Gainesville Florida Rides Routes?

[bocarider]

I have to spend a few days in Gainesville this week. Can anyone suggest some good ride routes for me? I'm looking for safe and scenic routes in the 30-50 mile range. We are staying with family in Haile Plantation if that means anything as far as start points.

Bonus points if you can point me to a ridewithgps.com or mapmyride.com route that I can download to my Garmin in .gpx format so I don't have to think and can just follow the route and enjoy the ride.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[firerescuefin]

live2ridehard and cycle_chic would be the first on my PM list for rides. It's been awhile since I've graduated and can't remember all the roads and routes.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/gainesville-hawthorne/

This is a great non traffic ride, but on the other side of town from Haile.

[mbakes]

I was supposed to ride up there last weekend but got the flu. Map ride has a bunch of different mileage routes in the area. Not sure if you are familiar withe area. If not, check out Swamphead Brewery. Excellent beer in the taproom. For burgers, go to Top. Other great places to at are Sisters, Dragonfly and Flying Biscuit.

[JonB]

check out the local club at gccfla.org. They have a good number of orgainized rides up there.

Be safe, the kids are returning to town so it'll be busy.

[harryblack]

i've only ridden from Gainesville a few times (know Tampa/St Pete/Pasco much much better) but there's beuatiful/weird landscapes all around; try to do at least one your rides heading south to Paynes Prairie-- try these for starters or to get bearings on what's possible?

http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/road-cycling-map/florida/gainesville/48567054

http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/map/48474614



I have to spend a few days in Gainesville this week. Can anyone suggest some good ride routes for me? I'm looking for safe and scenic routes in the 30-50 mile range. We are staying with family in Haile Plantation if that means anything as far as start points.

Bonus points if you can point me to a ridewithgps.com or mapmyride.com route that I can download to my Garmin in .gpx format so I don't have to think and can just follow the route and enjoy the ride.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Ralph]

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/gainesville_hawth.htm

If nothing better pops up.....you can always do the Hawthorne trail. Mostly rural....not crowded.....not overly cut up with side roads. At least you probably won't get run over by a texting student. So many local roads around Gainesville have 55 and up speed limits, not all have lanes for bikes.

[J.Greene]

There Are lots of great routes. Go find the cue sheets/map online for the horse farm 100 and Sante Fe 100. I'll bet you could criss cross 300 miles of loops out of those two maps. Awesome traffic-less riding north, south, East and west of Gainesville.

[Liv2RideHard]

http://teamfloridacycling.wordpress.com/resources/maps/

Follow this linky. There are other links to follow from it. If you have only a few days, this should suffice. If you can, try and hook up with the Team Florida training rides that depart from the Hipp (Hippodrome). Check above linky for group/training ride departs and details. Never a shortage of options in G'ville.

Good eats and post ride brew directly across from the Swamp.

I assume you are talking about road rides. If you want mtn, hit San Felasco. You can easily get 30-40 off road at Felasco. Never a shortage of dudes at the trailhead and most everyone is super friendly so you could tag along.

If I wasn't so busy I would head up there and meet you. I have college buds that are avid cyclists up there and are always up for a ride.

Have a good trip. Cheers.