The Bicycle Site Blog

Mostly Sane Ramblings About Cycling

Road Trip – West Coast of Florida – Final

Dec 29

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Sometimes it works out that the best is saved for last.

Wednesday 12/28/2011 -  We rode the southern part of the Withalacoochee Rail Trail.  Started in Ridge Manor, which, in itself is an ideal location.

The trail head is one mile from I 75 and only six miles north of the southern end of the trail.  This means you could ride 39 miles to the northern end and back for a 78 mile ride.

There are also many roads that parallel and cross the trail, which would allow you to extend or alter your ride to suit.

A nice picnic area and restrooms are next to the parking lot.

The best thing we found was, that riding north from here was about the best scenery/riding distance combination of the trip.  The photos, at the end of the post, do not give the trail justice.

Susan and I rode to Floral City, which has rest rooms, a gazebo, a quick mart type food store and a bike shop.  Great place for a snack and turnaround for 35 miles.  Or proceed to Inverness and return for 45-50 miles.

A great ride.

Thursday 12/29/2011 – We went touring this morning and did not get back to our hotel until mid afternoon.  Although I had mapped out a road route to Jay B. Starkey park, it was too late in the day to be sure to get back before sundown.  So, we got in the car and drove to the park (SEE PART 1).   Got in a short 20 mile round trip through the park and part of the Sun Coast Trail, returning just before sunset.

SUMMARY

We rode five out of six days.   By keeping the rides in the 30+/- range (except today) we were able to thoroughly enjoy each ride without wearing ourselves out.

All the rides were worthwhile, as well as the drives to the starts.

Jay B Starkey and Sun Coast is what I would call…pretty warm up and cool down (in the park), with the exercise part on the Sun Coast Trail.  It is by no means not pretty or interesting, just less so than the other rides.   A six man pace line actually passed us today.

Pinellas Trail is varied, interesting and slow, with at least three nice turn outs to water views and a causeway/beach, all within 30 miles.
Start in Tarpon Springs and ride to Clearwater…where you need to turn left onto the side walk or street to pick up the remainder of the trail.

Withalacoochee Trail is the one for scenery and distance.  It is also the one for combining rail trail with road riding.

Glenn

WITHALACOOCHEE  PHOTOS – RIDGE MANOR TO FLORAL CITY

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Road Trip – West Coast of Florida – Part 3

Dec 26

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The Pinellas Rail Trail runs from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg.  It is an urban trail, so unlike the trails further north (see Parts 1 and 2), the ONLY  way to ride was to ride this trail is in relaxed mode.

Our ride today went from Tarpon Springs to Clearwater.  We road on a dedicated lane down the middle of the road in Tarpon Springs.  There were sections of trees on both sides, but this was not forest.

At times the trail ran between houses and yards to the left and the right.

It ran along Alternate Route 19 and through the downtowns of cities.

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We crossed many roads, some quite some busy.  There was a constant, but light flow, of riders, walkers and skaters.

It was fascinating because everything kept changing and for the reasons below:

1. In Dunedin there were eateries and bicycle rental/repair adjacent to the trail.

Well Springs Park Fishing Pier

Webster Park Fishing Pier

From the pier

From the pier

2. Webster Park had a pier we rode on that went well out into the bay.

3. There was Well Springs Park with paved trails that let you ride through palm trees, conservation areas and out to the bay.

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4. Honeymoon Beach is a five mile side round trip over a beach causeway.  You can also ride through the park at the end, or stop to rent a catamaran along the way.

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The ride was just about 30 miles, but with all the side trips and views it took a lot of extra time.

Tomorrow is a day off from riding.

Glenn

Road Trip – West Coast of Florida – Part 2

Dec 25

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Today, Susan and I rode the north part of the Withlacoochee State Rail Trail.  It is, at 45 miles, the longest trail in Florida.

We started at the Inverness Trailhead (all the trail heads have parking and rest rooms) and rode to the northern terminus and back, around 32 miles.

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The Withlacoochee has scenery that constantly changes, from woods, to water, to semi rural housing and a a few short stretches along road ways.

The further north we went the less we saw other riders.  On our way back, around noon, however, there was very light bicycle traffic and rare walkers.  The trail is in very good condition and wide.

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As a measure of how quiet the trail was, Susan decided she did not need her mirror, because there would not be any significant number of riders coming up behind her.  It turned out that no one passed us and we passed less than a dozen people.

View from rest stop

View from rest stop

Since the trail does cross the roadway in several places, it would probably be easy to create a route of 50 miles or more by looping off and on the trail several times.

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There were ample rest rooms and places to get food, all visible from the trail.

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Look for the cormorant drying its wings

This ride is highly recommended.

Road Trip – West Coast of Florida – Part 1

Dec 24

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Susan and I are on a road trip.  While we have taken many road trips by flying to a location and renting a car . . . this one is a first.

