I've biked Shark Valley. They have a bike rental at the visitor center - but they are often sold out, so waiting might be required. Also, I agree - airboat tour is a must.
Oh boy! More Florida! I have been hyping up the wife to let me go ride down to the keys and then come pick me up. That everglades trail looks amazing! I might have to add that to my ride. Question: What size/type tires are you riding on for all those big gravel roads? I've been looking to get into larger tires for my road bike to go more places with it vs my mountain bike.
That intro........it's 1:32am and there's a lull in activity at work. My colleagues want to know what the heck I'm laughing at. I'll finish this in the morning. Looking forward to it!
Enjoying all your videos Bryan.... I'm a new cyclist, and want to learn everything!!! Got my bike about 2 weeks ago, and taking things a little at a time. I'm 73 years old, with the mind and heart of a 45 year old. Any beginning advice for me? Thanks for anything. Mike F.
A 73 yr old with the heart/mind of a 45 yr old should be giving me advice! Ok…1) take it slow and thoroughly enjoy the scenery, 2) find a great bike shop run by people who love cycling-they can save you from a ton of issue, 3) drink more fluids than you think you need l, 4) diner waitresses have the best recommendations for just about anything, 5) smile and wave at other riders. Always. 6) 90% of bike maintenance can be summed up in two things-keep your bike clean and keep it lubed. 7) most people are far more interesting than we could imagine. I’m always up for conversation (email) so please feel free to reach out: bryan@ridealongadventures.com
Another problem with crossing the 7 mile bridge, even tho it's got a bike lane, you get these extra wide roads that extend into the bike lanes. I don't even know what you are supposed to do when you encounter one of those. I suppose you gotta stop and lay down with your bike until they pass you.
I totally enjoyed the video, great job putting it all together! It was such a great adventure. South Florida is amazing and this was the right time of year when temps were on the cooler side 👍😊
Welcome back Bryan! As I suspected …. your video was worth the wait‼So many beautiful places. I would be be lying if I said wasn’t I jealous of the warm temperatures and the beautiful weather you had for your trip, I’ll pass on the 30 mile an hour headwind. 😂😂 Thanks for sharing another adventure!
you know, I've brought it up many times but I don't really talk about it all that much. It's still a decision I wrestle with. I don't regret it but I'm still adjusting I guess. If you want to hear more, hit me up at: bryan@ridealongadventures.com and we could discuss it further. thanks for watching.
Wow, Bryan, Thomas and Diego. My three favorite TH-camrs together. That had to have been some great conversation. Hope that you got one more FL trip in you before summer! Great video
I love it! That's the spirit. I've been noticing so many more ebikes out there than even a year ago. They are certainly gaining a lot of traction in the cycling community. Thank for watching--this was an incredibly fun trip.
thanks for sharing! As a native Floridian the Keys are our vacation spot in the state. I have tons of memories of family vacations as a kid, rising with my dad then when I was a bit older spring breaks with my college friends then now as an adult celebrating the majesty that is the Keys..
What an amazing video of south Florida, I often go ride at shark valley, 15 miles of no cars, just gators, and this weekend I am going on a trip from casino down to long pine campground just 5 miles past the visitors center, going on the same route as you down by the canals. Quick question, how did you get back from key west?, fly?, rent a car? Bus?. Nobody ever mentions this. Please let me know. Thank you, Peter
Dude! Those gators were huge😳 how cool would it have been for you to get footage of one of them chasing you🤪. Seriously though… that took some courage to calmly ride on by🚴🏽♂️🐊🚴🏽♂️🐊
lol...if it didn't come through on the video...there was no calmness. I was extremely nervous. There was this guy taking a selfie with this young daughter and they were standing just a few feet away. Locals said the gators are totally cool with tourists but I could not stay there and watch a potential disaster occur. Yikes. Anyway...they are amazing creatures but I prefer to give them their space. The Everglades were just amazing. I never imagined such vast, endless horizons.
Wow Bryan, that opening scene tops them all. Great work! We've biked the Shark Valley loop, it's incredible. Those roads though. I'm going to have to take a pass on this biking adventure. Some of that route doesn't look enjoyable. You did get to meet Diego and that would be awesome. Thanks. 👍
Thanks, Ed. Yeah, agreed on Shark Valley. I’m getting a big print of a photo I took from the observation tower made for my office. Unforgettable. You aren’t wrong about the roads. It got tense at times. I was incredibly happy when that couple popped up in front of us for the 7 mile bridge. Four cyclists are hard to ignore. For the most part, there was a big shoulder. It’s sort of a shame that so much of the old rail line is just crumbling away. My naive self kept thinking how great it would be to convert that to a bike path. Anyway, thanks for watching! I appreciate it.
