A few years ago some guys at a local bike shop told me about a quiet route that had been used for the World Triathlon Championships. It made a loop just north of the Disney complex, actually touching the main "Cast Member" entrance to the park. The only problem was this route was a bit short. Then someone suggested I take a side trip to Windemere around Lake Butler and check out the amazing houses, including one owed by Shaq when he played for the Magic.
A few years ago I decided to check out the West Orange Bike Path further to the north in Winter Garden. Over that past couple years this bike path has been completed. It now offers 22 miles of gorgeous riding through gently rolling hills along a former railway bed. The bike path is paved and at least ten feet wide. Street crossings are infrequent enough so that they do not interfere with the ride. (Pictures)
Finally, this year (2003) we found that the Orange County Parks Department had put in a nice little park on CR 535 about 3 miles from the Disney Entrance in Lake Buena Vista. This was a godsend since getting to "my loop" on those three miles was often a hair-raising experience. (continued below)
Excluding the bike path the ride is 30 miles long. You can add ten miles on the bike path by going to Killarney Station and back. There is a bike rental shop there that also sells drinks and snack bars. Or, you can head to Apopka for a 34 mile round trip. Thus, it is easy to put together rides of 30, 40, 74, or 84 miles (doing the bike paths to the east and west).
If you look at the map of the West Orange Trail, you will see that there are "Stations" every few miles. These are often beautiful buildings, most of which have bathrooms, parking, and picnic facilities. I marvel at how a County Government put all this together. You see joggers, cyclists, walkers, and skaters in large numbers. On weekends it is easy to find others to ride with.
The bike path travels through scenic forests, along a golf course, and next to several horse farms. At Winter Garden there are many small cafes and restaurants catering to tourists and locals alike. In Apopka you will find virtually every fast food restaurant that exists on the American landscape.
At the moment, the trail has a bit of a break at Apopka. Most of the locals can direct you to the rest of the trail.
Before heading home from Winter Garden, it is a good idea to load up on drinks, as you will ride about 17 miles without seeing any stores or gas stations. What a joy.
