Biking with Roy

Back in the saddle again!

2014-07-10T22:50:00.002-04:00

After a long time without a riding schedule, I am back with an additional rider in the family. We started our summer by taking our bikes into Santos Bike shop for a tune-up then we hit the baseline trail for some easy going family fun.

Brenden was learning his gears. The novice level paved hills on the baseline trail offer a great training ground for kids to learn the basics of shifting and speed management.

Sarah didn't break a sweat on the 5 mile trek with the fam.

Everyone had a good ride. We worked in some light exercise and the time outside as a family was literally a breath of fresh air.

2014-07-07T14:29:00.001-04:00

After a long hiatus and the addition to our family, Biking with Roy will soon be back up and running. My first new articles will be added next week!

- Chris Roy

Last ride of the year with my wife and daughter at Boulware Springs park.

2012-01-15T14:56:00.000-05:00

Boulware Springs park

This was a treat. There is nothing quite like riding with your family. We had a ton of fun not to mention a nice easy going 5 mile ride. Stacey and I took a trip here early in December and she decided she liked it. So in the evening on December 28th we packed up our bikes and took our oldest up to Gainesville for a nice leisurely ride. This trail which starts at Boulware Springs park in Gainsville takes you 16 miles West to Hawthorne Florida. There are several lookout points and scenic areas to to take pictures or picnic. There are a few sharp turns and changes in elevation at the start of the trail but then it evens out to a long straight gentle ride.

On our way.

This over the shoulder shot is a lot harder out on the Santos mountain bike trails.

One of our stops is a nice overlook view of Paynes Prairi e reserve.

It started getting dark so we headed back. I was glad we could get a ride in during my daughter's stay (which are always too short.) Next time she's home we will do a longer ride and stop for a picnic.

End of a great year.

2012-01-15T14:02:00.002-05:00

Photo album of lost rides.

Hello folks,
My blog has been a bit stagnant these last few months but the riding has continued. Instead of going back and writing up each of my trips that I missed I thought it better to give you a "best of" picture tour instead. We had some great rides through the Ocala Santos bike trails, the Rails to trails sanctioned Gainesville to Hawthorne trail as well as the Greenway baseline trail. I will be starting new this year with a few updates between January and February. Articles may replace rides as it is quite cold out there. I have a few articles I've started that I've been meaning to finish up. This seems like the perfect time to do that.

Here are the random pics from some of our rides. I hope you enjoy

My wife has been coming along as well.

Even Don got in on the fun.

Biking the Santos Trails ,Ocala.

2011-08-02T17:08:00.001-04:00

Today Mike and I rode 12 miles from the Santos trail head in Ocala, Florida. All the rain we've been getting made for a nice trail with no surprise sugar sand traps as well as giving us a cooler morning to start our ride.

We started off biking the Pine Tree trail and took that until a fallen tree blocked our way. We scuttled under the tree and made our way to the Vortex. We noticed that the tree had already been worked on with some obvious sawed limbs. We are very fortunate to have an active group like the OMBA to take pride in our trails. They are dedicated people who really make the trails a great place to ride.

Next we made our way across the road at Turning Hawk and rode through one of my favorite areas. My GPS hit a spot where it lost signal so I lost 2 miles but I was lucky that Mike has a backup on his bike to record our actual distance. The loop across the road takes you through some starkly different environments from hills and open fields, a sinkhole (or maybe an old excavated area of the Greenway) and through pine woods where everything is shady and brown. All in all it was a good but albeit sweaty ride as the humidity soaked us (especially me) as the morning grew warmer. The plan is to go Thursday morning and catch some sun as we take a ride through the villages. Remember, you can always click on any picture in this blog to see it full size. Some of the scenery is better appreciated in a larger window.

Biking the Land Bridge trail with Kayla.

2011-07-06T13:49:00.000-04:00

This morning we woke up early and headed out to ride a different section of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway trail. I wanted to mix it up so we started off at the Land Bridge trail head. Kayla has only been out on the horse trails here so I wanted to show her some of the diversity that these trails offer.

We started out on the yellow trail immediately from leaving the parking lot. This was nice because we have the choice of riding the wagon trail all the way to 484 or we can mix it up with side trails that merge in and out of the wagon trail.

It wasn't long before we reached the Landbrige. We stopped and waved a friendly hello to cars passing by.

We decided to mix it up and do a little of both. We wanted to cover some distance this morning and we did! We rode for 10 miles which is Kayla's distance record so far.

Biking the Florida Greenway trail with my girls.

