SPBC Wide Shot From FB July 2023 (cropped)

The Saturday morning ride leaving from the North Shore Aquatic Center begins at 8:00 a.m. beginning on Saturday April 20, 2024. The ride start time moves back to 8:30 in late October (date TBD)

General Ride Information

Everyone is welcome on rides facilitated by SPBC; membership is not required. Of course, we hope that after you ride with us you will want to join and help keep the club rolling! With limited exception, all of these rides are "Show and Go." Unless otherwise noted, they start at 8 AM in the summer months AND 8:30 AM in the winter months. Rides meet between the parking lots in front of North Shore Aquatic Center, 901 North Shore Dr. MAP. Check our Facebook group for the latest updates.

Please be respectful of Ride Callers as they make announcements and call the rides.
Ride Callers will be dividing riders into manageable groups of riders for your safety.
If you are at the front of your group, you are the de facto Ride Leader for your group at that time.
Ride Leaders, as well as all members of each group,
- ... are responsible for OBEYING THE RULES OF THE ROAD - stop at Stop signs and stop at red lights (watch for countdown timers and stale green lights).
- ... must maintain the stated speed of the group.
- ... are requested to slowly increase speed coming off stops, and slow speeds around corners or curves.
All riders
- ... are required to point or call out HAZARDS and pass the information back to the group.
- ... are required to pull out of line (or go to the back) to discard any bodily fluid (spit or snot).
- ... must wave with ALL FIVE FINGERS at angry or careless motorists or pedestrians!
Use of electric bicycles is limited to Class 1 pedal assist bicycles and Class 3 pedal assist bicycles.
Regarding COVID, please follow all CDC guidelines at all times.

Helmets are required for all riders and use of tri-bars are prohibited within the group. Follow traffic laws and use established group riding techniques. If you are unfamiliar with group techniques, please ride to the rear and observe. Review group riding techniques here and how we ride here. Safety is everyone's priority and you may be asked to leave the group if you exhibit unsafe habits. Be aware that cycling is a dangerous sport. You ride at your own risk.

Saturday Club Rides

The St. Petersburg Bicycle Club’s largest rides are on Saturday mornings, and they offer the most variety for speed, route and distance. For these reasons we recommend your first ride with the club be a Saturday ride. Our rides are called out from fastest (24+ mph) to under 16 mph. From the beginning of October to the end of April, rides begin at 8:30 AM and 8:00 AM during the summer months. The Saturday and Holiday Rides are the only official club rides described on this page. The rest are user initiated and we list them here only as a courtesy to the cycling community.

Along with the ride speed, we call North rides and South rides. This is the general direction the ride will travel; the number is the speed. For example, “22 South” ride will travel South from the Pool to Pinellas Point and back at around 22 mph. A “22 North” ride will travel North from the Pool to Weedon Island at around 22 mph, etc. The speed is cruising speed, not what you might see as average speed after the ride is over. Speeds should not materially exceed the stated speed for extended periods.

The North and South routes are each about 20-25 miles round trip. Occasionally, some riders go to Ft. De Soto, which is about 45 miles round trip at a speed predetermined by those present.

At slower speeds, there is a no-drop policy. If you fall behind, the group will wait. If you tire on the faster rides, there will be another ride behind at a slower pace you can join. Some rides are social rides with a premium on fun. If you’re a new rider, let the ride caller know. The caller can help you find the group best suited for your interests.

Rides start from the North Shore Aquatic Center: Map

User Initiated (Show 'n' Go) Rides

The following rides are listed as a courtesy; they may not be active every week. Check the club Facebook group for the latest updates.

Saturday

7:00 AM: North Shore Pool (901 N Shore Dr NE) to Ft. De Soto @ 18-21 mph, but often faster on the return for some. (Picks up riders at USFSP [6th Av. S & 2nd St. S.] at about 7:07 AM.)
8:00 AM: USFSP to Ft. De Soto @ 26-30+ mph.

Sunday

8:00 AM*: "Library Ride" - St. Petersburg Main Library, 3745 9th Ave N with the route determine by the riders present.

