Last week left on Wednesday to help my son in Tampa had leg surgery for chronic compartment syndrome. Drove the 1150 miles had not done that
kind of solo driving in many years. Was hard and hard on back in car
that long.
The best part helping my son though was getting to Nashville to see my
friend owns the vintage guitar store. But the cycling down in Tampa is
bad. I could not really get out away enough to do real road ride. I did
my usual power walk and on Monday road around hit neighbor hood loops to
get miles. No traffic memorial day every and was residential but never
went farther than about 2 miles from his house.
Not a fan of Tampa at all. I did like the heat but it was at 6am so not
as bad. Got back today and really Illinois is not such a bad place.
I am
completely wiped out driving 770 miles yesterday and 375 today. I real
bike century would be a piece of cake compared to the distance and
traffic. Atlanta was nuts and Nashville at rush hour. Next time it is
plane and rent a bike. However having your own bike is worth a lot.
Also, the 32 mm tires only need about 65 PSI so my mini leyzine pump
actually works fine. 250 strokes no hard to do and you are fine.
On 5/28/2025 6:09 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
Last week left on Wednesday to help my son in Tampa had leg surgery for
chronic compartment syndrome. Drove the 1150 miles had not done that
kind of solo driving in many years. Was hard and hard on back in car
that long.
The best part helping my son though was getting to Nashville to see my
friend owns the vintage guitar store. But the cycling down in Tampa is
bad. I could not really get out away enough to do real road ride. I did
my usual power walk and on Monday road around hit neighbor hood loops to
get miles. No traffic memorial day every and was residential but never
went farther than about 2 miles from his house.
There have been a number of times while on vacation/business trips where
I've substituted a run for a ride due to unfriendly roads.
Not a fan of Tampa at all. I did like the heat but it was at 6am so not
as bad. Got back today and really Illinois is not such a bad place.
I've had three trips to floriduh over the past couple of decades - only
one moderately pleasurable cycling experience (rented a mountain bike in
the Miami area and road some kind crappy trails).
Ironically, the LAB ranks floriduh as 9th in the country: >https://bikeleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BFS_Report_2024-1.pdf
As far as I can tell, it's mostly due to the number of railtrails (as >"infrastructure") which is rather expansive. The limitation there of
course is that you need to live a reasonable distance from a trail or
you're stuck with driving the to trail or riding through unfriendly
roads (LAB ranks it with the 4th highest cyclist fatality rate in the >country, despite the 6th highest per capita spending)..
I am
completely wiped out driving 770 miles yesterday and 375 today. I real
bike century would be a piece of cake compared to the distance and
traffic. Atlanta was nuts and Nashville at rush hour. Next time it is
plane and rent a bike. However having your own bike is worth a lot.
Also, the 32 mm tires only need about 65 PSI so my mini leyzine pump
actually works fine. 250 strokes no hard to do and you are fine.
On 5/28/2025 6:09 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
Last week left on Wednesday to help my son in Tampa had
leg surgery for chronic compartment syndrome. Drove the
1150 miles had not done that kind of solo driving in many
years. Was hard and hard on back in car that long.
The best part helping my son though was getting to
Nashville to see my friend owns the vintage guitar store.
But the cycling down in Tampa is bad. I could not really
get out away enough to do real road ride. I did my usual
power walk and on Monday road around hit neighbor hood
loops to get miles. No traffic memorial day every and was
residential but never went farther than about 2 miles from
his house.
There have been a number of times while on vacation/business
trips where I've substituted a run for a ride due to
unfriendly roads.
Not a fan of Tampa at all. I did like the heat but it was
at 6am so not as bad. Got back today and really Illinois
is not such a bad place.
I've had three trips to floriduh over the past couple of
decades - only one moderately pleasurable cycling experience
(rented a mountain bike in the Miami area and road some kind
crappy trails).
Ironically, the LAB ranks floriduh as 9th in the country: https://bikeleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/
BFS_Report_2024-1.pdf
As far as I can tell, it's mostly due to the number of
railtrails (as "infrastructure") which is rather expansive.
