Breaking Away

It’s May, and for many cycling enthusiasts, it’s also well known as National Bike Month. While the rest of the country is just now dusting o their bikes and being fitted for new helmets, Florida is such an ideal state for biking that Florida Bike Month is actually celebrated in March. Take advantage of Florida’s late spring weather and hit the trail (or road!) this month.

BY JIM GIBSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN JERNIGAN

“Florida, and especially Marion County and the Ocala area, is a very popular place for bicycling,” says Ryan Woodall, co-owner of Top Gear Bicycles in Ocala. “I’ve ridden all over the country, and in my opinion, the local trails are some of the best in the country.”

And Woodall’s opinion matters. At 32 years of age, he has been riding competitively for almost 20 years, and his résumé is solid. Seven times he has won the USA Cycling Florida State Championship Series in Cross-country Mountain Biking, three times he has won the Southeast Regional championship in the same category, and he has stood on the podium at several prestigious national events.

“If someone is looking for a great place to ride, the Santos trails are a fantastic place to go,” he says. “Santos has something for everyone, whether you’re a first-time trail rider or a professional. I love cross-country biking, and the Santos trails are a great place to ride.”

Most of the local trails are located on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, where cyclists share the trails with hikers and horseback riders. The largest, the Santos Trail System, contains more than a dozen trails spanning 85 miles.

Paved Trails Or Cross Country

Woodall points out that cyclists have their choice of trail types, either paved or unpaved. Paved trails can accommodate virtually any type of bicycle but are best suited for road or touring bikes. These types of bikes are designed specifically to be ridden at a moderate-to-fast pace on a smooth, hard surface. They have skinny, smooth tires and most have drop-type handlebars; although, some have flat handlebars so the cyclist can ride in a more comfortable semi-upright position.

Another popular bike for paved trail riding is the cruiser. The cruiser is made for casual riding with a wide comfortable seat and a much wider tire than a road bike. Most have coaster brakes and upright handlebars that allow the rider to ride in a completely upright position.

Area cyclists looking for a paved trail suitable for all riders should check out the Withlacoochee State Trail.

“The Withlacoochee State Trail runs almost the entire length of Citrus County,” says Grant Chance, owner of Blue Run Bicycles in Dunnellon. “It runs from the Gulf Junction Trailhead in Citrus Springs to the Owensboro Junction Trailhead just south of Trilby in Pasco County. This is one of the Rails To Trails projects and is the longest paved trail in the state. It is suitable for everyone, no matter what age or riding skill. You’ll share the pavement with families and professional riders alike.”

Chance says that all types of bikes are found on the trail and that each cyclist chooses his or her pace and distance traveled. Multiple trailheads allow riders to get on and o the trail at varying distances.

Another paved trail suitable for all riders is the Withlacoochee Bay Trail located next to the Cross Florida Barge Canal just south of Inglis. Approximately five miles long, this scenic trail meanders through hammocks and salt marsh, o ering riders the chance to see abundant wildlife, including deer, bobcat, bald eagles and even dolphins swimming the placid barge canal waters. This scenic route ends with a beautiful expansive view of the Gulf of Mexico. However, the trail closes at dusk, so plan ahead.

Woodall notes that many paved trails are shared with roadways and tra c. Cyclists traversing these types of trails should make themselves aware of Florida bike laws and should have an intermediate to high degree of biking skills.

Unpaved trails can accommodate most bike types other than road bikes, but each trail has its own varying degree of di culty. This means that prior to attempting to bike a specific unpaved trail, the cyclist should determine if his or her bike is suitable for the planned ride.

Trails that are basically flat and smooth can possibly accommodate hybrid bikes (a mix of road and mountain bikes), cyclocross bikes, mountain bikes and even cruisers. The higher the degree of di culty, the narrower the range of bike needed to negotiate the trail. Intermediate and expert trails usually require mountain bikes or hybrids. It would be smart to ask a professional who has extensive knowledge of the local trails, such as Woodall or Chance, what type of equipment is best suited for the trail you choose.

Spring is here, and it’s a great time to either take the bike out of the garage and give it a good safety check or head to one of your local bike shops to be fitted for a brand new ride. And then… hit the trails. Whether it’s a scenic paved trail or one of the beautiful dirt trails winding through rural Marion and Citrus counties, break away and enjoy National Bike Month.