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Keystone Heights, FL
I’m a transplant to this town from NC. My wife grew up here & in Jax & wanted to move back home, so here I am! After moving here I discovered the bike trails, & after riding my son’s heavy hybrid I have bought a vintage Trek & ride all the time, most everyday. The most I’ve ridden is 27 miles so far & am estimating that I can ride for around 35 miles all on paved bike trails! I happened to be riding next to a guy from Orlando who has a daughter out here who he visits a couple of times a month & he always brings his bike when he comes just so he can ride these trails. Anyway, he told me that the trails were at one time train tracks that the state had converted in a program called something g like “rail to trail.” There are parts that of the old rail line which are still under construction with miles to be added. If if anyone is in the surrounding area & doesn’t know about these trails, you’ve gotta check them out! I will be meeting a bike group in the area this evening for the first time for a twenty mile ride & am looking forward to it. There are other cycling groups nearby in Gainesville & Jax as well as the Keystone Heights bike group. There are also plenty of events in the area which I will be attending soon. Moving here was a happy accident for me, but one I have come to love! |
Hey Don. There are rail trails all over the US. In my neck of the woods there is the Withlacoochee Trail which still has the markers along the trail showing how many miles from that point to Richmond.
https://i1.wp.com/www.floridarambler...pg?w=800&ssl=1 |
Hi Ron, I had no clue that there are so many trails, so I’m totally excited to discover them! How long are the trails near you? Do you ride often? The picture you posted looks like that trail is in excellent shape! How far from KH is it? That is assuming it’s in FL. It looks like it could be. Either way, enjoy riding the trails you are so lucky to have & have fun! |
Don, I did a google search and got this info. Link below
https://www.trails.com/florida/rail-...z=6&m=outdoors The Jax-baldwin trail is 30 miles round trip. Pretty nice trail . Only 8 miles from the house. Going to ride the Withlacoochee trail https://www.trails.com/us/fl/istacha...ee-state-trail . Here is a link for a ride on the w/c trail. Furnish lunch and you can ride the distance you desire. Very laid back ride.. Town of Inverness is where it is based out of. https://raceroster.com/events/2018/1...chee-bike-ride |
Originally Posted by DonRocinante
(Post 20534249)
Hi Ron, I had no clue that there are so many trails, so I’m totally excited to discover them! How long are the trails near you? Do you ride often? The picture you posted looks like that trail is in excellent shape! How far from KH is it? That is assuming it’s in FL. It looks like it could be. Either way, enjoy riding the trails you are so lucky to have & have fun! I also enjoy riding the Suncoast Trail. It's 41 miles long. —> https://www.traillink.com/trail-maps/suncoast-trail/ Come on up and give them a try. :thumb: |
Baldy1953 & RonH,
Thank you both for the awesome info! I will be riding those trails in addition to one I just heard about in Santos. I don't know if I'll make the race or not, but I do know that I'll be riding that awesome trail! I'm hoping to het out there by next week! |
Race??? Do you mean the Rails to Trails ride in October? That's a charity ride. Most folks an Bike Forums are talking about charity rides when they mention riding in an event. It's the folks on the Road Cycling forum who talk a lot about racing. I'm coming up on 74 in a few months so no interest in racing other than watching the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, Giro d'Italia or other pro races on television. :)
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yes, the withlacoochee is not a race. It is just a group of people that ride to support the trail. The ride starts in Inverness and you can go south or north. Going south to the end and back to Inverness is a metric century. I rode with a sloooow friend last time and we had a good time. I plan on riding it again in October sans friend. I cannot tolerate a 10 mph average. Way too slow for me. Plan on it taking around 3.5 to 4 hours this time, not 6 hours.
Registration is now open for the ride. Here is their website. https://www.rttwst.org/annual-bike-r...-to-trails.php |
Originally Posted by Baldy1953
(Post 20541847)
yes, the withlacoochee is not a race. It is just a group of people that ride to support the trail.
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@RonH, yes, I agree there is a lot of people riding. However, there is no mass start, so the crowd is not too bad. I rode it for the first time last year and we started around 8:30. Maybe we missed the big crush of people. Never saw that many people the whole day. Very enjoyable day though. Looking forward to doing again this year.
