Flagler, FL – Cycling Flagler 2017

The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach hosted Cycle Flagler on April 30, 2017, and 3 team members (Diana, Shawn, and Z) faced the Florida coastal winds for a day of riding. The Rotary Club offered 24, 40, 66 or 100-mile routes as well as a 16-mile bike path option through a beautiful nature trail for those who prefer a shorter distance in a quiet environment. All the options offered choices in experiencing the beauty of coastal Florida.

The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach supports the following local and international projects: Project Share Christmas – Toys to more than 1300 children need, Project Share food – monthly groceries for 300 families, FPC and Matanzas HS Scholarships for graduating seniors, construction of the multi-sport fields in Bunnell near the Carver Gym, construction of the new Fitness Trail around the Bunnell Fields, purchase of pack-n-play portable cribs to help prevent SIDS in Flagler County, sponsoring and organizing the Flagler Beach Christmas parade, international projects including working with Rotarians worldwide to eradicate Polio, building wells for villages in Africa, supporting an orphanage in Paraguay, and purchasing a Mammogram machine for an underserved indigenous community in South America.

With several options to choose from, this year the team tackled the 40-mile route. The day started early for the other team members at 4:30 am with an uneventful drive to Flagler County airport. Once there, the team enjoyed a light breakfast of coffee, bagels, and muffins set out by the Rotary Club volunteers.

The Ride

The day started off overcast, with the threat of drizzle. The riders lined up for a warm-up lap around the airport’s runway. What a treat! It is not every day you get to be on an airport runway, much less ride on one.

After the lap around, the cyclists headed out to the roads of Flagler County. The Sheriff’s Department was there to see to the safety of the riders (Thank you!), ensuring they got off to a good start. At 7:30 am it was in the 70’s, and within 2 hours the temperature rose to the 90’s. The ride was planned as a very casual ride.

The ride along the A1A can only be described as intense. A strong headwind, between 20-23 mph, pummeled the cyclists, making for a grueling 19 miles until the first stop. The TeamOne riders switched off leading, lessening the brunt of the wind. Finally, the first rest stop was there. The volunteers at all the stops were incredible — peanut butter and jelly sandwiches magically appeared in hand; trail mix, pickles, and cookies were plentiful, as were the smiles from all the great volunteers.

After a short break, the team was back on the road. The first thing facing them was a bridge! After the winds, the bridge seemed like nothing. It was a slight rise in elevation and gave a great view of the intra-coastal waterway.

More miles gave way to more spectacular views of Flagler County. The team managed to push through the wind. An average of 15.8 gives no insight into the effort and sheer determination that sparked the riders to get to the finish line.

After finishing the ride, the team members enjoyed a great BBQ put on by the Rotary Club. This included pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, and amazing oatmeal cookies. One of the best things about riding is the special care these volunteers took to make sure the cyclists had a great day!!