Here’s to purple crayons and raisins! Another fantastic video, always glad to see new content. Still can’t get comfortable on busy roadways so I might have to pass on a trip through the Keys, much as I love them.
Yeah, it requires some extra attention and stress. I was very happy to have a riding partner for this one. Strength in numbers. And an incredibly beautiful part of the state. I was thinking of naming the entire video “purple crayons and raisins” but I figured too many people would scratch their heads and move on. 😂 Might make a nice tshirt. Thanks for watching-much appreciated.
Must have just missed you. I saw your upper Florida ride and decided to ride the Keys. Just got back. 5-9 Feb. was going to send you my lessons learned. I tent camped at state parks. Took the metro bus back from Key West to Florida City. Enjoyed your videos. Hope to see you out there - thanks for the inspiration. Bryan
Very cool! I'd still love to hear your lessons learned. my goal for 2024 is to camp twice as much as 2023. if you'd rather share 1:1, bryan@ridealongadventures.com. I'm particularly interested in how the metro worked out. I saw a metro coming the other way right before we got to Key West and it looked full (two bikes) in the front. It's the same here in Delaware. The last time I biked to the beach, I saw four other cyclists queued up, waiting for the next available slots which meant it was going to be a long day. :) Regardless...this ride was superb. What a great state.
Brilliant! Good to see you are still on the planet. Agree - definitely give those alligators a wide berth, something we don't see in the UK 😄 Maybe should have called this trip Two Felons on Bikes do the Florida Keys. Hilarious escort. Flyscout - he's fantastic. Loved that market shop you went into with all that amazing fruit, wow! And - you are never too old to make new friends. Thanks again for sharing your amazing adventure. 🚴♀
lol…thanks for the comments. I’ve been freaked out by alligators my whole life. Believe it or not, growing up, my neighbor was a science teacher and had alligators in his backyard! (Ohio) I thought people got WAY too close to them in my opinion. Anyway…the trip was marvelous. How is your journey shaping up? It’s starting soon, right?
Thank you-I’m really working on it. Yeah, Diego is one of a kind. I don’t care what I’m doing. When he releases a new video, I generally drop everything and watch.
Great video! You and Thomas are inspiring me to check out Florida biking. So beautiful. As a side note, took me a good 10 minutes to gather the courage to ride past an alligator sitting fully on the path in Texas. So kudos for just zipping on by!
I think my video doesn't do the moment justice--i was not calm or courageous. :) I don't like alligators. at all. Regardless, Florida is amazing, especially for cycling. So much to see. Thomas has been everywhere and yet he still finds new adventure--his channel is awesome.
Lol. Jim, honestly, this area felt EXACTLY like where you took me on the other side of the island (minus the hills). So beautiful. AND it was hot like Penang which felt great. I hope you're well, my friend. Give my best to the family. (Also, yes, sometimes I miss work :))
Thank you for this video. As always, very detailed. 🙂 We moved to SWFL last June and we made a trip to Key West in September. It was hot. I took my bike and rode the island while we were there. I did ride out to Lower Sugar Loaf Key for coffee at Baby's Coffee. That was fun. I want to make the entire trip someday soon. Anyway, about the Everglades. I watched a program on Florida Public TV about the "River of Grass." The thing that amazed me is the fact that what is now Everglades National Park is about 1/3 of what the Everglades once was. The news today is that Lake Okeechobee is very full, so the Army Corp of Engineers is releasing water both east and west. Before all of the development, the water would have made its way through the Everglades. Where we live, the release is running into the Caloosahatchee River and into the Gulf. This results in brown water running into the blue-green water of the Gulf. People are not happy. Again, thanks for the "ride along adventure." 🙂
Baby’s coffee!! Yeah, we stopped there as well. The whole water management topic is such a mess. Run off. Algae blooms. I’ve been in Sanibel when the bay is totally brown. 😔 Hard to know where to start.
Great video. I rode seated for the whole video at 110 bpm just enjoying the scenery and the discussions. Many of us are curious about the set-up on your bike. Also curious about Thomas. For people who have never done this, they would want to know what the starting "kit" should be. Maybe also a little more about the bike set-up. This helps us to prepare, using your knowledge. Also, talk about how often you eat and drink during the ride. Conduct a class!
