Rails to Trails Bike Ride
Registration is open for the 19th Annual Rails to Trails Bike Ride on the Withlacoochee State Trail! The ride will be held on Sunday, October 6, and offers a variety of distances to suit every cyclist.
“This is a family-friendly event,” says Dennis Reiland, President of Rails to Trails of the Withlacoochee, the citizen support organization for the Withlacoochee State Trail. “It’s a fun-filled day of food, fun, prizes and a bike ride on The Friendliest Trail in the Country.”
Registration is $25 for adults, $15 for children 12 and younger (who must be accompanied by an adult). Proceeds from the ride are used solely to maintain and enhance the Withlacoochee State Trail. The ride begins and ends at the Apopka Avenue Trailhead in Inverness (by the red caboose), and riders may choose the distance they ride, from 1 to 100 miles. Five rest stops will be spaced along the trail to provide snacks, water and sports drinks to riders. Breakfast and lunch will be served in Inverness.
“A nice 14 mile ride is to Floral City and back,” notes Reiland, “A ride to the north end of the trail and back is 32 miles, and if you also go south to Istachatta, it’s 60. Going to both ends of the trail (Gulf Junction to Owensboro) is 92, and we have an additional on-road loop through Citrus Springs for those who want to ride 100 miles, a Century.” Those who complete 60 or 100 miles will receive special recognition.
All riders registered by September 14 are guaranteed an event T-shirt and goody bag. They’ll also be entered into drawings for door prizes that include at least two bicycles.
Online registration is at www.railstotrailsonline.com, or you may download and print out the form to mail it in.