I go down twice a year for ~ 2 weeks. We go in early June and late September. Best time to go because you have nice weather and much smaller crowds of people to deal with. It is technically the off season. I always stay on Hatteras Island, usually in Avon. I have taken my bike in the past, but usually find myself getting up early for high tide to fish and not to bike. The last few times I have gone without my bike and just rented a beach cruiser if I really, really, wanted to ride. Yeah, it is not the same, but still can be fun. Plus my bike doesn't get as nasty traveling down and back, or has to deal with the salt air. Steel and salt air don't mix well. Ocracoke makes a great day trip if you leave you car on Hatteras and just take your bike on the ferry. It is nice because you don't have to wait nearly as long for the next ferry. Word to the wise: it can be a lot of biking, in hot sun, so you need to go prepared.