Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club's 48th annual Gulf Coast CycleFest, one of the longest-running and largest recreational bicycle rides in Florida, will be held on Sunday, November 5 in Lakewood Ranch. Participants will experience a cycling paradise in the lush and beautiful Lakewood Ranch area where they can have fun while riding bikes safely. Tropical-themed activities include a free red, white and
blue lei in the Finish Zone for every rider and a Finish Line Party with Caribbean music and tropical themed activities. As always, a continental breakfast, boxed lunch, and well-stocked rest stops are included at no additional cost, along with well-marked routes, printed and online maps/cue sheets, full SAG support, bike shop services along the route, and friendly volunteers. The ride starts and ends on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, a mile east of the I-75 and University Parkway exit. Registration is online only. The first 500 registrants receive a free event t-shirt. Early registration is $60 through September 30, the last date to guarantee an event t-shirt size and avoid the price increase. Regular registration is $70 from October 1 through the day of the ride, Riders may pick up their registration items on CycleFest Weekend at local bike shops (see registration page for details) or onsite from 7 to 10 a.m. at the registration table the day of the event. CycleFest 2023 features scenic route options with rest stops at local Florida landmarks. The course layout and support services encourage riders to stretch their abilities and achieve a mileage goal. Short-distance riders can do a 16-mile ice cream ride to Jiggs Landing or an updated 36-mile loop to Rye Preserve on bike-friendly roads. Long-distance riders do a 62 mile metric loop to Old Miakka Schoolhouse and may add mileage loops to complete a 100 mile century. Preview our routes online at: ridewithgps.com/events/206832. Gulf Coast CycleFest funds SMBC donations that promote bicycling in the community and support the club's bike safety and advocacy programs. In 2021, SMBC donated $40,000 for the expansion of the Legacy Trail, a paved 18.5 mile bicycle and pedestrian trail used by many thousands of area residents and visitors each year. Over the past 3 years, SMBC has partnered with others to offer bike safety events for hundreds of area residents. Visit the club's home page at SMBC.US (https://smbc.us) and click on the CYCLEFEST link to access the registration page and full information about the event.
