I have been investigating/planning a ride from my home
in Winter Haven to My daughter's place in Orlando for
some time.
The problem is the route. Obviously, I can't ride on I-4.
all the alternatives are "a long way around the barn" or
high traffic two laners without a shoulder.
The first backroads route turned out to have miles of sand
roads (dry Florida Sugar sand roads are unrideable on any
bike) Scratch that one.
I found a new route on the map. Today I scouted it by
driving to the edge ot the "unknown", parking and riding
part of the route.
The route turned out to cover the same route that the
Florida Ironman Triathon was on. In short order, I was in
the midst of the race. Yooowzer!!!
It's a 100+ mile bike leg, so They weren't sprinting and
seemed to have big variations in individual paces. I found a
slower guy I could follow and enjoy the ride. (read "stay
aerobic"😉 It was interesting seeing the top level hardware
in person.
Observations
1. The disk/ composite rear wheels are really noisy. Those
who pedaled less smoothly made a noise with each power
surge. The steady spinners just made a constant rumble.
You'd better love going fast, because serene it's not.
2. There were no "Huffy's" in the product mix. All top
end stuff with the add ons of really good wheels on
many of them.
3. I got no static re. my partially finished Homebuilt
recumbent from the racers. (even though it's still
unpainted)
4. I brought disgrace upon the bent community by falling
over after throwing the chain off the illadjusted front
derailleur during the only hill of any slope. Even then,
no one razzed me. Maybe this roadie- antibent thing is
restricted to the wannabes on the bike trails. ???
Anyway, I now have a route to Orlando and have test ridden
most of it. Now it's time for my main event.
Miles of Smiles Tom