Thank you, Dennis. I've been sitting on a video script for a "starter" set-up for over a year now. Maybe I'll move that up in the queue. It's a great question because I went almost three years with an extremely simple (cheap) setup that worked fantastic for shorter trips. When I started 1-2 week trips, I upgraded my set-up to racks with four panniers and a frame bag. In the meantime, this video might be of interest because it speaks to most of my gear. th-cam.com/video/hJJDq4ORESc/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching, Dennis, and I greatly appreciate the feedback and suggestions.
Wow, I thought I posted right after you put the video up, but I don't see it, so, I will repost. Loved the opening scene, hysterical!! You and Thomas are perfect together. I was wondering how Homestead looked, is it mostly rebuilt after the hurricane Andrew? DIEGO!!! I love him, he is a BEAST!! The only cyclist I know that hunts down mountains to climb!! He will climb all day if he could and in a snow storm!! My favorite part of Key West are the chickens running around everywhere!! So, when are you planning on finishing the PA trails you didn't get to finish due to the Canadian fires? Looking forward to the next adventure....
Thanks, Amy. Not sure what’s next. We had a taste of spring here last week but I just know more snow is coming. I’d like to return to some of this western PA trails. Redbank for sure!
Not really. More like a flip of a coin. I think Thomas had ridden both ways and felt like doing the Card Sound Road. I'll try US1 next time. Do you have a preference--I'm all ears.
@@RideAlongAdventures Well, your're gambling on both. Pray that some distracted driver is not playing with the phone or the info screen on the car. Plus the tourist marveling at the scenery and not paying attention to the road.
@@pedrofernandez8729 you're right and that prayer is a must. As a runner, I used run opposite to traffic and was amazed at how many drivers were looking down at a phone. Yikes. Now, I look into my rear mirror and wonder the same thing.
@@RideAlongAdventures And if you ride against traffic, you run the risk of having a car come out out of a side street or driveway and only look at where the traffic is coming from and will not see you at all. Here in Key Biscayne, a bunch of cyclists have been killed or hurt by cars. Even tho the bike lanes are clearly marked and painted green.
best video yet! i might be a bit partial to it since it's our backyard. glad you two plus had a great ride. Thomas seems like a gentle giant, and can ride like the wind and nothing seems to bother him. i would recommend a glassbottom boat ride to see the reefs at pennecamp or a snorkling trip. i think i heard a shout out, but it was probably another Russell. either way i can brag about it and nobody else would know. funny, i thought on your first day you did L67, checked in the Miccosukee resort, saddled back up to hit shark river then back. but the miles didn't add up from Thomas's videos. how did you get back to miami?
nah, that "Russell" is YOU! :) Yeah, the glassbottom boats were sold out that day. That area is incredible though. Beautiful beach area, blue water, wow. with regards to the first and second days, yeah, I think you got it right. Then we went down to Homestead and into the Keys. We got back from Key West to Miami with a rental car at the end of the ride.
Great video, Bryan. You caught the Keys in both kinds of weather. But even on the overcast days the water is still a shade of turquoise. I hope you have some more footage of your time in Key West and the return back the way you came.😊 Gord
@@RideAlongAdventures Yes, Bryan, you want to do at least two overnights with a full day in between for checking everything out. That's what I did when I was there in the spring of 2001. Gord
I laughed my tuchas off. (Do you know what a tuchas is?) I live in Naples, FL. Your bike videos are fantastic. I use them for exercise on my indoor bike. Many many thanks.
Glad you like them! I’m always happy to hear that because that was my main intent with this channel. I also spend a good bit of time on my trainer in the basement. Also, my tuchas is just getting back to normal after that ride. 😊
It is so great to see you in our back yard. One day my wife and I counted 162 alligators on our Shark Valley loop. We love taking out of town guests there and locals who we are just getting into cycling. Glad you enjoyed it.
i read most of the comments, and you have a great following. alligators really get the conversation going. from my experience in the wild is they want nothing to do with humans. I've been fishing for hours on L67 and there are none in view, then someone with a dog pulls up and as soon as the dog starts running around the alligators pop up way down the canal start heading to the dog. at shark valley, they are so used to people they are not too aggressive. in a few months during mating season it gets interesting. its also warmer and they are more active. there are riders who wait for a full moon and ride the loop, all the animals show up. in the dry season they all pile up near the culverts because that's the only water left. can't wait for your next adventure. and Thomas's too
Thanks for clarifying the alligator behavior. I’ve had a sort of phobia since a young kid-they just freak me out. They were amazing to see in the wild but I wanted a distance. I’ve seen them on Sanibel numerous times but I’ve been 20-30’ away. Being on that trail was just wild. But regardless, the Everglades were breathtaking.
