It’s still steamy, but enjoy biking, running competitions

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 7/19/17
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Southwest Florida offers many opportunities to participate, train and compete in bike events, road and trail races and triathlons (although you’ll have to travel to compete in an Ironman qualifier).

The Caloosa Riders (caloosariders.org) lead rides every day except Mondays and Fridays. Area bike shops also facilitate rides. Dates and times change with the season but those confirmed at press time included Trek Bicycle Stores (trekbikestoreusa.com) in Fort Myers and Estero; Fort Myers Schwinn (schwinncyclery.com) in Old Fort Myers; Coastline Cyclery (coastlinecyclery.com) in southeast Fort Myers; Bike Bistro (thebikebistro.com) in the Iona area; EA Bicycles (eabicycles.com/) also in the Iona area (they organize mountain bike rides locally and out of town); JRA Bikes (find on Facebook) in North Fort Myers; and Paradise/Go Girl Cycling (gogirlcycling.com) in Fort Myers.

The Captiva Tri grows each year in popularity
as a local competition.

To take a first step into triathlons or to continue training, a local tri that’s upcoming is the Galloway Captiva Triathlon (captivatri.org), a two-day event that includes three different kids’ distances on Saturday, Sept. 9, and the adult sprint distance (1/4-mile swim, 10-mile bike ride and 5K run) on Sunday, Sept. 10. To get ready for that event there are a number of organized group rides taking place regularly throughout the area as well as group runs and 5K races happening between now and early September. Visit swimflorida.com for swim training opportunities.

The Captiva Tri grows each year in popularity as a local competition. The Captiva Tri grows each year in popularity as a local competition. Even in summer running remains popular, although the distance running race season doesn’t get into high gear until the fall. But a few 5K races and summer fun runs (usually 2-milers) are happening, as are group runs. The final Fort Myers Track Club Summer 2-Mile Fun Run Series happens on Tuesday evening, July 26, from Run Florida (McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers) and 3D Racing’s Cape 5K takes place on Saturday,

Aug. 12, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com).

One not to be missed comes next: Fort Myers Track Club’s annual Membership Run 5K on Saturday, Aug. 19. Instead of trophies each participant receives a one-year membership to FMTC and a club singlet shirt for registering. It takes place in and around Century Link Sports Complex (Twins & Miracle stadium) and also includes tickets to a Miracle game. Go to ftmyerstrackclub.com for all the details and to register. Also, check bikewalklee.blogspot.com for a more comprehensive listing of running, walking, biking, and tri events that are happening in and around Southwest Florida.

For more Lee County cycling and tri events visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudc utters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) The Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org) is your source for statewide happenings. BikeWalkLee’s blog site bikewalklee.blogspot.com has information to stay abreast of advocacy efforts in Southwest Florida as well as statewide and nationally. ¦

- Dan Moser is a long-time bicycle/pedestrian advocate and traffic safety professional who cycles, runs and walks regularly for transportation, recreation and fitness. Contact him at bikepedmoser@gmail.com and 334-6417.