Key West Ride

December 1, 2 & 3, 2023

Tour The Southernmost City in Florida

Key West Ride – Escape To The Keys

Join us for this bike weekend adventure through the Florida Keys! We meet at famous Robert Is Here Fruit Stand in Homestead, FL (near Miami) and embark on a two-day ride down to Key West! Get your groove on and bring your friends as you won’t want to miss this ride.

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Nov. 26th

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About the Key West Ride

It’s a road trip type bike event where attendees enjoy riding in the beautiful Florida Keys, a place like no other! Once we get to Key West, we party! Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to tour the area and see the sites before we all come back to Miami.

We get things rolling on Friday morning, gathering in the back patio of Robert Is Here. Free parking is available. You pick up your registration, your special keepsake bike tag and put your signature on the ceremonial sign-in board, just like the pro racers do. Then we head toward Card Sound Road where the Everglades meets the edge of the continent. You conquer the bridge and say goodbye to Miami. Soon you reach Key Largo and you are officially in the Florida Keys. The ride stops for an overnight stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Marathon, Florida. Call the Fairfield Inn and let them know you are with “Earth Biking Group” for your discounted room rate. You’ll have 80 miles logged in so lunch will be waiting for you under their large Tiki Hut by the pool patio, and then it’s time to enjoy your first night in the Keys.

Day two starts at 7:30 for a ride push off to continue on south on A1A toward Key West. You cross the many bridges that connect the small island chain, including the epic crossing of the 7-mile bridge! You’ll get a close-up view of Flagler’s railway structures and of course the water! A stop in at Baby’s Coffee on A1A, and then finally gathering at Stock Island just outside of Key West.

A police escort will bring is in the scenic route right to Dante’s Pool Bar & Restaurant for lunch and a beer or two, and then you’re on your own to explore Key West!

Please make your own hotel bookings in Key West as there are plenty of places to choose from. When it’s time to depart, we will gather at a predetermined location and transport your bicycles, bags and yourself back to Robert Is Here.

Why Key West Ride – Escape To The Keys?

The Florida Keys are unique in many senses of the word, and have different meanings to different people. It’s a tropical wonderland, it’s an ecological treasure, it’s a kick back place with a devil-may-care attitude. For us it’s the most unique bike ride in the continental United States, because the Florida Keys is the most unique place!

The best way to see the Keys and experience it all is by bike! You feel the breeze, hear the birds and see the water, all while pedaling your way to Key West. There is simply no better way to see the Keys!

It’s all about the bike! Or is it? Come with your team, your crew, your friends! Party together, eat together and drink together. Then we ride again!

How Does The Key West Ride Work?

It starts with you! Once you make the decision to attend, you will need register for the event on Active.com. Please do so right away as this year’s ride will be capped at 150 people.

Register here on this website. Click “Book Now”.

Once you are registered book your room for Friday and Saturday night. Our Friday night hotel will be the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Marathon. Call 305-289-0222 and tell them you are with “Earth Biking Group”. Our transport will bring your overnight bag to you at the Fairfield Inn.

Then you book your room in Key West for Saturday night. You may book your own room at the hotel of your choice or if we can assist you, please send me an email at gregory@earthbiking.com for a list of hotels. Our central drop off and pick up location will be the Southwinds Motel at 1321 Simonton Street.

All rides depart by 7:30 AM each day, on Friday from Robert Is Here and Saturday from the Fairfield Inn & Suites parking lot. Arrive at Robert Is Here around 7:00 AM to give yourself time to check in with registration, and to get you and your gear ready. Great opportunities abound for social media pics and shop at Robert Is Here for a quick snack.

This is a road trip, so you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from Robert Is Here. We take care of the rest by transporting your bags for pick up, and to bring your bags and bikes coming back to the ride start location. Our bus will bring you back to Robert Is Here, departing the host hotels in Key West at 1:00 PM.

Do you like to eat food? Me too! We’ll have lunch under the big Tiki Hut at the Fairfield Inn after your Friday ride. A great time to chill and brag about how great you were on the bike a few hours ago! As we approach Key West on Saturday, we all gather and regroup in Stock Island. Once we are all together, we will have a police escort through the scenic route into Key West, stopping finally at Dante’s Pool Bar & Restaurant at 955 Caroline Street. Then the festivities begin as we’ll have lunch and a beer ready for you. There will be no limits to pats on the back, high fives, hugs, TikTok videos or social media pics! The world is your oyster!

Ride Protocol, Please Read!

  • The ride will gather rain or shine. The ride will not start if it is raining, but it will start if it’s not raining.
  • Please always remember: SAFETY FIRST! Use verbal and hand signals to call out hazards. Signal your turns, especially if you are turning left where other riders may be going straight.
  • Use the same impeccable riding etiquette that you use in your usual Saturday group ride.
  • There will be groups and individual riders together. Make a plan ahead of time to ride with your group, or hang on with other groups. Staying in a group and rotating is highly recommended on breezy days.
  • We plan to start the Friday and Saturday rides by 7:30 AM. For Sunday we’ll start at 8:00 AM. But don’t worry if you forgot your helmet in the room or you didn’t finish breakfast in time. We won’t start without you as long as you let us know you’ll be late.
  • Each route will be marked on the roads with their own color. We will announce the color the morning of the ride. You may also follow your printed map, or your GPX map.
  • Please be courteous to your fellow riders. Be courteous to the public as well. It’s our chance to be ambassadors for the sport we love.
  • If you need food or hydration before or after the rest stop, or SAG driver will be stocked with packaged food and cold drinks. There are many other sources along the way such as convenience stores.
  • Take pictures! Take selfies! Take group shots! Please be safe when you are handling a camera or phone while you’re riding!
  • Post your pictures on your social media and our Facebook page! Hashtag us with #sebringbikeweekend. We all want to share in your adventure!
  • Members of the Highlands Pedalers Bicycle Club will be joining us on every day of the ride. Although they are not tour guides, more talkative members may offer up stories and help us find our way on the routes. They also marked the roads for us, so please thank them.
  • This is a group ride, not a race, or even a training ride. Let’s try to keep the pace under control until we get out of town on every ride. Faster riders and groups will move to the front and establish their pace. Unless you want to ride alone, try to stick with a group so you don’t get lost and you won’t be alone if there is a mechanical or other problem.
  • If you find yourself alone, be aware of your surroundings and pay close attention to the map. If you become lost, ask for directions and try to get yourself back on the route. Don’t panic, make it part of the adventure.
  • Sunday’s ride will be at a leisurely pace to Highland Hammocks Park. It may be considered a recovery ride. We’ll stay together until we reach the park for our annual group photo. Faster riders can get up to speed for the remainder of the ride.
  • We are ambassadors of our club and our sport. Always be in control of your situation. Always follow traffic laws and safe riding practices. Be courteous to the locals. Smile.
  • When the weekend is over, drive safely and share your experiences when you get back home. If you are on Facebook or Instagram, put up your pics and comments. We would love to see them! Tag us at #sebringbikeweekend
  • Pictures or not, full or empty tummy, strayed from route and lost the map, don’t dismay! It’s all about a positive attitude!
  • I hope you can make it! It’s always more fun when you’re there!