asif2002

Hey guys,
I just got back from riding for my fourth time. I rode from Gandy Blvd. to Centro Ybor tonight, very fun ride. Just wondering who else from the area are on this forum.

Let me know,
Asif

In_flames

Not alot of people on here from that area... Im in lakeland and just found another guy from the tampa area.. Let me know if your looking for someoen to ride with. Send me a PM

Do you roadbike or Montainbiike?

wfin2004

I have rode Bayshore many times back in my "beginner" days. It is a pleasant route although crowded with walkers, skaters, dogs and anything else that uses legs for locomotion. I find if you would like to ride next to the water, Ft. DeSoto has a great 16 mile trail.[out and back] Also the Friendship Trail on the old Gandy bridge is a good 6 miles out & back as well. And the foot traffic is a lot less.

shortbus901

I'm in Valrico. Not a roadie yet but I'm in the market. Most of my time right now is spent on the MTB at Alafia or Boyette.

wfin2004

I would like to know about Boyette. I drove past there and gawked at it. Look like to me it was some weirdo set up with private property. But Alafia is Da Bomb! I am right next to Riverview High School so Valrico is right down Boyette Rd. from me.

In_flames

Boyette is cool. its flat with some small ups and downs. There are a few good drops, but its a fun place to ride.. I was there this past weekend and the trails were sandy but not to bad. I dont know the place all that well, but I will go ride with you one day. Let me know.

Madridjoe

I also ride in Lakeland, mostly at Lake Hollingsworth since it is close for me.

In_flames

I ride a puter felt and wear a JOLT cola jersey sometimes HaHa.. You may have seen me.. Next time you ride let me know. I ride from my apartment Im so close (off new jersey)


jonathanhertel at verizon dot net is my email.

endless

i grew up in brandon/riverview but have lived in lutz for almost a couple years now. i haven't gotten a chance to ride bayshore but it looks like a nice ride. my friend tells me it gets crowded sometimes and runners tend to not appreciate cyclists on the sidewalk. i usually ride the suncoast trail which is pretty nice, mainly other (friendly) cyclists. my friend and i usually try and meet up there or at the pinellas trail which is pretty cool too. if we set up a time and place for a ride i'd like to join in. maybe it could be a weekly or monthly thing or somethin.

my friends and i are probably going to do a cross florida ride (clearwater beach to vero beach) pretty soon, i started a thread about it in the southeast, regional section.

slowgo

I haven't ridden Bayshore, but am interested in running it. I ride the Suncoast from LLF trailhead, Upper Tampa Bay trail or Flatwoods, which (when I move in two weeks) will be 2 miles from my house. I took the trip over to the Pinellas Trail in Tarpon Springs and I tell you what, I hate that trail. Not bike friendly at all. Too many crossings. i'm up in Gainesville this weekend, which is a great city for riding. Lots of rural roads with bike paths. But i love Tampa, with all of the rails to trails. I had to remember to pay attention, being back on the road in traffic today.

wfin2004

Got to agree w/ you on the Pinellas trail. It is not bad down thru St. Pete to Baypines area. Less crossings there. I have hauled the bike many many times up to the Suncoast and rode all day. Now that the side trail thru J. B. Starkey Wilderness area is open, it makes for a more "quiet" ride. Many deer, bobcats, coons have been spotted there. Have also done the Upper Trail. I am still partial to the Withlacochee Trail to its solitude. But if you want the absolute, less traffic gig, then do the General Van Fleet. It is very deserted, quiet, and strictly wilderness. I have rode on weekends there before and have not seen another human being. Plenty of turtles and gators. Bayshore is the worst for traffic like I said in an earlier post.

In_flames

Anyone want to ride in lakeland tomrrow morning?

slowgo

took the Starkey trail the other day. I thought it was only about a mile out, and was happy to see there are another 6 miles of trails back there. Moving in two weeks to Flatwoods area, so I will be riding the loop a whole lot.

In_flames

Madridjoe and I rode a nice 20 miles today, If anyone else wants to ride in lakeland I can lay out a nice loop for us. Perfect weather for a ride BTW.

shortbus901

Well, I finally bit the bullet and bought a Lemond Versailles last weekend so I'm now a roadie as well. I did 30 miles out at Flatwoods last Sunday and loved it. Can't say it's quite as much fun as playing in the dirt but the sense of speed and efficiency is very cool! I think my next ride will be the Van Fleet Trail, I used to drive that area daily for work and always thought it looked like a nice one.

In_flames

Dont waste your time.. That trail sucks bad! I would only ride that trail to put in miles and nothing else.. It has some rought spots and is stright and nothing to look at, If you want to ride out there let me know. I was working out off of 557 (I think that is what it is). its like 2 roads up from the Van fleet trail and is a nice road that goes through the country and WAY out past Fantisy of flight. Im going to try and get Joe and another guy I ride with to ride it with me.. I was wanting to do it this saturday.


And if you ever want someone to ride with let me nkow.. I have no problems riding out to brandon/Valrico(sp) to ride.. send me a pm and we can exchange numbers.

Hope toy like your new bike!

O-Town

I ride Bayshore atleast 3 times a week...every week.

I commute from Ybor City to Downtown Saint Pete viea the Gandy, Pearl St, Bayshore. If you see a blue Surly and an orange jersey going down Bayshore just after 4pm, that's me.

wfin2004

Gets pretty tight and narrow on Gandy heading east towards Bayshore. Do you encounter any problems with the traffic? I will give a honk if I see you on Bayshore.

In_flames

CROSS POST

check it out

https://www.bikeforums.net/southeast/298642-polk-city-ride.html

O-Town

I've had no problems on the Gandy approach.

The worst part of the commute the blind curve on the back side of the dog track. I don't think Florida drivers realize that they are putting there lives and mine in danger when they cross a double yellow and try to pass on a blind curve! F*&%$#$ing idiots.

shortbus901

Mileage is pretty much what I'd be after since there really isn't anywhere around me that I feel safe riding any distance just yet (traffic). I've also heard the VFT is essentially undeveloped the whole way through which I always find refreshing these days; even if it's just cow pasture it still beats condos anyday.

wfin2004

I agree 100%. I find the VFT "refreshing" in these days of baby strollers, condos, and in line skaters taking up 75% of the trail. I have seen more wildlife on this trail than any other. That is what makes an interesting ride for me.

Madridjoe

I rode 40 miles on the Van Fleet yesterday, 20 out and back again. Jon's right about it not being much of a challenge, but if you want to get away form the strip malls, housing developments etc, and just have some peace and quiet, and log some miles, this works real well. Once you get a couple miles away from the trail heads, you pretty much have the trail to your self.

In_flames

All I have even seen on that trail is goffer turtles. The trail is nice and quiet though. I have found some nice places to ride. But you still have to deal with cars. Today I rode from lakeland to eagle lake and really enjoyed it. Eagle lake has some nice areas to ride that I need to explore.

We all still need to get a nice group ride together. Anyone want to set it up? I can do one for lake lakeland area, but I would live to ride out in the Boyette, alafia area. Some nice areas to ride out there.

SurferJon

Thats a nice commute you have. I'm sure I've passed by you before. I occasionally commute from south Tampa(kinda near Pearl St) up Bayshore through Ybor and up 12th St to USF. I ride an old black Schwinn and usually have a big backpack strapped over the rear tire.