The Chainlink

Seeking comments on taking riders to the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

I recently joined Chainlink.  I am an avid road rider in Chicagoland who has been asked to accompany a group of riders on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.  Does anyone have any experience with this trail and would you share a few comments regarding your experience?  Thanks for the help. 

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on December 18, 2012 at 11:54am

Never heard of it.  You may find someone recording their experience over at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ I've wasted many hours of productivity looking at people's trips on that site.

Drilling down maybe some of these will help: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/categories/?o=1&category_id=...

Permalink Reply by Mark Jackson on December 18, 2012 at 1:03pm

Thanks for the link.  I will take a look. 

Tricolor said:

Never heard of it.  You may find someone recording their experience over at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ I've wasted many hours of productivity looking at people's trips on that site.

Drilling down maybe some of these will help: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/categories/?o=1&category_id=...

Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on December 18, 2012 at 1:26pm

Last December I rode from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. US Highway 1 is mostly flanked by trails (wasn't aware it was called the Heritage Trail). The bridges that connect the Keys don't have bike lanes, but the shoulders were quite wide, and I felt safe. The craziest thing is that I did this all on a 16" Dahon 3 speed (for portability on the plane).

The Seven-Mile bridge is worth the trip alone. Also, Expect huge iguanas in the most southern Keys! Except for the bridges, it's easy flat riding, although it could get pretty windy.

On the return, I took a ferry from Key West to Ft. Myers Beach for roughly $100 (3 hours or so), spend a night, explored, and then the next day rode to the Ft Myers airport to fly back to Chicago.

Permalink Reply by Mark Jackson on December 18, 2012 at 2:41pm

Thanks much.  That is great commentary and I am glad to hear that the bridges are rideable.  Our group is particularly interested in riding the Seven Mile bridge, so good to hear your endorsement.  You had a quite a trip on a 3 speed.  Thanks again for the help. 

MagMileMarauder said:

Last December I rode from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. US Highway 1 is mostly flanked by trails (wasn't aware it was called the Heritage Trail). The bridges that connect the Keys don't have bike lanes, but the shoulders were quite wide, and I felt safe. The craziest thing is that I did this all on a 16" Dahon 3 speed (for portability on the plane).

The Seven-Mile bridge is worth the trip alone. Also, Expect huge iguanas in the most southern Keys! Except for the bridges, it's easy flat riding, although it could get pretty windy.

On the return, I took a ferry from Key West to Ft. Myers Beach for roughly $100 (3 hours or so), spend a night, explored, and then the next day rode to the Ft Myers airport to fly back to Chicago.

Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on December 18, 2012 at 3:13pm

You're welcome. Enjoy it.  If you happen to spend a night in Marathon, I stayed in a motel called Coconut Cay (I know, so stereotypical) that included kayaks in their amenities (if that's your thing). It was pretty cool, rowed through mangroves, then I ventured into semi-open waters, and circled a tiny island in the vicinity that was populated by several species of tropical birds. That was a bigger workout than the whole ride!:)

Permalink Reply by Mark Jackson on December 18, 2012 at 3:29pm

Kaying is hopefully on our agenda so I will look at the Coconut Cay.  Thanks again.  I am in charge of planning so this helps. 

MagMileMarauder said:

You're welcome. Enjoy it.  If you happen to spend a night in Marathon, I stayed in a motel called Coconut Cay (I know, so stereotypical) that included kayaks in their amenities (if that's your thing). It was pretty cool, rowed through mangroves, then I ventured into semi-open waters, and circled a tiny island in the vicinity that was populated by several species of tropical birds. That was a bigger workout than the whole ride!:)

Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on December 18, 2012 at 3:39pm

I'm sure there are nicer places that have amenities as well. I always travel on a shoestring, and the Keys aren't particularly cheap for lodging, so I picked the cheapest place, and was enticed by the kayaks. Always a good idea to bargain for a better rate as well. (I know many people don't do this, but if you want to stretch your dollar, it works quite often). I guess that applies to most places, not just the Keys:)

Permalink Reply by Jaik S. on December 18, 2012 at 3:53pm

Last year in the Keys I had a great time...

Key West:

$80/night at Days Inn. It was the lowest that I could find.

There were bike rentals about a block from there for $7/day.

Check to see if you can get a group discount to for everyone to check out the Dry Tortugas. The snorkeling out there is excellent.

Islamorada:

Diving Museum for $12 and worth it.

Permalink Reply by Mark Jackson on December 18, 2012 at 7:11pm

Great.  Thanks for the tips.  I appreciate the help.

J. Smith said:

Last year in the Keys I had a great time...

Key West:

$80/night at Days Inn. It was the lowest that I could find.

There were bike rentals about a block from there for $7/day.

Check to see if you can get a group discount to for everyone to check out the Dry Tortugas. The snorkeling out there is excellent.

Islamorada:

Diving Museum for $12 and worth it.

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