Bay County cyclists hit the roads

PANAMA CITY — For Tesa Burch, an excursion on her bike has meditative qualities.

“Riding a bicycle has an amazing ability to help you clear your mind,” said Burch, a local artist and the communications coordinator for the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors. “That’s one of my favorite parts, the meditation and exploring new spaces outdoors.”

While National Bike Month doesn’t arrive until May, the Florida Bicycle Association likes to hit the road earlier in the year while the weather is cool and the sun is bright. So March is Florida Bicycle Month, which means now is the time to air up those tires and hit the trails, follow familiar roads or find new places to roam.

“Over the years, I have explored so many parts of Bay County and other places that you don’t see riding in a car,” Burch said. “It’s crazy, but I actually became a resource for some researchers after Hurricane Michael regarding parts of town and what they were like before the storm. I knew my city like the back of my hand because of my bike.”