* The start time is 8a beginning 4/20/2024. It shifts back to 8:30 in late October (exact date TBD)

7:30 AM: "Beach Ride" Pinellas Trail in Seminole at 102nd Ave N. Steady 20-22 mph ride along Gulf Blvd out to Pass-A-Grille and back.
7:30 AM: Downtown St. Pete to Pass-A-Grille via Pinellas Point & the Pinellas Bayway @ 17-20mph. Meets Seminole-based "Beach Ride" along Gulf Blvd. and then heads north on Gulf Blvd. to Park Blvd. Bridge at 20-22mph with sprints. Then along the Pinellas Trail to brunch. About 40+ miles.
7:00 AM: USF for one loop backwards of the South route (17 miles). Pace 18-21 mph.
8:00 AM: The above 7:00 AM ride returns to USF to meet other riders for a trip to Pass-A-Grille @ 20-28 mph. About 30 miles.
7:30 AM: "Lemony Fresh Ride" - San Antonio Hills. About 43 miles. Check Event Calendar for schedule, as these are irregularly scheduled.

Pinellas Trail

Weekdays:

All rides are “Show and Go”. Check our Facebook group for the latest updates.

Mon-Fri "USFSP" Ride

This ride takes the "standard" South route: 4th St S to Pinellas Point Dr, then North on 31st through Lakewood’s St. Petersburg CC golf course before turning North for home on 6th street. This loop is about 17 miles with three optional sprint points on Pinellas Point, at the end of the golf course and past “Thrill Hill” coming home.

The 8:00 AM sharp start is from the USFSP Campus at the corner of 2nd St S and 6th Ave S by the green concrete balls in front of the bronze bull.(Map). This ride can have up to 50 riders on any given day. A partial second loop follows at a faster pace for another 9 miles. Occasionally some riders go to Pass-A-Grille for total of 30 miles.

Mon, Wed, & Fri the 1st loop pace is a controlled 20 mph.
On Tuesday & Thursday the 1st loop pace is controlled at 17-19 MPH.

Below are more informal and often smaller weekday rides that have gained a following:

Tuesday & Thursday 7:00 AM: North Shore Pool to Pass-A-Grille & Ft. De Soto @ 20-26 mph. About 45 miles. Some riders may return from Pass-A-Grille and meet the second loop of the 8 am weekday ride below.
Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 PM (4pm during winter months): USFSP to Ft. De Soto @ 24-30+ mph.
Tuesday "Bridge Ride" 8:00 AM (as of Apr 23 and changes back to 8:00 AM in late Oct): Seminole City Park & Pinellas Trail (Map) to Belleair, over three bridges through Clearwater to Dunedin @ 15-18 mph, about 35 miles. Brunch & return via trail.
Thursday 9:45 AM Fort De Soto ride: Meet at Billy’s Stone Crab, 1 Collany Rd in Tierra Verde.

Holiday Rides

Holiday rides start at North Shore Pool (or alternative location if NSP is in use). Riders take off riding sharp at 8:30 AM (8:00 AM in summer). All rides are free, and the public is welcome. Specifics are posted a few days in advance on our Facebook group.

Upcoming Holiday Rides:

New Year's Day - 01/01/2024 at 8:30 AM
Memorial Day - 05/27/2024 at 8:00 AM
Independence Day - 07/04/2024 at 8:00 AM
Labor Day - 09/02/2024 at 8:00 AM
Thanksgiving Day - 11/28/2024 at 8:30 AM
Christmas Day - 12/25/2024 at 8:30 AM

Links to Other Rides

Tampa Bay Weekly Rides. Provided by Brian Clarke on Google Docs.

CAAM Events

Florida Bicycle Association
Touring Calendar

Florida Bicycle Racing Association
Calendar

St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, Inc.

PO Box 76023

St. Petersburg, FL 33734

USA

The St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, Inc. (SPBC) is a non-profit, social and recreational club that exists to promote safe, satisfying bicycling opportunities to both club members and the general public of all ages and skill levels, through planned activities and events.