Fave ride of the year?
01-23-20, 06:24 AM
#51
Senior Member
I just did a few days cycling across Florida, a full writeup is on CycleBlaze here.
Day 2 I did a 79 mile ride from Auburndale to Mt. Dora was one of my most fun rides in a while. It included a 35 mile stretch on the TECO/Auburndale and Van Fleet trails, followed by back country riding and a stop at the Yalaha Bakery - awesome. Then riding along Lake Shore Drive along Lake Dora was very scenic too.
The only downside was to get to the Lake Dora area I had to cross a half mile bridge over Little Harris Lake that had construction and no bike lane or shoulder left. I had to claim the entire lane and traffic built up behind me, and a few impatient drivers squeezed by on the bridge. Not sure how long that construction will last.
Day 2 I did a 79 mile ride from Auburndale to Mt. Dora was one of my most fun rides in a while. It included a 35 mile stretch on the TECO/Auburndale and Van Fleet trails, followed by back country riding and a stop at the Yalaha Bakery - awesome. Then riding along Lake Shore Drive along Lake Dora was very scenic too.
The only downside was to get to the Lake Dora area I had to cross a half mile bridge over Little Harris Lake that had construction and no bike lane or shoulder left. I had to claim the entire lane and traffic built up behind me, and a few impatient drivers squeezed by on the bridge. Not sure how long that construction will last.
01-23-20, 09:28 AM
#52
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I'm seriously considering doing the RAW in 2020 or 2021. But I'm uncertain if I want to do the sleep over in Plover, WI, or just continue through for a one day ride. I've only completed one Century ride in the past, so this is a significant step up in distance for me.
It looks like the last 40% of the ride is considerably easier than the first 60% or so, with the majority being downhill. Did you find this to be true? Were any of the climbs particularly draining? They all look pretty short, though the two near mile 50 look like they might sting a little.
It looks like the last 40% of the ride is considerably easier than the first 60% or so, with the majority being downhill. Did you find this to be true? Were any of the climbs particularly draining? They all look pretty short, though the two near mile 50 look like they might sting a little.
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01-23-20, 09:45 AM
#53
HarborBandS
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I've never done the ride, but from looking at the elevation graph, you won't notice the downhill. Descending 400' over ~90 miles is not a downhill. What will kill you is the rollers or wind you have to deal with on tired legs. Or a blow-out back/neck from not having enough long rides under your belt.
It's hard for me to understand what happens in that last 100 miles or so. I felt pretty good after my Century last year, and definitely had some more in the tank. My average speed was only 16 mph, but I was with a friend who was perhaps a little slower than me. It seems to me that I'd have to keep that average speed the entire distance to finish this 225 miles in one day, otherwise they'd shut it down on me.
Seems like training may involve a Century one month out, perhaps a 200k, and then 150 miles a week or two before? That's a challenging month of riding leading up to this.
