Southeast - Routes near Orlando?

I'll be vacationing for a few days in mid-October in the Kissimmee/Celebration area. Any good routes to ride? I'm thinking of riding out to Cape Canaveral; will certainly be riding north to Mt. Plymouth (I once did a Mike Walton cycling camp at Camp Challenge and wanted to see if I could still identify any of the roads!). I'm bringing my coupled fixie, but will only be there between a Monday and Friday (gone before the weekend). How's the traffic around Disney World? Can I ride around Epcot Center, or are bikes verboten?

Tnx!

Luis

Luis, Pull up the Florida Free Wheeler web site and the Windemere Roadies web site you can get some good ride maps from those sites. I would not suggest riding around Epoct/Disney. Traffic is a real issue IMO people do not know where they are going and are not watching for cyclist, it's not worth it. You could drive East On I-4 to polk city and ride the James Van Fleet Trail through the Green Swamp a good ride for the fixie. Take plenty of water. Another option is the West Orange Trail a short distance west of your location. All of thest suggestions have web sites. E-mail me if you need any additional info.

Thanks for the info. The maps from the Florida Freewheelers are great. My hotel seems to be in the middle of an area where there are no decent rides.

On a side note, if I were to rent a car, are there any places worth visiting that are within 3 hours of Orlando? I've got a couple of extra days and am interested in seeing what there is in Florida. Thanks!

Luis

Luis, plenty to do and see within 3 hours of Orlando. The space center is a must it is about an hour away. St Augustine would be a good option as well. About 2 hours away. The Space Coast Free wheelers have an organized ride at the end of this month with some good maps that give you a bike ride around and close to the Space Center. Even if you are not going to be here @ the ride time the maps are good and it is a great ride area.

here is the link: Map and Q sheet for the 64 mile loop... they also have a 28 and 100 mile loop.
http://www.spacecoastfreewheelers.com/documents/ICWC2010metricmap.pdf
http://www.spacecoastfreewheelers.com/documents/ICWC2010metric.pdf

The West Orange Trail in Winter Garden is about 35-40 minutes from Orlando. 22 mile trail, wooded and as a bonus, near downtown winter garden (see: http://www.cwgdn.com/) which has an awesome french bakery, the best restaurant in Orlando, good ice-cream and the best thai restaurant in Orlando.

There's also a big cycling community and a large and active photography community.

I live pretty close to there so PM if you need any info. Might want to consider a night or two at the Edgewater Hotel if you want to do the quaint little town thing but still be able to hit the trail.

malux, you hit the nail on the head about the Winter Garden French Bakery. My daughter and I had lunch their Sunday. We make that part of our detonation every time we ride WOT. Just so I will not be accused of high jacking the OP thread... Luis if you are in the area have lunch at the bakery it is across the street from Winter Garden Wheel Works Bike Shop.

I rode that trail a few years back and remember it as being OK.

It seems like I was there in late October or early November. The smell of oranges being processed was INTENSE.

malux, you hit the nail on the head about the Winter Garden French Bakery. My daughter and I had lunch their Sunday. We make that part of our detonation every time we ride WOT. Just so I will not be accused of high jacking the OP thread... Luis if you are in the area have lunch at the bakery it is across the street from Winter Garden Wheel Works Bike Shop.

let me know the next time you're up here :)

OK, thanx. Yes, I was going to hit the space center anyway, and I'll add Winter Garden. I was also thinking of staying and riding at Sarasota, having never been on Florida's Gulf Coast (although I've been in Houston & New Orleans).

Thanks again!

Luis