rides:
These completely unofficial rides have become very popular if you don't mind making the jaunt to the Orlando International Airport area. Starting as early as 4:30 p.m. and going until after 9:00 p.m., riders (organized and unorganized) show up to ride the 9.5 mile "out-and-back" course along Heintzelman Boulevard. You can throw in the hill over the Beachine Expressway for a little extra fun. There is a bike lane and very little traffic. Expect to see everyone from the Orlando Road Club, a group of Windermere Roadies (there's a great map on their website (http://www.windermereroadies.com/images/maps/airport_map.jpg). With the time change, this ride has gotten very popular. IMPORTANT NOTE: Park on north Hangar Road in the cul-de-sac - don't park in the rental car agency's parking lot.
Bob Raffel, Director of Public Safety at OIA (who's also a cyclist), confirms that there's no problem with parking on Hangar Road.
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Seminole Cyclists!
The Seminole Cyclists (http://www.seminolecyclist.org/index.htm) have great turnouts with a full menu of rides. Doug Unger, President of the club, gave me this list:
Friday, at 7:30 a.m. 34 miles - it's fast! Join the group at Lake Mary Cycles. At 8:00 a.m., it's the Fun Fridays ride (17 - 20 mph) 25- 35 miles!
Saturday 7:30 a.m. Casual Ride, 34 miles: Casual ride from the Einstein Bagels in the Lake Mary Albertsons Shopping Center. The first part of the ride holds 18-20 mph then the faster riders will break away after S.R.46 and the second group will continue at their casual 18 mph pace. This is a great starter ride. "No one gets left behind."
Sunday 8:00 a.m. (leaves from the Coffee Cafe in the Colonial Town Center
A, B+ Route, 42 miles: 20-22 mph – you must be able to pull at 22 mph during this ride.
B Route, 37.5 miles: 19-21 mph
C, D Ride, 15 miles: meets at Walk on Water in the Colonial Town Center off 46A and rides the Seminole/Wekiva Trail. This is an informal, fun and friendly ride.
Hang out at the café after the ride to socialize – the Coffee Café offers a 10% discount and always has pitchers of water on each table.
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Osceola Velo Club (http://www.osceolaveloclub.com/index.html) has training rides on Saturday and Sunday mornings (when there aren't races). The locations are not available - for more information, contact Pat Schlager at phschlager@aol.com
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Space Coast Velo Sport (http://spacecoastvelosport.com/) has an active weekend of rides: on Saturday, January 12, 2008, do the 39-mile Bagel Shop Ride leaving at 7:00 a.m. from the northwest corner of Wickham Road and Lake Washington (behind the Burger King and Dunkin' Donuts); the pace is advertised at 18 - 25 mph; get more details by calling Herb Jordan at 321 961 8863; the Genesis Ride (advertised pace 18 - 24) leaves the Pinch-A-Penny (the website does not designate where the Pinch-A-Penny is) at 7:30 a.m.; the 50-mile Palm Bay Ride (advertised as a "race simulation") leaving at 8:00 a.m. from (and symbolically returning to) the Palm Bay Hospital at 1425 Malabar Road NE in Palm Bay; the Starbucks Ride (billed as a winter training ride) leaving at 9:00 a.m. across from some "mall" somewhere (presumably near Melbourne). On Sunday, January 13, the Sonic Ride (34 miles) leaving from the Sonic parking lot on Wickham Road in north Melbourne. I'll get this sorted out over the next week.
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The Space Coast Freewheelers (www.spacecoastfreewheelers.com) have a standing Wednesday night River Road Ride of 28 miles leaving Lee Wenner Park in Cocoa, at 6:00 p.m. and a standing "C"-rated Saturday ride leaving from Lee Wenner Park in Cocoa at the intersection of Riveredge Blvd. and Harrison Street at 9:00 a.m. with options of 14 and 28 miles; on Sunday, December 30, the club will do the KSC Loop of 42 miles leaving from the Bank of America at the corner of State Road 3 and State Road 520 in Merritt Island. For more information, call 321 784 4686.
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The Daytona Beach Bicycle Club (http://www.daytonabikeclub.org) meets every Wednesday and Friday morning at 7:30 at the corner of Granada and Beach Street and joins up with riders from Palm Coast and Flagler Beach around 8:15 at the entrance to Halifax Plantation. There's usualy a fast group and a moderate pace group and there's a stop for coffee in Flagler Beach - distance varies from 30 to 40 miles. On Sundays, meet at Smith Landing at Highbridge Park at 8:15 a.m. and ride to Palm Coast for coffee. It's a 30-mile ride with fast and moderate paced groups!
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SPECIAL WEEKDAY RIDE NOTES:
Want a good ride on weekday mornings? A group assembles at the Winter Park YMCA at 7:00 a.m. Monday through Fridays. Contact Cori at ckd79duke@cfl.rr.com or just show up!
Mountain bikers have great weeknight rides organized by John Moorhouse: Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. starting downtown Orlando on Church St. between Orange Ave & I-4; and Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. starting at Loco Motion in Winter Park. Both rides are an easy to moderate pace (14 - 16mph avg.), and average about 20 miles in length. The rides are a well-balanced mix of urban technical terrain (curb crossings, some stairs, etc.) and road riding. A mountain bike is a must for these rides. It's dark when these rides occur - Florida state law requires that you have lights, front and back. John has some spares. There's a calendar and forum set up here -> <http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/central_florida_mtb/> All are invited to join!!
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Central Florida Brevet Series
Saturday, January 5, 2008 - 200k (125 miles) in Jupiter, FL (this one's over - do the 300k!)
Saturday, February 2, 2008 - 300k (187.5 miles) in Melbourne, FL
Saturday, March 1, 2008 - 400k (250 miles) in Tavares, FL
Thursday, March 13 to Saturday, March 15, 2008 - Fleche
Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 200k (125 miles) in Tampa, FL
Contact Tim Bol at 1140 South Orlando Avenue, E-5, Maitland, Florida 32751 or call 407 538-0580 and visit the website at -> http://www.floridarandonneurs.com/ for complete information!
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BEST AREA CYCLING BLOGS!
I'm always looking for more information about cycling so that I can point you to it. My two favorite (because the writing and content are so good) are the Orlando Sentinel's Chain Gang Blog at http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_thechaingang/ and Team Armada's blog at http://team-armada.blogspot.com/
Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.