The North Florida Bicycle Club proudly presents the 19th Annual Endless Summer Watermelon Ride

Date: 9/7/2008

 

Place: The Jacksonville Equestrian Center on Normandy Blvd (13611 Normandy Blvd., 32221).  Take Normandy Blvd west from I-295, travel approx 9 miles, the Equestrian Center is on your right.

 

Times:

7:30 am: 65, 80 and 100 mile start

8:30 am: 30 and 45 mile start

11:00 am: Post ride lunch start

4:00 pm: All activities end (including route support).

 

The routes are marked, SAG vehicles gassed up, food and supplies in place and volunteers all set.  Even Hurricane Hanna has shifted east, so we can look forward to a great day of riding. Hopefully your bodies and bikes are tuned up for the 19th annual Endless Summer Watermelon Ride, a classic one-day bicycle event designed for the experienced road rider, the touring cyclist, the intermediate and the beginner cyclist. The route distances are 30, 45, 65, 80 and 100 miles on primarily lightly traveled country roads.  The course is pretty flat except for a few small rollers on the longer rides.  There are rest stops every 15 or so miles, so help is never too far away.  In addition, there are roving SAGs (Support and Gear vehicles) and motorcycle escorts, so help is even closer, if needed.  Look forward to a hot meal after the ride and if you so desire, bring your bathing suit and a towel and take a cool dip after the ride in the Olympic size pool. Shower facilities are also available at the Equestrian Center.

 

Special note for the 100 mile riders: The turn around is marked on Rte 121, however, you may want to keep track of it on your own computer: it is exactly 10 miles once you leave Dennis' rest stop in St George.

 

A few things to remember:

 

BRING your helmet: no helmet, no ride, no exceptions.

STAY alert: Normandy Blvd, Rte 90 and Rte 301 can have a significant amount of vehicular traffic, please "Share the Road".

FOLLOW all safety rules to keep yourself and everyone around you safe (Rules and tips are posted at www.nfbc.us under "Info")

STAY in your comfort zone.  This is not the time to push your body beyond what you are accustomed to doing.

DRINK adequate fluids and keep nourished along the route: that's what the rest stops are for.

THANK the volunteers for being so generous with their time and effort.  If something is not perfect, it's OK, we are all human.

 

Weather for Sunday: Start temperature of a perfect 75ish, high of 90, slim chance of rain, winds at about 4-8 mph, changing direction as the day progresses.