We left from home in NY with our bicycles in the car. We took several days to get down to Florida, visiting various cities along the way.

In the next week we hope to ride the three big rail trails in the central western part of the state.

Today we started in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, just east of Port Richey.  There are six to seven miles of bicycle trail in the park.  The surface in the park and on the rail trail is asphalt with crushed stones embedded. The riding is flat and smooth, though not quite as smooth as 100% asphalt.

The first and last 6.5 miles of our ride, where on this trail.

The first and last 6.5 miles of our ride, where on this trail.

In the park, the scenery is nothing short of WOW!.  It is not spectacular, but there is a strong urge to slow down and just soak in the atmosphere.

The riding is flat with mostly semi open vistas, like the one in the photo.

THE SUNCOAST TRAIL starts where the park trail ends.  It runs six miles to the southor 33+ miles to the north.

The trail does run along the Sun Ccoast Toll Road…but sometimes swings off the highway for awhile.  For most of this ride there was close up forest on one side and landscape (across the highway) forest on the other.

There are good stretches were you could even pace line if you wished.

We did a leisurely 30 miles along the two trails.  However, you could do close to 100miles   if you did the whole thing.

Sun Coast Trail – about 42 miles one way.

Suncoast Rail Trail

Bird Viewing area along the rail trail.

More tomorrow.

Glenn

S & G at the US Pro Cycling Tour 2011

Oct 21

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Its been a sparse summer for my blogs, I know.  Will try to do better.  To make up for the lack of posts, however, here is a gift.

We were at three stages of the US Pro Cycling Tour in Colorado, this summer.
Our trip to Colorado was planned long before we were even aware of the Quiznos Cycling Tour.

When we found out about it, we made a few changes to our schedule to catch some starts.

It then morphed into the US Pro Cycling Tour!

Eventually, we caught the Prologue in Colorado Springs, Stage 1 Start in Salida and Stage 2 start in Gunnison.

It was a complete blast.  So, if a picture is worth 1,000 words, here is the link to a books worth of photos!

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No Cycling In Russia

Jul 30

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Its been over a month since my last post.  So much for two posts a month, April to November :) .

Susan and I were in Russia for part of that time (photos here).  After that I was involved in sorting reviewing and posting the photos.

Susan is back to group riding of a sort.   Once a week she will ride with the club.  We both hang off the back of the ride, however.
Since both of her broken bone accidents had to do with encounters with other riders, this is the best way to part of club ride.

During the week we often ride alone and go out no later than 8:00 am.  The pace is faster than it was, but still we no longer shoot for a better average.
One or two riders we feel comfortable with (by invitation only) may join us.
Often, we do not invite anyone as that gives us the flexibility to change the destination and the distance on the fly.

I ride alone or with a group once or twice a week.

Its a different kind of summer — but as I have stated in earlier posts — not any less enjoyable.

The best part about all this riding is the amount of food I can eat without gaining weight!

Glenn

Born Again Cycling

Jun 10

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As the summer progresses my riding is settling into the new pattern alluded to in the previous blog.

My rides with Susan are now up in the 35-50 mile range, at a low to moderate aerobic rate. (L)

My weekend rides without Susan, with our regular riding group are the same mileage but at a moderate to high moderate aerobic rate. (M)

My weekday rides with the Tue/Thur group tend to push the high aerobic rate. (H)

If I ride four times in a good week I get:

L on Saturday
M on Sunday
L  on Tuesday
H on Thursday

The BIG SURPRISE about all this is that I feel good about all the rides.  I am ready for the L rides as well as the M and H rides.

I am less tired between rides since I am not always riding hard.

I am ready for the L rides as a way to just enjoy the scenery and not worry about other riders (these rides are all two to five people, no pace lines).

Of course, I have an advantage in being able to ride pretty much as often as I want.  Not sure I would feel the same if I was still working.

For me the key is, Susan is back on her bike, riding the distances I like at a speed I find comfortable (i.e. not too slow).

All is good.

Glenn

The Return

Apr 24

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After her accident resulting in broken bones, last August, Susan (my wife) was not sure if she would ride again or not.
That was what prompted the poll of two posts ago (which she purposely did not look at).

The fall of 2010 was recovery time.
The winter and early spring of 2011 was cross country skiing and the gym.

Two weeks ago, Susan asked me to take her on a nine mile ride on the bicycle path along the Wantagh Parkway (on Long Island, NY) to Jones Beach, and back.
It was her first time on the bicycle since August 8 2010.  The rule was, no pushing the pace, just enjoy the ride.

The next week we took a 20 mile ride with our son, in Baltimore.  This was on hybrids, six on quiet city roads, the rest on paved and unpaved bicycle trail.
Considering the terrain, pushing the pace would have been most unwise, so it was not an issue.

Earlier in the week, we rode 15 miles through our traditional stomping grounds on the north shore of Long Island.
The ride pace was 11.9 mph.

