Cycling the Atlantic Seaboard
09-10-23, 02:19 AM
#1
Easily Led Astray
Thread Starter
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.
__________________
Opinions are like noses, everybody has one.
09-12-23, 04:27 AM
#2
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 2,996
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 805 Post(s)
Liked 1,290 Times
in
743 Posts
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
20+mph Commuter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,437
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 283 Times
in
188 Posts
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!
Likes For JoeyBike:
09-12-23, 10:32 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,232
Bikes: two blacks, a blue and a white.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 426 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
383 Posts
maybe helpful: https://map.greenway.org/
09-14-23, 03:22 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 10,761
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3250 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
1,038 Posts
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.
Likes For Tourist in MSN:
