2020 Ride Schedule - January - February

January 5 - General James A. Van Fleet Trail ** Note changed departure time**

• Distance ~30 miles
• Speed: 10-14 mph
• Meeting Time: 8:45 AM (prompt departure at 9:00 AM)
• Meeting Location: Polk City Trailhead, 7683 Berkley Road, Polk City, FL 33968 – GPS Coordinates N28⁰ 10.867 W081⁰ 49.662 (Going east on Interstate 4 (towards Orlando), take Exit 38/Polk City and follow Route 33 North to Polk City. The trailhead is at the intersection of Route 33 and Route 655/Berkley Road)
• Ride Leader: Susie (813) 236-8119 - morning of the ride call or text Earl (727) 415-8993

Named after General James A. Van Fleet, a distinguished combat commander in both World Wars and the Korean War, the Van Fleet Trail is considered the most remote trail in Florida. It runs 29.2 miles north from Polk City to Mabel (off Highway 50), with an additional, new section, the TECO Trail, 10 miles south to Auburndale. Because it is a former Seaboard railroad line, the path is straight and flat (i.e., no hills), with just one gentle curve. In what has become a New Year's tradition, we will ride about 15 miles north in search of that one curve, and then turn around and return to our start. The majority of the trail runs through the Green Swamp, headwaters for four major rivers: the Hillsborough, Peace, Withlachoochee and the Oklawaha. You won't see many people. You will see cattle ranches, lush forests and wetlands. Depending upon the season of the year you could see wildflowers, birds, butterflies, alligators, turkey, deer, bobcats, gopher tortoises, rabbits, the rare Sherman's squirrel, snakes of every variety, and even alpaca on a farm near Polk City. Port-a-Potty a mile from the start, restrooms and water along the trail. Breakfast on your own after the ride. 

January 12 - Seminole Heights to MacDill AFB

• Meeting Time: 8:00 AM, leave promptly at 8:15 AM
• Meeting Location: The Independent Beer Pub and Cafe, 5016 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, 33603 - two blocks south of Hillsborough
• Distance: 27 miles
• Speed: 12-14 mph
• Ride Leader: Earl of Tampa, 727-415-8993 (call or text)

Ride from The Independent Beer Pub in Seminole Heights to MacDill AFB and back via sections of the downtown Riverwalk, Bayshore Blvd and the Gadsden Park Bike Trail. We'll pass through the Water Works Park, Kiley Gardens, the University of Tampa's Plant Park and the stately mansions lining Bayshore Blvd. We'll stop to enjoy waterfront views of Downtown Tampa at Ballast Point Park, then return through Hyde Park, the new Julian B. Lane Waterfront Park and its Boathouse, and the winding streets along the Hillsborough River. Enjoy brunch, pastries and gourmet coffee back on the Independent Cafe's outdoor patio after the ride. Restrooms at the start and midway into the ride.

January 19 - Freda's Wild Ride - North Anclote River Nature Park to Brooker Creek Park (aka, the Wildest Place in Pinellas County)

• Meeting Time: 8:00 AM (riders leave promptly at 8:15)
• Meeting Location: North Anclote River Nature Park, 467 Dixie Highway, Tarpon Springs, 34689
• Distance: 18-25 miles
• Speed: 11-13 mph
• Ride Leaders: Freda, 847-714-6860 (call or text), and other Helpers

This ride begins at the North Anclote River Nature Preserve, merges onto the Pinellas Trail and goes 9 miles to Brooker Creek Park and then returns. Once at Brooker Creek there are options to extend the ride an additional 7+ miles. The entire ride is on bike trails. Both parks are fascinating to visit and ride through. 

Beginning next to the restroom facilities at the North Anclote River Park you will ride a hard-packed/shell trail for 1/2 mile to connect with a spur trail running through the wetlands of the Anclote River. This connects with the Pinellas Trail where you go under Alternate Highway 19, weave through a few neighborhoods and come out onto Tarpon Avenue. Here you take the trail heading west where you will encounter the rolling hills (one or two surprisingly steep) of the Keystone Ridge. At a major and very busy intersection of East Lake Road and Tarpon Avenue (cross here only with the walk lights) we'll cross the road, now called Keystone Avenue, and continue on to Brooker Creek Park, advertised as the "Wildest Place" in Pinellas County!! Brooker Creek and its wetlands make up the main body of water that flows into Lake Tarpon, the largest lake in Pinellas County. You can opt for additional miles here, along the Keystone Bike Trail, or turn around and reverse the ride route back to the start. We'll drive or bike less than a mile to the DayBreak Cafe for breakfast after the ride. Restrooms and water at the start, middle and end of the ride.

