WNCGoater

Likely week long vacation later this month in Orlando area though no definite plans yet. We've been down several times the last few years. I ride rural areas and regularly take my bike to coastal NC during summer vacations to ride. Never considered taking it to Orlando, until this year. So riding out of south Orlando area, like Sea World area...are there any reasonable access points to lightly traveled roads in that area? I mean, not being from a major metropolitan area, it is a bit intimidating considering my knowledge of the local (major routes) road system in that area, to even think of riding a bike.

So I'm wondering if there is a... "If you go down International Blvd. and take this turn, you'll hit blah-blah road that is lightly traveled and runs from ____ to ____."

TIA

Maelochs

I used to ride 15 from Orlando to Polk County for fun ... but a lot of it had fair traffic. there was a gentleman who built a pair of Chinese Dogma copies who lived out in the better biking side of the city. He would no better than I .... when I lived there I rode where I had to, not where I wanted to.

East of Casselberry towards Oveido: Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs Boulevard, Chuluota Road? Snow Hill Road is good for road riding and there is a decent MTB park off of it.

Your best bet would be to contact Orlando-area cycling clubs and ask them what routes they recommend.

Baldy1953

Just be careful no matter where you ride in the Orlando area. They do not pay attention to where they are driving and drive crazy. A lot of foreigners that can't even speak english, let alone know where they are going. Not meant to be slanderous, but have driven a semi for 20 years in the area and hate to go there.

There are a couple of good trails in the area. This might help you some. Do not exactly where you are staying.
Bike Orlando Florida, 27 Paved Bike Trails | Detailed maps, photos, first-hand reports | BikeOrlando.net

Maelochs

Note on @Baldy1953's post: In the city or a lot of the suburbs traffic density high and so is driver density. I would Not ride any of those roads for pleasure. Not as deadly as everyone says, though ... probably not more than third or fourth most dangerous in the nation, nowadays. Back in the day, though ...


Albuquerque, Tucson, and Las Vegas top fatalities in 2015 according to Forbes---nowhere in Florida even makes the top ten. https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmc.../#4635abe11118

247WallSt.com lists the same info in 2017----probably the same data just a more recent post. 32 Most Dangerous (and Safest) Cities for Cycling - 24/7 Wall St.

Both articles rank by death per million residents.

This attorney lists four Florida cities as the most deadly—but says nothing about sources. https://www.attorneybrianwhite.com/c...in-the-u-s.php

He rates Jax, Tampa, and Orlando and the worst followed by Miami.

He notes: ” Florida is simply the most dangerous state for bicyclists. 125 cyclists die every year in this state. Bike safety in the Sunshine State is largely overlooked, and most of the laws that do exist to protect bikers are rarely enforced.”

I’d suggest putting the bikes on the rack and driving out of town. North and east of the city has some decent rural areas, and there are a lot of good roads west and southwest .... after a 45-minute drive. Polk county has some decent riding.

OldTryGuy

If you want some Florida mountain riding, , Clermont area is a 35/45 minutes drive west.

Horrible Hundred 2017 nice ride with some good Florida climbing

FlMTNdude

Having lived in Albuquerque I am surprised at the stats. I was commuting 25 miles one way for a while there, lots of trails and 5-foot lanes to ride in if you planned your routes, even minor streets were good.
Living in Gainesville Fl now. Not too bad, but narrow bike lanes, if they exist, are tough. I do run errands on bike, otherwise 70% of my riding is riding paved trails (we have 50 some miles at least) to avoid highways and streets without lanes.

WNCGoater

Thanks for the info. If we end up down there, I'll check out some of the trails.
Thanks again for the info

Trsnrtr

What this guy said. I travel to Orlando/Kissimmee 3-4 times a year and do some riding in this area. I also drive to Polk City and ride the rural roads. Also, Haines City and Mt. Dora area have some decent riding.

John_V 

Here's a link to Bike Florida which highlights several nice trails to ride that are around the Orlando area. The West Orange Trail is really nice and very scenic and you can catch it just outside of Orlando. Another nice trail is the Van Fleet Trail in Polk City, which is about 20-30 minutes drive from Orlando. The Van Fleet's northern most trail head, on SR50, is easier to get to from Orlando, but if you don't know where it is, you will miss it. Unfortunately, it's not very well marked. Enjoy your trip to Florida and enjoy your Florida riding.

Maelochs

Oh, and be prepared for the frigid weather .... you might need long sleeves.

John_V 

You damn sure will this week!

DannyL

x2 on Clermont. It's imo the best area in the state to ride road bikes. They aren't mountains but its the best we've got!

Baldy1953

He will need more than long sleeves this week. High today in Jax is going to be in mid 40's. Last night it was low 20's. Too cold for this old man.

atitagain

I would drive on hwy 50 over to Titusville . Go north on hwy 1 to sand point park to start a ride . then ride across the indian river lagoon on max brewer to courtney . Go north to hwy 1 again and then south to POB . You could also add to it by riding out to playalinda . Check it out . Orlanda is just urban sprawl not worth hanging around . Mosquito lagoon is more my kind of preferred environment .

Maelochs

Yeah, the consensus among the cognoscenti seems to be that if you don't drive at least 45 minutes away from Orlando you would be better off staying in your car.

Stonedrider

If you end up downtown orlando there are trail heads that will take you through the city and to other cities. I.e. orlando urban to cady way to purple heart to seminole crossing and so on and so forth. But i wouldnt recommend the road until you hit clermont or ocoee even sanford. Just try and stay off the roads people are *******s!

Bassmanbob

I have an annual conference in Disney's Coronado Springs next week. I take Western Way from the hotel to back suburban roads to get away from everyone at least once while I'm there.

rydabent

We flew into Orlando and picked up a rental car. It appeared to be a zoo to me. Unless there are some good bike paths, from what we saw, it didnt look too bike friendly to me.

FlMTNdude

Actually will be hot this next week, mid 80s. At least not as humid as later in the year. Though some of the nutcase locals will be wearing jackets. I love 2 1/2 hours north of there, has been pleasant actually up until now (mid 60s).

Bassmanbob

Much of the tourist areas of Orlando, I would never consider riding a bicycle, but I do the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure every year in Lake Nona (just south of the Orlando Airport), and its a really nice ride. I suppose you just need to ask the locals.