The Bee-17s will ride a ~50 mile
loop from Boulware
Springs to Flemington,
Saturday, April 14th
Note: Today's ride
is part of a 2-day ride. We will also ride on SUNDAY April
15th, when we will do the rest of the Ride to Remember in conjunction
with the Saddle Tramps as a "fast group/slow group" ride. (See separate
Saddle Tramp posting for the details). Both groups will leave at the same
time, with the Bee-17s riding at our usual pace, and the Saddle Tramps following
at their usual pace. Anyone who "runs out of steam" during the sunday
ride can drop back to the Saddle Tramps pace to finish the ride. The
idea is to preview the route for the Ride to Remember in one weekend, but do it
on two days instead of one day like the official 100 mile ride. The Sunday
ride will do both the Wild Horse Loop and the Pristine Fields loop, leaving from
the Flemington Park.
The Route: Will start from Boulware
Springs going south and proceeding around 41st
Ave to SE 27th street north to SR20 (Hawthorne Rd), where we will turn
towards Hawthorne; we will then follow SR20 southeast, then turn south
onto CR325 and take it to CR346 will take us west across the River Styx to
CR225 which we will take south until it intersects with 441 at the "red barn",
then take 441 south through Macintosh to 193rd Street (Dungarvin Rd), which we
will take west to 100 Ave Rd which will carry us south to the rest stop at
the Flemington park. After the rest stop we will proceed north on CR329,
which becomes CR234 at the Alachua County border and follow it to Seminary Rd,
which we will take east into Micanopy then turn north and travel past the Pearl
Country Store onto CR234 and follow it to the Hawthorne Rail-Trail at Rochelle,
which we will take back to Boulware Springs.
The Time: Meet at 9:00AM,
ride at 9:15AM, Saturday, April 14th.
Expect a ride time of ~4:00 hours including rest
stops.
The Ride: This is a moderately
easy but longer ride of ~50 miles, with a
few significant hills and mostly smooth roads. Expect ride
speeds of 17-19 mph with a target pedaling speed of 17
mph and an average speed of 16-17 mph. This is a no-drop friendly
ride for riders in reasonable physical condition; we will soft pedal as
necessary to keep the core of the group together because riders on this
ride are expected to be able to ride at the stated group speed;
nevertheless we will wait for everyone to regroup at each
major turn and after fun sprints, if necessary to prevent
drops. Helmets are required, suntan lotion
is recommended.
The Rest Stop: Will be in the
Flemington park at approximately 30 miles; there are restrooms at
the park and a small country store with snacks and drinks nearby; an additional short rest stop at the Pearl Country
Store is available, if necessary.
The Start Point: Will be at
Boulware Springs at the dirt parking lot (the second entrance gate to Boulware Springs when coming from the
north) near 15th street; there are restrooms and a water fountain in the historic pump house
at the park. We will leave from this gate going south on 15th
Street.
The Ride Aids: Route
maps will be available at the start of the ride; if you want a preview map of
the ride or a Garmin .tcx file, email Ed at the address below; anyone
on my mail list is sent a map in the Ride Report for the previous
ride. General information about the Bee-17s is now available in the
"Riding Groups" page at the GCC web site.
Weather: In the event
of questionable weather as we near ride time, a GO or cancellation notice
will be posted on the list server approximately 1 hour or
sooner before posted ride meeting time; if you don't see anything by
then, the ride is most likely a GO; if you still have concerns or useful
specific information about bad weather along the ride route,
please give me a call.
Note: The Bee-17s are
now an official GCC riding group. Anyone wishing to "join" the group as a
regular member can do so from their own Members Area page. Non-group
GCC members continue to be welcomed to join us on any posted ride they
feel like riding without having to formally "join" the
group.