Cycling Michael Pretzsch Cycling Michael Pretzsch

Cycling Routes in Miami: Fast Pavement, Zero Elevation

If you ride in Miami long enough, you stop making excuses about the heat and start showing up at dawn. The terrain is flat. The pace is not. This is a straight breakdown of the routes, the groups, and the reality of cycling in South Florida.

If you ride in Miami long enough, you stop making excuses about the heat and start showing up at dawn. The terrain is flat. The pace is not.

This is a straight breakdown of the routes, the groups, and the reality of cycling in South Florida — without the marketing gloss.

Quick Route Reference

  • Key Biscayne Loop — 14-18 miles — Sunday — Moderate
    The only real climb in Miami. Bridge separates riders. High-speed paceline. Optional Virginia Key extension.

  • South Run (Robert Is Here) — 50-70 miles — Saturday — Hard
    Backroads south to Homestead. Optional speedway lap. Heat and distance compound by mid-ride. Return trip is the real test.

  • Don Pan Ride — 40-60 miles — Weekday/Sunday — Very Hard
    Starts CVS at Sunset & 57th. KB laps. One lap weekday, two and a half Sunday. Relentless pace. Post-ride meetup on KB.

  • Pinecrest/Gables to South Beach — 30-50 miles — Variable — Moderate
    Urban route through Coconut Grove and Brickell. Cross causeway to Miami Beach. Optional KB lap on return. Traffic increases significantly.

  • North Run (Riviera Beach) — 80-100 miles — Variable — Very Hard
    Meet at KB tolls. Venetian to South Beach, then coastal push through Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale to Riviera Beach. Full day commitment.

The North Run: Miami to Fort Lauderdale or Riviera Beach

Distance: 80–100+ miles (one-way or round trip)
Terrain: Flat, coastal
Meetup: Key Biscayne tolls

This is the long haul north. Meet at the KB tolls, cross the Venetian Causeway to South Beach, then push straight up the coast (mainly A1A) through Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and beyond — all the way to Riviera Beach.

The Route:

  • Start at KB tolls

  • Cross Venetian Causeway to South Beach

  • Head north through Miami Beach

  • Continue through Fort Lauderdale (~60 miles)

  • Push to Riviera Beach (~100 miles)

What It Is:
This is distance riding. Sustained pace, cumulative fatigue, and a full day commitment. The coastal route (A1A) keeps scenery varied, but the miles add up quickly. Wind off the ocean can help or hurt depending on direction. Route guidance required, otherwise you’ll get lost in the area around Fort Lauderdale airport.

Reality Check:
This is not a recovery ride. By the time you hit Fort Lauderdale, you are committed. The return trip tests mental endurance as much as physical fitness. Nutrition, hydration, and pacing matter more than on shorter routes.

Coastal routes look scenic.


They ride brutal.

70 miles in.

The Main Routes

Key Biscayne Loop

Distance: 15–20 miles (or more depending on how many laps you do)
Terrain: Flat, except for the Rickenbacker Bridge
Primary Day: Sunday mornings

The Rickenbacker Bridge is the only legitimate climb in Miami. It is short, exposed, and trafficked. The rest of the route is flat causeway riding and looping around the island.

The Route:

  • Start anywhere along Brickell, Coral Gables, South Miami or by the KB tolls

  • Climb the bridge

  • Loop Crandon Park or extend to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (have to pay)

  • Optional Virginia Key loop for additional miles

  • Return via the same causeway

What It Is:
Sunday is KB day. Groups roll out early from Brickell, the tolls, or anywhere along the route south. The bridge climb separates riders temporarily. The rest is high-speed paceline riding with rotating pulls. Virginia Key adds extra distance and variation for those who want it. Also great for triathlon training.

Reality Check:
The bridge is the only vertical. Everything else is fast, flat group riding. If you cannot hold 20+ mph in a paceline, you will get dropped before the turnaround.

Sunday morning lineup.
The bridge waits ahead.

