bent4me

I am planning this loop in March. Any thoughts on which direction is best. Headwinds etc.
St Augustine-Ft Lauderdale-Ft Meyers-St Augustine
or
St Augustine-Ft Meyers-Ft Lauderdale- St Augustine.
Thanks

tarwheel 

If you're riding a loop, what difference will it make about the prevailing winds? One way or the other, you'll end up with some headwinds and tailwinds. Also, if the weather in Florida is anything like North Carolina, the winds on a particular day or week are totally dependent on weather systems at the time. No way to predict them more than a few days in advance.

lhendrick

The prevailing winds here in Vero Beach, 100 miles south of St. Augustine on the East Coast, are from the Northeast, but you can rest assured they will always be blowing in your face on the days you ride.

Ridefreemc

Clockwise for me.

As IHendrick says the NE winds along the east coast are the most prevalent. So if you were really splitting hairs, I'd go "downhill" on the east coast - that is south. It also coincides with the way most people from the north first arrived in Florida on the railway.

As you come west across the bottom of the state, in that wide open plain of the Everglades (assuming it goes through there) you'll also appreciate some tail wind.

To really time it right head south immediately after a cold front - getting NW, N, and NE for a few days. As it shifts to more E and SE you might be crossing the state, and then SE, W, and SW heading north. If you have to sit out a day or two to let a front pass or catch up so be it (if you have time).

bent4me

Thanks everyone. My original plan was to go clockwise.

BLYTZPK

Plot your trip with
https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KEVB/2012/3/15/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA
AIA an 1A are good until tight roads entering N.Palm Beach.
Last I looked the west side of Lake Oke was difficult but interesting. South side is patchy.
Traffic is always nutto. Florida has the highest crime rate and lowest level of IQ USA.
Casting for ideas, maybe going to the north lake then south on lake’s east side then across south is OK.
Coming down the Caloosahatchee on the north side.
Franklin Locks has a campground, you may camp on the dike but look first. The New Smyrna beach road south is a National Seashore : biting insects near sunset. A county campground south of Titusville. No bike camping at Canaveral Inlet.
US 41 across is suicidal. Wear dayglo maybe use a flag on pole. Wear a helmet.
Carry mace. Bug headnet. There are pursuit biting insects.

lhendrick

Florida Biking:

Pros:
It's flat
It's warm

Cons:
Everything else

BLYTZPK

'a zoo'

I watched a woman quickly pass me as I stopped for a four way stop intown intersection.

I was on US41 for a 6 death burning inferno headon near Carnestown.

I bicycles into a movie set of mating burned vehicles DOWNTOWN...a gas tanker fell asleep in the AM.

I am passed ( and I probably have the crossing record ) on the Sanibel Bridge in evening traffic in a cross wind by people drinking from highball and wine glasses.

Hector Comacho was stopped on the interstate going 130 in a Ferrari with a woman seated copulating on his lap.

I was attacked by a squadron of aliens in blue spacecraft resembling giant silver horsefly beetles size of tea cup saucers.

I am advised to NOT cross south of Immokalee on the Immo/Palm Beach Road: insurgents !

Many old folk are either drunk or on medical drugs or both. Killing you would be fun.

Terkel equated the place to 'a plugged up toilet.'

Bring money. That helps. 4-5 mill will get you across

BLYTZPK

herd about the State Trooper stopping people dressed in woman's panties ?

BLYTZPK

WHERE IS THE ACA LOOP taking you ?

Florida changed in the last 5 condo years.

see Florida Trail Hoover Dike Lake Okeechobee

then track over to Palm Beach, take the train then the MTB Monroe County bus to the

Overseas Highway....see Google Images for 7 mile bridge....Overseas Highway...Bahia Honda State Park

BLYTZPK

whheeeeee

https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/bike-ride.asp

carry mace

Ridefreemc

Are you placing the whole state in the category of a "zoo?" I might be misreading your two posts, but they are a bit odd.

There are some pretty cool places to ride throughout Florida. The north has more trees and curvy roads, the east coast has some awesome views to the Atlantic Ocean and great beaches, with the south more open and straight. Are there nutty people here? Sure. Are there any where you live?

The worst thing about it is the lack of bicycling facilities. You need to be comfortable on roads with little room and not "apologize" for being on the road. That is, you need to protect your space, be seen, and don't hug the gutter.

Enjoy the ride, awesome camping, and interesting places.

BLYTZPK

currently, I have 25 years in, visits in '52/58/74/?. I was here at tropical paradise Florida. Gone under asphalt.

The suggestion is ACA's loop may be acceptable in 1993 but less so now following the condo years. Lots of good riding in the Panhandle and Big Bend. A1A above and below Titusville. I drove the beach road from Ft L. Old Beach in spots.

The 'zoo' is from an unimpeachable source. I live, when I'm here, in Terkelville. T-ville is filled with Ohioans, a capable, intelligent and courteous race. I am most comfortable on the east coast with New York and NJ people: dangerous drivers which the Ohioans are not: depends where you are.

Riding down a populated beach road is riding thru a mob of drunks, *******, junkies, old folk on drugs.pimps, goons, bikers, prostitutes in borrowed SUV…....rough Dude rough. There are nuts with Lambo's n turbos imagining they're on the Blue Ridge. The stat is what I wrote: official across the board. It's Not riding thru a soccer riot...well, try Saturday night then.

THIS IS THE BEACH !

You came for THE BEACH ? Who did you expect to drive thru ? Skip Barber ?

riding the Keys is on the life list. ride upwind. they spray for insects

rwpshaw

Florida is not as bad as some of the posts say. Northern Florida (White Springs area) is great. I'd go clockwise. And if you want to avoid crossing the Everglades, take a ferry from Key West to Ft Meyers.

Ridefreemc

Heck of an idea. Just talked with a friend that rode down to KW and took the ferry back. Very nice option.

BLYTZPK

ferries underpin the area.


Dated but essential. Updating requires only a visit on the internet and a look with Google Earth
https://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Natural-Florida-Guides-United/dp/087156551X

20 years ago free access..today a fence ? Too many Jeeps.


This is a kayak book. A map book. But if bicycling the Overseas Hyway, a kayak tour over white sandbars outback in ‘wilderness’ is essential. Looking thru the Burnham book, the cyclists gains an understanding of where he will or is. Library ILL.
https://www.amazon.com/Florida-Keys-Paddling-Atlas/dp/076273857X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387842173&sr=1-1&keywords=burnham+keys

Ridefreemc

Just ride and enjoy. Too many ways to pick apart a trip and come out the other side disappointed. Same trip, but different person who just keeps their head up and accepts what comes may have an awesome adventure!

BLYTZPK

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/travel/36-hours-in-south-beach-miami-beach.html?ref=travel