Referring to the Everglades shrinking; I’m sure you’re aware of the Great Black Swamp that went from Sandusky Ohio to Ft Wayne Indiana. I wish it were still here, but growing corn was important to the early settlers. There are remnants of the swamp and we usually go to the area for one of the coolest migrations I’ve ever seen wood Warblers that fly thousands of miles to nest. I met people from every state and so far 7 countries. I like stuff like the Everglades and similar geographical features. Nice ride
Great video... However you missed one of the biggest sports star. You rode with in A few feet of him. You could have stopped in his place and he would have treated you like A brother. Its Gary Dunn 2 time super bowl winner for the Steelers. Super nice guy... Friend of my family. His place A little pub with about 12 rooms. in is right on A1A. its called the Ocean view. At the top of his sign it says ... Owned by A NFL l has been. LOL That tells you how cool he is.
Bryan, retirement is treating you right! Looks like you had a great time in FL. Man, those Alligators, though, whew! Looks like all the TH-cam cyclists were in Florida for Feb. I'm glad you guys got to ride together. I saw some of Flyscout Ryder before, and I'll be watching more soon.
Absolutely. Good times. It was awesome to see new places I've never been before. Even with alligators. :) Diego's channel is exceptional. Honestly, I was just star struck. Hey, don't forget: we need to hit the Pine Creek sometime soon!!
@@RideAlongAdventures Definitely , I'm looking forward to it. Probably looking like May or June. I'm getting out this weekend for a short couple hour ride on the shoreline trail.
Thank you for your Response to my question, I do enjoy your video. Yes I do ride motorcycles but i'm also an avid mtn bike cyclist. And i love it! Just be safe on them roads ! Keep up the fun videos!
@@tylerberry2476 it’s a calculated risk and everyone has a different tolerance. I absolutely admit there were tense moments on this ride. For example, at the 7 mile bridge…man, I was SO glad when that couple just popped up…strength in numbers. Anyway…thanks for watching and let’s stay safe together, dude. 👍🏻
This is so cool !!! It’s inspired me as I live in the Everglades and plan on doing this ! Thanks guys !
Excellent. If you haven’t already, head over to Thomas’ channel. He has a lot of videos from all over Florida (and beyond 😊). @FollowThomas
Hey Bryan, wow, I just finished this with you. Me riding virtual and you doing all the work. I enjoyed seeing your rides through your evys.😊😊
lol. Ernest, glad you enjoyed it. This is a crazy fun hobby. Even more fun when people enjoy the virtual experience! Thank you.
Amazing ride once you’ve crossed the first bridge into the Keys! Great video men!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
I've biked Shark Valley. They have a bike rental at the visitor center - but they are often sold out, so waiting might be required. Also, I agree - airboat tour is a must.
That’s a great area. Incredible beauty.
Oh boy! More Florida! I have been hyping up the wife to let me go ride down to the keys and then come pick me up. That everglades trail looks amazing! I might have to add that to my ride. Question: What size/type tires are you riding on for all those big gravel roads? I've been looking to get into larger tires for my road bike to go more places with it vs my mountain bike.
Yeah, man--go for it! I have 43s currently but I've done trails like this on smaller. The everglades were truly amazing.
That intro........it's 1:32am and there's a lull in activity at work. My colleagues want to know what the heck I'm laughing at.
I'll finish this in the morning. Looking forward to it!
Glad you liked it. ;)
Another awesome video. I enjoy your perspective on life and friendship. The videos keep getting better and better. Cheers!!
I appreciate that! Thank you, Fred. Glad you enjoyed it.
Enjoying all your videos Bryan.... I'm a new cyclist, and want to learn everything!!! Got my bike about 2 weeks ago, and taking things a little at a time. I'm 73 years old, with the mind and heart of a 45 year old. Any beginning advice for me? Thanks for anything. Mike F.
