FL>North FL>March or April 2014>Bike Tour

[Riverpirate]

I am going to keep this on my radar. Assuming I can find time from Prostaff duties. Spring is always tough for me.

[FLRider]

I am going to keep this on my radar. Assuming I can find time from Prostaff duties. Spring is always tough for me.

Great! You're more'n welcome to come on down!

[samsara]

I am going to keep this on my radar. Assuming I can find time from Prostaff duties. Spring is always tough for me.

I had to re-read that... the first time I read it as "Prostate duties"

[n816kc]

Sounds like a really nice trip plan. A couple of us in Winter Haven are giving it serious consideration. Subscribed and will be watching this one develop.

[FLRider]

I had to re-read that... the first time I read it as "Prostate duties"

I'm not going to comment anywhere near that...

Sounds like a really nice trip plan. A couple of us in Winter Haven are giving it serious consideration. Subscribed and will be watching this one develop.

Great! The more the merrier, I say.

[frankBGB]

I can buy in for the route and side trips to the springs sounds good too, but much more likely in March. Earlier the better.

FrankBGB

[FLRider]

I can buy in for the route and side trips to the springs sounds good too, but much more likely in March. Earlier the better.

FrankBGB

Great! I should have hard dates some time in the next three weeks; my wife's school schedule (the limiting factor) is up and I just need to discuss it with her.

[frankBGB]

Just noticed that this forum has been quiet since January 2013 (or am I not looking in the right spot for current posts?). Great idea and LET'S DO IT!

In fact I am all for doing it early March. If there are no other arrangements for getting back to the east side, let's make a loop route!

FrankBGB

[FLRider]

Sorry that I've not been active on this thread for a while. Will talk to the wife this weekend about timing for this, and will have a firm set of dates by next week.

I don't know if I can fit in a ride to check out the stretch of CR 345 without a bike lane this weekend; I've got a lot of stuff to do before leaving for Linville next weekend. But, that is at the top of my priority list to finish before December.

So, hopefully, I'll have all of the information nailed down for this one by the beginning of the new year!

[FLRider]

Well, I managed a physical recon this morning. I've updated the map to reflect that. It's located here.

The problem with the old route was after Fanning Springs. County Road 325 had too much traffic to be able to follow it with the width of bike lanes they have near Chiefland. I wouldn't want to ride that; it's similar in width and traffic levels to US 441 near Ocala. Seeing as how I've nearly been killed on 441 in that stretch twice, I'm not keen on trying my hand at CR 325.

So, the final day heading into Cedar Key is going to be a little longer (43 miles instead of ~39 miles). Sorry 'bout that.

Even with that, once we turn onto SR 24, we'll have to be cautious about riding. The bike lane through there is a little narrow. On the other hand, the travel lanes for the road are fairly wide and the margin line has a "hockey puck"-style rumble strip built in. I feel confident that riding that won't present much of a problem, but it will require caution.

I won't know the exact dates until after December 14th. I sat down and talked with the wife about this, and it turns out that she may have students going to state competition during some of the possible dates. She won't know for sure until regionals, which are on December 14th.

So, somewhere around December 14th to 16th, I'll know for sure. I can say that I'm shooting for either Sunday, March 16th to Friday, March 21st or Sunday, March 23rd to Friday, March 28th. It depends on her students.

I'll let everyone know as soon as I do!