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Yeah, I guess I meant to say “event” vs “race,” haha! Yep, I’m a newbie alright! I will be looking at those events as well as a couple of others. One is ride in Keystone Heights, but the details are kind of vague according to one of the guys that I’ve been riding with occasionally. There’s another called “The Horrible Hundred,” which seems like a grueling hill ride to me. Others are the “Endless Summer” ride, the “Watermelon Ride” & I’ll have to look back at the CAAM list for the others. Im interested in events like this, but I also just like to ride trails with a group without the formality or solo. I just like to ride🚴🏼*♀️!! Bike pictures res coming later today 🚲 |
Don, you'll have to post a little info about your rides in the "Did You Ride Today?" thread.
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Cool, Ron! I’m going to post some pictures of my ride this morning now! |
Don, You missed the ride you were discussing in your earlier post. I am pretty sure the ride you were talking about is " the Endless Summer Watermelon Ride".. It was on the 9th. There are several rides coming up. The Gainesville cycling festival is one. The Withlacoochee Ride is also soon. Google either one and you can get the info necessary
to register if interested. |
Originally Posted by Baldy1953
(Post 20562494)
Don, You missed the ride you were discussing in your earlier post. I am pretty sure the ride you were talking about is " the Endless Summer Watermelon Ride".. It was on the 9th. There are several rides coming up. The Gainesville cycling festival is one. The Withlacoochee Ride is also soon. Google either one and you can get the info necessary
to register if interested. |
Don, you can read about almost all the Florida cycling events here. —> CAAM Florida
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Originally Posted by RonH
(Post 20567160)
Don, you can read about almost all the Florida cycling events here. —> CAAM Florida
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Sorry to hear about your back. :( I'm 73 and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis about 3 years ago. My spine doc (who is a cyclist) told me to continue riding my drop bar road bikes. They're great for stretching out my lower back. :thumb:
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My first ride today!
Originally Posted by RonH
(Post 20571533)
Sorry to hear about your back. :( I'm 73 and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis about 3 years ago. My spine doc (who is a cyclist) told me to continue riding my drop bar road bikes. They're great for stretching out my lower back. :thumb:
Im going to be cautious & not push it too much by riding any great distances just yet, BUT, I have noticed the unpaved part of the trail heading into Palatka from Keystone Heights is being paved now! AND, this trail will eventually lead all the way to St. Augustine!! Wow!! Man, I have been chomping at the bit & biding my time while battling cabin fever, so I readjusted my brakes, my front derailer, handlebars & seat post & I put on a new chain & seat. When I got off the bike I had to make a few more adjustments but my bike is more ready than I am! I’m also going to start planning to hit that Withlacoochie Trail I’ve heard so much about! |
Glad your back is doing better. :thumb:
Originally Posted by DonRocinante
(Post 20598026)
I’m also going to start planning to hit that Withlacoochee Trail I’ve heard so much about!
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Originally Posted by RonH
(Post 20598143)
Glad your back is doing better. :thumb:
Let me know when you'll be heading over this way. |
Back when I was a kid (5 years ago) I'd ride 35+ miles. I've ridden the entire trail length. Now days since I'm getting older (coming up on 74) I do 22-32 miles. They're having the Rails to Trails ride this coming Sunday. I know its short notice. I won't be there. I'll be at church. I like the spring Clean Air ride much better. :) It's always on Saturday.
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Yes, the ride on the trail is on Sunday.Wife and I are going to be there. She will ride about 12-14 miles and I am going to do the metric by going south from Inverness to the end and return. Did it last year with a friend. He rides too slow,so will be on my own this year. Weather should be good also.
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Yeah guys, I don’t think I’ll make that ride this weekend. I would love to, but it’s realistically a bit too soon for me with my back issue. I did a 20 miler today & was fine until I got off my bike. I wasn’t bad or in a lot of pain, but I definitely felt it more today than the 8 miler I did yesterday. I also had to pass on this evening’s group ride with the Keystone Heights group. Ill get back on my trail here in town tomorrow morning & go for another 20, but at a more relaxed pace & see how I do. So yeah, I’m definitely going to ride that Withlacoochie trail & want to a good distance. I just have to remember what my wife always says about how you have to eat a bear one bite at a time, haha! |
the ride is whatever distance you want to ride . It is not set distances. All for 1 price. Then they feed you when you get back. Put your lunch in a styrafoam container. So you could ride any distance you feel comfortable with. The first rest area going south is about 10 miles ( or was last year)
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