I’m taking the wife and baby to Destin in May and thought about bringing my bike and riding. Are there any areas there worth riding or is the traffic too bad? Maybe I’ll just sit on the beach and relax instead. Just curious.
I would bring my bike. Look for 90A great ride!
There are a couple of Sprints in May in the area you might also want to check out!
I think metcalf34 might have meant 30a. There’s a bike path next to it, but it is filled with rental cruizers during tourist season. Might be okay if you head out super early. The actual road gets pretty busy and does not have much of a shoulder. Again, early early it might be okay.
There’s also the Emerald Coast Cyclists if you prefer a group ride. Tends to be more safe around here with tourist traffic and texting. http://www.eccyclists.com/ They ride every Saturday. There’s a “B” group that averages 17-19 and an “A” group that will usually average 22+ on a 50+ mile ride. The ride is aerobar friendly as long as you are not using them in the paceline. If you check out their Facebook page, there are some ride maps that have some rides which are fairly convenient to Destin and out of harms way as far as traffic goes.
Our local tri club does open water swims every weekend. http://www.ectriclub.org On May 18th in Niceville there’s a mud run that’s supposed to be really fun. It’s a 5k with obstacles. Might be a fun family event. There’s also a sprint tri in Pensacola that morning that is fast and flat. I think the Gulf Coast 1/2 is on May 11th.
Enjoy your visit : )
Lori Mihalcik
ectriclub@ectriclub.org
We are staying in San Destin May 25-30. My wife might kill me if I entered a race during our vacation because this is a “vacation from everything”. However, I might just leave the bike at home and run and swim. Any tips on swimming in Destin? I live a long way from the ocean?
I was just there last month…see thread below for suggestions.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=4421889;search_string=destin;#4421889
Unfortunately, I never got my bike unpacked and only ran. Did do one OWS, however.
You’d be best off coming out for one of our swims. Swimming alone is just not a good idea. If you decide to do so, read up on rip currents and stay close to shore. Drop us a line when you’re here. Someone may join you for a weekday swim or we may be out paddle boarding and be willing to keep an eye on you. We usually swim over on Okaloosa Island. It’s not very far from Destin.
30A early morning is fine. We vacation in SeaSide often and its very common to see tri bikes and roadies out early before the lazies get out of bed.
Agreed, go early. I’ve ridden an out and back from the Hilton Sandestin to Laguna Beach on 98. There is a bike lane on a good portion of it. The shoulder is rough in the sections where there’s not a lane.
Hit the Acme Oyster House while you’re there and get the chargrilled oysters. Thank me later.
(waves at Lori from the BWB area)
5K mud run is apparently already sold out, though there are supposed to be a few spots in the 5 miler yet.
If you’re close to Destin and want to eat like a local, I’ll throw in a rec for Stweby’s just down Racetrack Rd. from Dragon Sports bike shop in Ft. Walton Beach or Jasmine Thai in a strip mall just west of Destin Commons. (Strip mall Thai seems to be the most common ethnic food in these parts.)
Check out Hammerdown Tri Club. Good group with some good athletes.