Side trips in Crandon Park include the old zoo, now called CP gardens or some such. A local can show you the ropes. (Not that I am officially volunteering, but if Ken comes down for the fun, I’ll lead a tour.)

You might see packs of 50-75 racers here on the weekends. I’ve been known to pull to the side and bow respectfully as they pass (otherwise they pass _very closely_). Seems like after they go past the former La Carretta the first time, the pack kinda thins out. ;-)

Anyway, I am a 12 mph cyclist (10, 30 or 60 miles; makes no difference to MY pace.)

If you consider yourself urbanized, and your primary language is English, I’d suggest considering living in Miami Beach. Coconut Grove might work too. MB is rideable in a transportation sense; to the store, etc.

If you are more for the big house further out, you are on your own, and be prepared for hideous traffic.

Matt, it doesn’t take long for your base fitness level to rise unless your base fitness level has been falling for the last 40 years. Over time, it gets in the habit of going the wrong way.

I am thrilled that you can do 30 miles at 18 miles an hour. Had I tried that, however, your dad would have inherited a Cannondale tourer long before he bought the Surly.

And, I’m sorry, but riding a bicycle at 10 miles an hour is better for you than briskly walking across a Wal-Mart parking lot. In order to walk safely across a Wal-Mart parking lot, you have to avoid the waddlers, the walkers with walkers, the illegals in 15-year-old brown Toyotas with neither driving skills nor insurance, and the moms beating their children in front of the security cameras. I find a crouching scuttle from parking island to parking island with time in between to observe the traffic flow safer than a brisk walk.

cmk

Don’t mind The Kid. He doesn’t realize that at some point you hit the age when you can reach your aerobic threshold just by checking your watch.

Actually winding it throws you over the threshold.

First observation: wow, this thing is really light.

Second and third observations: wow, I was really stretched out on this bike. I’m surprised that I was able to ride it as long as I did. It was really uncomfortable.

This bike is really twitchy compared to the Surly LHT, which is really happy going straight down the road.

I did NOT find myself being pulled down the road at 25 mph.

Try this: ride a bike as it comes off the showroom floor. You’ll be pulling the pack at 25 miles an hour, I swear.

Lurch, I’m not sure how much exercise you are getting at 12mph. At that speed, do you even hit your aerobic threshold? A 12mph bike ride burns the same number of calories as light effort downhill skiing. You’d get more exercise walking briskly across a Wal-Mart parking lot.

—Matt

Now I know why there are speed limit signs on the Palm Beach Bike Trail. What’s the rush? 12 mph isn’t “mind numblingly slow,” it’s “normal,” at least to those of us who cycle to enjoy a little scenery and get a bit of exercise at the same time.

If I’m in a hurry, I get in a car and hit I-95.

My kid knows not of which he speaks.

I can and have often ridden 60 miles at a mind-expanding 12 mph. Even in my best year, I have NOT done a 30-mile ride at 18 mph, nor do I expect to.

More speed would mean shorter saddle time, which would be nice on a long trip, but I don’t set that as my goal.

Here is the problem you’re going to have… people who often ride 30 to 60 miles at a time don’t stay in the C/D groups very long. If you can do a 60 mile ride at 12 miles an hour, you can do a 30 mile ride at 18 miles an hour. It doesn’t take long for your base fitness level to rise and bring your speed up as well.

The few people who do ride 60 miles at a mind numbingly slow 12 miles an hour don’t organize because they are so few in number.

That said, if you email some bike clubs in South Florida, they will be able to introduce to members who prefer to take it slow. A local triathlon group does long (50-mile), slow (16 miles an hour) rides a couple Sundays a month to help runners adjust to riding.

You may also find you ride faster in Florida. I lose two to three miles an hour when I ride in an area with hills. Maybe you’ll gain two or three miles an hour when you get to the flats.

—Matt