EBC "Paved" Trail Ride Weekend Away Adventure - 3 days, 3 Trails

Welcome to our first EBC Weekend Away Adventure.  We are going to ride these three beautiful paved trails in Central Florida on the weekend of January 13-15 (Martin Luther King Day).  Check out the rails to trails descriptions below:

• West Orange Trail
• Withlacoochee Trail
• Van Fleet State Trail

These trails are all paved, so ALL TYPES OF BIKES ARE WELCOME (Road, hybrid or mountain).

This ride is not a SAG-supported or leader-lead ride.  People are on their own and set their own pace and distance.  We do encourage you to buddy up or group up as it's much safer than riding alone in an unfamiliar area. 

Multi-UseTrail Etiquette: These trails are multi-use trails, and at times pass through populated areas.  You will encounter pedestrian traffic, family and recreational riders, and perhaps, fast road cyclists.  As a cyclist, always yield to pedestrians.   Please be considerate of other trail users, signalling and vocalizing to other trail users as appropriate.  Please adjust your speed as necessary.  Always use caution when the trial is intersected by a street/road.

Guests have the option of either staying Friday night or driving up early on Saturday morning to Winter Garden near Orlando. If you come up Friday, choose any hotel in Winter Garden or in the Orlando area.  The start time of 10AM should give you enough time to drive up early

Saturday. 

Saturday, January 13th

• WEST ORANGE TRAIL - PEDALS UP AT 10AM
  Starting Point: Chapin Station, address:  501 Crown Point Cross Road, Winter Garden, Fl. Phone: 407-654-1108
• Trail Plan: Meet at at Chapin Station which is in the middle of the overall trail.  We will ride east, then ride north to the end of the trail.  There, we will turn around and ride south, then ride west to our starting point at Chapin Station.   FYI, the overall trail is 21 miles long.  You can ride the trail as far as you want, turn around and ride back to the the starting point
• Lunch Plan: As we return from the end of the Trail, we will meet for lunch at "The Crooked Can Brewing Company" in Winter Garden. 426 W Plant Street. (Located right off the Trail in Winter Garden)
• After the ride, we then drive west on Hwy 50 to Brooksville (about 50 miles).
• Caution: This is a great bike trail with a lot of variety, however, SLOW DOWN thru downtown Winter Garden where the trail goes through the heart of the city on sidewalks.

We will stay 2 nights in the hotels along I-75, 10 miles east of Brooksville, close to both of the remaining trails (Withlacoochee and Van Fleet State Trails.  Here is a list of hotels in the area.  Rates start at about $71

Quality Inn & Suites

30307 Cortez Blvd

Brooksville,34602

352-796-9481

Hampton Inn

30301 Cortez Blvd

Brooksville, 34602

352-796-1000

Holiday Inn Express

30455 Cortez Blvd

Brooksville,34602

352-796-0455

Days Inn Brooksville

6320 Windmere Rd

Brooksville,34602

352-587-9880

Sunday January 14th

• WITHLACOOCHEE STATE TRAIL - PEDALS UP AT 10AM 
  
• Starting point: on Croom Rital Rd (a mile East of the hotels on Hwy 50 (Cortez Blvd) on the left side). This is five miles north of the southern end of the trail.
• Trail Plan: Ride north as far as you want, then turn around and ride back to the the starting point at Croom Rital Road.  FYI, the overall trail is 46 miles long.
• Lunch Plan: places available in either Floral City or Inverness (middle of the trail).

Monday January 15th

• VAN FLEET TRAIL - PEDALS UP AFTER 9AM
• Starting point: We will begin at the north end of the trail.  From your hotel near Brooksville, drive East on hwy 50 for about 25 miles.  Then turn right on SE 121 ave (2nd right after Indian Summer Honey Farm).
• Trail Plan: Ride South as far as you want, then turn around and ride back to the the starting point.  FYI, the overall trail is 29 miles long.
• Lunch Plan: After riding the Van Fleet Trail, guests can continue driving East toward Winter Garden, have a quick lunch and then head South on the Turnpike.
• If you are only coming up to ride on Monday, you should probably stay in a hotel on Sunday night.  Refer to the hotel recommendations above for Brooksville.