The Saddle Tramps
(Bees are welcome to join us) will ride Sunday July 31st, from the
Tower
Square Publix. We will ride west to Archer on SR24
(Archer
Road), turn south onto 27/41 to Raleigh, where we turn east onto CR335 (NE
75th
St) which we will take to SR121 (Williston Road), then go north to SW
85th
Ave, where we turn west to go to SW 75th which will take us north back to
the
Publix. A shorter unescorted option will be available which leaves
27/41
to travel east to SR121 on CR346, bypassing the southern part of this
loop
and reducing the trip length to 24 miles. Maps will
be
available at the start.
This is a ~32 mile ride with
mostly smooth roads and no significant hills. Restrooms are
available
at the Publix and at the rest stop in Archer. Meet at
7:15AM
for a departure at 7:30AM so we get as much cool morning air
as
possible. High temperatures are currently forecast in the low-90s
later in the day, so bring plenty of water (at least 2 bottles!) and
dress for hot weather. It would be a good idea to bring a
few
dollars to purchase a cool drink at the rest stop to stretch your
water
supply, and purchase an energy snack, if you don't usually carry
one.
Expect level-ground pedaling speeds
between
13-17 mph, and an average speed of 13-15 mph on this
relatively
flat route. This is a no-drop friendly ride; nobody
needs
to stress themselves to keep up with the leader or faster riders,
because we will stop and wait for everyone to regroup at
each
major turn. Helmets
are required,
suntan lotion is recommended, as many parts of this ride are in
sunny
open areas.
The Tower Square Publix is located
on the
west side of town at the intersection of SW 75th (Tower Road)
and Archer Road; Archer road has bike lanes from I-75
westward and RTS bus service on route 75 which stops at Tower Square.
If
you drive, please park on the south most (Archer Rd) side of the parking
lot well away from the Publix store entrance.
If you would like to receive a preview
map of
the ride, or a Garmin .tcx file of the route, please email Ed at the
address
below.
This ride will be lead by Ed Gardner, due
to
our fearless leader, Melinda Koken, still surfing the freeway waves in
sunny but
broke Southern California, soon to be a new state if the inmates succeed in
taking over the asylum.
Where: Tower
Square Publix (Corner of Tower and Archer Road)
When: 7:15AM
meeting,
7:30AM departure, Sunday July 31st
Distance: ~32 miles, 1
rest
stop, ~24 miles shortcut route
Speed:
13-17
mph
Duration: ~2:30
hours