The limitation there of course is that you need to live a
reasonable distance from a trail or you're stuck with
driving the to trail or riding through unfriendly roads (LAB
ranks it with the 4th highest cyclist fatality rate in the
country, despite the 6th highest per capita spending)..
I am completely wiped out driving 770 miles yesterday and
375 today. I real bike century would be a piece of cake
compared to the distance and traffic. Atlanta was nuts and
Nashville at rush hour. Next time it is plane and rent a
bike. However having your own bike is worth a lot. Also,
the 32 mm tires only need about 65 PSI so my mini leyzine
pump actually works fine. 250 strokes no hard to do and
you are fine.
On 5/30/2025 8:26 AM, Zen Cycle wrote:
On 5/28/2025 6:09 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
Last week left on Wednesday to help my son in Tampa had
leg surgery for chronic compartment syndrome. Drove the
1150 miles had not done that kind of solo driving in many
years. Was hard and hard on back in car that long.
The best part helping my son though was getting to
Nashville to see my friend owns the vintage guitar store.
But the cycling down in Tampa is bad. I could not really
get out away enough to do real road ride. I did my usual
power walk and on Monday road around hit neighbor hood
loops to get miles. No traffic memorial day every and was
residential but never went farther than about 2 miles from
his house.
There have been a number of times while on vacation/business
trips where I've substituted a run for a ride due to
unfriendly roads.
Not a fan of Tampa at all. I did like the heat but it was
at 6am so not as bad. Got back today and really Illinois
is not such a bad place.
I've had three trips to floriduh over the past couple of
decades - only one moderately pleasurable cycling experience
(rented a mountain bike in the Miami area and road some kind
crappy trails).
Ironically, the LAB ranks floriduh as 9th in the country:
https://bikeleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/
BFS_Report_2024-1.pdf
As far as I can tell, it's mostly due to the number of
railtrails (as "infrastructure") which is rather expansive.
The limitation there of course is that you need to live a
reasonable distance from a trail or you're stuck with
driving the to trail or riding through unfriendly roads (LAB
ranks it with the 4th highest cyclist fatality rate in the
country, despite the 6th highest per capita spending)..
I am completely wiped out driving 770 miles yesterday and
375 today. I real bike century would be a piece of cake
compared to the distance and traffic. Atlanta was nuts and
Nashville at rush hour. Next time it is plane and rent a
bike. However having your own bike is worth a lot. Also,
the 32 mm tires only need about 65 PSI so my mini leyzine
pump actually works fine. 250 strokes no hard to do and
you are fine.
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more interesting
north and west which is not flat like most of the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/florida-topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-landscape-topographic-map-of-florida-elevation.jpg
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more interesting north and
west which is not flat like most of the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/florida-
topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-landscape-topographic-map-of-
florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long, long way from
being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest point is only about 350
feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds 5000 miles
almost every year. His highest, steepest hills are the freeway
overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills around here.
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
On Fri, 30 May 2025 13:10:25 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more interesting north and
west which is not flat like most of the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/florida-
topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-landscape-topographic-map-of-
florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long, long way from
being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest point is only about 350
feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds 5000 miles
almost every year. His highest, steepest hills are the freeway
overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills around here.
That's from the guy who scorns anecdotes.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On Fri, 30 May 2025 13:10:25 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more interesting north and
west which is not flat like most of the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/florida-
topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-landscape-topographic-map-of- >>>> florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long, long way from
being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest point is only about 350
feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds 5000 miles
almost every year. His highest, steepest hills are the freeway
overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills around here.
That's from the guy who scorns anecdotes.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
That Florida is flat is well a fact, Berm Peak did ride up the highest
point, which is less than London manages even few miles from the Thames and >central, and london isn’t a hilly area far from it.
Looking on Strava heat maps which does have self selecting element, Florida >does have some glow around the cities though US in general shows a much
lower temperature ie lower cycling rate.