A 73 yr old with the heart/mind of a 45 yr old should be giving me advice! Ok…1) take it slow and thoroughly enjoy the scenery, 2) find a great bike shop run by people who love cycling-they can save you from a ton of issue, 3) drink more fluids than you think you need l, 4) diner waitresses have the best recommendations for just about anything, 5) smile and wave at other riders. Always. 6) 90% of bike maintenance can be summed up in two things-keep your bike clean and keep it lubed. 7) most people are far more interesting than we could imagine.
I’m always up for conversation (email) so please feel free to reach out: bryan@ridealongadventures.com
Enjoyed the video Bryan, great job again.
Glad you enjoyed it
Another problem with crossing the 7 mile bridge, even tho it's got a bike lane, you get these extra wide roads that extend into the bike lanes. I don't even know what you are supposed to do when you encounter one of those. I suppose you gotta stop and lay down with your bike until they pass you.
lol. those were the most stressful miles of the entire trip. 😳
I totally enjoyed the video, great job putting it all together! It was such a great adventure. South Florida is amazing and this was the right time of year when temps were on the cooler side 👍😊
Hey man, you made this trip extra enjoyable. Good times!
Welcome back Bryan! As I suspected …. your video was worth the wait‼So many beautiful places. I would be be lying if I said wasn’t I jealous of the warm temperatures and the beautiful weather you had for your trip, I’ll pass on the 30 mile an hour headwind. 😂😂 Thanks for sharing another adventure!
glad you enjoyed it. thanks for watching! :) the warmer weather will be "up here" soon enough.
@ridealongadventures, which of your videos do you talk about retirement? Tnx
you know, I've brought it up many times but I don't really talk about it all that much. It's still a decision I wrestle with. I don't regret it but I'm still adjusting I guess. If you want to hear more, hit me up at: bryan@ridealongadventures.com and we could discuss it further. thanks for watching.
Wow, Bryan, Thomas and Diego. My three favorite TH-camrs together. That had to have been some great conversation. Hope that you got one more FL trip in you before summer! Great video
I hope so too!
Absolutely amazing run. Personally almost 70, so not sure my e-bike would make those distances, but damned if I ain't gonna try!!!
I love it! That's the spirit. I've been noticing so many more ebikes out there than even a year ago. They are certainly gaining a lot of traction in the cycling community. Thank for watching--this was an incredibly fun trip.
Wow an amazing video…keep up the good work!
Thank you so much!
thanks for sharing! As a native Floridian the Keys are our vacation spot in the state. I have tons of memories of family vacations as a kid, rising with my dad then when I was a bit older spring breaks with my college friends then now as an adult celebrating the majesty that is the Keys..
you're welcome. how wonderful to have so many great memories in the Keys! Majestic, indeed.
Love the vids Bryan. I hope to be doing lots of riding in Florida someday soon. Please wear lots of bright/reflective clothing on the bike. Ride safe!
Thanks! Yup, gotta stay visible! Keep those blinkers charged up!
Great video opening sequence!😂
thanks. some get it, some don't.
What an awesome Intro!!
So when I see a gator along the C&D canal, I’ll know who to thank!!😊😂
lol. that's a good one. 🤣
Wow - what a fun trip! Thank you for sharing it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
It was great to see you and Thomas together again. But then when Diego showed up... Big Bada Boom! 🤯
I know!!!! 😂 It was so cool to meet him. Such a nice guy.
Perfect opening..🤣🤣🤙
Thank you ☺️
What an amazing video of south Florida, I often go ride at shark valley, 15 miles of no cars, just gators, and this weekend I am going on a trip from casino down to long pine campground just 5 miles past the visitors center, going on the same route as you down by the canals.
Quick question, how did you get back from key west?, fly?, rent a car? Bus?. Nobody ever mentions this. Please let me know. Thank you, Peter
Yeah, rental car. It was a cheap option to get back to Miami where I/we caught Amtrak. Enjoy your trip!
I love the video and especially the history lessons!
thank you! Glad you liked it.
Dude! Those gators were huge😳 how cool would it have been for you to get footage of one of them chasing you🤪. Seriously though… that took some courage to calmly ride on by🚴🏽♂️🐊🚴🏽♂️🐊
lol...if it didn't come through on the video...there was no calmness. I was extremely nervous. There was this guy taking a selfie with this young daughter and they were standing just a few feet away. Locals said the gators are totally cool with tourists but I could not stay there and watch a potential disaster occur. Yikes. Anyway...they are amazing creatures but I prefer to give them their space. The Everglades were just amazing. I never imagined such vast, endless horizons.
