Southeast - Orlando cycling

Hello everyone,

I'm a keen cyclist from the UK due to vacation in Orlando next month. When I say keen I mean from a utilitarian, part of the lifestyle point of view, I'm not a speed or fitness freak. :D I pretty much cycle everywhere at home unless I'm taking the family out, often cycle the 26 miles round trip to work, ride the bike to football, badminton and any other sports I'm playing locally, pick up the paper and a pint of milk, drop the bottles off at the bottle bank, you get the picture.

I've been to the city a couple of times now, so know some of the area around south International drive and the roads around there. I'd like to get hold of a cheap bike when out this time and explore some of the areas we haven't been to, like old Orlando, and some of the out of town areas.

Can anyone can recommend the best way of getting hold of a bike during the trip? For example, I've heard of bike resellers who'll sell second hand bikes for reasonable money, so if anyone has a suggestion where I'm all ears. And once I've got the bike it would be nice to know where's good to visit. Any suggestions?

Hope you all have some inspiration for me so I can join in the fun. :)

Cheers,
Archie

You could check out buying a bike on craigslist --> http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/

A BF member who came to Atlanta last fall (and I had the pleasure of riding with) did this. He bought a bike on the Atlanta craigslist and brought the necessary tools to do any minor repairs/adjustments to the bike. I'm not sure if he took the bike home or if he posted it on craigslist again and sold it the day he left town.

Thanks for the tip Ron. I won't be taking the bike back so it will probably go back on craiglist at the end of the vacation. Wow, there's some cheap bikes out there!

There is a shop in Orlando that rents bikes(comfort, road or recumbent):
www.orlandobikerental.com (http://www.orlandobikerental.com)
It is located directly on the West Orange trail, which is one spectacular place to ride. I would ride the trail from the shop to the horse park and back, 15 miles each way, and stop in Winter Garden for lunch or dinner. If you have a car, this site shows other nice trails you can reach in an hour or so. They are 'rail to trail' converted rail lines, that allow you to cycle for miles without cars. Here is a link to trails in and around O-town:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/
If you head to Cocoa Beach, I recommend Indian River Dr./Rockledge Dr., too(also about 15 miles one way--very scenic with very few, slow-moving cars). Here is a link to the Space Coast cycling club, with directions to this ride, and other rides around Cocoa Beach:
www.spacecoastfreewheelers.com (http://www.spacecoastfreewheelers.com) have fun

For a throwaway you might check here. http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/772872611.html When looking for his most current ad, use the search term "bikeman."

Don't know if it is the same person. Was a person near the Florida Mall area whose inventory looked like that. He had a contract with the State to accept any and all stolen bikes, so obviously had a lot of junk. Did find a Trek 820, Spec Hardrock, and a Bianchi mountain bike in the mix. Typically as-is, but brings up safe to ride - ie brakes. Was in an old home with the yard and house crammed full of bikes. Suspect zoning laws shut him down, conducting business in a residential area as was vacant last time I drove by.

While I haven't been to "Bikeman" suspect may be the same operation as is in a residential neighborhood. This one appears to be just a couple blocks off International Drive.

Thanks for all the replies. I head out tomorrow!

Looks like craiglist will be favourite for finding a ride, but "bikeman" is no more - I mailed him and he's out the bike business now. :(


Appreciate the local info!