Bicyclists cruise in Venice during during Ride the Beaches in 2011. (Herald-Tribune archive / 2011 / Dan Wagner)

Janice Hajek, a Clearwater cyclist, travels to Venice each April for Ride the Beaches.

She brings friends. She stays for the weekend. Its her favorite bike event in Florida.

The location, at Sharkys and at the beach, is fantastic, she says. And the route is fabulous, south of Venice and Manasota Key. And the food is good and you can sit and look around and look at the beach.

Hajek, 65, is looking forward to snacks during the ride, too. Marc Alton, the chef who founded the event, makes Sharky Bars out of Rice Krispies, chocolate, raisins and nuts. Theres nothing Hajek doesnt love about Ride the Beaches. Well, almost nothing.

The love bugs oh, god, I hope theyre not out this year, she says, laughing. We hated it that one time, but it was funny.

Riding SAG

David Reynolds, who owns Real Bicycles in Venice, says his bike shop always participates in Ride the Beaches.

Every employee will be going thats how it works around here, he says. Last year, we rode trikes adult tricycles and carried water and tubes. We ride SAG Support And Gear.

Volunteers with Ride the Beaches have already painted red, white and blue shark symbols at intersections throughout Venice. These colorful markers point cyclists toward 15-, 35- and 70-mile bike routes around town.

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Time again to Ride the Beaches