Roger Merriman
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height
it’s self within reason, and some really interesting places that aren’t >particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what it’s worth I’d probably would certainly look at some of Floridas >trails I’m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
On 5/30/2025 1:50 PM, cyclintom wrote:
On Fri May 30 13:24:04 2025 Frank Krygowski wrote:
Yes, LAB's "Bike Friendly" is almost all about how many miles of special >>> paths or stripes have been laid down, with little or no attention to
quality.
What is "quality"? The kind of paint they use?
It could (at least, theoretically) be educational to have a rational >discussion about what constitutes a good vs bad bike facility.
I'm not sure it could happen in this forum, though.
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height it’s self within reason, and some really interesting places that aren’t particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what it’s worth I’d probably would certainly look at some of Floridas trails I’m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
On 5/30/2025 1:58 PM, AMuzi wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more interesting north and
west which is not flat like most of the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ florida-
topography-map-colorful-natural-physical- landscape-topographic-map-
of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long, long way from
being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest point is only about 350
feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds 5000 miles
almost every year. His highest, steepest hills are the freeway
overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not at all
'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find mountains.
I happen to love mountainous or even hilly scenery. But I've never
really enjoyed climbing, even though I was told (long ago) "But you're
good at it!"
One club member led years of rides he called "Hill Repeats." Up steep
hills out of a valley, back down, over and over. I never once attended.
On 5/30/2025 1:13 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height
it’s self within reason, and some really interesting places that aren’t
particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what it’s worth I’d probably would certainly look at some of Floridas
trails I’m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
I live in Illinois and it also about as flat as it gets. The highest
point way u north is about 1100 ft elevation. I can ride a 50 mile route
and about 1000 ft of elevation complete according to my Garmin 945.
Florida is even more flat and would not have a few of the climbs in
Illinois that are along rivers banks. You can climb steep but not long
at all near the Illinois RIver in many places. Of course that means I am
a not a good climber at all. I have to really work at it to get better.
I don't pedal out of the saddle much or at least very long. I cannot due
to my issues with balance and legs. Seated going slow I can eventually
get there but need a low gear. I am diesel truck in effect.
I wanted to ride the Van Fleet trail but due to the fact of time I could
not get there. It would be a 50 minute drive then ride and go back to my >son's. That would be just too long. I am spoiled in my surroundings. I
leave my house and basically on country road in 1 mile wile with no much >traffic to get there living at the edge of town.
Funny but sometimes be don't realize just what we have around us we take
it for granted. It is always against my protocol to drive with my bike >someplace to start a ride. I want to leave from home riding it just
makes more sense. One good thing was the heat I liked the heat in
Florida it was good for the body. I manage each day to race-walk3-4 miles.
On 5/30/2025 4:16 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
... I am
a not a good climber at all. I have to really work at it to get better.
I don't pedal out of the saddle much or at least very long.
I'm not convinced that climbing out of the saddle is good strategy for
any long climb. One can certainly put out more power that way, say for a short steep pitch, but my guess is that it's inefficient - meaning it increases fatigue more than it increases power.
I thought I remembered that one change Lance Armstrong made after his
big medical recovery (besides, probably, a new cocktail of performance enhancing drugs) was to emphasize seated climbing at higher cadences.
Am I remembering right?
Any comments on seated vs. standing climbing?
On 5/30/2025 1:50 PM, cyclintom wrote:
On Fri May 30 13:24:04 2025 Frank Krygowski wrote:
Yes, LAB's "Bike Friendly" is almost all about how many miles of special >>> paths or stripes have been laid down, with little or no attention to
quality.
What is "quality"? The kind of paint they use?
It could (at least, theoretically) be educational to have a rational discussion about what constitutes a good vs bad bike facility.
I'm not sure it could happen in this forum, though.
On 5/30/2025 4:16 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
... I am a not a good climber at all. I have to really work at it to
get better. I don't pedal out of the saddle much or at least very long.
