Hello From Florida!

[wildhawk]

I just joined the forum a few nights ago and I must say that I am impressed with the forum! You are all terrific! I just recently starting riding seriously again after recovering from knee issues and heart/blood pressure issues. I was getting bored with walking on my “dreadmill” so my husband and I decided to start biking again. Great exercise - now if I can just lose my excess weight from being sedentary for so long. I used to ride a mountain bike when I lived in Virginia, but it did not make sense for the flat, paved trails near my home in Florida. Plus it was not the right frame for me either and I think it contributed to my knee problem. So my husband purchased a great hybrid for me to ride - a Giant Innova. He had a racing bike, but after riding my hybrid he decided to get one for himself too. And now we simply cannot get enough of biking! We are currently riding about 30 miles a week (increasing a little each week) and are starting to train for a huge ride - the MS150 (two day, 150 mile ride) next May. We have some smaller event rides coming up this fall, but it is so fun! Florida has a great Rails-to-Trails system and we can take our bikes just about anywhere and get in some great rides. Any advice you can give me on training and nutrition is most welcome! Thanks everyone!!

[arielmoon]

Welcome fellow Floridian! I am fairly new here and to cycling but I am addicted!

Happy roads and trails to you!

[kermit]

Welcome! Hi from Miami, hope Fay didn't hurt you too bad. Are you coming down here to the Everglades Bike club century in October? Hope to see you.

[OakLeaf]

Hey from a snowbird (Volusia County... right about where Fay is parked right now - hoping she leaves our roof alone!)

[arielmoon]

Hey from a snowbird (Volusia County... right about where Fay is parked right now - hoping she leaves our roof alone!)

She kinda stalled there didnt she? I hope she moves on her merry way soon!

We are just out of rain band range at the moment and I think I may be able to ride this after noon! woot!

[katluvr]

Hi Wildhawk!
I am in St. Petersburg...and you are right if you get out of town a bit there are great places to bike....the Suncoast Trail and the Withlocochee trails are my favorite!
You mention a May MS 150....which one? We have done X5 the Mid Florida Chapter MS 150 (goes to Sea World). And a few others out of state. Thinking of doing the one that goes to Key West next year.
Just keep "lurking" around the forum and you'll get lots of advice...and things to try. Always remember...what works for one may not work for another. So do what feels best for you!

As for Faye...yep...so much for the "mandatory evacuation" order for my area (flood zone)--barely seen a drop of rain. Just darn clouds. Needs to clear up so I can bike on Sunday!

Oh and welcome back to biking!:)

[partbug]

Hi to all from Sebring Fl. And lets not forget Aug 30-Sept 1 | TOUR OF SEBRING, Sebring, FL http://kenilworthlodge.com/packages/?id=347

[bethanymarie]

Anyone on the East Coast?

Lake Worth here .. in Palm Beach County..

[ehirsch83]

I am down in Ft.Lauderdale, but do ride up to Lake Worth on occasion(during base season at least once a week).

[wildhawk]

So nice to meet some fellow Floridians!! I wanted to do the tour of Sebring, but we are booked for that weekend - we penciled it in on our calendar for next year for sure - looks like fun! I think I will be up to the Bok Tower Century by that time too. We have signed up for Sunday, Oct. 5th to do the Rails to Trails ride at Withlacoochee State Trail in Inverness (We are doing the 50k) and then the Oct. 19th Share the Road Ride in St. Pete (20 mi.) and the Ride with the Stars (25 mi.) at Fort Desoto in Dec. - Busy schedule for fall, but we are chalking it up to further training for us for the MS150 next May. We need the experience of group riding too. My husband has ridden in the MS before, but I am a newbie when it comes to riding in groups. I really hope to meet some of you in person sometime - thanks for the warm welcome!

[katluvr]

I should see you at the Withlocochee ride...I'll be there as always. It is such a great trail.
And the Share the Road Ride essentially is the north and south routes of the St. Pete Bike Club as well as my usual routes. Pretty nice for tooling around St. Pete.
Glad to hear you will be out and about! Maybe I'll see you out!:)

[Jallora]

My husband and I both ride. We live in Ocala, so we ride on the Withalacoochee Trail and the Hawthorne - Gainesville Trail a lot. We won't be at the Withalacoochee Trail Ride on the 5th though, because we're doing the Race for the Cure at Disney. I've done that every year with my best friend since she lost her sister to breast cancer, so I can't miss it even though I would love to do that ride. I'll be doing the little 10 mile breast cancer ride from the Ocala Bicycle Shop the following weekend though if any of you guys are going to do that.

[wildhawk]

Howdy Jallora!
We will be in Orlando on Sept. 20, but at a car show (one of our other interests). I hope to meet you sometime on the trail - this will be our first cycling on the Withlacoochee Trail, but we have camped and hiked near there before. Good luck with your cancer ride - our goal is the MS150 next year, but we are hoping to get in some smaller charity rides too. I lost my Mom and Dad to cancer so I know how important that is. I lost a dear friend who suffered from MS a few months ago so I will be wearing an armband with her photo on it for the MS150. Nice to meet you!

[Jallora]

Hi Wildhawk. My hubbie and I are signed up to do the MS150 on Sept 20th....if we can raise the funds. Right now we're still short of the minimum. We're planning on only doing the Saturday portion of the event, but we're going to do 100 miles. The fundraising goals have been tough to make this year though with everyone being tighter on funds. If we don't get it this year, hopefully we can do it next year.