Southeast - Buxton, NC

I will be staying in Buxton for several days (4) in mid November and was wondering what the road riding is like there. Any helpful information would be appreciated about the riding there. Thanks.

I've taken my bike when staying in Avon up the road. I managed to ride down to the Hatteras Ferry in Hatteras Village and back each morning as the weather allowed. The key is to get an early start though in Nov. the traffic is mostly local or fisherman. Still the road is narrow and has sand for a shoulder so be careful. There's basically one road, NC 12 but you can take the free ferry over to Ocracoke Island if you want and add another 12 miles down to Ocracoke Village then ride the 12 miles back to the ferry. Wind is the main issue out on the OBX.

Thanks for the information. Do you know what times the ferry runs to Ocracoke and what kind of weather I might expect? I'll be spending two days in Williamsburg, VA prior to Buxton(ride the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown and Jamestown) and then spend two days in Winston-Salem (not sure of the riding there) after Buxton?

Weather in Nov on the Outer banks is highly variable. About the only given is the wind. Temps can range from the 50s to the 80s with nights sometimes into the 30s. Earlier in the month is usually warmer than later. The ferry to Ocracoke runs hourly or close to that but be aware of the return schedule if you stay after sunset because they do not run all night.

WNC is basically correct. Check out the NC DOT travel website:
here (http://www.ncdot.org/traffictravel/)
and click on Ferry Info on the left (and so on) to get to the ferry schedule (pdf) as there are a few departures on the half hour. I was there a couple years ago (by car) and be aware that sand often blows on the road leaving deposits near Hatteras making control more tricky. You should also expect to deal with blown sand vs gears to a degree, though I haven't ridden NC12 myself to say how significant that is. Biking on Ocracoke Island should be enjoyable as traffic is not as significant. There are a lot of narrow roads in the neighborhoods near the lighthouse that are better suited to bikes than cars.

I've ridden NC12 from top to bottom (except for Ocracoke). The sand was not a problem at all. North of Buxton the road is pretty wide and dead straight.

In November the traffic will be fine (I did it in early March, same deal). If you do the Ocracoke ferry, make sure you have plenty of time (about an hour on the boat alone - back and forth, not to mention up to 35 minutes waiting for it on each side.

Only hazard is if the wind is nasty one day. You can't hide from it at all and it can severely make your time much longer going the other way.

One nice thing about taking the ferry by bike is you won't be turned away if it fills up, as some cars are. In fact you could probably roll up just before departure and get right on. Also it's less $ than car fare.

The ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke used to be free. Is there a fee now? I know the longer ferries across the Pamlico Sound to Ocracoke charge a fee.

When I took the Southport - Ft. Fisher 1/2 hr. ferry several (7?) years ago by bike it was $1.50 or so. Even if it's a little more it's worth it to ride past all the stuck cars that have to wait for the next ferry, and watch you board just before departure.

Again, thanks to all for the information. I will be taking the ferry to Ocracoke, then the ferry onto the mainland to Winston-Salem, for my visit to Old Salem Village. We'll be staying at a B & B there and I may try to fit in a morning(s) ride during the stay there. I'll also try to take some photos and post them when I return.

The ferry is free from Ocracoke to Hatteras Landing. It has been since I can remember.

Again, thanks to all for the information. I will be taking the ferry to Ocracoke, then the ferry onto the mainland to Winston-Salem, for my visit to Old Salem Village. We'll be staying at a B & B there and I may try to fit in a morning(s) ride during the stay there. I'll also try to take some photos and post them when I return.

Maybe I'm missing something here...but Ocracoke and the OBX are nowhere near Winston-Salem and Old-Salem. I guess you are visiting both places separately.

For shops in Winston-Salem to help you on group rides and routes (Winston-Salem isn't the best for riding in my opinion unless you know the area), check out Mock Orange Bikes and Ken's Bike Shop.

You may also want to drive the short distance to Pilot Mountain and do the MMM ride (or whatever they call it now...Three Mountain Metric...3MM...or something).

Yes, my wife and I will be staying in Williamsburg, VA for 3 days and 2 nights, then head down to Buxton for 5 days and 4 nights, and finally head due west to the Winston-Salem area for 3 days and 2 nights. I'll be taking my road bike along to try to ride as much as possible. The direct ferry from Ocracoke to the mainland should be the shortest route to Winston-Salem? Then we pick up I-81 and head back to PA in one day. I'm hoping that the weather cooperates during this time.

Shortest...yes. But the ferry from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter only leaves at two times this time of year. So if you miss it, you're way out of luck.

I usually just drive on up through Manteo and head over on US-64. There is no ferry time holding you to a certain time, the drive up isn't "long," the speed limit on US-64 is for the most part faster, and the ferry actually takes quite a bit of time.

That said, if you want to relax, taking the ferry would be fun not only for the ferry, but to drive through eastern NC.

........ I'll be spending two days in Williamsburg, VA prior to Buxton(ride the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown and Jamestown) .........

The Colonial Parkway is a very nice ride except the road is not the smoothest. The best way to describe the road surface is "peebly" similar to "chip seal". Be prepared for some road vibrations. Other than that, it is a scenic ride. Please enjoy the ride & welcome to VA!!

Links to 2 local bike clubs:

http://www.wabonline.org/

http://www.pbabicycling.org/

Thanks for the links but my wife and I will arrive in Williamsburg on November 12. I'm hoping to get there around Noon and on my bike by 1 PM for the trip to Yorktown (afterward the Yorktown Pub). The next day, I'll ride to Jamestown and back in the morning (Sal's Pizza for dinner). I can remember, 8 years ago, the dangers of Colonial Parkway It was so bad that they had posted warnings for motorcycles/bicycles about the danger of the open expansion joints. This was one of the few times (the other being on PEI Island) that my cleats actually rattled as I rode over all the expansion joints. I'm looking forward to doing some miles on the OBX after Williamsburg.