Orlando Bike Rides

Oviedo Loop Bike Ride

Orlando Bike — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:31:09 +0000

This morning we set out from the Avalon Park YMCA. One of the ride leaders from the A Group decided he was bored with the route and wanted to change it up a bit. He suggested adding a loop to Oviedo and back around to Fort Christmas then up Taylor Creek and the old route back to the YMCA in Avalon Park. We started with a group of about 10 at our regular 16-18 mph warm up. We were feeling pretty good after completing the Horrible Hundred last weekend so we started increasing speed. We were pulling at 23-26 mph on our way to Oviedo and everyone was taking their turn. When we were on a side street I looked back and we dropped about 4 riders so we were moving strong with 6 riders and the pulls were getting longer. We have 3 guys in the group that had awesome day pulling – Gordon King, John Turner and Doug Preble, thanks guys. As we rolled down Taylor Creek Road I thought we were killing it running 25-26 mph. When we got to the end of Taylor Creek I said to Gordon wow we are moving head said that was a tailwind. So true, that was a tailwind and the next 10 miles were rough to say the least. We could barely get over 22 mph and in the fields the wind pushed back and made it difficult to sustain 21.5 mph. There were some manly pulls going on and I really dug deep like everyone else and suffered. We made it back and were out of the wind on Lake Pickett and the pace picked up again. We were all pulling and the speeds were increasing again until Gordon approaching Chuluoto Road decided it would be cool to run close to 25 mph and I was almost spent. We all hung in there but we finished as a group of four with an average of 21.5 mph for 60.38 miles. Nice work guys see you in a few days.

Oviedo Loop Bike Ride

Orlando Bike — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:48:52 +0000

Our November 21 Oviedo loop with Eastside Cycling Club - A Group - 60.39 Miles

Seminole Cyclists

Orlando Bike — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:27:07 +0000

Ride Level Descriptions

A - 20+ mph: Experienced Riders Only. Be able to read a map and change a flat. Very fast to racing pace.
B - 17-21 mph: Experienced Riders Only. Be able to read a map, change a flat, and ride 20 miles non-stop.
C – 15-18 mph: Be able to read a map and change a flat and ride 20 miles non-stop. Ride leader will make sure no rider is dropped.
D - 12-15 mph: Beginner Ride. Fitness level must be good for 20 miles non-stop. Ride leader will make sure no rider is dropped.
S - 10-15 mph: Leisurely, social ride. Distance varies. Ride leader will make sure no rider is dropped.
T – Tourist: Longer Rides at a slower pace. Be able to read a map, change a flat. Don’t be upset if you get dropped.

Saturday 7:30am
A,B-34 & 42miles, C-upto 30miles
The SEMINOLE Cyclists Signature Ride starts from the Einstein Bagel Shop. We leave at 7:30am sharp and do various pace rides doing around (C)20-30mi, (A,B)34mi or (A,B)42mi. The first part of the ride will travel at 18-20mph as a group towards Ronald Reagan Boulevard and through the less traveled country roads near Lake Jessup, then the faster riders will break away after Lake Mary Boulevard (LMB) and the second group will continue at their casual 18mph pace. This is a great starter ride to get acquainted with the SEMINOLE Cyclists. Marshalls for the ride make sure that “No Rider Gets Left Behind.“

Sunday 7:30am
A and B Group, 42miles
Both A and B groups will meet in front of the Colonial Town Center’s Coffee Cafe. The A group ride will leave pacing 20-22 mph and covering 42+ miles. The A riders must be able to pull at 22 during this ride not just draft at 22mph.
B Group, 37.5miles. These rides are not designated for novices.

Sunday 8:00am
B Group, 20-30mile routes
The SEMINOLE Cyclists ‘Relaxed’ Sunday Ride starts from the Colonial Town Center’s Coffee Cafe – with an emphasis on ‘Relaxed’. Sleep in, YES, but be ready to roll at 8:00am sharp.

The first part of the ride travels out towards Sanford’s Oregon Trail and Orange, but makes its way back to the shady roads of Markham Woods. The second part of the ride continues its relaxed 17-19mph pace back towards Heathrow via Markham Woods Rd with an option to go longer through the hilly Mandarin subdivision. Both routes make it safe and sound back at the Coffee Cafe for some java brew ride recaps.

Marshalls for the ride make sure that “No Rider Gets Left Behind.”
This ride is not designated for novices.

