 It may be too late to register for the Orange Blossom Special Tour (March 23-29), but never too late to enjoy many of the events in Lakeland,  Clermont and Lake Wales during the tour. Click here for all of the activities that registered cyclists and spectators may enjoy.
Bike Valet Volunteers
The Winter Garden Bike Fest and Criterium i s just around the corner, on Saturday, April 6th. The event benefits Noah’s Light Foundation. Bike/Walk Central Florida will be there to man the Bike Valet and talk about bicycling and pedestrian safety. We need volunteers to help with both the valet service and chatting with folks. Please contact Marianne at 407-412-5980 or [email protected] to volunteer for an hour or two. If you aren’t available on April 6th, perhaps you can volunteer for Earth Day at Lake Eola, on April 20th. Not only do you get to meet like-minded people at the Bike Valet, you also get to enjoy the festivities!
Cycling Savvy Spring Classes
Cycling Savvy has posted its spring class schedule. It’s not too early or too late to sign up for the April classes. Metroplan Scholarships are available for students and Central Florida residents with a financial need. Click here for class schedules and to register.
How Not to Get Hit By Cars
Here in Central Florida there seems to be a catastrophic bike accident nearly ev ery week, and it’s not so much about wearing a helmet or not. Florida Cycling Magazine has a good article about ten types of collisions and how to avoid them.
OTHER News
More Tips
 Slow down. Pick a line. Look. Turn. Pedal. These are the five things you should do as you approach and navigate a turn or sharp corner. Notice that braking is NOT on the list. Click here to learn the hows and whys of safe turning.
AND…
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here is a little history of Alo Donegan, a Kildare man, who, in 1934, was the first to break the hour mark for the 25 mile time trial– in the rain! He broke other records as well during his racing career. Alo chose his bride well, as they spent their honeymoon on a tandem cycle in the south of Ireland! Click here for the story.
ALSO…
How many leprechauns can you find in the newsletter?
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 17
To benefit the American Diabetes Association. Click here for details.
March 23-29
Click here to register.
April 5
See details below, under Recurring Rides.
April 6 – Winter Garden Bike Fest
See above for details.
April 8
Click here for details.
April 20-21
Click here for details.
RESOURCES
Bicycle Parking Map
From our friends at Commute Orlando: Peter Martinez has created a collaborative Bike Parking map, designed to help Bicyclists plan their routes and park their bikes on secure racks, rather than a stop sign or a tree. Read more . . .
 Best Foot Forward is a community-wide coalition formed to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries in Metro Orlando.The five-year initiative is currently focused on Orange County and will expand into Seminole and Osceola counties as resources permit. Five cities, two towns, and Orange County have passed resolutions supporting the initiative.  Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, police agencies in Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville, and police chiefs from throughout Orange County, have pledged their support to the initiative, launched by Bike/Walk Central Florida and the Florida Bicycle Association, with financial support from the Winter Park Health Foundation, MetroPlan Orlando, Orange County, City of Orlando, Florida Department of Transportation, Orlando Police Department, Orange Cycle, David’s World Cycle, and Track Shack.
When was the last time you saved a life? Your contributions of $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, or more, can make a big difference. Checks should be made out to the Florida Bicycle Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and mailed to: Betsy Holl at: P.O. Box 916715, Longwood, FL 32791-6715. Please specify that you are donating to Best Foot Forward.
Community Calendar Link
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/community-calendar/
- First Fridays: Take it to the Streets: bike ride to promote civility: 6 p.m. on the First Friday of each month (Upcoming Dates: April 5, 2013 and May 3, 2013).
- UCF Bike Bus: Downtown Orlando to UCF, then UCF to Downtown Orlando. Follow bike bus in real time via GPS at http://commuteorlando.com/bikebus/
- Ride With Steve: Beginner ride. Meet at Winter Garden Wheel Works in Downtown Winter Garden, 8 a.m., Saturdays. – Sponsored by Winter Garden Wheel Works .
- Sunday Ride in the Hills: Ride 30-plus miles through the hills of Clermont and Minneola, Sundays mornings at 7am, beginning at David’s World Cycle in Winter Garden. Call Ross at 407-654-7071 to confirm.
- Unless specifically designated as a trail ride, our rides take place on public streets. Headlights and red rear flashers are required for night rides. Helmets are encouraged, and are required by law for children under 16.
- We observe all traffic laws and traffic signals.
- Our rides are typically 10 to 15 miles, roundtrip, and average 10 miles an hour, a comfortable pace for most adults and teens. May be too fast for younger children and adults with health issues.
- These rides are social in nature.
For longer, more challenging group rides, subscribe to Hal Downing’s group ride newsletter by emailing [email protected]
If you have a social ride you would like us to help promote, please email me at the address below.
Brad
Brad Kuhn
Executive Director
brad@bikewalkcentralflorida.org
Bike/Walk Central Florida Would like to thank our sponsors:
|
Transforming Central Florida into a Premier Biking and Walking Community! 
See our Community Calendar for other family rides: 
