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Solivita Cyclist club take members for a ride Around Osceola Thursday, 03 June 2010 00:00 By Kenn Hall For the News-Gazette When cycling enthusiasts Bruce and Betty Everard moved to Solivita from Palm Beach Gardens in the summer of 2006 they didn’t let the fact that there wasn’t a bicycle club in their new community get them down. “When the sales representative told us there wasn’t a bicycle group, she suggested we start one,” said the Everards, who were active members of the West Palm Beach Bicycle Club and cycling enthusiasts since 1989 when they began tour cycling.   They moved up to long-distance cycling in 1993 and settled into casual cycling six years later. Now one of 144 resident-run clubs and organizations in the adult community being developed by Avatar Properties, the Solivita Cyclists is a casual and social cycling group that meets every Saturday morning in Solivita’s Freedom Park to embark on rides of up to 25 miles or more within the community. “It’s easy to get a 25-mile ride within Solivita without ever doubling up,” said Bruce, noting most of the club’s members ride custom bikes or “whatever we feel most comfortable on,” added Betty, a gold medalist in last year’s Polk County Senior Games. “We solve all the problems of the world on our rides,” said Tony Handler, a six-time cancer survivor and one of the group’s most active cyclists, having participated in 230 triathlons over the past 25 years.   In fact, the 70-year-old participated in two triathlons earlier this spring and was a participant in a May half-Ironman at Walt Disney World, which involved a 1.5-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13-mile run. “Casual cycling is a fantastic exercise that doesn’t beat up the body,” said Handler. Solivita Cyclists doesn’t relegate all its bicycle riding to trips in the community. The group also made the 59-mile round trip on the Van Fleet Rails to Trails trail in Polk City and annually attends the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, just east of Tampa. “We invite riders at all levels to come join us,” the Everards said. “It’s a great way to exercise, enjoy each other’s company and experience the beauty of Solivita and Central Florida up close and personal.” For more information about the Solivita Cyclists, contact the Solivita Lifestyles office at 863-427-7125.   To learn more about Solivita, call 800-592-6099 or visit the community’s website at www.solivita.com.   Please register or log in to post comments. JComments