Hiring a road bike on I-Drive, Orlando.

[gb155]

Looks like I am about to become a VERY lucky boy !

Before I make my next move, I want to know if anyone out there has ever hired a road bike on International Drive, Orlando Florida ?

If so could you give me an idea of the prices ? (Its gonna be for a max of 2-3 early morning hours) and the names of recommended businesses ?

Many Thanks

Gaz

 

[MrCarver]

Link

Just e-mail some of those cycle shops around international drive to see if they hire bikes out. Most of the actual rental places only rent out cruiser bikes. Florida isn't the best place to be cycling, too hot, temperamental weather (sunny to raining in about 15 mins) and worst of all, car drivers have guns Their road systems and laws are much more different than over here, so read up on them before you go out.

 

[MrCarver]

Here you go.

http://advanced-cycles.com/articles/bicycle-rentals-pg79.htm

 

[gb155]

Here you go.

http://advanced-cycl...entals-pg79.htm[/quote]
Awesome ;-)

Thanks

 

[Nigeyy]

Yeah just be careful about the heat and humidity -Florida is pretty bad in the Summer.

Also, just seconding about the driving as not being the best, plus the major roads aren't designed for cycling -4 lane highways to the strip malls. You may have to cycle quite a way before you get to a nice road to cycle on.

Good luck!

Looks like I am about to become a VERY lucky boy !

Before I make my next move, I want to know if anyone out there has ever hired a road bike on International Drive, Orlando Florida ?

If so could you give me an idea of the prices ? (Its gonna be for a max of 2-3 early morning hours) and the names of recommended businesses ?

Many Thanks

Gaz

 

[doog]

I personally wouldn't cycle in that area of Florida, its simply too dangerous on most of the roads. Drivers routinely text and use their phone whilst driving and the traffic is horrendous not only around International drive but the whole Orlando area.

(I think Florida is actually counted as the most dangerous place in the US to cycle)

I would do my homework before you go, contact some cycling clubs around Olando and see if you can get some decent routes. Hire a large SUV, throw the bike in the back and drive as far as you can away from International Drive!

 

[gb155]

I personally wouldn't cycle in that area of Florida, its simply too dangerous on most of the roads. Drivers routinely text and use their phone whilst driving and the traffic is horrendous not only around International drive but the whole Orlando area.

(I think Florida is actually counted as the most dangerous place in the US to cycle)

I would do my homework before you go, contact some cycling clubs around Olando and see if you can get some decent routes. Hire a large SUV, throw the bike in the back and drive as far as you can away from International Drive!

Hum thanks for the info

Car hire isn't gonna happen tho

I'd be looking to go out at approx 6am-8am tho so I'd hopefully miss the traffic

 

[Brandane]

Cycling in Orlando is what got me started back on the path of regular cycling again, about 2 years ago.

I was on holiday in Orlando, at a hotel on I-Drive. I had a rented car, but fancied some cycling while I was there. Rental costs were going to be upwards of $200 for a week, so I visited this shop.... http://orangecycleorlando.com/

They just happened to have a very good condition Specialized Sirrus in their used bikes department for $200, so I decided to buy it and then worry about what to do with it when it came nearer the time for returning home! It was of course a left hand drive version so I had to change the brakes round! Seriously, they have the right hand lever to the back brake, and left to the front , a switch of the cables sorted that out....

Had a really good time on the bike. As has been said, the roads are not great for cycling around the busy touristy parts of Orlando, but don't be put off. Every major road seems to have a wide footpath suitable for cycling on, and get away from the main roads and you will have a great time exploring around the various lakes and quiet back roads. There are a few purpose built cycle paths too, like our NCN routes. A cheap map from the nearest petrol station will keep you right. Having the car helped too, I could throw the bike into the car in the morning and head out to the country, or Longboat Key where this photo was taken:

Weather wise, yes it will be hot and humid, but being on a bike will help you keep cool by having the air moving. Yes it probably will rain very heavily in the late afternoon during summer but you can set your watch by it and avoid it if you must, but it's warm rain! Slightly more worrying is the lightning that accompanies it if your out and about in the middle of nowhere.

I loved that Sirrus by the end of my holiday and wanted to bring it home. The airline wanted $150 to transport it, and in retrospect I should have just paid up and brought it home. Instead I sold it for $100 so my weeks ownership of the bike had cost me $100. And so began my renewed love affair with cycling, and in particular Specialized. Not long after getting home I bought a Tricross, and more recently added a Secteur to the fleet!

 

[Nigeyy]

Great story -sounds like you got the rental of a bike for a week for $100! Yeah too bad you couldn't bring it home with you. Again, nice story!

Unfortunately parts of Florida do have the reputation as being the worst place to cycle in the States -I think the original poster has a good idea in trying to cycle early -though personally I'd move that time line back an hour to mitigate the weather as well as avoid the drivers.....

Cycling in Orlando is what got me started back on the path of regular cycling again, about 2 years ago.

 

[gb155]

Yup, that really is a great story

I'm more than happy to ride early morning, 5am is probs as early as i'd want to go tho TBH

 

[alp1950]

By chance I'm just back from Orlando where I hired a rather nice Specialised Tarmac Elite from: elite road bike rentals

Great service & bike in pristine condition. Brian who runs the company will deliver the bike to your hotel/villa. He can also give you details of local routes and weekly bunch runs. I didn't manage to make a bunch run, but he told me that they can get as many as 100 riders on a run! (So much for Florida being unsuitable for cyclists!).

There are some reasonable runs to be had once you get used to dead straight roads in pan flat terrain. I only explored west of International Drive/Disney and found a nice circuit on a reasonably quiet road that went into the countryside: orlando loop. Nice for practising time trialling! There are some more runs on the elite road bike website.

It gets dark quickly so take some lights if you're planning on going out in the evening. It is easy to get disorientated despite the grid system, so unless you intend retracing your route exactly on your return leg, take a satnav or map if you plan any runs involving loops/circuits. (To spare my blushes I won't post the route I took the day I got lost: the one hour run at dusk turned into a two and half hour night-ride).

 

[Moby Jones]

Great thread, I have been to Orlando the past two years and we are headed there again in November. I am not sure I would cycle on I Drive, can be very busy, we always stay in a hotel near the convention centre. The road at the back of I Drive is a lot quieter. The roads seem a lot better condition than ours and I would love to cycle out there, the weather is great.

Off topic is there any good bike shops in Orlando for picking up bike clothing and equipment.

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