Can anyone help me out with this? My wife will be at the Madiera Beach Holiday Inn in Tampa for a week of training, job training, not tri training. So that she can keep up her tri training, does anyone know where she can rent a decent bicycle? Also, if there is a pool around if she doesn’t want to swim in the gulf?
I was in Clearwater a couple of years ago for vacation, and the people at the Chainwheel Drive bike shop (in Clearwater) were rented to me an older model (but otherwise in perfect working condition) Trek and were able to direct me to a pool at teh Clearwater civic center. The pool was supposedly used by the '96 Olympic team for training. Beautiful facility.
The Pinellas trail also ran through Clearwater, which was nice to ride for someone who didn’t know his way around.
Check out The St. Pete Mad Dogs Triathlon Club website at www.stpetemaddogs.com . They have a ton of local rides going on throughout the week and should be able to direct you to a pool, too. Post to their message board or call their hotline. They’re a great group to train with. If you get a chance, go to Pass A Grille Beach on Wednesday night for the weekly Swim/Run & cookout afterwards they have. (They start the group swim at 6 PM). They are in fact are having a triathlon at Madeira Beach this weekend www.madbeachtriathlon.com You’re in a mecca of triathletes & tri activity in the St. Pete area. You might also inquiry at Florida Bicycle Sports about renting a bike www.floridabicyclesports.com . Don’t know if they rent them, but maybe they can direct you to someone that does.
For swimming, she can join the St Petersbuurg Masters or lap swim at the St Petersburg (city?) pool–a 50 meter pool near the gulf. Check the phonebook or go online for more info.
Give Florida Bicycle Sports a call, or stop in. Bryan and Matt are great guys. If you go, give them hell about their love for Old Miss and Auburn (respectively).