Outer Banks? Any decent riding?

[indysteel]

I've been invited by some friends to join them for a week in June in Cape Hatteras. I've never been to the Outer Banks and would love to go, but only if I can get some decent riding in. From what I can tell, NC 12 is the only road of any length. How safe is it to ride, especially given the fact that traffic can get pretty congested I'd like to be able to do about 40-50 miles a day if can. I'll likely do it in the morning if that matters.

Thanks.

Kate

[SouthernBelle]

google:

http://www.outerbanks.org/activities/land_activities/bicycling_in_the_outerbanks.asp

[indysteel]

My friend that invited me to join her on the trip just sent a link to me of teh house. It's near the tip of Hatteras Island in Hatteras Village. From what I can tell from some of my reading, riding north along NC 12 can be dicey because of the traffic. There is a four-foot shoulder until you get just south of the Oregon Inlet Bridge. We'll be the first full week of June, just before the high season (I think) begins. Riding on Ocracoke Island is a good possibility. Traffic is spottier, but any ride there will require a 40 minute ride each way on the ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

Any further thoughts or information? I may email one of the cycling shops in the area and see what they think.

[Fredwina]

I did a "quickie" tour in 1998 from Kitty Hawk to Avon and back
Traffic, yes there is a lot of traffic. It dies down once you get south of the Bridge to Roanoke Island (US 64)
Not much to see, unless you like sand dunes. It also tends to be windy, so you may plan on that. I was orginally going to go to Hattereas (where the Ferry to Orcarcoke island is) but cut it short

[Rakekay]

We spend a week on the Outer Banks every summer. I've taken my bike the last two years, but I have to say biking there is kind of tough if you're looking to get any kind of distance in at all. The first summer, I was in training for my first century and tried to get in 30-40 mile rides. It ended up being a lot of back and forth riding, in one two- or three-mile segments, through the developments. Highway 12 is not an option at all. The shoulder is too narrow and there are way too many cars. It scared me to death the few times I had to be on it. So, you can get in a long ride if you don't mind riding in circles. As someone else mentioned, it can get kind of windy. There are some bike paths in various parts of the Outer Banks, but none of them were near where I was staying (Corolla, quite a bit north from where you're talking about) and weren't terribly long anyway.

That said, the Outer Banks are lovely and you'll have a great time there. I think you should go even if you can't get much riding in.

[IFjane]

I, too, used to go to the Outer Banks every summer & took my bike a couple times. I never rode on NC 12 except to get from one development to another. The roads are flat and the wind does blow a lot, sometimes with blowing sand. Riding was not very satisfactory at all, just as Rakekay said. I also found that often there was sand on the road and that made riding more difficult as well. I did not ride down at Hatteras but from Duck north to Corolla. The traffic was heavy and fast. Instead, run on the beach and enjoy the surf - it's still pretty chilly in the ocean in June so be prepared!

[wannaduacentury]

My friend that invited me to join her on the trip just sent a link to me of teh house. It's near the tip of Hatteras Island in Hatteras Village. From what I can tell from some of my reading, riding north along NC 12 can be dicey because of the traffic. There is a four-foot shoulder until you get just south of the Oregon Inlet Bridge. We'll be the first full week of June, just before the high season (I think) begins. Riding on Ocracoke Island is a good possibility. Traffic is spottier, but any ride there will require a 40 minute ride each way on the ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.


If you go to Ocracoke, carry lots of mosquito repellant, they're like drilling for oil there. Very nice little village and the Blackbeard Lodge is neat to stay in too. Also Hurricane Isabelle messed up the islands some when she came through. I hope it won't cause problems for you. The ferry is fun. Jennifer

[indysteel]

Ugh. My gut tells me that I'm not going to get much riding in and that bringing my bike along would be a hassle. The question then becomes whether I want to do this trip knowing full well that I likely won't ride. I would also note that I don't run.

I'm obsessed enough about cycling at this point that the thought of giving up 8 or 9 days of riding in early June, i.e., when it's really nice in Indiana, makes me sad. I'm not much for sitting around doing nothing on vacation, although everyone else in the group that's going on this trip can't wait to do that. Riding for a few hours every morning would have made the otherwise sedentary days bearable. I'm sure I could find some other activities, but I was kind of counting on the bike.

I'm not sure how insulted my friends will be if I turn their offer down just so I can stay at home and ride. I'm already taking a non-cycling vacation in February (because riding in February isn't all that great), and was really hoping that whatever other trip(s) that I took later in the year involved my bike. That said, I'm beginning to feel that I'm prioritizing the bike over all other things in my life, including my friends.

Have the rest of you encountered this problem. How do you you struck the right balance for yourself?

[Blueberry]

I've ridden on Ocracoke, but not Hatteras. Ocracoke tends to not have much traffic on NC 12 unless a ferry has just arrived. I think it's 12-15 miles to the village from there. Riding in the village isn't bad either - traffic moves very slowly.

Hatteras, on the other hand, I would not ride NC 12. WAY too many people flying on the roads, driving campers, etc. Plus the wind is a bear. And there is lots of sand on the roads (it blows there constantly). Last time we were there in June, it was 55 degrees and raining the whole time. The weather can vary widely. Did I mention wind, that seems to be the constant.

It is a popular bike touring route, so it can be done - but it's not the best place by far...

[emily_in_nc]

I'm not much for sitting around doing nothing on vacation, although everyone else in the group that's going on this trip can't wait to do that. Riding for a few hours every morning would have made the otherwise sedentary days bearable. I'm sure I could find some other activities, but I was kind of counting on the bike.

Why would you being doing nothing or be sedentary at the beach? You don't have to run -- just take long beach walks! My DH and I take a beach trip every year or two (we live in NC but usually go to the southern beaches; have only been to the outer banks once) to spend time with my family, and we normally take two LONG beach walks a day at a pretty fast clip (strolling can be fun too, but we are trying to stay fit). It's so peaceful to hear the crashing waves, watch the birds, and walking in the sand is good exercise and will keep your legs in shape. Yeah, you'll miss your bike, but you won't lose fitness in just a week so long as you keep moving and will get to have fun with your friends too. You'll still have all summer to ride -- it's only one week off.

Another idea -- there are places at the beach where you can rent single-speed cruiser bikes and ride on the sand. I've never done it, but it looks like great fun, and no getting your own nice bike salty and sandy!

Emily

[withm]

I have been to Cape Hatteras many times but never with my bike. That said, certainly Rt 12 is a no brainer - stay away. BUT, people do LIVE there, and ride bikes. Just need to stay off of 12, maybe you need to go inland a bit, but I think you could find some good rides there. Yes, it will be windy. And sand blowing is not fun. (Be sure to clean bike well after your trip).

Vermont Bike Tours
http://www.vbt.com/
runs tours from New Bern down to Okrakcoke and back - so maybe you can glean some insight from the itinerary for that trip?
http://www.vbt.com/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina-Coast-2007/Bicycle-Tour-Itinerary.aspx

I took a VBT tour last fall - it was fabulous. I can't wait to do another one.

Also check out bike shops and clubs for ideas on riding down there. I would definitely take the bike. Better to have it and not need it than be moping around wishing you had brought it with you.

If all else fails, rent a bike, or go to some big store and buy a cheap one to use for the week. At the end of the trip, donate it to some thrift shop or church or someplace, and take the tax deduction.

[EBD]

Carolina Tailwinds (http://www.carolinatailwinds.com/) also runs Outer Banks bike trips - the northern banks tour includes Hatteras and Ocracoke - you might be able to cheat off their routes, too. I don't know Hatteras at all, but you might want to check out kayaking as another outdoor activity - there are probably kayak rentals available, with or without guides.

[pooks]

Most of us have limited time and funds for vacations. I don't think there's anything selfish at all about wanting to spend your vacation doing something you want to do. I wouldn't let anybody put it in terms of "bike over friends."

Are these friends you see otherwise, or is this a once in a great while opportunity to get together? That might make a difference, but otherwise, I'd take the vacation I want to take.

Or come up with an alternative location where you could do a lot of biking - and help set that trip up for 2008?