Spin your wheels

March is an ideal time to dust off your bicycle and enjoy the great outdoors thanks to near-perfect temperatures and low humidity. With plenty of back roads, rolling hills, and beautiful scenery, Central Florida is a cycling paradise. Here are some cycling trails you may want to consider.

JAMES A. VAN FLEET STATE TRAIL: This 29-mile trail spans Lake, Sumter and Polk counties. Drive west on S.R. 50 in South Lake County to access the Mabel trailhead. If you love nature, this trail is for you. Because one-third of the trail parallels the Green Swamp, cyclists will see plenty of wetlands and wildlife.

WEST ORANGE TRAIL: For Lake County residents, the best place to access the trail is at the Killarney Station near the border of Lake and Orange counties. The 22-mile trail offers a diverse riding experience. Cyclists pedal through the heart of downtown Winter Garden and then through orange groves and wooded areas.

SOUTH LAKE—LAKE MINNEOLA SCENIC TRAIL: The trail begins at the Killarney Station where the West Orange Trail ends. The 9.5-mile trail offers some challenging hills and ultimately leads cyclists to downtown Clermont and the shores of Lake Minneola.

WITHLACOOCHEE STATE TRAIL: A relatively short drive to Inverness on S.R. 44 will allow you to access the Inverness trailhead. This is undoubtedly one of the state’s longest cycling trails, spanning 46 miles. Cyclists pedal past several parks and quaint, small towns such as Floral City, Citrus Springs, Istachatta and Trilby.