Going to Tampa next weekend, and I’m wondering if should bring my bike. I’ll have time to ride, but have no idea where. Any suggestions?
Here’s a link with a few rides:
http://www.cyclingtampabay.com/LocalCyclingInfo/GroupRides/SaturdayRides.aspx
I’ve done the Gaither ride once a couple years ago and enjoyed it a lot (a little north of Tampa). We did a couple loops around fairly country roads at a pretty good clip.
I’ve done the Ride N Roll ride a few times (about 20 min SW of Tampa) and it’s generally fairly fast, but I’ve seen idiots show up who like to run red lights. I’ve done a ride where they did an out-and-back on Gulf Blvd (runs parallel to the beach where all of the hotels are…nice bike lane most of the way). I’ve also done one where they went through some neighborhoods and some almost-country roads (this is where the light-running idiots were…they almost got squashed by a VW).
My personal advice is to ride on either the Pinellas Trail north of town(park at the Highway 50 exit) or Flatwoods. It’s not sexy and can be boring to some, but I love no traffic and perfect surfaces which the Trail offers a lot of:) The roads here are simply horrific in terms of safety. The octogenarians and vacation minded folks, especially during holidays like Spring Break…it’s just ridiculous.
I stopped riding the roads here a couple of years ago b/c it was just too darn scary and not worth the risk…at least for this old dawg.
In south Tampa,'there is only Davis island and I personally do
Not like it although alot of people ride put there.
Really the place is the suncoast parkway about 20-25 minutes north. It’s totally flat. If you want hills you have to go to san Antonio about 35 minutes north. It’s really nice. Ive only been out there on the weekends. Riders generally meet around 7:00 sat and sun am. Alot of people out there, there is no shortage of people to ride with.
Ive never been, but a group meets in st Petersburg on sat mornings I believe.
Tom
Small world! I live in Hyde Park…I’m sure I have seen you out on DI before, but stopped riding out there some time ago. We are talking the same place right…Suncoast…Pinellas Trail? I think somewhere along the line when it gets up near McMullen Booth it stops being called Pinellas Trail and goes to Suncoast right? Either way it’s one of my 2 routes.
It’s a trail closed to traffic?
yes - both trails are. I’ve never been on Pinellas and have never paid attention to how it and suncoast run together, sounds the previous poster does - I moved here a year ago. Both will have roads you have you cross and can be a bit of a pain in the butt. I know Suncoast has one stretch that’s non-stop for about 10 miles and then it’s like every two miles after that, with some sporadic parts covering more than 2. It goes for about 40 miles i believe.
I haven’t been on DI in awhile - it’s too frustrating. I would just assume bike indoors on the trainer. That is a small world. I’m in New Suburb Beautiful. Suncoast is pretty good and not to far away though.
No, these are different trails. Both are closed to traffic, but IMO I would never ride the Pinellas trail unless I lived right there (way too many cross streets). The Suncoast trail runs along side the Suncoast Parkway and begins on Lutz Lake Fern Road right near the Hillsboroguh/Pasco County border and goes north for 42 miles. Only a handful of cross streets to worry about. But as others have said, it it flat. Also, I would stay off the roads in this area at all costs. I think we lead the nation in cyclist deaths.
Thanks for the info.
Personally, I’d leave the bike at home. HORRIBLE cycling in/around Tampa (go down often to visit the folks). The Suncoast trail is dead flat, you get to look at a 6 lane highway 50 feet away to your east the entire time - shoot me. If you must get some training in, Outspokin over by Clearwater Mall rents very nice bikes (i.e. Cervelo, etc.) and is about as nice a bike shop as you will find. How odd it is where it is.