Orange Blossom 2026

 

After hearing rumblings of a low-stakes, high-vibes bike event through the orange groves of south Florida, I was excited to secure a spot for Orange Blossom Gravel 2026 with a couple of buddies. My personal happy place in cycling is found on a challenging ride at a conversational pace, where the pre and post party are equally as enjoyable (if not more) as the ride itself.

 

Somewhere between fast and fun, as Handup would put it. 

 

And with the promise of clay roads, gravel bikes, and all around good times in the Florida sun, Orange Blossom seemed very much worth the drive from east Tennessee.

 

 

 

The ride departed from the historic Jacaranda Hotel, and those of us who had signed up for the 100 mile route rolled out together. The event attracted a diverse crowd, ranging from vintage steel frames and punk vibes to modern carbon, roady-turned-gravel heads, and plenty of riders in between. As soon as our tires hit the first patch of loose dirt, however, it was immediately clear that the red clay showed no mercy to anyone. Personally, I was worried about the weight of my fully rigid Surly Karate Monkey with Teravail Coronado 27.5 x 3.0 tires on the century route. As it turns out, that baby surfed the dirt like it was never meant for anything else.

 

 

Aside from the red clay roads through the orange groves, the route’s terrain included some fine, seashell gravel, lots of open country roads, and even a 5 mile section of single-track that provided a fun side quest around mile 85.

 

 

 

 

While the morning started out chilly and damp with dew, I was thankful to be sporting my cropped Flexgrid button-up from Handup’s upcoming spring 2026 collection. The shirt’s ventilated, lightweight material kept me from overheating when temps rose into the 80’s, and was quick to dry after riding through some afternoon showers. And of course, the iconic Handup jorts didn’t show any signs of quitting after 100 miles.

 

 

 

Our little group rode at our own pace, with plenty of snack stops and photo ops along the way. Despite us accidentally riding past the unmarked support stop at mile 65(ish), the kindness of a stranger provided us with a crispy Busch Light to keep the stoke high to the next Dollar General.

 

 

 

 

The route from start to finish had us clocking in at around 98.5 miles, so naturally we rode a few laps around the block to complete the century before rolling back up to the Jacaranda Hotel. With two flats to take care of (thanks Andy for the tube!) and a mid-ride photo shoot, it was no surprise that we secured last place for the day. A dwindled crowd enthusiastically donned us with the DFL (dead f-ing last) prize – an alligator head and custom stem cap – that we proudly held for a photo before inhaling our post-ride tacos.

 

 

A challenging ride? Certainly.

Unexpected hiccups? Of course.

Did we have the time of our lives? Without a doubt.

Learn more about Orange Blossom Gravel.
Gear up with a Flexgrid button-up.

Sport your jorts.