2011-07-05T20:50:00.000-04:00

Tonight I took my two girls on a bike ride at the Greenway bike trails off Baseline RD here in Ocala, Florida. Laura has the bike Kayla outgrew several years ago. I was a little worried about if she could make it or not. The bike is a nice little Schwinn with only one gear. We rode just over three miles total riding the larger middle loop first then we took a break and rode the small immediate loop.

Laura was a trooper. She never stopped on the inclines, never complained just pushed on and did her best. I am very proud of her. I told her that if she keeps at it I will take her out to ride the Santos mountain bike trails when she's ready. She liked the sound of that.

Riding the Greenway at Basline RD with the Youmanses big and small.

2011-06-29T15:16:00.000-04:00

Chris had some time to ride this morning so we got together for a leisurely ride on the paved green-way trails located at the corner of Maricamp and Baseline RD. Chris has a nice hybrid street / mountain bike which is perfect for these trails. The tires aren't fat like my bike but they aren't sliver thin either. The handlebars are also built more toward off road style riding than a purist street bike as well. Chris brought his miniature Youmans version with him today.

She seemed really excited to ride along with her dad exclaiming "We're winning Da-da!" every time Chris would take the lead on a downhill stretch. That being said, I let him take the lead most of the time to keep the enthusiasm going. I think we rode faster because she was there cheering us on. We rode 5 miles then took a short breather before continuing on another 3 mile leg. Biking with Roy is fun for the whole family!

A trip to the Vortex, Santos trails, Ocala

2011-06-28T12:14:00.000-04:00

I took Kayla back out on the yellow Pine Tree trail as she requested this morning. We traveled to the half way point then crossed the street over to a yellow trail called Dog Bone.

We took Dog Bone trail over to a red area known as The Vortex. Here I showed Kayla some of the crazy stuff serious mountain bikers tackle on weekends. Some of the drops and jumps are just crazy. When she asked if I did any of those I just shook my head and replied, " No, I don't want to die."

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Kayla wanted to ride on some of the easier trail obstacles so we played on the track for awhile. It was a lot of fun and she had another good mountain biking experience thanks to the Santos trails.

Biking Pine Trail at Santos mountain bike trails, Ocala.

2011-06-27T14:13:00.002-04:00

Mountain bike riding for the first time at Santos bike trails.

Today was the first time my daughter would take her mountain bike out on the Santos trails. Her bike was a Christmas present a year ago and she has been enjoying the paved trails at the Greenway walking/biking trails on Baseline road here in Ocala. Here is a pic of her bike that I bought at Santos Bike Shop.

If your schedule is flexible, I think it’s a good idea to introduce someone to their first trail ride at a time that when the trails aren’t packed with people. I took my daughter Kayla to the Santos trail head early Monday morning during the summer break. Once we arrived, I explained to her about some safety issues as well as what to expect on the trail. She has only been riding on paved trails so far so she had concerns about what to expect while out on the trail. I wanted her to practice going over some bumps and getting a feel for what her bike was designed to handle.

We are lucky because the Santos trail head has an intro level practice area set up where you can ride over some basic obstacles to get a feel for your bike. I rode with her on the practice track until she was confident and ready for the trail.

The trails at Santos are divided into three levels of difficulty. There is the yellow which is the easiest, blue which has some technical aspects that provide the rider with moderate challenges and finally the reds which are truly expert level. We started with a yellow path named Pine Tree trail. The trail starts out at the main trail head and meanders a nice, flat, well traveled course. At just over three miles, the trail is very scenic and offers a great introductory ride for beginners. Pine Tree trail consists of gradual elevations, some narrow sections as well as its share of open areas to mix up the scenery a little. Other than some roots and natural protruding limestone, I didn’t find any steep hills or rocky obstacles that you sometimes find on the blue trails. We rode at a leisurely pace of around 5 miles per hour.

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At the halfway point we came to a sign that directed us back to the trail head. I let Kayla lead us back instructing her to look for either a P- (for parking lot I assume,) or TH which stands for trail head on the yellow markers. She did a great job leading us back to the trail head without making a single mistake.

Overall it was a great first experience to introduce my daughter to mountain biking. After just one ride Kayla decided that she prefers riding the dirt trails at Santos over the paved greenway trails on baseline road. We ended with her asking to go again tomorrow which we will. We took it slow, I made sure she was confident and comfortable and she had a great time. We are looking forward to going back together.