During Summer there are additional rides

Horrible 100 – 100 Mile Road Ride in Orlando

Orlando Bike — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:38:37 +0000

Dear Horrible Hundred Participants,
As you all are beginning to make your way towards Clermont for this weekend’s festivities, we wish you a safe journey and look forward to seeing all of you at the packet pick-up, Expo, ride start, along the route, and at the post-ride celebration for the 30^th Anniversary Horrible Hundred.

Thanks to all of you who have registered for the event. We are currently at 1546 riders and continuing to add to the numbers, shattering attendance all 29 previous editions of the Horrible Hundred.

Just a few important quick notes to add to your Horrible Hundred experience this weekend:
· Horrible Hundred Happy Hour(s): Saturday November 14; 4:00 to 8:00 PM @ The Cycling Hub in Clermont.

· Parking: With 2000 riders expected to attend Sunday’s Main Event, we expect parking at Waterfront Park and around Clermont to be at a “premium.” Some tips to make your parking experience as enjoyable as the rest of the Horrible Hundred.

o Pick up your packet on Saturday, park at one of the nearby parking locations, and ride to Waterfront Park. See parking map.

o Use drop off location if carpooling. Also see parking map.

· Familiarization Rides on Saturday: Our friends from local clubs and teams have graciously agreed to lead rides from Waterfront Park on Saturday for out of town guests. All rides will accommodate a wide variety of riders with sweeps and leads on many routes. Check out all the rides here.

Correction: The Yalaha Bakery Ride led by Walter Rentz and Jim McConnell of ORC starts at 8:30 AM from Waterfront Park. Our apologies for incorrectly listing the start time previously. We do not want any of you to miss this nice route to a magnificent eatery led by two great guys in Orlando cycling!

· Early Packet Pick Up: Please pick up your packets on Saturday at David’s World Cycle in Altamonte Springs, The Cycling Hub in Clermont or Waterfront Park. See here for location and hours. It will save you time and give you a trouble free start to your ride on Sunday.

We are putting the finishing touches on the 30^th Anniversary Horrible Hundred for all 2000 of our guests – you! Be safe on your journey to Orlando. Please come find me during the weekend. I would love to meet all of you and hear about your HH experiences.

Tom
Tom Bargnesi
Director
30^th Anniversary Horrible Hundred
Florida Freewheelers
www.horrible-hundred.com
HorribleHundred@FloridaFreewheelers.com

Orlando Biker Happy Hour

Orlando Bike — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:21:58 +0000

Paul Duckett, Meghan Horner and Scott Levitt were discussing putting together a happy hour for next Thursday, October 29th at Paddy Murphy’s in Baldwin Park. Paul and Meghan are going to send out the email to all of their contacts from the Lakemont & Windermere Roadie biking crowd. Should be a fun time to see people without helmets and bike shorts. Everyone is invited

If you are interested in joining us, just meet us at Paddy Murphy’s at 6:30 pm. Feel free to invite others!

Fort Christmas Ride

Orlando Bike — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:38:08 +0000

Saturday Ride with Eastside Cycling Club. We started out a little late 7:15 AM ish heading toward Fort Christmas. Just before the right turn on Colonial we had a blow out. Unlike the group most of the time we waited for the rider. After about five minutes of waiting and getting a flat on the new tire we all decided to head again toward Fort Christmas. It was a nice fast paced ride that in some stretches over 26 mph once arriving at Fort Christmas the average speed was 22.5 mph. Last last stretch on the ride is a sprint to the finish line, do not be alarmed it is not the pace just a sprint. Below is the Saturday Fort Christmas route from Avalon Park YMCA round trip is 34.8 miles.
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The “A” Group after gathering at Fort Christmas rode a few additional miles. The group rode additional stretch down Taylor Creek Road to the 520 intersection. The round trip ride was almost 50 miles (49.8 miles) Taylor Creek Extension.
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The group picked up the pace from Fort Christmas down to Taylor Creek Road 520 intersection, sprinting at the end of the road. On the ride to the intersection I started cramping in my right inner thigh. I was pedaling with my left leg letting my right rest. The ride back was brisk and I started cramping in my left inner thigh and the ache would not go away. Unfortunately, I only brought water and did not have the solution necessary. I stopped at the convient store on Colonial and grabbed a Gatorade but not soon enough the cramps had taken hold where I could hardly walk. The remaining 4 miles to my home were tough and when I arrived home I had to struggle to lift my leg off of my bike and my inner thigh were contracting and moving on their own (not a fast twitch but at a slow deep movement). I am laughing writing about it but it was the first thime I had ever experienced cramping at that level and it was alarming.

