Held each year on the third Wednesday of May, the Ride of Silence is a solemn, funeral-style group ride conducted in complete silence. The Central Florida ride will continue the tradition established by the original Clermont Ride of Silence events held from 2012 through 2023.

No registration is required for participants. Organizers simply ask riders to arrive with a helmet and a commitment to ride respectfully and silently in remembrance of fallen cyclists.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
• Location: Clermont Waterfront Park, Clermont, Florida
  (Participants will gather on both sides of the South Lake Trail adjacent to the event field.)

Schedule

• 6:30 p.m. — Gathering begins
• 6:45 p.m. — Welcome and announcements
• 7:00 p.m. — Ride departs promptly

Ride Course

The ride will follow an 8.2-mile clockwise loop around Lake Minneola at a controlled pace of approximately 10–12 mph. Riders unable to complete the full route are encouraged to begin at the rear of the group and ride along the South Lake Trail to the Lake Hiawatha Preserve roundabout before returning to Waterfront Park.

Safety and Support

The procession will be escorted by the Clermont Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, with officers stationed at key intersections to assist riders where cyclists do not have the right of way.

Participants are encouraged to wear:

• Black armbands in memory of someone killed while cycling
• Red armbands if they have personally been injured in a bicycle-versus-vehicle accident

Important Reminders

Organizers stress that the Ride of Silence is not a race, but a peaceful tribute and awareness event. Participants are asked to observe the following rules:

• Helmets are mandatory
• Riders must remain silent throughout the event
• No headphones are permitted under Florida law
• Participants assume all risks associated with riding on public roads and trails

Event organizers also expressed gratitude to the community partners who help make the ride possible, including:

• Clermont Police Department
• Lake County Sheriff’s Department
• Sommer Sports Events
• Bike Law
• Winter Garden Wheel Works

The Ride of Silence has grown into a global event observed in 48 countries, across seven continents, all 50 U.S. states, and Washington, D.C. The event serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of safer streets and increased awareness for cyclists everywhere.

For more information, visit the official Ride of Silence website or search for the “Central Florida Ride of Silence” Facebook event page.

The post Honor Fallen Cyclists At The 2026 Central Florida Ride of Silence appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

South Lake cyclists have participated for the past 8 years in memory of Harry Nickel and Brent McLarty and other cyclist injured or killed while bicycling. This year hundreds of cyclists of all ages rode in a silent 8 mile, slow-paced ride around Lake Minneola.

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The Ride of Silence…

Tonight we number many but ride as one
In honor of those not with us, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, sons
With helmets on tight and heads down low,
We ride in silence, cautious and slow
The wheels start spinning in the lead pack
But tonight we ride and no one attacks
The dark sunglasses cover our tears
Remembering those we held so dear
Tonight’s ride is to make others aware
The road is there for all to share
To those not with us or by our side,
May God be your partner on your final ride

– Mike Murgas

The Ride Of Silence

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The post Clermont Hosts The Ride Of Silence appeared first on South Lake Tablet.