January 26 - Ride to the Skyway Bridge

• Meeting Time: 8:00 AM (riders leave promptly at 8:15)

• Meeting Location: Apple Photographics parking lot, 3032 49th St. North, St. Petersburg FL 33710  

• Distance: 34 miles

• Speed: 12 - 16 mph

• Ride Leader: Earl of St. Pete, 727-455-7854 (call or text) 
  

We haven't scheduled this ride in a of couple years, and Earl has revised the start and part of the route to take advantage of a new bike trail in Gulfport. This ride starts at Earl's studio, Apple Photographics, then goes west to pick up the Pinellas Trail to Gulfport. There we pick up a new bike trail that takes us around Clam Bayou and connects to the Skyway Trail. We'll take the Skyway Trail all the way out to the first automobile rest stop on the Skyway Bridge. After a brief break we'll return to our start via a more direct route on city streets. We'll bike or drive to breakfast which is about 1 1/2 miles from our start. This can be a tough ride if the winds are blowing, especially the climbs over the steep bridges going out to the Skyway, but the views are spectacular. You'll definitely get your exercise! Restrooms and water at the start and midway on the ride.

February 2 - Weedon Island to St. Petersburg

• Distance 26 miles
• Speed: 11-13 mph
• Meeting Time: 8:00 AM (prompt departure at 8:15 AM)
• Meeting Location: Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center parking lot, 1800 Weedon Dr. NE, St. Petersburg 33702 
• Ride Leader: Don (813) 964-9193 (this is a landline, do not text)

The ride begins at the Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center at the end of Pinellas County's Weedon Island Park. We'll wend our way to downtown St. Petersburg via the waterfront homes of Shore Acres, the mansions of Snell Isle, and the bungalows of Old Northeast and Coffee Pot Bayou. After cycling along the city's waterfront we'll circle the Dali Museum and the Mahaffey Theater complex as we ride into downtown St. Pete and our breakfast stop, midway through the ride. After breakfast we'll return to Weedon Island via 1st Street N. Restrooms and water are available at the kayak launch near the starting location if the museum is closed.

February 9 - South St. Petersburg Parks Tour

• Meeting Time: 8:00 AM (riders leave promptly at 8:15)

• Meeting Location: Medical Arts building parking lot, 2191 9th Ave. North St. Petersburg FL 33713

• Distance: 25 miles

• Speed: 12 -14 mph 

• Ride Leader: Earl of St. Pete, 727-455-7854 (calls only, no texts)
  

This ride starts off south on 22nd Street with a tour of St. Petersburg's historic midtown neighborhoods. After a stop at Dell Holmes Park on the shores of sparkling Lake Maggiore we'll ride through Lakewood Estates and then on to the unique Pink Streets at the southern end of the city. We'll work our way back to downtown St. Pete by following the coastline of Tampa Bay, visiting several parks and historic areas on our way. Breakfast stop is at a local restaurant in downtown St. Pete, just two miles before returning to our cars. The last two miles of the ride, after breakfast, are filled with vibrant street art and huge murals, just another indication of why St. Petersburg has become a new "happening" place to live. The ride focuses on history, not speed. Restrooms available at the start and midway through the ride.

February 16 - Davis Islands Ride

• Meeting Time: 8:00 AM (prompt departure at 8:15 AM)
• Meeting Location: Sandra Freedman Tennis Complex Parking Lot, 59 Columbia Drive, Tampa 33606 (next to Tampa General Hospital). **Note: Do NOT park in the signed lot immediately next to the Tennis Courts - that is reserved for tennis players only. Park in the larger lot next to it.**
• Distance: 15 miles
• Speed: 10-12 mph
• Ride Leader: Les (813) 598-4944 (call or text)

We'll tour waterfront homes, the airport, dog park and seaplane basin as we ride a circuitous route around and then up the middle of Davis Islands. We'll end up at an Islands coffee shop where we can enjoy food and conversation. This is a good ride for new riders because the pace is relaxed, the roads are quiet and traffic is minimal. For those who want to add 10 miles to the ride, there will be a group riding down from Seminole Heights to the start. Call or text Les (813) 598-4944 if you want to join them.

February 23 - Them Thar Hills around San Antonio

• Meeting Time: 8:00 AM (depart promptly at 8:15 AM)

• Meeting Location: San Antonio Railroad Depot Museum, 32627 Railroad Ave, San Antonio, FL 33576.

• Distance: 22 miles with an optional, very hilly 5-mile loop at the ride's end

• Speed: 12-14 mph

• Ride Leader: John (813) 613-6047 (call or text)

We will start at the San Antonio Railroad Depot Museum and head south beyond San Antonio for our first climb up Prospect Hill. Most of our ride will take us north to northeast of San Antonio and then back. About 1/4th to 1/3rd of the ride is flat to gently rolling, although there are some hills with "steepish" grades including Happy Hill Road and "The Three Sisters". If you have a standard compact double front crank you can do the ride. You just spin your way up. There is no shame in walking part-way (or all the way) up, either! We'll enjoy breakfast after the ride in the San Antonio area. Note: We will be in the "country" for this ride, so be sure you come prepared with TWO bottle of water. There are restrooms at the ballfield across from our meeting location, but limited facilities on the route.