Cycling the Atlantic Seaboard
09-10-23, 02:19 AM
#1
Easily Led Astray
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Cycling the Atlantic Seaboard
I'm considering a ride from North Carolina to Key West next year. Two questions:
1. On the Pacific Coast, the prevailing winds are from the north, consequently it's best to ride to the south. Are there prevailing winds on the Atlantic Coast that would affect my choice of direction?
2. I'm thinking about riding in the April-May time period. From the standpoint of heat, humidity, rain, is this a good time it year to ride?
Thanks for any insights you can share with me.
1. On the Pacific Coast, the prevailing winds are from the north, consequently it's best to ride to the south. Are there prevailing winds on the Atlantic Coast that would affect my choice of direction?
2. I'm thinking about riding in the April-May time period. From the standpoint of heat, humidity, rain, is this a good time it year to ride?
Thanks for any insights you can share with me.
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09-12-23, 04:27 AM
#2
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April/May is one of the more unpredictable time frames for all of the southeast US. The wind is predominantly from a variable westerly direction, trending NW. I believe most riders go N to S.
09-12-23, 07:55 AM
#3
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I did it South to North at that time of year. I skipped the Outer Banks as winds were 70mph (think the inventors of human flight started here for a reason) and I don't remember or care which direction that was coming from - I'm not getting sandblasted day after day. Since the East Coast is impossible to bike right on the ocean and the route is forested for the most part, wind really wasn't an issue. I remember taking off an extra day in New Bern, NC after a cold front blew through with 20+ mph headwinds predicted. I needed to wash clothes and regroup anyway. I don't travel with an itinerary for just that reason.
South to North that time of year makes sense as the weather will be warming up as you go rather than starting cold and ending in a sauna. Also my intention was to follow the Azelia bloom. I succeeded in that endeavor all the way to Pennsylvania. I did have to take a few extra days off to wait for the bloom to catch up with me! Every day was framed with beautiful flowers, not just Azelias!
South to North that time of year makes sense as the weather will be warming up as you go rather than starting cold and ending in a sauna. Also my intention was to follow the Azelia bloom. I succeeded in that endeavor all the way to Pennsylvania. I did have to take a few extra days off to wait for the bloom to catch up with me! Every day was framed with beautiful flowers, not just Azelias!
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09-12-23, 10:32 AM
#4
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maybe helpful: https://map.greenway.org/
09-14-23, 03:22 PM
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I rode down the Keys in Feb 2017, it was already hot. Expect it to be hot when you get there.
You will cross many bridges, do not let them scare you. Longer ones take a little longer to ride across but they are like any other.
You will cross many bridges, do not let them scare you. Longer ones take a little longer to ride across but they are like any other.
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