bike opportunities in caribbean?

Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe,
Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling,
either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about
cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open
to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy
experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any
ideas on bike rentals.

On Jan 14, 5:33*am, bobdobbs wrote:
Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe,
Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling,
either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about
cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open
to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy
experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any
ideas on bike rentals.

There's alot of cycling in the Caribbean, but at a club racing level
more than a touring level. You can rent bikes on almost every island,
but on the whole these will be your average crap mountain bike that
won't have seen oil or a service in years. I won't recommend cycling
alone in Jamaica. For our club rides in Trinidad, on Sunday mornings
with over 20 riders we always had a police escort. Mainly becuase of
the dodgy driving than the crime.

Oh yea, lots of dodgy driving, be prepared for cars to pass within 6
inches of your elbow.

If you are the adventurous sort, then take your own bike (and spares,
'cos there may not be a local bike shop) and go explore. I did (2
years living in Trinidad) and really enjoyed it.

Most of the cycling tours I've seen are mtb rides through the rain
forest and Tobago has some great examples.

Google the island you pick, find the local bike shop and get in touch.
See if you can tag along on a group ride.

On Jan 14, 6:33 am, bobdobbs wrote:
Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe,
Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling,
either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about
cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open
to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy
experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any
ideas on bike rentals.

I'd see what you can find out about Cuban cycling. I've never done it
but there have been some good report and apparently the auto traffic
is fairly light. Here seems to be decent site for some info
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/Act...ng/Cycling.asp

Most people I know who have been to Cuba have enjoyed themselves but
only one was a cyclist--he had an excellent tour.

A good travel agent may be able to find more specific information.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

John Kane wrote:
On Jan 14, 6:33 am, bobdobbs wrote:
Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe,
Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling,
either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about
cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open
to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy
experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any
ideas on bike rentals.

I'd see what you can find out about Cuban cycling. I've never done it
but there have been some good report and apparently the auto traffic
is fairly light. Here seems to be decent site for some info
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/Act...ng/Cycling.asp

Most people I know who have been to Cuba have enjoyed themselves but
only one was a cyclist--he had an excellent tour.

A good travel agent may be able to find more specific information.

Not in the US of A, where taking a vacation in Cuba can land one in
prison, due to the disproportion political influence of the fascist
expatriate Cubans living in South Florida.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008, bobdobbs wrote:

Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe,
Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling,
either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about
cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open
to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy
experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any
ideas on bike rentals.

I've cycled on about three dozen Caribbean islands. In 10 days I'm heading
to the Cayman Islands. There are three islands, so three more I will have
cycled on.

Of the ones you list the only one I have not cycled on is Jamaica. That
island is huge. I wouldn't know where to start.

Most islands have rentals. A few don't. Providenciales (in the Turks &
Caicos) no longer does. So I bought a Dahon Glide folding bike and now take
that with me. St. Lucia is another that doesn't. When there I had to rent
one from a fellow in a restaurant that rented me his son's bike.

You can find some trip journals he http://donwiss.com/travel/. Last
Year's T&C trip hasn't been keyed in yet. They were not written for some of
the early trips.

I do not bike with my luggage, except now with the folding bike I bicycle
to and from the airport with it strapped on the back rack.

Guadeloupe is five islands. I did not bicycle on Basse Terre, but I saw
locals doing it. I settled for bicycling on the others. In general I did
not like Grande Terre, but did like the other islands.

Don www.donwiss.com/pictures/carib (e-mail link at page bottoms).

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008, Tom Sherman wrote:

John Kane wrote:

Most people I know who have been to Cuba have enjoyed themselves but
only one was a cyclist--he had an excellent tour.

A good travel agent may be able to find more specific information.

Not in the US of A, where taking a vacation in Cuba can land one in
prison,

Not true. If you get catch you they only fine you. A lot. And in the Bush
era they have been aggressive about catching people.

Don www.donwiss.com/joyrides (e-mail link at page bottom).

Don Wiss wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jan 2008, Tom Sherman wrote:

John Kane wrote:

Most people I know who have been to Cuba have enjoyed themselves but
only one was a cyclist--he had an excellent tour.

A good travel agent may be able to find more specific information.

Not in the US of A, where taking a vacation in Cuba can land one in
prison,

Not true. If you get catch you they only fine you. A lot. And in the Bush
era they have been aggressive about catching people.

In this day and age, who knows what might happen? You could be declared
a terrorist threat, and denied habeas corpus (which is no longer a right
in the US).

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
John Kane wrote:
On Jan 14, 6:33 am, bobdobbs wrote:
Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe,
Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling,
either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about
cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open
to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy
experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any
ideas on bike rentals.

I'd see what you can find out about Cuban cycling. I've never done it
but there have been some good report and apparently the auto traffic
is fairly light. Here seems to be decent site for some info
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/Act...ng/Cycling.asp

Most people I know who have been to Cuba have enjoyed themselves but
only one was a cyclist--he had an excellent tour.

A good travel agent may be able to find more specific information.

Not in the US of A, where taking a vacation in Cuba can land one in
prison, due to the disproportion political influence of the fascist
expatriate Cubans living in South Florida.

One man's fascist is another man's freedom fighter, but, I digress.

If you're American and you go to Cuba, make sure they stamp your passport on
a stapled-in scrap of paper. They know how to do this.

Don't forget to rip out the paper on the trip home.

JG

John Galt wrote:
"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
John Kane wrote:
On Jan 14, 6:33 am, bobdobbs wrote:
Looking to spend 5-7 days on either Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe,
Aruba or Antigua. Would like to spend part of that time cycling,
either around the island or from a home base. I don't hear much about
cycling in this part of the world. Any suggestions/experiences? Open
to other islands, but not to a "all-downhill" or super touristy
experience. Prefer road to mountain biking. Would also appreciate any
ideas on bike rentals.
I'd see what you can find out about Cuban cycling. I've never done it
but there have been some good report and apparently the auto traffic
is fairly light. Here seems to be decent site for some info
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/Act...ng/Cycling.asp

Most people I know who have been to Cuba have enjoyed themselves but
only one was a cyclist--he had an excellent tour.

A good travel agent may be able to find more specific information.

Not in the US of A, where taking a vacation in Cuba can land one in
prison, due to the disproportion political influence of the fascist
expatriate Cubans living in South Florida.

One man's fascist is another man's freedom fighter, but, I digress....

The freedom to exploit and terrorize the portion of the population that
was not born rich.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth