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Actually, a few years ago a drunk drove down one of the old bridges = (long since closed to vehicle
traffic) and ran into a concrete barrier = at the end. Killed himself. Darwin lives! "Cycling Joe"
<
[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]... I think they should put
in some short sharp turns with runouts and a = concrete wall at the end. =20 This will act as a
catch basin for all the drunks and unattentive = drivers.=20
Bob Glazer wrote:
OK - now for the other perspective. I have lived in Marathon for 16 = years and I consider it about
the worst riding on this planet or any other = planet just like it. It is definitely urban cycling.
Be prepared for cars blocking the bike paths, cars pulling into the bike paths and stopping before
they enter the road, people and dogs walking in the paths, mopeds = in the paths, glass...ungh. Even
cops will pull people over into the bike = path and block it as they write them tickets. Keep your
eyes wide open and expect drivers to do stupid things.
The Keys have a tremendous amount of traffic. On the bridges, make sure = you ride as far to the
right as possible. Of course, that is where you = will pick up glass.
Do not even attempt this ride during spring break - too many drunks. My favorite month is May when
the traffic is light and the weather hasn't = yet hit the very warm summer temperatures. In the
summer you will probably encounter an afternoon thunderstorm somewhere along the route. The last
half of October is nice, too, but it is still hurricane season.
Here are a few hidden gems
1) at mile marker 49 in Marathon take a right at the Stuffed Pig = restaurant and go to the end of
the street to Keys Fisheries. They have an outdoor restaurant on the water that has the most
fresh seafood anywhere (try = the lobster reuben but don't even think about getting on your bike
for a few hours until it digests).
2) mile marker 30 or so - take a right onto the road that says Big Torch Key. You can ride for about
7 1/2 miles with very little traffic = winding through mangroves and over causeways. Of course,
you have to ride the = same road to get back but I've ridden it many times when I was only passed
by = 1 car (over 1,300. miles on that road last year).
3) Big Pine Key has some nice paths that go out to the end of the = island. In fact, if you park out
at the end of BPK near Port Pine Heights, you = can ride out Big Torch Key and back for about 45
miles (with an extra side = route to No Name Key) and be on the highway only 4 miles. This really
is a = pretty ride.
Having said all this, there are some very nice views from the bridges. = And, as long as you are
aware that there is a lot traffic here, you might = even enjoy yourself. Don't worry about water -
there are circle K's and = other convenience stores everywhere.
Good luck and if you need more info, give a holler.
"Igor" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]... I'm starting to
make plans for a ride from Key Largo to Key West in = the Florida Keys. I know they have been
constructing the Overseas Heritage Trail for a few years now, but I don't know the current status of
that trail or the conditions of riding on US 1 for the stretches not suitable or completed.
Does anyone have any info on riding this route or can point me in the right direction to get details
on the road conditions etc.?
Thanks!!!!!! Steve
=20
=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Actually, a few years ago a drunk drove = down one of=20 the old
bridges (long since closed to vehicle traffic) and ran into a = concrete=20 barrier at the
end. Killed himself. Darwin = lives!</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DV>"Cycling Joe" <<A=20 href=3D"
mailto:[email protected]">
[email protected]</A>> wrote
= in message=20 <A=20
=
href=3D"
news:[email protected]">
news:[email protected]<= /A>...</DIV>I=20 think
they should put in some short sharp turns with runouts and a = concrete=20 wall at the end.
<BR>This will act as a catch basin for all the = drunks=20 and unattentive drivers.
<BR><BR>Bob Glazer wrote:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE =
[email protected]=20 type=3D"cite"><PRE wrap=3D"">OK
- now for the other perspective. I = have lived in Marathon for 16 years and I consider it about the
worst riding on this planet or any other = planet just like it. It is definitely urban cycling. Be
prepared for cars blocking the bike paths, cars pulling into the bike paths and stopping before they
enter the road, people and dogs walking in the paths, mopeds = in the paths, glass...ungh. Even cops
will pull people over into the bike = path and block it as they write them tickets. Keep your eyes
wide open and expect drivers to do stupid things.
The Keys have a tremendous amount of traffic. On the bridges, make sure = you ride as far to the
right as possible. Of course, that is where you = will pick up glass.
Do not even attempt this ride during spring break - too many drunks. My favorite month is May when
the traffic is light and the weather hasn't = yet hit the very warm summer temperatures. In the
summer you will probably encounter an afternoon thunderstorm somewhere along the route. The last
half of October is nice, too, but it is still hurricane season.
Here are a few hidden gems
1) at mile marker 49 in Marathon take a right at the Stuffed Pig = restaurant and go to the end of
the street to Keys Fisheries. They have an outdoor restaurant on the water that has the most
fresh seafood anywhere (try = the lobster reuben but don't even think about getting on your bike
for a few hours until it digests).
2) mile marker 30 or so - take a right onto the road that says Big Torch Key. You can ride for about
7 1/2 miles with very little traffic = winding through mangroves and over causeways. Of course,
you have to ride the = same road to get back but I've ridden it many times when I was only passed
by = 1 car (over 1,300. miles on that road last year).
3) Big Pine Key has some nice paths that go out to the end of the = island. In fact, if you park out
at the end of BPK near Port Pine Heights, you = can ride out Big Torch Key and back for about 45
miles (with an extra side = route to No Name Key) and be on the highway only 4 miles. This really
is a = pretty ride.
Having said all this, there are some very nice views from the bridges. = And, as long as you are
aware that there is a lot traffic here, you might = even enjoy yourself. Don't worry about water -
there are circle K's and = other convenience stores everywhere.
Good luck and if you need more info, give a holler.
"Igor" <A class=3Dmoz-txt-link-rfc2396E =
href=3D"
mailto:[email protected]"><
[email protected]></A> wrote in = message <A
class=3Dmoz-txt-link-freetext =
href=3D"
news:[email protected]">
news:Xns9331BCE9BDFE4sww02@=
3.1.1.8</A>... </PRE> <BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite"><PRE wrap=3D"">I'm starting to make plans = for a
ride from Key Largo to Key West in the Florida Keys. I know they have been constructing the
Overseas Heritage Trail for a few years now, but I don't know the current status of that trail
or the conditions of riding on US 1 for the stretches not suitable </PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE
wrap=3D""><!---->or </PRE> <BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite"><PRE wrap=3D"">completed.
Does anyone have any info on riding this route or can point me in the </PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE
wrap=3D""><!---->right </PRE> <BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite"><PRE wrap=3D"">direction to get details on =
the road conditions etc.?
Thanks!!!!!! Steve
</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE wrap=3D""><!---->
</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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