The South Run: Brickell to Robert Is Here

Distance: 50–70+ miles (depending on start point and route)
Terrain: Flat, backroads (read potholes)
Primary Day: Saturday mornings

Most group rides on Saturday head south. The destination is Robert Is Here, a fruit stand near Homestead that serves as the turnaround point and social gathering spot. The route takes backroads rather than US-1, with an optional lap around the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The Route:

  • Start in Brickell or South Miami

  • Head south on backroads through Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, and Black Point Marina

  • Push through into Homestead

  • Optional lap around Homestead-Miami Speedway

  • Turn around at Robert Is Here

  • Return north via the same route or variations further west

What It Is:
This is a full morning. The pace is sustained, the distance is real, and the heat becomes a factor by mid-ride. Groups fragment naturally based on fitness and fatigue. Robert Is Here is less about fruit and more about surviving the return trip.

Reality Check:
Flat does not mean easy. Wind, heat, and cumulative fatigue make the second half harder than the first. Hydration and nutrition are not optional. The speedway lap is either a bonus or a mistake depending on your legs. Best to leave 6:30am, just as the sun rises.

Robert Is Here isn't the destination. Surviving the return is.

Fifty miles south.


No shade.No mercy.

Don Pan Ride

Distance: 40–60+ miles
Terrain: Flat, KB loops
Start Location: 5610 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL 33143 (close to the CVS at the corner of Sunset Drive and 57th Avenue), also collecting riders along the way (KB tolls, Coconut Grove etc.)
Schedule:

  • Weekday rides: One lap of Key Biscayne, 6:30am meetup

  • Sunday rides: Two and a half laps of Key Biscayne, 7:30am meetup

Don Pan is not a route — it is a test. The ride starts in South Miami, heads to Key Biscayne through Coconut Grove, and proceeds to hammer out laps. The pace is relentless. Attacks come early and often. Getting dropped is expected.

What It Is:
This is where Miami's fastest cyclists destroy each other. No mercy, no waiting, no soft-pedaling. The weekday one-lap rides are brutal. The Sunday two-and-a-half-lap (or more) version is sustained suffering. Post-ride meetup is on Key Biscayne.

Reality Check:
Show up fit or get spat out the back in the first ten miles. The Rickenbacker Bridge climb happens multiple times. By the second or third lap on Sunday, legs are cooked.

Don Pan doesn't wait.


Don't show up soft.

South Beach

Distance: 30–50 miles (depending on start and finish)
Terrain: Flat, urban
Optional Add-On: Key Biscayne loop on the return

This is a flexible urban route that connects the southern suburbs to Miami Beach via Brickell and the Venetian Causeways. Riders often add a KB loop on the return for additional miles.

The Route:

  • Start in Pinecrest, South Miami, or Coral Gables

  • Head north through Coconut Grove and Brickell

  • Cross to Miami Beach via Venetian causeway

  • Loop South Beach and grab a coffee

  • Optional KB loop on the return

What It Is:
A longer, more varied ride that mixes urban cycling (a couple of traffic lights in Brickell, midtown), causeway crossing, and optional climbing. Less intense than Don Pan or the Robert Is Here run, but still fast-paced and distance-heavy.

Reality Check:
Traffic increases significantly once you hit Brickell and Miami Beach. Ride defensively. The optional KB lap on the return is either a victory lap or a mistake depending on your legs.

South Beach.
turnaround Or midpoint mistake.

Miami Cycling Community

Miami's cycling scene is built on group rides, but it extends beyond the road. These are the crews, shops, and photographers documenting the culture.

Cycling Groups & Crews

  • Details pending

Bike Shops

  • Details pending

Other Photographers

Group Ride Culture

Brush up on your Spanish. The social aspect matters, but so does the fitness requirement. If you cannot hold pace, you will ride alone quickly.

Saturday: Most groups head south toward Robert Is Here. Expect long distance, sustained speed, and heat.

