Sharky’s Ride the Beaches supports three charities:
- Team Tony, a local Sarasota-based foundation helping, hands-on those going through cancer treatment and their families.
- Friends of the Legacy Trail, dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of Sarasota County’s best cycling asset, the Legacy Trail Park.
- Livestrong Foundation, helping people nationwide finding the resources and strength to fight cancer.
THE FOOD: All riders will start the day with breakfast on the beach at Sharky’s. Breakfast will be fresh fruit, juice, bagels, fruit bread, and coffee. All rest stops will be stocked with water, sports drink, fresh fruit, snacks and/ or sandwiches. BBQ lunch will be served on the beach at Sharky’s.
THE RIDE ROUTES:
The 15 mile ride stays on the island of Venice. There is an optional extra 4 miles that goes off the island, on the Venetian Waterway Trail. This ride is suitable for most anybody with a
bike. You will ride to Casperson Beach and access the Waterway trail. After riding the trail to the north side of Venice you will ride low traffic roads to the Venice Yacht Club for a rest stop. From there you will meander through residential side streets back to Sharky’s .
The 35 mile ride will take you over the Intercoastal waterway to the neighborhood streets of South Venice. You will cross the intercoastal waterway again, and have your first rest stop. Now ride down beautiful Manasota Key. In some places you will be so close to the beach, you have to watch for sand in the road. After returning on the key you will hit the rest stop again and head back to Venice, this time using the Venetian Waterway Trail part of the way.
The 70 mile ride will follow the 35 milers for the first half.
After Manasota Key the ride will head east through horse farm country. There will be a rest stop along the Myakka River. From there we head west again and will pick up The
Legacy Trail. We will ride the trail up to the next rest stop sponsored by The Friends of The Legacy Trail and then to Casey Key, more riding along the beach, ending at Sharky’s for lunch.
For more information, to register to ride, or for maps of the routes, click here