"But tomorrow we'll go faster!" - Kayla

SantosTrail- Feeling Blue Friday the 13th

2011-05-18T21:00:00.003-04:00

I want out riding with Mike and Spencer today. We did a nice little ride on the Santos trails. Spence took us on some blue trails. One was brand new and has barely had any traffic on it yet. We started out at the Land Bridge trail head since that is a nice halfway meeting point for all of us. I have put on a few extra pounds so I was glad this wasn't going to be a terribly long or difficult ride. The ride was challenging and although we only covered 16.3 miles it was harder than a 30 mile trek through the villages.

The trails consist of sections that are both wide and narrow. I don't have pictures for some of the more challenging technical aspects of the ride since I have to keep both hands on the handle bars. There are some tight squeezes, big whoop-die-dos and a small ravine we rode on that made this ride slightly more than a novice trail. At one point my brake cables got caught on a reflector bracket coming off a hill, locked up my front wheel and drove me into a tree. Other then that, I was okay.

Here is a man made bridge over a washout. The drop is easily 10 feet to the bottom even though it doesn't appear to threatening in this photo. There is a trail to the right you can take to bypass this obstacle if you are not up to taking the risk. I went around :-).

Someday I hope to get a helmet cam to capture more of the tight twists and steep hills we have out here. But until then I'll just keep shooting from the hip, over the shoulder and above the helmet to capture our moments for you one photo at a time.

Even though this was a shorter trip, it took us a good two hours to complete the run. We were sweaty but cheerful as we celebrated both Spencer and Mike's birthdays with a beer at Gator's Dockside after the trip.

-Good Times.

Ride in the villages 2

2011-04-21T11:52:00.004-04:00

Bike Ride Through the Villages 2

April 17th 2011

Buddy takes a Dew break

Buddy and I took a nice long bike ride through the villages last Sunday. We rode almost 33 miles starting South and then working our way North to 466 then East and back down to where we started. We mainly used the golf car trails which were nicely landscaped and provided a safe place to ride.

There isn't much elevation to contend with so the ride was more recreation than workout despite the length. We saw quite a few people enjoying the trails not to mention a couple of gentlemen both older and in better shape than us. They obviously rode the trails regularly since their calves were the size of my head. They blew by us on their streetbikes which made our mountain bikes seem clunky and slow.We also passed a nice couple where the woman was in a wheelchair and the man was running pushing her along. They were out enjoying the beautiful weather together and were the definition of the commitment that comes with "in sickness and in health". We both found it very inspiring. We rode through both squares and although I was tempted to stop for a Starbucks we kept riding. Maybe starbucks and Barnes and Noble will be a scheduled pit stop on some other themed ride where we bring other friends. If you are thinking of riding through the villages,I highly reccomend it. It is a pleasent experience with plenty to see.

Santos Bike Trail Riding the Wagon Trail from the Landbridge Trailhead

2011-04-20T17:51:00.004-04:00

The Land Bridge Trail

March 27th 2011

One of the benefits to living in Ocala, Florida is that we have some really great places to ride our bikes year round. All of which are close and accessible. I have choices to ride on dirt trails or paved trails whether it is for distance, technical challenge or just plain easy recreation. There is a maintained trail for any mood or desire I may have at any moment of any day.

I went riding with my good friend Mike. We decided to hit what's known as the "Wagon Trail" out here in the Santos Bike trail system. The wagon trail is named for the reason it was designed, to give horse drawn wagons or sullied carts a place to be driven so that their owners may use and enjoy the trails just like everyone else.

The terrain of the wagon trail changes as it takes you through the oak hammocks and pine woods. There are man made structures to navigate as well such as this bridge we ride under not long after crossing the land bridge itself.

We rode just under 20 miles and the ride was nice. We felt as though we got some decent exercise in while having a lot of fun. There is something about just being outside with your friends doing something you enjoy together. Personally, I find that bike riding is more enjoyable in the company of others. If you are thinking about riding, I highly suggest starting up with someone whose company you enjoy.

The next time we ride this trail, Mike and I have decided to hit one of the blue mountain bike paths that connect to the main wagon trail. Apparently there are some pretty technical blue trails just beyond the 49th street bridge that sound like a lot of fun to ride and share with you! Until next time, take care, share some thoughts, and maybe I'll see YOU on the trail!