A little information about Cramps

A muscle cramp, technically, occurs when your muscle tightens and shortens causing a sudden severe pain.

Muscle cramps generally result from overexertion and dehydration. When you don’t have enough fluid in your system, it leads to an electrolyte imbalance that causes your muscles to cramp up. Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium that help the cells to function normally. An imbalance occurs when we have too much or too little of one or more electrolytes in our system. The main electrolytes affecting muscle cramping are potassium, sodium and calcium.

Cramps may also occur after inactivity, such as sitting too long in one place without moving a muscle. Sometimes you can even get a cramp when you’re just lying in bed, though researchers cannot define a definite cause.

Most often people get cramps in their calves, however, you can also get them in your thighs, feet or just about any muscle.

What can I do to prevent these cramps?

To stave off future episodes of nocturnal leg cramps, consider the following tips:

Drink six to eight glasses of water daily. Doing so will help prevent dehydration, which may play a role in the cramping.

Stretch calves regularly throughout the day and at night.

Ride a stationary bicycle for a few minutes before bedtime. This activity can help prevent cramps from developing during the night, especially if you do not get a lot of exercise during the day.

Keep blankets loose at the foot of the bed to prevent your toes and feet from pointing downward while you sleep.

Do aquatic therapy regularly during the week to help stretch and condition your muscles.

Wear proper foot gear.

How can I make cramps go away? (Not possible while on a ride)

When cramping occurs, try these steps:

Walk on or jiggle the affected leg and then elevate it.

Straighten the leg and flex your foot toward your knee. Grab your toes and pull them upward toward your knee. You should feel your calf muscles stretching.

Take a hot shower or warm bath, or apply an ice massage to the cramped muscle.

First, relax the tightened area.

You should gently massaging the area that’s cramped, whether it’s a crick in your calf from over exercising or a spasm in your feet. Second, stretch the muscle out slowly and gently, as long as you don’t feel pain. For calf cramps, do a wall stretch. Stand about three feet away from the wall, with your knees straight and your heels on the floor. Lean into the wall, supporting yourself with your hands. You will feel the stretch of your calf muscles. Hold for 60 seconds and repeat three times.

You should also make sure to drink plenty of fluids.

If you get muscle cramps after exercise, drink water or a sports drink or juice to rehydrate and restore your electrolyte balance. Most of the time water will be sufficient to rehydrate you, however, you are then better off choosing a sports drink containing electrolytes.

You may also undo a cramp with ice.

Ice is both a pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory. Try massaging the area with ice for no more than ten minutes or until the area is bright red, which indicates that blood cells have returned to heat the cramped muscle. If ice is too uncomfortable, try heat. Heat improves superficial blood circulation and makes muscles more flexible, so some people find that heat is more soothing for muscle cramps than ice. Try a heating pad for 20 minutes at a time or even a warm shower or bath. Make sure to massage the muscle with your hands following ice or heat.

Cervelo P3 vs. Trek Equinox 9

Orlando Bike — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:22:00 +0000

I have been riding a Trek Equinox 9 with Ultegra components 700c Bontranger wheel set for a few years. I purchased a used Cervelo P3 with Dura Ace components 650c Mavic wheel set. I am somewhat amazed by the difference in the the amount of effort and speed. I was riding innovation way for a quick spin this afternoon once I get my Cervelo set up and I added almost 2 mph to my average speed on my Trek. It seemed almost effortless to maintain 24-25 mph on the road when on my Trek it was difficult to maintain that speed.My normal average on innovation way is normally 20.5 to 21.5 and my average today was 22.5 and that was in the intense heat of the day. When I stopped today at the turn around to get some water I thought I was going to faint because of the heat on the blacktop. I rested for a few and started back slowly because I was feeling faint but got back up to speed and on the final stretch I got my new bike up to 32.4 mph.
I am not sure if it is the frame, components, wheel set or just position on the bike but there was a very noticeable difference in effort and speed.
I just ordered a set of spinnergy wheels and anticipate faster speeds.

