I thought it would be easy!

[tctrek]

Went to Florida Panhandle for a little vacation and to support the Gulf Coast economy. BTW - no oil, beautiful beaches, clear ocean and great seafood!!

Anyway, since my normal rides are rolling at best, and usually have a few hateful hills, I thought "wow, it will be wonderful to ride someplace flat"... I didn't account for the fact that you are always {always!!!} in the saddle and constantly pedaling in flat terrain! No fast descents, no downgrades where you can coast for a moment, no reprieve! And riding along the Gulf of Mexico has great tailwinds for 1/2 the ride and the worst headwinds I've ever encountered for 1/2 of the ride!! I was working hard in the saddle.. it was NOT easy!

I also noticed a LOT of solo female riders down there. Far more than I see in Georgia.

Hats off to you ladies in Florida and don't let anyone tell you that it's easy to ride there because it's flat. That's a bunch of hooey.

[buffybike]

Glad you had a nice visit! Except for the extreme humidity, I love living in North Florida. In my area, there are a few rolling hills, but I know what you mean about the flats, too. And I'm a mostly solo female rider. I always feel safe.

[tctrek]

Oh yeah, it was hot. But we went out at 6:45am and were back in by 9-10am. but riding along the Gulf was so cool!

[katluvr]

Yes, very flat here (I live in St. Pete). No rest for those legs, always peddling AND cross or headwind almost all the time! We call headwinds "hill training" as that is as close as we get.
Riding along the gulf is beautiful! Glad you enjoyed your ride.

K

[OakLeaf]

Yepper.

When I come back to the hill country in the spring, I don't lack a bit for strength.

What I lack is endurance, because it's so fricken BORING that no one can stay out for more than 40 miles.

[tctrek]

I could see where a steady diet of flat could become boring. But I was only there for a few days and having too much fun to be bored. But I have a new admiration for Florida riders.

[arielmoon]

Yes, we have our own challenges. I am lucky to live where it is hilly but we do sometimes have outrageous wind. It is very pretty and I am never bored.

[OakLeaf]

That's true, you're inland where there are trees and curves! We go to the ONF to ride motorcycles, but it's too far for bicis.

[kermit]

I am in Miami and usually ride along the coast, great cycle friendly area and yup, strong head and tail winds. Although I rode inland yesterday, and no wind is almost worse with this heat. I do get some hill training on our giant bridges. Good fun. Thanks for supporting Florida.

[HillSlugger]

I did a few triathlon this year on flat courses and thought it would be easy compared to the hills I'm used to. Nope! Riding flatland is so much harder than I expected! Give me my rolling hills!

[marni]

Yepper.

What I lack is endurance, because it's so fricken BORING that no one can stay out for more than 40 miles.

Welcome to the thrill of riding in the outer burbs of Katy, Fulshear, Houston.

The best and most amazing biker I know is a former ballet dancer who bikes in Florida. She is strong steady and poetry in motion. Go Lois!

I never felt safer riding in traffic than I did riding through north florida headed for St.Augustine at the end of the cross country last summer. All of the women remarked on how courteous the drivers were.

Too bad about here.

[bmccasland]

Yup, I can relate, riding the Mississippi River levee. It's flat, and there's always wind. You can pretty much count on getting hit from all sides as you ride the curves of the river. What's really not fair is if the wind switches due to a thunderstorm - headwind out (normal), then headwind back. The most fun, and only topography are the little bumps from pipeline crossings or where the path drops down to go under a bunch of pipes at an oil refinery. Riding under the graineries smells like BEER!

The wind is our hill training. I hate the wind.

[denda]

I can relate also. I live in the Texas panhandle. Very flat, and LOTS of wind!

[marni]

The wind is our hill training. I hate the wind.[/QUOTE]

I guess the only solution is to think of it as resistance training and revel init.

[lo123]

Welcome to the thrill of riding in the outer burbs of Katy, Fulshear, Houston.

I'll second that after riding out in Richmond/Fulshear earlier this year.. I'll take my hills, k thx bye!