The Land Bridge Trail Ride

2011-03-25T23:20:00.003-04:00

I needed a change of pace. My mountain bike was feeling neglected from all the asphalt touring as of late. It was to my good fortune that I was invited by my good friend Mike to join him and his buddy on a leisurely trail ride from the local land bridge trailhead. For those of you who do not know, The Land Bridge is located in Ocala, Florida and was constructed in 2000. It was built with the intention to be a safe alternative route for people and wildlife to cross over interstate 75. Personally,I find that the trail keeps me immersed in my ride. I am grateful that people cared enough to put forth the effort to build such a wonderful addition in our community.

The idea was to construct a path to wondering animals from one side on the interstate to the other while keeping the façade of the native environment.

Indigenous trees and plants line the trail and the walls are covered in rock as an added natural element. The bridge is enjoyed by hikers, bikers, animals and equestrians.

We started out by letting curiosity lead us and lead us it did, right to an equestrian trail. The trail was definitely not intended for bikers. The sand was so deep it sucked my tires in past the rim. It was only the belief that this trail was leading us back to our intended bike trail that kept us going.

After peddling several hundred yards through this humbling gauntlet of sugar sand we made it back to the main trail. From there we rode through several different changes of scenery. We peddled through Oak Hammocks, Pine Flatwoods and scrub. The trail surface changed from sandy to gravel, frequently and without notice.

It was a good trip and I enjoyed ending my week at work by starting the weekend as preferred, peddling through God’s gracious Greenway. Tomorrow Buddy and I are off to explore some trails through the villages again as we continue our training for big trip on the L.O.S.T trail in August.

Villages Road Trip

2011-03-20T15:49:00.001-04:00

Today we were in the mood for a change in scenery. Buddy wanted to take off from his front porch and see what we could see so I thought it was a good idea and joined him on this 30 mile local road trip. We started out riding a few miles down the street just to get to our destination, The Villages. We left early (around 7:45) so traffic heading out was minimal.

The villages sounded like a decent place to ride since we needed practice riding with road traffic. The idea was that dodging golf carts would be a good place to start instead of dodging cars. It was also assumed that drivers who travel the roads around the villages would be used to looking out for recreational riders as well as golf cart enthusiasts. :-)

Once we were actually riding in the villages the paths became groomed and landscaped. This made for some scenic vistas and great backdrops to our ride as we peddled along. When we finally made it into the villages Buddy and I were welcomed with some really nice paved golf car trails which led all over the town. One of the coolest features were all the built in tunnels used to accommodate the golfers and village residents.

We kept riding all the way through until we reached Wildwood. At that point we turned North-ish and headed home. All in all the trip was nice and enjoyable. I especially prefer riding a loop since the scenery changes.

Croom Tract

2011-03-14T21:25:00.003-04:00

We rode a 40 mile trip today on the Withlacoochee into the Croom tract Wildlife management area. The weather was cool in the beginning but then it became nice and warm as the day progressed. We had a strange thing happen today as a squirrel ran full speed right into Buddy’s front tire as we cruised along at about 13 MPH. He nailed it pretty hard but then turned tail and scurried back into the woods, no doubt scared but hopefully unhurt. We made it a point to eat right, stay hydrated and we made sure we stopped briefly to replenish our glycogen levels with some sports gels.

After the 3 hour ride we left feeling good and it was obvious we hit a great balance between our workout and our energy levels. Buddy and I are thinking that we need a break from this trail so next week we are planning on going back to the Hawthorne trail in Gainesville.

Starting next week I plan on taking you with me out on the Santos Mountain bike trails with the Santos Bike Shop. It should be a good time and will get me off the pavement and back in the woods where I really belong on this bike.

Using a GPS Device on Your Bike Ride

2011-03-08T14:29:00.002-05:00

I find using a GPS device to track my bike trip is not only enjoyable but a great addition to the experience of riding with my friends. For me, the main benefit of using GPS is realized after the trip has ended and I have a nice visual record of my accomplishment. I recommend keeping a logbook (or blog) so you can save the maps and statistics of your rides. It’s nice to revisit certain adventures and share your memories with others. Using a GPS may sound intimidating or costly to some people but it doesn’t have to be.

Adapting GPS technology to your bike journey can be easy and inexpensive, especially if you have a Smartphone such as the Droid X or the iPhone. There are several options for tracking your trip using GPS. You can buy specialized gear such as a GPS wristwatch or bike mounted unit. Also, you can use applications that are available if you already own one of the fore mentioned Smartphone devices. I have used 2 different applications on my Smartphone to track my progress via GPS and both programs gave valuable information such as distance, time, elevation and even calories burned. The advantage of using an application for your phone is that most entry level apps are free to try or use. The free applications usually come with basic features for tracking speed, distance, and elevation. If you are interested in a workout log as well, there are some free apps that will record all the basic mapping features and keep track of pace and calories burned.