I'm not convinced that climbing out of the saddle is good strategy for
any long climb. One can certainly put out more power that way, say for a short steep pitch, but my guess is that it's inefficient - meaning it increases fatigue more than it increases power.
I thought I remembered that one change Lance Armstrong made after his
big medical recovery (besides, probably, a new cocktail of performance enhancing drugs) was to emphasize seated climbing at higher cadences.
Am I remembering right?
Any comments on seated vs. standing climbing?
On 5/30/2025 1:13 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height
it’s self within reason, and some really interesting places that aren’t >> particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what it’s worth I’d probably would certainly look at some of Floridas
trails I’m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
I live in Illinois and it also about as flat as it gets. The highest
point way u north is about 1100 ft elevation. I can ride a 50 mile route
and about 1000 ft of elevation complete according to my Garmin 945.
Florida is even more flat and would not have a few of the climbs in
Illinois that are along rivers banks. You can climb steep but not long
at all near the Illinois RIver in many places. Of course that means I am
a not a good climber at all. I have to really work at it to get better.
I don't pedal out of the saddle much or at least very long. I cannot due
to my issues with balance and legs. Seated going slow I can eventually
get there but need a low gear. I am diesel truck in effect.
I wanted to ride the Van Fleet trail but due to the fact of time I could
not get there. It would be a 50 minute drive then ride and go back to my son's. That would be just too long. I am spoiled in my surroundings. I
leave my house and basically on country road in 1 mile wile with no much traffic to get there living at the edge of town.
Funny but sometimes be don't realize just what we have around us we take
it for granted. It is always against my protocol to drive with my bike someplace to start a ride. I want to leave from home riding it just
makes more sense.
One good thing was the heat I liked the heat in
Florida it was good for the body. I manage each day to race-walk3-4 miles.
On 30 May 2025 18:13:04 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height
itÂ’s self within reason, and some really interesting places that arenÂ’t
particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what itÂ’s worth IÂ’d probably would certainly look at some of Floridas >> trails IÂ’m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
The Suncoast trail between highway 50 and highway 98 is very hilly.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
On 5/30/2025 4:16 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
... I am
a not a good climber at all. I have to really work at it to get better.
I don't pedal out of the saddle much or at least very long.
I'm not convinced that climbing out of the saddle is good strategy for
any long climb. One can certainly put out more power that way, say for a >short steep pitch, but my guess is that it's inefficient - meaning it >increases fatigue more than it increases power.
I thought I remembered that one change Lance Armstrong made after his
big medical recovery (besides, probably, a new cocktail of performance >enhancing drugs) was to emphasize seated climbing at higher cadences.
Am I remembering right?
Any comments on seated vs. standing climbing?
On 5/30/2025 4:12 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 1:50 PM, cyclintom wrote:
On Fri May 30 13:24:04 2025 Frank Krygowski wrote:
Yes, LAB's "Bike Friendly" is almost all about how many miles of special >>>> paths or stripes have been laid down, with little or no attention to
quality.
What is "quality"? The kind of paint they use?
It could (at least, theoretically) be educational to have a rational
discussion about what constitutes a good vs bad bike facility.
I'm not sure it could happen in this forum, though.
It can, but the discussion almost always becomes infected with some
dumbass rant about politics. You can solve that problem by blocking
those most likely to derail the conversation with irrelevant rants. You
know who they are.
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 30 May 2025 18:13:04 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height >>> it?s self within reason, and some really interesting places that aren?t
particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what it?s worth I?d probably would certainly look at some of Floridas >>> trails I?m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
The Suncoast trail between highway 50 and highway 98 is very hilly.
600ft gain over 12 miles is not very hilly by anyone’s standards, it’s
about the same ratio as my various Wednesday night Pub gravel loops which
are deliberately designed to be flat and fast.
If I go back to wales just popping to town to sit at the cafe is on the >100ft per mile mark of hilly ride, as you’d expect for the Brecon Beacons, >very hilly rides are another level all together!