What a great ride! Thanks for sharing the adventure…and now I want a banana shake
🍌🥤☀️
Wow Bryan, that opening scene tops them all. Great work! We've biked the Shark Valley loop, it's incredible. Those roads though. I'm going to have to take a pass on this biking adventure. Some of that route doesn't look enjoyable. You did get to meet Diego and that would be awesome. Thanks. 👍
Thanks, Ed. Yeah, agreed on Shark Valley. I’m getting a big print of a photo I took from the observation tower made for my office. Unforgettable. You aren’t wrong about the roads. It got tense at times. I was incredibly happy when that couple popped up in front of us for the 7 mile bridge. Four cyclists are hard to ignore. For the most part, there was a big shoulder. It’s sort of a shame that so much of the old rail line is just crumbling away. My naive self kept thinking how great it would be to convert that to a bike path. Anyway, thanks for watching! I appreciate it.
Awesome Bryan. I'm about a week behind you. Rode through Titusville area today.
Enjoy, Steve! Hope you have a great ride.
Here’s to purple crayons and raisins! Another fantastic video, always glad to see new content. Still can’t get comfortable on busy roadways so I might have to pass on a trip through the Keys, much as I love them.
Yeah, it requires some extra attention and stress. I was very happy to have a riding partner for this one. Strength in numbers. And an incredibly beautiful part of the state.
I was thinking of naming the entire video “purple crayons and raisins” but I figured too many people would scratch their heads and move on. 😂 Might make a nice tshirt. Thanks for watching-much appreciated.
Must have just missed you. I saw your upper Florida ride and decided to ride the Keys. Just got back. 5-9 Feb. was going to send you my lessons learned. I tent camped at state parks. Took the metro bus back from Key West to Florida City. Enjoyed your videos. Hope to see you out there - thanks for the inspiration. Bryan
Very cool! I'd still love to hear your lessons learned. my goal for 2024 is to camp twice as much as 2023. if you'd rather share 1:1, bryan@ridealongadventures.com. I'm particularly interested in how the metro worked out. I saw a metro coming the other way right before we got to Key West and it looked full (two bikes) in the front. It's the same here in Delaware. The last time I biked to the beach, I saw four other cyclists queued up, waiting for the next available slots which meant it was going to be a long day. :) Regardless...this ride was superb. What a great state.
Brilliant! Good to see you are still on the planet. Agree - definitely give those alligators a wide berth, something we don't see in the UK 😄 Maybe should have called this trip Two Felons on Bikes do the Florida Keys. Hilarious escort. Flyscout - he's fantastic. Loved that market shop you went into with all that amazing fruit, wow! And - you are never too old to make new friends. Thanks again for sharing your amazing adventure. 🚴♀
lol…thanks for the comments. I’ve been freaked out by alligators my whole life. Believe it or not, growing up, my neighbor was a science teacher and had alligators in his backyard! (Ohio)
I thought people got WAY too close to them in my opinion.
Anyway…the trip was marvelous.
How is your journey shaping up? It’s starting soon, right?
Your story telling is fantastic. Seeing Diego had to be fun too. His videos are awesome too!
Thank you-I’m really working on it. Yeah, Diego is one of a kind. I don’t care what I’m doing. When he releases a new video, I generally drop everything and watch.
Great video! You and Thomas are inspiring me to check out Florida biking. So beautiful. As a side note, took me a good 10 minutes to gather the courage to ride past an alligator sitting fully on the path in Texas. So kudos for just zipping on by!
I think my video doesn't do the moment justice--i was not calm or courageous. :) I don't like alligators. at all. Regardless, Florida is amazing, especially for cycling. So much to see. Thomas has been everywhere and yet he still finds new adventure--his channel is awesome.
Hi Bryan, yes I am watching ..... The whole ride is really amazing...😆
Lol. Jim, honestly, this area felt EXACTLY like where you took me on the other side of the island (minus the hills). So beautiful. AND it was hot like Penang which felt great. I hope you're well, my friend. Give my best to the family. (Also, yes, sometimes I miss work :))
Thank you for this video. As always, very detailed. 🙂 We moved to SWFL last June and we made a trip to Key West in September. It was hot. I took my bike and rode the island while we were there. I did ride out to Lower Sugar Loaf Key for coffee at Baby's Coffee. That was fun. I want to make the entire trip someday soon. Anyway, about the Everglades. I watched a program on Florida Public TV about the "River of Grass." The thing that amazed me is the fact that what is now Everglades National Park is about 1/3 of what the Everglades once was. The news today is that Lake Okeechobee is very full, so the Army Corp of Engineers is releasing water both east and west. Before all of the development, the water would have made its way through the Everglades. Where we live, the release is running into the Caloosahatchee River and into the Gulf. This results in brown water running into the blue-green water of the Gulf. People are not happy. Again, thanks for the "ride along adventure." 🙂
Baby’s coffee!! Yeah, we stopped there as well.
