Off the Back Again.....: Irrational Exuberance Leads to Open Roads

I had been here before visiting my Dad. Lake Placid is a place off the beaten path, in between the Florida coasts and a couple of hours from both Orlando and Tampa. There aren’t many cultural amenities if you are used to a city of any size. But it’s a place some people want to be. My Dad is one of them. He and Nancy retired here 22 years ago and really like it. No crowds, no traffic, small town feel, inexpensive. In the 60s, developers thought there would be more people like my Dad, following the sun to retire south and escape from the northeast and Midwest winters. But the developers got it wrong. There are a number of "communities" nearby that were laid out with streets, signs, but currently with very few homes. They are basically empty of life. Since the 60s, only a handful of homes and even fewer real neighborhoods were built in these former orange groves. It’s a bit eerie, but strangely enough, it’s a good place to go for a bike ride on some well paved roads (or off road if you’re ready for that!) with literally no cars. So, that’s where I’ve been these past few days. And I even bought a used bike!

A typical "vibrant" Lake Placid 60s neighborhood

Last spring I visited too. Then I was able to connect with a local cycling club and some nice folks hooked me up with someone who lent me a bike. Very nice! This time, I wanted to ride again, but also didn’t want to wear out my welcome with the club. So I asked around and found a shop with a compatible, inexpensive bike to buy! I figured with my dad and now sister (Kathy) owning homes here, I will likely be back to visit. So, why not spend the money on a bike that I can use and they can use as well? I did it! It’s about a 10 year old Trek 1000 SC aluminum frame that seems barely used. Most of the wear seems to be from sitting around too much in someone’s garage. Some cables are a bit oxidized, but it’s clean, has good tires, working gears and brakes. And it’s Florida orange! As of now, I’ve taken three rides already, almost clocking 100 miles on it with no problems.

Seems like a good buy to me, about equal to shipping my own bike round trip on an airline. And I have it for future visits! Makes sense to me. I’m getting to take advantage of the irrational exuberance of both the real estate developers who didn’t fill those roads with homes and the former bike owner who really didn’t use my new purchase much at all!

The New-Used Trek 1000SC - in Florida Orange!

What about other recent rides? With basically no rain in the Bay Area, the miles continue to be on an uptick. I don’t think I’ve missed a weekend ride all year. The grass is a beautiful green right now due to a couple of storms. But they won't make the drought go away. Here are a few pictures from recent rides on Morgan Territory and in Marin going up the “7 Sisters” climb. But it might be nice to actually not have to worry about drought too!