Florida (again), Orlando to the Keys and back

[geegee]

I'm contemplating returning to Florida this winter, this time to cycle southbound from Orlando, possibly to Key West and back up. Any suggestions for an interesting route with the least backtracking? Maybe a good way of stringing up any of the available trails and bike paths? I don't mind going though some of the urbanized east coast, in fact I think I'd purposefully head into Miami since I've never been there. I'll probably consider taking my Bike Friday on this trip and packing relatively light.

[Westinghouse]

You can cycle south on one coast and north on the other coast. Cross the Everglades and look out for alligtaors, pythons, snakes, and yes, the panther population is beginning to rebound, they say. Orlando is mad with traffic. I would avoid Hwy. 27. It is a curse in some stretches. The Keys are really nice for cycling. I would use Card Sound Road for getting to them, not US1. Use 1 to past the Last Chance Saloon, if that is what they are still calling it, and then Card Sound Road. Hwy. 1 might have been widened since last I cycled that way. It was hell. Sure it had a shoulder, but lines of cat-eye reflectors made it a pain to cycle. There is a Withlacoochee bike trail near the west coast.

[CMajernik]

You can combine the Atlantic Coast section 7 and the Florida Connector map for a loop. See http://adventurecycling.org/routes/atlanticcoast.cfm?pg=detail&s=7
http://adventurecycling.org/routes/floridaconnector.cfm?pg=detail

[crosari2]

On the return, you can also take a ferry from Key West to Fort Myers and connect with the Florida Connector at Fort Myers.

Miguel

[geegee]

Thanks for the input, folks. I think I will take your advice, cycle from Orlando down to Key West via the Atlantic coast then take the ferry to Fort Myers to head back via the Florida Connector. Am I right in assuming that it is better wind-wise to do this loop clockwise rather than the other way around?

[prestont99]

Hi there,
I'm considering a similar trip. I found some very useful info on prevailing winds in another post at http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=2892.msg13233#msg13233

If that link to the other post doesn't work, try this url that was in the post for the wind info:

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/climmaps/