This morning,  we rode 27 miles at a ride pace of 12.8 mph.  Again the rule was, keep the pace at a level Susan was comfortable with.

As Susan cautiously confronts the hazards of riding along with the joy it has also re-taught me several things about riding:

  • As far as a workout is concerned . . . an average of 65% of maximum heart rate will do as well for you or better than 80% plus.
  • Even at a reduced pace I still burn 75%-90% of the calories I would at full bore.
  • I truly enjoyed the ride, because I was riding with someone I wanted to ride with, regardless of the miles or pace.
  • I do not miss tracking my distances, averages, and total elevations per ride.
  • While I will continue to go on longer and faster rides, I really do not have to always go on longer and faster rides.

As Susan discovers what her riding future will be, I am re discovering riding just for the joy of it.

Glenn

Of Stop Lights, Stop Signs, Speeding And Other Riding Habits

Mar 26

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On the main page of The Bicycle Site (late March 2011) are some links to stories about cycling in Central Park NY.

It seems there are a few faded signs about a 15 mph speed limit in the park.  However, the real speed limit is 25 mph.

NYC’s finest have been ticketing riders for speeding over the false speed limit of 15 mph.  They have also been ticketing for going through red lights, even though the park was close to automobile traffic at the time.

The speed limit issue will probably get resolved as the reality of 25 mph circulates.

Cyclists are suggesting that, if the park is closed to auto traffic, the only reason to stop at a red light should be to give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross.  Sounds like a reasonable solution to me.

When we ride on the road, however,  we do go through red lights and stop signs.

Stop Signs are a problem for cyclists,  given the effort to bring a bicycle up to speed from a full stop.  However, the reality of the situation is that a car will win any car/bicycle contact battle.  My compromise is to come to a slow down or rolling stop as long as I have a clear line of site down the perpendicular streets for 100 yards (because cars can show up real fast).

Red Lights are a real issue, however.   Even a full stop and look left and right and then riding can be dangerous at certain intersections.   Some red lights are at semi blind locations and a car that was not there a second ago can be bearing down at 30-40 mph an instant later.

After several deaths on Long Island, NY last year, between cyclists and cars, at intersections, we all need to realize that the extra minute of wait time is a lot safer than the need to go now.

I now wait for the cars that do have the red light to actually stop.  I make eye contact with the drivers.  I raise a hand to say thanks.  It keeps me safe and helps change driver attitudes about cyclists.

Glenn

Accident Poll Results

Dec 27

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Here are four views of the Bicycle Accident Poll, based on 100 replies.

Poll Total 100 Responses All Votes Women ONLY (14) Had One Surgery (20) More Than One Surgery (16)
Age Group
Uner 30 3% 5%
31-55 50% 72% 40% 40%
56+ 47% 28% 55% 60%
Sex
Male 86% 5% 35%
Female 14% 100% 95% 65%
Type of Cycling Accident 36% of all polled had surgery

43% of women had surgery
One accident with a break or fracture that did NOT require surgery
45% 43%
One accident with a break or fracture that DID require surgery 20% 14% 100%
More that one accident with a break or fracture that did NOT require surgery.
19% 14%
More that one accident with a break or fracture where one or more breaks DID require surgery. 16% 29% 100%
Feeling About Riding Again To be fair, most people who have stopped riding altogether probably did not see this survey.

Interesting to note, however, that more of the people who only had ONE surgery (15% compared to 0%), took time off from riding or took a long hard look at what to do.
At this point, do not plan to ride again. 1%
Had to seriously think about, or am currently thinking about riding again. I either did eventually ride again or plan to in the foreseeable future 6% 14% 10%
I took a significant amount of time off (part of a season, all of season, more than one season), but eventually got back into riding
5% 5%
I always planned to get back on my bicycle as soon as I could, and I did. 83% 72% 85% 91%
None of the above or have not yet decided. 5% 14% 9%
Regarding fault of causing the accident:
None of the above accidents was my fault or due to my bicycle.
30% 28% 30% 39%
One or more of the above accidents was at least partially my fault. 40% 43% 20% 54%
One or more of the above accidents was primarily or completely my fault. 30% 29% 50% 7%
Since the accident how do you ride (or plan to ride) compared to how you rode before the accident? Multiple entries are okay. Percentages here can be over 100 because mulitple selections were allowed.
I ride slower
18% 36% 10% 25%
I ride alone or in much smaller groups. 11% 36% 10% 33%
I ride with groups but position myself to always have a lot of space between other riders.
12% 21% 10% 7%
I ride with groups, but only in the back and/or in the front
4% 14% 5% 18%
My riding habits have not changed. 42% 14% 65% 40%
There are also things not mentioned above. 40% 43% 40% 40%
How long have you been riding on a regular basis?
0-5 years 10%
6-10 years 22% 72% 30% 15%
11-20 years 33% 28% 40% 50%
21 or more years 35% 30% 35%