Going to do the Disney run the first weekend in Jan, then staying the following week. Anyone have opinions on opportunities to ride? Is it worth the hassle of flying a bike along with everything else a family of four needs for a week? Is the area around the park a cluster of non-cycling friendly roads, loaded with hotels and strip malls?
Thanks,
Depends where you’re staying and if you’re willing to drive a little (and break a few laws here and there :-).
Last time I did the WDW Tri, I snuck into Fort Wilderness for some biking and running. They have some great forested quiet roads around there. Really nice riding. You have to do a few laps of the place to get in a worthwhile ride but it doesn’t feel like it due to the scenery.
If you’re willing to drive (or ride) a little, Kissimmee is not too far from Clermont and there is some great hilly riding up there. Check out the GFT course. Most of it is pretty bike friendly apart from one town to the north. From memory, I think it’s Tavares (?) but it can be easily by-passed.
I’m not sure where you’re coming from, but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to get some nice weather riding in.
Enjoy the race. Nobody does it like Disney!!
Alan
About 15-20 minutes from disney. Check out the “fruit loop” it’s my favorite ride of all time.
You can also do the Ironman Florida 70.3 course starting and ending at Ft. Wilderness. It gets out to Lake County. Z
I may be riding with Monk and Grogan that weekend…
If you’re staying on a Disney property or close by resort, there’s no where to ride safely.
Great run areas around the resorts and even into the parking lots of the Disney parks, but not good for cycling.
If you’re willing to get in your car and drive outside the resort and traffic areas, there’s lots of options.
Easy answer to your question about ‘worth taking’??? No. pack some running shoes instead.
As several people have already stated, it will be worth while. I drive out there to train in the spring. (I live in Kissimmee) I have stayed on property a few times with visiting relatives and always brought my bike. Just go in the morning. You will not hit too much traffic, but a little coming in. It will be worth while following a majority of the IM 70.3 course (mostly on Avalon Road). It has a few hills.
I too will be running the Disney Marathon.
Good luck!
There a ride every day of the week. Post on this forum to find out what ride fits your schedu’. Its a lot more fun than this slowtwitch mumba-jumba. Plus we got the Owlman.
Only if you are willing to drive out away from the resort, or if you are willing to get up very early to ride. I agree that Ft Wilderness is the best place to give it a try, if you feel you really must. I took my bike once and never felt safe riding it around town.
Of course, I never really felt up to riding much anyway - 12 hours a day at the parks pretty much pooped me out. Just take a week off after the marathon . . . it will be a nice active recovery with all the miles you’ll be walking.
Lots of nice runs on WDW property, few good biking options. I dragged my bike and family of 4 there for the disney tri, but if its a marathon, my advice would be: do your family a favor and leave the bike at home, and just enjoy the Disney World vacation, swim at the resorts, and maybe do a few recovery runs after the marathon.