The whole water management topic is such a mess. Run off. Algae blooms. I’ve been in Sanibel when the bay is totally brown. 😔 Hard to know where to start.
Great video. I rode seated for the whole video at 110 bpm just enjoying the scenery and the discussions. Many of us are curious about the set-up on your bike. Also curious about Thomas. For people who have never done this, they would want to know what the starting "kit" should be. Maybe also a little more about the bike set-up. This helps us to prepare, using your knowledge. Also, talk about how often you eat and drink during the ride. Conduct a class!
Thank you, Dennis. I've been sitting on a video script for a "starter" set-up for over a year now. Maybe I'll move that up in the queue. It's a great question because I went almost three years with an extremely simple (cheap) setup that worked fantastic for shorter trips. When I started 1-2 week trips, I upgraded my set-up to racks with four panniers and a frame bag. In the meantime, this video might be of interest because it speaks to most of my gear. th-cam.com/video/hJJDq4ORESc/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching, Dennis, and I greatly appreciate the feedback and suggestions.
Wow, I thought I posted right after you put the video up, but I don't see it, so, I will repost. Loved the opening scene, hysterical!! You and Thomas are perfect together. I was wondering how Homestead looked, is it mostly rebuilt after the hurricane Andrew? DIEGO!!! I love him, he is a BEAST!! The only cyclist I know that hunts down mountains to climb!! He will climb all day if he could and in a snow storm!! My favorite part of Key West are the chickens running around everywhere!! So, when are you planning on finishing the PA trails you didn't get to finish due to the Canadian fires? Looking forward to the next adventure....
Thanks, Amy. Not sure what’s next. We had a taste of spring here last week but I just know more snow is coming. I’d like to return to some of this western PA trails. Redbank for sure!
Is there a reason you did not take US 1 instead of the loop of Card Sound Road?
Not really. More like a flip of a coin. I think Thomas had ridden both ways and felt like doing the Card Sound Road. I'll try US1 next time. Do you have a preference--I'm all ears.
@@RideAlongAdventures Well, your're gambling on both. Pray that some distracted driver is not playing with the phone or the info screen on the car. Plus the tourist marveling at the scenery and not paying attention to the road.
@@pedrofernandez8729 you're right and that prayer is a must. As a runner, I used run opposite to traffic and was amazed at how many drivers were looking down at a phone. Yikes. Now, I look into my rear mirror and wonder the same thing.
@@RideAlongAdventures And if you ride against traffic, you run the risk of having a car come out out of a side street or driveway and only look at where the traffic is coming from and will not see you at all. Here in Key Biscayne, a bunch of cyclists have been killed or hurt by cars. Even tho the bike lanes are clearly marked and painted green.
best video yet! i might be a bit partial to it since it's our backyard. glad you two plus had a great ride. Thomas seems like a gentle giant, and can ride like the wind and nothing seems to bother him.
i would recommend a glassbottom boat ride to see the reefs at pennecamp or a snorkling trip. i think i heard a shout out, but it was probably another Russell. either way i can brag about it and nobody else would know.
funny, i thought on your first day you did L67, checked in the Miccosukee resort, saddled back up to hit shark river then back. but the miles didn't add up from Thomas's videos.
how did you get back to miami?
nah, that "Russell" is YOU! :) Yeah, the glassbottom boats were sold out that day. That area is incredible though. Beautiful beach area, blue water, wow.
with regards to the first and second days, yeah, I think you got it right. Then we went down to Homestead and into the Keys. We got back from Key West to Miami with a rental car at the end of the ride.
Yes, Thomas is an incredibly nice guy and, also yes, he is fast. I got a great week of speed training. :)
Great video, Bryan. You caught the Keys in both kinds of weather. But even on the overcast days the water is still a shade of turquoise.
I hope you have some more footage of your time in Key West and the return back the way you came.😊
Gord
Yeah, we could have spent a lot more time in Key West. Such a beautiful little town.
@@RideAlongAdventures Yes, Bryan, you want to do at least two overnights with a full day in between for checking everything out.
