| Author | Message | ||
     Betzy |
I have no experience with florida roads. We want to break up the winter with a Bike trip to the south. Are there areas in florida that have twisties? Also would love some recommendations for Bike nights in the area. Planing on Dec 25th to 31st!! Hook me up!!! | ||
| Khollister |
There are some nice roads in central & north-central FL. While there are occasional exceptions, the coasts & south FL are less interesting unless you are looking for ocean views rather than curves. Check out Lake county west of Orlando & the Ocala area (Marion county, I believe). | ||
| Aeholton |
I would have to agree with Khollister. If you want some twisty roads stick to central FL. | ||
| Jaimec |
The only twisties I've found in Florida are off-ramps. | ||
| Cowboy |
Have you given any thought to Rio Grande valley. just food for thought(deep south Tex) I would think it would be a lot dryer. | ||
| Beachbuell |
Exit on/off ramps are my daily twisties. There is one place called snake road, it is in the everglades and is very, very twisty. There are some others, but not too many. Best part about South Florida is the year round riding. Just gotta watch out for the cotton heads and snow birds down here. I'm in FT. Lauderdale, feel free to hit me up if you do come down this way. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Yeah, I live in south Texas north of Houston. If you want ocean views and twisties, ride from Galveston sw down to the border. Watch out for sand drifts across the road though (and the cops in small towns). Check out some maps of the coastline. You'll find plenty of roads following the intercoastal waterway. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Khollister, your right, Ocala is in marion county. I have found some pretty decent roads...as far as florida goes, thru the Ocala national forest is a pretty decent ride and if you go about 45 min west to the gulf, around crystal river there are a bunch of twisties but more residential ( cant really hammer on them that much ) but its still fun. I could send you a county and state map if you would like? PM me if interested | ||
| Nevrenuf |
when the brag club out of lakeland go for their monthly ride they don't ever go south of lakeland, it's always north, and stay off the beaten path. if you want some specific routes, get ahold of buellistic or someone else in the tampa bay section (taboo) i think it is. there are some pretty fun roads. i don't pay that much attention as to where we are, i'm just along for the ride. | ||
| Aeholton |
The Lakeland BRAG rides are great! I just wish I could remember some of the roads they take the next day. Most of them don't even appear on my GPS. Shoot LaFayette an email and ask him for some of his favorite FL twisties. You'll find his email address at the Lakeland BRAG website: http://web.tampabay.rr.com/brag/ | ||
| Khollister |
yup - Lake county is the place. I can send you some of my personal fav's, but the Lakeland BRAG guys probably are even more familiar with the area since I only get out there once in a while. Are you guys thinking about a hotel or camping? Mt Dora, Howey-In-The-Hills and Clermont are some of the towns in the area you might want to consider staying at. Leesburg & Lakeland are larger, more crowded areas. If you are camping, Silver River State Park in Ocala is a fabulous campground that is also close to shopping & such in Ocala. Mt. Dora is a very picturesque little town with several B&B's if you go for that sort of thing. Give us shout on the board if you come down and I'm sure several of the Orlando & Lakeland gang will want to hook up. Keith | ||
| Betzy |
Khollister, Probably hotel. Thanks for the tips. Nathan | ||
| Mr_t |
Are there any bike cruise nights like you see on superbikes in Orlando/Lakeland area. t. | ||
| Ftd |
like on Superbikes???? In Orlando Thursday night is bike night at Steak n Shake and Hooters on SR436 for sportbikes and at Porky's BBQ on 441 in Apopka for HD's. Old Town in Kiss. has a Thursday night bike night which attracts a mixture of both. Hope this helps. Frank | ||
| Spinzealot |
Also on Tuesday nights at Froggers in Occee/Pine Hills (slightly west of Orlando) there is a bike night. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
Betzy, you may want to plan a trip through the Florida Keys. 128 miles from the Florida mainland to the southern most point of the US at Key West. Many of those miles are over bridges between keys(small islands) with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. One of the spans is the Seven Mile Bridge and yes it is 7 miles long. The entire area is very tropical with palms and light blue water. Don't miss this opportunity. Take a look. http://www.florida-keys.fl.us/maps/mainmap.htm I agree with the Ocala - Lakeland recommendations, that is about as good as it gets in Fl., but it's a long stretch to call a few low hills a few curves in the road 'Twisties'. If you decide on a ride to the Keys PM me and I can provide additional recommendation and perhaps ride with you for a day or two. Paul | ||
| Khollister |
"I agree with the Ocala - Lakeland recommendations, that is about as good as it gets in Fl., but it's a long stretch to call a few low hills a few curves in the road 'Twisties'. " While you will not find 100-200mi loops that is all curves like you might see up in the mountains, there are stretches of roads in Cen Fl that are pretty nice - more than a few curves. There are a number of road around Sugarloaf Mountain (highest point in FL) that are the equal of the average secondary road in VA or NC with the exception of the mountain switchbacks. Plymouth Road in the Sorrento area has a few miles of really good curves, etc. I've run across some roads in the Ocala Nat Forrest that are pretty cool. No offense to anyone who lives in the area, but I would avoid the Pine Hills area after dark - there is a reason it is known as "Crime Hills" in Orlando. There are also monthly evening 'Bike Fests" in Winter Haven and Plant City that are kinda like extended bike nights. Not sure how much sport bike participation there is versus trad harley stuff. I agree that there are very scenic, nice rides down here that don't have end-to-end curves. The ride up A-1A on the ocean from Ormond Beach to St Augistine is very scenic as is the "Ormond Loop" (Google it). Maytown Rd that connects Oak Hill (on the coast) with Osteen is quite pretty as well, although it has large straight sections. If you're looking for the Pacific Coast Highway scene in FL, forget it. It's much more laid back here except for the bike events like Bike Week. | ||
| Ftd |
7 mile bridge  | ||
| Ftd |
acck!  | ||
| Vanvideo |
Whatever the speed limit is on the 7-mile bridge, those harley guys are going about 10 mph below it. But there is a nice, wide opening between them -perfect for a li'l ol' Firebolt. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
as cool as it was to go down to the keys on the ultra in 2000 it was depressing to ride all day with the sun in your eyes. went up through howie in the hills, mt dora and such to go over to biketoberfest for a couple days and it is beauty full through there and also having gone through the ocala forest makes it nicer to spend time up that way instead of going down south. take time to go along A1A and see st. augustine you won't regret it. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Drop me a note if you get to the Crystal River area. There are a few roads around here that can be fun... |
