09/23/2021
Gravel Trail Ride as part of the FDOT Mobility Week activities
COME RIDE WITH THE FRIENDS OF LAKE COUNTY TRAILS! Please save the date, 10/30/2021, for a potential fun easy gravel ride being put together by Lake County and FDOT for “Mobility Week” and hosted by the Lake 100 Trails Committee and Friends of Lake County Trails. This will be a fun, no cost, no registration, no sign-up, just show-up and ride, non-event - event. The ride will start at the Lake County McDonald canal boat ramp and Northshore Trailhead located at 24600 County Road 448A, Mount Dora FL, just down the road from Long & Scott Farms (season opening 10/1!). We will ride to the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook & Trailhead in Minneola, and then return to the McDonald canal boat ramp and Northshore Trailhead. If time permits, after the initial 16 mile fun ride, we will be offering a 25 mile extension (total of 40+ miles) with a quicker pace ride for advanced riders.
The ride will start Saturday October 30 at 8:30am. We will begin gathering at the trailhead at 8:00am.
The Lake 100 Trails Committee and the Friends of Lake County Trails will be helping to host and guide the ride. Lake County and FDOT are sponsoring and coordinating the ride for Mobility Week.
The ride will consist of a 16+/- mile round trip group ride on hard packed limerock/gravel around Clay Island on the Lake Apopka Northshore project from the McDonald canal boat ramp trailhead in Mount Dora, to the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook & Trailhead in Minneola, and back. Bathrooms are available at both trailheads and water is available at the Green Mountain Trailhead. This is not a “sponsored” event/ride and there will not be any outside “support,” SAG stops or SAG wagons. Riders will be expected to bring what they need (fitness level, hydration, tools, tubes, phone, etc.) to complete the ride and have their bike in good repair. There are no “bail-out” points or vehicles allowed along the route, just wetlands. (That being said, some of us will carry some extra supplies, tools, phone, etc. for emergencies)
This will be a recreational pace “no drop” fun ride meant for an introduction to the Lake Apopka Northshore property and the Lake County side of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail system. If time permits, we will also offer more advanced riders an additional 25+/- mile extension of the ride (a total of 40+ miles) to the historic pump house in Apopka and the wildlife drive on the East side of Lake Apopka.
All riders and rider levels are welcome. We would suggest a minimum tire width of 35-40mm or around 1.25-1.5” The trail surface is hard packed gravel/lime rock so most bikes, other than expensive road bikes, should be fine. The ride will tour the historic muck farms, swamps, beautiful canopied areas, and the lakefront along the Northshore of Lake Apopka around Clay Island. We will also climb “Green Mountain” to the scenic overlook (tower) and trailhead. We will be stopping at various scenic overlooks and towers overlooking the lake and historic farmlands. Wildlife is commonly seen on this ride including alligators, otters, bobcats, etc. Since it is the day before Halloween, feel free to wear your favorite Halloween costume as the initial 16+/- mile ride will be a fun “no drop” recreational introductory ride, then coupled with a 25+ mile extension after the Clay Island loop at a little quicker pace for advanced riders!
Come ride with us the morning on October 30th to burn-off excess calories before eating all your Halloween candy! Feel free to contact Mike Stephens with any questions, (352) 483-5899 or [email protected], and please bring a friend and spread the word! This is our first Friends of Lake County group ride so we would like to see a good crowd!
