Anyone cycled Florida?

[Newman8]

Anyone got any advice on cycling in Florida?

The logistics of transporting my bike look ok - so in particular:
1. Anything really different regarding road rules? Any roads you can't ride on? Any legal requirements for bike/clothing? Etc...?
2. Good places to ride - loops of anywhere between say 20 & 50 miles - setting off roughly from Lake Buena Vista / Disney area? Nearest thing resembling 'countryside'? (Won't be driving anywhere to start a course).
3. Any resources online?
4. Would my Garmin 200 Edge work there?

Will be winter time btw - I have a fairly good idea what kind of weather to expect.
Thanks...

Rob

 

[Debade]

I've biked the west coast of Florida and the northern area and I just got back from biking in the UK.

1. Road rules are basically the same. You can't ride on freeways but bikes are legal on most roads. No bike clothing requirements. You may want to check on helmets but I do not think they are required.
2/3 Here is a link from that area http://www.bikeorlando.net/ You may want to look at others. You may want to check out http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/ And/or contact the Florida bike group. I am sure you can find them online
4. My garmin worked in UK and works here. So I expect you will not have problems.

I felt as safe there as other places but if memory serves accidents in Florida (I am not sure about the Orlando area) is above average. In my opinion the numbers are still low. Here is a good safety guide Ride Smart http://bikeleague.org/ridesmart You can find others.

Enjoy!

One other comment, you may find yourself sharing the road with cars (without bike lanes) vs. bike paths. Many more paths in UK & Europe. Not a problem but you should be prepared.

 

[vickster]

I've cycled on Sanibel, pleasant enough...wouldn't want to do between April and October, too hot and humid!

Barely seen any other cyclists anywhere else though on a number of trips. I rather prefer the Gulf Coast myself to Orlando (then Disney holds no interest having been 20 years ago)

 

[CopperBrompton]

I've only cycled in Miami and Miami Beach. Found it pretty pleasant cycling – quite a lot of bike lanes, and cycling allowed on waterfront paths. The video should give you a good feel.



Yep, your Garmin will work there, just download the OSM maps for the area.

 

[Gravity Aided]

From Pinterest
Look out for these fellows, as well as big old snakes. More common than hills in Florida. Last time I cycled there, there were some nice trails, but I too was in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Lots of neat old beachfront hotels and the like, great food, good place to cycle in winter. Summer, it's too hot and humid, except at the start of the day. Coastal Florida is very nice, the interior is quite swampy in places.

 

[Brandane]

Anyone got any advice on cycling in Florida?

The logistics of transporting my bike look ok - so in particular:
1. Anything really different regarding road rules? Any roads you can't ride on? Any legal requirements for bike/clothing? Etc...?
2. Good places to ride - loops of anywhere between say 20 & 50 miles - setting off roughly from Lake Buena Vista / Disney area? Nearest thing resembling 'countryside'? (Won't be driving anywhere to start a course).
3. Any resources online?
4. Would my Garmin 200 Edge work there?

Will be winter time btw - I have a fairly good idea what kind of weather to expect.
Thanks...

Rob

I was there in January. I flew with BA, Glasgow to Orlando via Gatwick, with no problems and the bike arrived unscathed in an Edinburgh Co-Op bike bag.
I spent 2 weeks at the Ramada Gateway Hotel on Irlo Bronson Highway, near to one of the Disney main entrances. The first few days I wondered why I had bothered with the bike as I was struggling to find my way around without ending up on 8 lane highways all the time! There are wide footpaths running beside the main routes in commercial / tourist areas, but outside of that you are on your own and things can get a bit hairy. A lot of roads have wide verges suitable for cycling on, but some don't (the southern end of International Drive is especially bad for cycling on).

After a few days I found some better routes to get around, and the area of Celebration is especially good for cycling, with designated cycle routes taking you on boardwalks (be careful on them when they are wet, I had an off when I just touched the front brake) over areas of swampland.

Your Garmin will work fine. Here are some of my Strava rides from the trip:
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021565
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021578
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021567
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021559
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021545
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021539
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021532
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021519
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021523
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021506
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021496
https://www.strava.com/activities/251021487

Two weeks, about 430 miles, and I reckon I saw maybe 6 other cyclists out and about, so don't expect car drivers to be very bike savvy.

You were also asking about getting into the countryside. I believe there are some good cycling areas outside Orlando, to the north west. I didn't have a car and the distances were too much to get there and back. I looked into the possibility of doing it by bus, but it was going to be a logistical nightmare with long periods between bus connections to go where I wanted.

 

[Newman8]

Excellent info - thanks all.
I've found a number of paved trails too without travelling too far. Driving is not out of the question, but don't want to waste too much time sat in a car!
https://www.traillink.com/trailsearch.aspx?keyword=west+orange
Flying with Virgin & they look to be very bike friendly - hope that proves to be the case.
Next year's Italy trip with one of the budget airlines will probably prove more difficult!

 

[Newman8]

Here’s a summary of my Florida cycling:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/964921378

Head north & west from Disney area to countryside (just avoid Interstae & US Highway). Flat, fast roads… But really hot in the middle of the day – lots of stops to refill water! Add in a photo stop, a puncture repair & a couple of times asking directions, but moving time was fast compared to my average in Cornwall – even with a long gravel stretch all around the north shore of the lake. Drivers very generous & considerate to cyclists – a world apart from the MGIF mentality in UK.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/964921456

Short Loop – I find it a massive effort to get a sub-30-min 10-miler on my local hills – but here it was fairly easy. The only hold-ups come with the buses & golf buggies - so this early morning run with hardly any traffic was my best effort.

 

[Newman8]

View attachment 112463 Here’s a summary of my Florida cycling:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/964921378

Head north & west from Disney area to countryside (just avoid Interstae & US Highway). Flat, fast roads… But really hot in the middle of the day – lots of stops to refill water! Add in a photo stop, a puncture repair & a couple of times asking directions, but moving time was fast compared to my average in Cornwall – even with a long gravel stretch all around the north shore of the lake. Drivers very generous & considerate to cyclists – a world apart from the MGIF mentality in UK.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/964921456

Short Loop – I find it a massive effort to get a sub-30-min 10-miler on my local hills – but here it was fairly easy. The only hold-ups come with the buses & golf buggies - so this early morning run with hardly any traffic was my best effort.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Looks like you had a great time.

 

[Newman8]

Looks like you had a great time.

Yes - got some thoroughly enjoyable miles in thank you. It was really good to get 'beyond the theme parks' & into some proper countryside. Also good to find it's not so difficult to take the bike away on a plane - I would have regretted missing the chance to ride there.
Wanted to say - your 'midlife blog' is a great read - I really identify with so much of it.

 

[jay clock]

If you have a car, my experience of the US is that it is worth a 15-20 min drive to avoid urban sprawl and dual carriageways

 

[flaluminum]

I live in Florida and just toured from Tallahassee to Key West. Message me if you want some ideas, advice, or help!

 

[Newman8]

I live in Florida and just toured from Tallahassee to Key West. Message me if you want some ideas, advice, or help!

Thanks, Flaluminum... but already back in UK!
For anyone else traveling, out of the two Garmin routes I posted above, the first link, heading north, (Lake Buena Vista - Lake Apopka - Loop) shows what I found the easiest/quickest way out into the countryside from Disney area. Due west seemed more difficult to negotiate crossing the Interstate.
Buses are cheap enough, but need multiple changes.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

My sister lives there.. West Palm Beach area... Took my bike twice there and didn't really like the riding but that's me...

Glad you had a good time there..