100ft per mile is quoted ratio when rides become hilly.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
Roger Merriman
On 5/30/2025 5:00 PM, Zen Cycle wrote:
I wouldn't want to live anywhere that I would have to load my bike in
the car to have a decent riding experience
I strongly agree. When we bought this house, decades ago, our choice was >heavily influenced by the ability to ride pretty pleasantly north to get
to work, or ride south and soon get to fairly low traffic country roads.
And as I've mentioned before, north tends to be flat once past the river >valley, south gets quite hilly after maybe ten miles, because that's
where the glaciers stopped.
Since our move here, the McMansion suburbs have popped up in a lot of
the former cornfields, adding traffic to formerly quieter roads. But
it's still a great place for riding.
On 30 May 2025 21:24:29 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 30 May 2025 18:13:04 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height >>>> it?s self within reason, and some really interesting places that aren?t >>>> particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what it?s worth I?d probably would certainly look at some of Floridas >>>> trails I?m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
The Suncoast trail between highway 50 and highway 98 is very hilly.
600ft gain over 12 miles is not very hilly by anyoneÂ’s standards, itÂ’s
about the same ratio as my various Wednesday night Pub gravel loops which
are deliberately designed to be flat and fast.
True that the overall gain is pidly... but that section is up and
down, up and down, up and down.
If I go back to wales just popping to town to sit at the cafe is on the
100ft per mile mark of hilly ride, as youÂ’d expect for the Brecon Beacons, >> very hilly rides are another level all together!
100ft per mile is quoted ratio when rides become hilly.
I suspect there's a couple of segments like that on that segment.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1937849969
--
C'est bon
Soloman
Roger Merriman
--
C'est bon
Soloman
On 5/30/2025 4:16 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:
On 5/30/2025 1:13 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
On 5/30/2025 12:10 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2025 10:29 AM, AMuzi wrote:
In my small Florida experience, terrain is more
interesting north and west which is not flat like most of
the peninsula.
https://printablemapforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/
florida- topography-map-colorful-natural-physical-
landscape-topographic-map-of- florida-elevation.jpg
Agreed, but those hills in northwest Florida are a long,
long way from being snow capped mountains. Florida's highest
point is only about 350 feet elevation.
I get occasional visits from a Florida cyclist who exceeds
5000 miles almost every year. His highest, steepest hills
are the freeway overpasses. He suffers on moderate hills
around here.
I agree that 'interesting' terrain, as I enjoy here, is not
at all 'daunting' or 'punishing' or 'grueling' as I find
mountains.
Hilly or mountainous areas is often how one gains height than the height >>> it’s self within reason, and some really interesting places that aren’t >>> particularly challenging but they are interesting.
For what it’s worth I’d probably would certainly look at some of
Floridas
trails I’m very unlikely ever to get the chance.
Roger Merriman
I live in Illinois and it also about as flat as it gets. The highest
point way u north is about 1100 ft elevation. I can ride a 50 mile
route and about 1000 ft of elevation complete according to my Garmin 945.
Florida is even more flat and would not have a few of the climbs in
Illinois that are along rivers banks. You can climb steep but not long
at all near the Illinois RIver in many places. Of course that means I
am a not a good climber at all. I have to really work at it to get
better. I don't pedal out of the saddle much or at least very long. I
cannot due to my issues with balance and legs. Seated going slow I can
eventually get there but need a low gear. I am diesel truck in effect.
I wanted to ride the Van Fleet trail but due to the fact of time I
could not get there. It would be a 50 minute drive then ride and go
back to my son's. That would be just too long. I am spoiled in my
surroundings. I leave my house and basically on country road in 1 mile
wile with no much traffic to get there living at the edge of town.
Funny but sometimes be don't realize just what we have around us we
take it for granted. It is always against my protocol to drive with my
bike someplace to start a ride. I want to leave from home riding it
just makes more sense.
Same here, except that I wish there were more big hills closer. I would
have to ride 30/40 miles to get to any real hills.
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