Ocala, florida question
 

OCALA, FLORIDA QUESTION:

Is there an experienced cyclist who has ridden from Hernando to Ocala on Route 200?
Can you shed some light on this route? We have been looking at mile by mile sections of Route 200 on Google Maps using "STREET VIEW" and the shoulder seems to be there, but it looks rough. Google also supplies me with estimated "TRAFFIC SPEEDS", but we would rather read a review from an experienced cyclist. Estimated starting time of the ride will be 0800 hours and Ocala arrival should be (based on routine speeds) in about 1 hour and 40 minutes (a tailwind might help that a bit).

The big picture is to ride from the Withlacoochee Trail in the Hernando area up to Ocala and then north to 301 through Waldo (All those areas are basically an unknown world to us). From Waldo we will head north on U.S. 301 to Jacksonville. We were figuring with all the roadies, the popularity of recumbents and the everyday recreational cyclists in the aforementioned area, someone should be able to help out our tour here.

Thanks in advance for all replies,
:recum: :giver: :recum:
~CJ~

I am not familar with CR 200, but HWY 301 when in the rural sections is 65 MPH with a car width shoulder, except in the small towns (Ocala,Waldo,Starke,Lawtey, etc) heading to Jacksonville. When you get to the town of Baldwin (where HWY 301 and I-10 meet) you could take US 90 into Jacksonville or take the baldwin rail trail for 14.5 miles towards Jacksonville.

Hope this helps some..

200 which is US301 would be a really bad idea as would be SR41. Unless your set on going through Ocala I have a route I'm doing this weekend that goes from Floral City to Jacksonville that would be a lot safer. If Ocala is a must see for you then you could take the route I have and turn on SR40 over to Ocala. Have a look and see if you can use it. http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Route-6254825

Your team has a great name: Blood, Fleche, & Gears. Good luck!