Clermont, FL

Sunday, February 11, 2018, started with an early 5 am wake-up call to get ready for the 5th Annual Tour Latino Ride. Clermont, Florida is not too far from Orlando. Today TeamOne members made the drive to participate in what promised to be an exciting event in the hills. in 63-degree weather. Dawn, Diana, Jodel, and Z participated in the Tour Latino event on a beautiful February day in Florida.

5th Tour Latino Ride

The group chose the 25-mile course. Riders had a choice of five bike routes with varying degrees of difficulty across the hilly terrain of Lake County. Tour Latino, put on by Prospera, provides fundraising for the organization so they are able to offer business training and consulting programs for Hispanic entrepreneurs in Florida.

Readying for the ride with the usual last checks of gloves, helmets, lights, riders had an opportunity to enjoy a little cafecito before hitting the hills. Numbers in place on the bikes, music synched, the team headed to the starting line.

At 9:00 am the group started out from Waterfront Park. Amidst plenty of cyclists, enjoying some heart-pumping music, riders took off for the trek into the hills. The meandering start quickly turned into a challenge, though, as the first hill came into sight. Shifting is key! Most of the TeamOne riders train on the flat territory, so the hills always take on a mystique of their own in contrast to that flat training.

Each hill seemed a bit more challenging than the last. The wind had a hand in that. Hefty gusts came out of nowhere to make the climb just that much more difficult. At times it seemed that there would not be an end to that uphill climb. The top, and then…whoosh down the hill for a quick descent, with a lot of fun tossed in. The beauty of Lake County with its trees and greenery surrounded the riders the entire way.

The SAG station at mile 13 came into view. What a welcome sight. The volunteers had an assortment of water and Gatorade for refilling bottles, delicious oranges, pretzels, and granola. These cheery volunteers with their smiles wiped away any fatigue starting to set in. After a longer break than usual, TeamOne riders hit the road.

The usual joke, cliche by now, that it was only downhill from here could be heard from few voices. Ha! That “downhill” started as an uphill. A few sharp turns, sandy roads, and the rolling hills kept everyone challenged.

Soon enough the 20-mile mark came. The finish line beckoned the riders. A little more speed, a little more pressure to the pedals, for the last few miles. The now-familiar path of the last mile finally came. Then there was the finish line! A great way to end a challenging ride.

With a little energy still left, TeamOne added a few extra miles to enjoy the beauty and thrill of the countryside. A view of the Florida Citrus Tower, one of the first constructed Florida landmarks, was just one of the sights this last leg offered.

The biggest draw of this ride was the sensational food provided and the camaraderie we shared at lunch. These rides are always a great experience for the simple fact the participants all share a love of biking!

Clermont is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States, about 22 miles (35 km) west of Orlando and 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Leesburg. The population was 30,201 as of 2013. The city is residential in character and its economy is centered in retail trade, lodging, and food and beverage establishments, which are tourism oriented. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.