Local Trails

MARION COUNTY TRAILHEADS

› Santos Trailhead: 3080 SE 80th St., Ocala

› Vortex Trailhead: 9150 SE 25th Ave., Ocala

› Landbridge Trailhead: County Road 475A, Ocala

› 49th Avenue Trailhead: 12555 SW 49th Ave., Ocala

› Ross Prairie Trailhead: 10660 SW Highway 200, Dunnellon

› Baseline Trailhead: State Road 35 north of SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala

Ryan Woodall

SUGGESTS THESE SAFETY TIPS:

› Always wear a federally approved helmet, eye protection, colorful clothing and gloves.

› Obey all tra c laws just as if you were in a motor vehicle.

› Have a blinking tail light on your bike for night or day riding.

› Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

› Keep your bike well maintained, and give it a safety check before each ride.

› Always ride with the flow of tra c, and be a courteous rider.

› Share the road.

CITRUS COUNTY TRAILS AND TRAILHEADS

› Withlacoochee State Trail, Gulf Junction Trailhead: 2233 W Magenta Drive, Citrus Springs

› Withlacoochee Bay Trail, Felburn Park Trailhead: 10201 North Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River

› Whispering Pines City Park: 1700 Forest Drive, Inverness

› Dunellon Trailhead: 1279 W Withlacoochee Trail, Citrus Springs

Cullie Woodall,

BIKE FITTER AT TOP GEAR, OFFERS THESE TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT BIKE:

› Choose the bike for the type of riding you will do most. For example, road bikes are built for higher speeds on paved surfaces and comfort bikes can be ridden on all surfaces at all speeds.

› You should have ample room to stand comfortably between the seat and handlebars with both feet on the ground.

› Choose a seat that is comfortable for the type of riding you do most. Large seats are best for slow speeds and narrower seats are best for higher speeds. A toolarge seat can cause inner-thigh cha ng when riding at higher speeds.

› Bikes come in five sizes: extra-small, small, medium, large and extra-large. The size bike that is best for you is determined by your torso length in relation to your leg length. It is best to be fitted by a professional if your goal is to ride often and in comfort.

› Step-through frames (once called a “woman’s bicycle”) are now called unisex frames and should be used by anyone who has trouble raising his or her leg high enough to get on a bicycle.

Biking is Serious Business

Florida has twice as many bicycle-related deaths than any other state.

88% of bicycle deaths are persons 20 years old or older.

Almost 90% of bicycle deaths are males.

Helmets reduce the chance of death by 50%

2% of motor vehicle crash deaths are bicyclists.

817 Bicyclists Died

in motor vehicle crashes in 2015.

Most bicycle deaths occur in urban areas outside of intersections.

Florida law says

› Recumbent bikes are best for persons with back pain or anyone who is more comfortable biking while in a sitting position. Sources: that any bicycle rider or passenger under 16 years of age must wear a properly fitted and strapped helmet that meets federal safety standards.

By Katie McPherson

Ladies, gather round. We all know our bodies are seriously impressive, but when’s the last time you stopped to appreciate everything it can do? The female reproductive system is a complex one—the vagina can expand enough to accommodate a baby, is self-cleaning and boasts more nerve endings than any other part of the body. But even though it’s capable of incredible things, it’s also susceptible to complicated health issues. Here are some easy ways to care for your closest lady friend and some common health concerns that may arise during your lifetime together.

ENDOMETRIOSIS: A painful condition in which the tissue inside the uterus begins to grow outside the uterus. In other words, a uterus gone rogue. The primary symptom is pelvic pain that often intensifies during menstruation. It a ects one in 10 women in the United States.

FIBROIDS: Muscular tumors that grow out of the uterine wall. Some women with fibroids experience pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.

OVARIAN CYSTS: Fluid-filled sacs on the surface of one or both ovaries. Many women will have cysts at some point in their lifetime, and they will come and go with no symptoms. Feelings of pressure on the bladder or in the abdomen can signal a cyst growing larger and mean it’s time to visit your friendly neighborhood gynecologist.

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: A common endocrine disorder occurring in women of reproductive age, PCOS may cause enlarged ovaries that have small collections of fluid, called follicles, located in each ovary. Approximately 5 million women su er from PCOS, which can cause infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne and obesity.