Benefits and concerns of using GPS
It’s always a good idea to have your bike journey planned out beforehand. Never depend on a GPS blindly to take care of your trip. You should have an idea of where you are and where you are going, especially if it is your first time in a new area. Adding the element of GPS is a great way to enhance your tour but it should never replace using common sense or being prepared and responsible. There are several benefits to using a GPS on your cycling trip; for example, safety. If you or someone in your group were to have an accident, you can get help quicker to your exact location. A GPS device can also enhance the recreational factor of your ride. On a day trip you can use your GPS to spontaneously locate places close by to visit for restrooms, food or points of interest. If you are off a paved trail or in an unfamiliar area, your GPS can help you find your trail back to where your trip began reducing the frustration of getting lost. Another possibility is participation and interaction. As applications get more advanced, we are seeing opportunities to have your trip data automatically uploaded so that friends and family can watch your ride as it unfolds.

I highly recommend using GPS during your rides. I think once you use it you will always like having the information at your fingertips.

Biking the Withlacoochee Trail South

2011-03-07T06:33:00.005-05:00

Today we decided to take the trail South. Our intent was to get 32 miles in but Buddy had a personal emergency come up so we turned around at the 14 mile mark

We came across a ride for a recumbent bike group. The bikes were outfitted for distance, some of them had rain and windshields as well as luggage compartments and headrests. They looked like something my dad would enjoy riding.

Further down the trail we came across what looks like an old cracker building. This was a good place for me to try out my Jelly Belly Sports Beans!

They were good!

All in all this was a great scenic ride. Our plans are to do 40 miles next week in preperation for our sceduled 110 mile ride around lake Okeechobee this summer.

Biking Sunday on the Greenway

2011-02-27T16:37:00.001-05:00

Took an easy solo 11 mile ride at the local Greenway trail today. It was foggy and cool but a nice ride. The Greenway trail is appox. 5 miles if you do the long loop and I did it twice. I like the elevations, it gives a tougher workout for a shorter distance.

Doing it more than twice is boring so I figure I'll try to hit it a couple times this week after work to get my intended 30 miles in.

Biking the Withlacoochee Part Duh

2011-02-24T20:01:00.003-05:00

Buddy and I had a nice 21 mile ride last Sunday, February 20th. This time we rode North toward Hernando. The weather was warmer but not hot and we completed the ride feeling much better than the first ride this year. Halfway through our long rides we will sometimes slurp down a glycogen replacement supplement (gel pack.) They provide concentrated carbs and possibly some extra ingredients (amino acids, electrolytes, vitamins, caffeine).

These carbohydrate supplements are convenient fuel for the longer training sessions or events (lasting more than an hour). Buddy has been getting me used to these gelatinous pastey fuel packets.

After the ride we stopped into the bike shop which is at the trailhead. We looked around a bit when I was happy to discover the same type of energy suppliment that is more in tune with my tastes. Jelly Belly sports beans!

Along the way there was this cool little art shop that had trees made of old wine bottles outside. I thought it was cool enough to share with you so I snapped a pic :-)

Biking the Withlacoochee

2011-02-13T16:38:00.002-05:00

Buddy and I rode a short 11+ mile ride on the Withlacoochee state trail. It was a bit chilly with constant wind but all and all it was a great way to start our year off.

We are here....
We stopped for a little break. This was our first time heading South on this trail so we took some extra time to get to know our surroundings.

We took it easy for the first ride.

First bike ride of the year!

2011-02-08T20:33:00.001-05:00

This Sunday, February 13th, Buddy and I (and possibly a few friends) will be taking a modest 10-20 mile ride to kick off the year. I will hopefully be able to upload the gps data maps as well as some new pictures from this ride. We like the Rails to Trails system which is where old railroad tracks are converted to bike trails.

Biking with Roy - Blog Beginnings

2011-02-08T19:52:00.002-05:00

Here is a picture of my bike. I preferred the all terrain tires over aggressive dirt only tread which gives me diversity to comfortably ride both paved and dirt trails. I switched from a Trek 4300 hardtail that I've enjoyed riding for the past ten years. This bike rides like a dream. When it was time for a new bike I decided on a full suspension bike from the Santos Bike shop.
The people there are real friendly and genuinely love to ride. Once days lengthen again I will be going back for their casual Thursday evening rides.