LBI to Cape May
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
LBI to Cape May
I saw this article a few weeks ago and was wondering if anyone has done this route before. I'd love to give it a shot and make it my first century since I'll be on LBI next week.
Best Tailwind Rides | Bicycling
Is there an optimal route?? I took a quick look at Google Maps and the suggested route looks like the majority of the ride is on Rt 9 and the fastest/shortest route takes Rt 50. I'm not familiar with those two roads down there - are they bike friendly?
THANKS!
Best Tailwind Rides | Bicycling
Is there an optimal route?? I took a quick look at Google Maps and the suggested route looks like the majority of the ride is on Rt 9 and the fastest/shortest route takes Rt 50. I'm not familiar with those two roads down there - are they bike friendly?
THANKS!
#2
Senior Member
Hi hls811,
It does not make sense to me to start a southbound ride in Long Beach Island (LBI). That doesn't look like much of a "tour of the Jersey shore" to me. You cannot cross the Mullica River on Rt. 9, which merges with the GSP at that point, so you have to go far inland. And the prevailing winds are NW, not NE.
If I wanted to ride along the shore south to Cape May, I'd start in Brigantine and ride through all the barrier island towns (AC, Ocean City, etc.). You'd never need to get on Rt. 9, although Rt. 9 that far south is pretty quiet, especially off season.
We have a place in Ocean City, so I do a lot of riding from AC to Strathmere. Very nice.
It does not make sense to me to start a southbound ride in Long Beach Island (LBI). That doesn't look like much of a "tour of the Jersey shore" to me. You cannot cross the Mullica River on Rt. 9, which merges with the GSP at that point, so you have to go far inland. And the prevailing winds are NW, not NE.
If I wanted to ride along the shore south to Cape May, I'd start in Brigantine and ride through all the barrier island towns (AC, Ocean City, etc.). You'd never need to get on Rt. 9, although Rt. 9 that far south is pretty quiet, especially off season.
We have a place in Ocean City, so I do a lot of riding from AC to Strathmere. Very nice.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Hi hls811,
It does not make sense to me to start a southbound ride in Long Beach Island (LBI). That doesn't look like much of a "tour of the Jersey shore" to me. You cannot cross the Mullica River on Rt. 9, which merges with the GSP at that point, so you have to go far inland. And the prevailing winds are NW, not NE.
If I wanted to ride along the shore south to Cape May, I'd start in Brigantine and ride through all the barrier island towns (AC, Ocean City, etc.). You'd never need to get on Rt. 9, although Rt. 9 that far south is pretty quiet, especially off season.
We have a place in Ocean City, so I do a lot of riding from AC to Strathmere. Very nice.
It does not make sense to me to start a southbound ride in Long Beach Island (LBI). That doesn't look like much of a "tour of the Jersey shore" to me. You cannot cross the Mullica River on Rt. 9, which merges with the GSP at that point, so you have to go far inland. And the prevailing winds are NW, not NE.
If I wanted to ride along the shore south to Cape May, I'd start in Brigantine and ride through all the barrier island towns (AC, Ocean City, etc.). You'd never need to get on Rt. 9, although Rt. 9 that far south is pretty quiet, especially off season.
We have a place in Ocean City, so I do a lot of riding from AC to Strathmere. Very nice.
Any any winds going north are going to defeat the purpose, no way could I ride a route even half that long into the wind..
#4
Senior Member
Starting from Island Beach State Park, you could ride north along the shore to Sandy Hook, just a bit over 50 miles, then back. Very flat and of course cooler since you're near the ocean. On a day with a NW to NE breeze, it would be like going downhill all the way back.
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Did you end up riding this? I do the MS Coast the Coast ride each year and day two's ride goes from Tuckerton (just off LBI) to Cape May but they wind us down there so it's 85+ miles. If you have someone picking you up at Cape May that would work (especially if start on LBI - through riding over the bridge can be treacherous): MS Coast the Coast - Day 2
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Are they out of their minds? First of all, the prevailing winds in the summer are from the south. Anyone who has done enough riding "down the shore" knows you go inland in the morning, head south, go back to the coast and then head north with the likely tailwind.
Second of all, you cannot ride the GSP, and as noted, the U.S. 9 bridge over Great Egg Inlet no longer exists. The best way to get around that is to go into the north end of Ocean City, head south through Strathmere into Sea Isle City, then go back to U.S. 9 from there, although I would never want to ride U.S. 9 for any length.
Second of all, you cannot ride the GSP, and as noted, the U.S. 9 bridge over Great Egg Inlet no longer exists. The best way to get around that is to go into the north end of Ocean City, head south through Strathmere into Sea Isle City, then go back to U.S. 9 from there, although I would never want to ride U.S. 9 for any length.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Did you end up riding this? I do the MS Coast the Coast ride each year and day two's ride goes from Tuckerton (just off LBI) to Cape May but they wind us down there so it's 85+ miles. If you have someone picking you up at Cape May that would work (especially if start on LBI - through riding over the bridge can be treacherous): MS Coast the Coast - Day 2
I did do the MS Coast the Coast 2 years ago but only did the 50 mile ride, I may do that one again next year (Not a fan of the fundraising minimums, I'd rather they up the registration from $30 to $100 than have to raise $200 - but that's a different thread.)