Inovation Way Ride

Orlando Bike — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:22:59 +0000

Wednesday night ride with Eastside Cycling Club was a good ride for me. I hooked up with a small group of about 5 and hammered down. I think we were trying to drop each other and having fun (fun in a masochistic way). We road laps so 4 laps was close to 32 miles, I arrived late so had to do one on my own but it gave ma an opportunity to push myself and find my limits. I went to a website looking at bikes and saw a video that changed my entire outlook on biking. These are words from guys that live the sport and it supports their families. It give a totally different perspective to me as a fitness biker and the mentality it takes to improve endurance and speed. Check it out and I will see you later.

Here is the site just watch and listen to the video – http://www.cervelo.com/default.aspx?t=Bikes

You must forget about the love for yourself! If you learn how to suffer the rest is easy!

If you know agents and brokers that are working in the foreclosure business we can help them out. We offer short sale processing for free. We just need the title work for a Title Company in Florida.

Surfed Ponce Inlet – Priorities Priorities

Orlando Bike — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:07:26 +0000

I love biking and only a few things pull me away 1. Family 2. Waves
Last night got a call from business partner in Melbourne. He asked if I wanted to surf Ponce Inlet today, 8/16/09 and that the waves were going to be pretty good. Checked the surf report online and did not look so good. Did not hear from buddy all night woke at 6:15 AM to see if he was going sent a text message with plenty of time to still make the Lakemont Sunday ride. 15 minutes after the ride started, which I did not make, he called. Going surfing, we met at our favorite Florida spot Ponce Inlet and surfed for 4 hours. Smoking session (Good surf not actual smoke) – Good exercise so did not feel like I missed the ride. Next week may be blogs about Hurricane Surf but I will try to stick to biking because that is how you found my blog and it is a common passion we have together. Enjoy your ride and be safe.

Avalon Park Bike Ride

Orlando Bike — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:28:14 +0000

Wow, stayed up to late last night and when alarm clock went off it was hard to get up. Fridays seem to be long days that last into the night catching up with the weeks events with family. Woke up at 6:15 AM for the Saturday 7:00 AM ride start with my brand new tires. Today I am riding with Eastside Cycling Club which leaves from the Avalon Park YMCA every Saturday morning at 7:00 AM. The goal was to keep the group together and at Fort Christmas break off into A-B rides. The group kept it tight running about 20-22 mph down Avalon Park Boulevard right onto East Colonial (50) and left on South Tanner. About half way down Tanner there was separation and a few were left to catch up at Fort Christmas. We took a right onto Lake Pickett Road took a left on Chuluota Road and a right on Right on Lake Picket Road we were varying between 20-23 MPH. We took a right onto Fort Christmas Road where Gordon saw another group ahead and decided to reel them in and pass before we arrived at Fort Christmas. We caught the group and pulled up behind them one of our group passed so I followed not knowing we were less than a quarter a mile from the turn into Fort Christmas. We got off our bikes at Fort Christmas and used the public facilities. There was a group that was going to leave and do a 48-50 Mile loop and the others would double back for approximately 40 mile loop. I decided I would take the longer route and started out and at the entrance of Fort Christmas boohyyyaaaahhh another flat.

There was a super nice group of 4 that waited for me to change my tire, we left together. In the group was Andrew and his wife Megan Nazareth who own a screen print/embroidery store. I talked to Andrew about his business and decided I will have my company Foundation Title & Escrow Services shirts embroidered at Embroidery Solutions. I would suggest anyone that rides support each others businesses.If you need screen prints or company logos on your clothing including hats contact Embroidery Solutions, (407) 438-8188. And always SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP.

Ok back to ride. So the five of us left Fort Christmas as I chatted with Andrew a bit and noticed the girls getting away. We buckled down and pulled in with them – Megan was pulling. I pulled out in front to give her some help. I figured 20 was a good speed – so away we went. The group took a right turn and I kept going straight and did not notice for about 20 seconds. When I looked back – Andrew was waiting for me, thanks Andrew. We were able to reel the girls in again and start the reverse route home. Well needless to say – we dropped two of the girls on our way home and I want to give props to Megan and Andrew Nazareth for a nice session on the cranks – we all pushed each other on the way back getting up to almost 25 mph on some stretches. So great ride everyone had fun – met new people – should have shed a few pounds and most importantly gave my heart a good workout. See you soon.

Map Of Saturday Ride – 39.2 Miles

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