That's what I did when I was there in the spring of 2001.
Gord
Aha...Two of my bike heroes in the same video how cool is that?!!
lol. Thomas is a helluva rider! Thanks for watching.
Love your videos! I'm doing my first solo trek this summer in PEI . Your vids give me inspiration 😊
Thank you. Have fun!!!
I laughed my tuchas off. (Do you know what a tuchas is?) I live in Naples, FL. Your bike videos are fantastic. I use them for exercise on my indoor bike. Many many thanks.
Glad you like them! I’m always happy to hear that because that was my main intent with this channel. I also spend a good bit of time on my trainer in the basement. Also, my tuchas is just getting back to normal after that ride. 😊
It is so great to see you in our back yard. One day my wife and I counted 162 alligators on our Shark Valley loop. We love taking out of town guests there and locals who we are just getting into cycling. Glad you enjoyed it.
Omg!!!!!!!!! I’d estimate we saw like 20 or so. That’s incredible. Regardless, agreed-what a beautiful trail.
i read most of the comments, and you have a great following. alligators really get the conversation going. from my experience in the wild is they want nothing to do with humans.
I've been fishing for hours on L67 and there are none in view, then someone with a dog pulls up and as soon as the dog starts running around the alligators pop up way down the canal start heading to the dog. at shark valley, they are so used to people they are not too aggressive. in a few months during mating season it gets interesting. its also warmer and they are more active.
there are riders who wait for a full moon and ride the loop, all the animals show up. in the dry season they all pile up near the culverts because that's the only water left.
can't wait for your next adventure. and Thomas's too
Thanks for clarifying the alligator behavior. I’ve had a sort of phobia since a young kid-they just freak me out. They were amazing to see in the wild but I wanted a distance. I’ve seen them on Sanibel numerous times but I’ve been 20-30’ away. Being on that trail was just wild.
But regardless, the Everglades were breathtaking.
now the people out west who try and pet bison, those are......@@RideAlongAdventures
Referring to the Everglades shrinking; I’m sure you’re aware of the Great Black Swamp that went from Sandusky Ohio to Ft Wayne Indiana. I wish it were still here, but growing corn was important to the early settlers. There are remnants of the swamp and we usually go to the area for one of the coolest migrations I’ve ever seen wood Warblers that fly thousands of miles to nest. I met people from every state and so far 7 countries. I like stuff like the Everglades and similar geographical features. Nice ride
I was not aware! Wow. Yeah…eating/surviving is also important. I’ll have to check that area out some time. Thanks for watching!
Great video... However you missed one of the biggest sports star. You rode with in A few feet of him. You could have stopped in his place and he would have treated you like A brother. Its Gary Dunn 2 time super bowl winner for the Steelers. Super nice guy... Friend of my family. His place A little pub with about 12 rooms. in is right on A1A. its called the Ocean view. At the top of his sign it says ... Owned by A NFL l has been. LOL That tells you how cool he is.
That is just awesome. Sorry I missed that.
Bryan, retirement is treating you right! Looks like you had a great time in FL. Man, those Alligators, though, whew! Looks like all the TH-cam cyclists were in Florida for Feb. I'm glad you guys got to ride together. I saw some of Flyscout Ryder before, and I'll be watching more soon.
Absolutely. Good times. It was awesome to see new places I've never been before. Even with alligators. :) Diego's channel is exceptional. Honestly, I was just star struck. Hey, don't forget: we need to hit the Pine Creek sometime soon!!
@@RideAlongAdventures Definitely , I'm looking forward to it. Probably looking like May or June. I'm getting out this weekend for a short couple hour ride on the shoreline trail.
Why would you put your self in danger like that ? Distracted drivers impaired drivers that just don't see ya !! wow man it's freaky !!
Why does anyone put themselves in danger? Like riding a motorcycle, for example?
If you don't take a calculated amount of risk, life can be boring. At least to some individuals.
Thank you for your Response to my question, I do enjoy your video. Yes I do ride motorcycles but i'm also an avid mtn bike cyclist. And i love it! Just be safe on them roads ! Keep up the fun videos!
@@ArmandGirardthanks for your Response to my question.
@@tylerberry2476 it’s a calculated risk and everyone has a different tolerance. I absolutely admit there were tense moments on this ride. For example, at the 7 mile bridge…man, I was SO glad when that couple just popped up…strength in numbers. Anyway…thanks for watching and let’s stay safe together, dude. 👍🏻