If you are an avid cyclist—or even just a recreational bike rider—chances are you’re hoping to keep up your fitness routine while vacationing in Hilton Head. Good news! You won’t be the only one biking on the beach. Hilton Head is very friendly to road cyclists as well as beach bikers. But if this will be your first time riding a bike on the beach, you may want to look at some of these pointers before you go.
Find Your Bike
The best type of bike to ride on the beach is a fat bike (the opposite idea of road bikes). The extra wide tires on a fat bike will grip the sand better, giving you better balance. While your best bet is to ride on wet sand (though not in the ocean), you may prefer the looser sand. If so, you’ll need to look for even thicker tires.
Understand Your Ride
You probably understand that riding on sand is different from riding on the road, but do you know what to expect? Your ride will obviously be much slower than a road ride. Using lower gears will help you keep moving. Because sand can get into your gears and brakes easily, try not to use them more than you need. Also, there are often pretty strong sea breezes along the shore. For the sake of your balance, avoid windier days.
Help Yourself
Your positioning on the bike will also help you with your balance. Try not to hunch over the handlebars. Staying back will give you a better center of gravity and also keep your front tire from digging into the sand. Keeping your pedal strokes consistent will also help to keep you from slipping. And for safety’s sake, you will probably want to avoid any steep inclines or descents.
Now that you are in the know, you should have no fears about fitting in with the others who are riding on the beach. If you ride alone, you shouldn’t have to worry about finding someone to help you. Either way, Hilton Head’s beaches are calling, and your bike is ready to answer.