Sunday: Key Biscayne is the default. Groups roll from Brickell, the tolls, or anywhere along the route. The bridge is the separator. The rest is paceline discipline.

Weekdays: Don Pan runs one lap. Other group rides happen sporadically depending on the crew and their training schedule.

The Reality of Riding in Miami

Flat Does Not Mean Easy
Miami has no sustained climbing except for the Rickenbacker Bridge. What it has instead is wind, heat, humidity, and relentless pace. Riders who dismiss Miami as "too flat" usually get humbled by the second hour.

Hydration is Not Optional
Carry more water than you think you need. Summer rides without proper hydration end badly. Electrolytes matter.

Start Early or Suffer
Predawn and early morning rides are survivable. Anything after 9 AM in the summer is asking for heat exhaustion.

Weather Turns Fast
Afternoon thunderstorms roll in May through October. Check radar. Have a plan.

WARNING! Traffic Requires Vigilance
Miami drivers are not cyclist-friendly. Ride defensively. Use lights. Claim your lane when necessary. Make eye contact. Do not assume you are seen. Do not assume they signal when turning. Wear a helmet and have a radar light.

The Photography Angle

Shooting cycling in Miami is less about dramatic landscapes and more about capturing the intensity of the riders and the rhythm of the group. The Rickenbacker Bridge offers the only real visual drama with the skyline backdrop. The rest is heat haze, flat roads, and riders grinding.

I shoot most of my cycling work on the Leica M10-R and Leica MP with Kodak black-and-white film. The combination of motion, light, and effort — that is what I am chasing.

There are a bunch of other (great) photographers out there every day. My style is different. My intent is different.

Also check out my “How I Film Road Bike with GoPros and Edit on Mac mini guide here or check out my cycling gallery here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cycling route in Miami?
Key Biscayne Loop is the most popular and accessible route, especially on Sunday mornings. It offers the only real climb in Miami (Rickenbacker Bridge) and attracts the largest group rides.

How long is the Key Biscayne bike loop?
The standard KB loop is 14-18 miles depending on whether you add Virginia Key or extend to Bill Baggs State Park. Most riders complete it in under an hour at group ride pace.

Where do Miami cyclists meet up?
Common meetup points include KB tolls, Brickell (near Ludlow Coffee), and the CVS at Sunset and 57th Avenue (for Don Pan rides). Coconut Grove is a favorite post-ride gathering spot.

Is Miami good for road cycling?
Yes, if you can handle flat, fast-paced riding in heat and humidity. Miami has an active group ride culture with routes ranging from 15 to 100+ miles. The terrain is flat except for the Rickenbacker Bridge. You easily see 100+ riders out on each weekend day.

What day are the main Miami group rides?
Saturday: Most groups head south toward Robert Is Here (50-70 miles). Sunday: Key Biscayne Loop is the standard ride. Weekdays: Don Pan runs one lap of KB. Timing and exact routes vary by group.

What about coffee shops?
Miami is not short on coffee shops. Some spots in Brickell are Ludlow, Rosetta Bakery and Panther in Coconut Grove. It’s subjective.

Final Take

Miami cycling is not about elevation or picturesque mountain passes. It is about speed, heat, and showing up consistently. The routes are flat. The rides are not.

These are the main routes I have ridden. There are dozens of other group rides, informal loops, and variations depending on the crew and the day. If you can hold pace, hydrate properly, and survive the heat, Miami has some of the fastest and most consistent group riding in the country.

If you cannot, you will know quickly.

DISCLAIMER

Bicycle riding is an inherently dangerous activity that carries a risk of serious injury or death. The information provided on Permundum is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of safety for any ride, route, or group listed herein.

The responsibility for each rider's safety, physical fitness, and the mechanical soundness of his or her bicycle lies solely with the individual rider. Permundum does not organize, sponsor, oversee, or assume any liability for any rides, group rides, or cycling activities described or referenced on this site.

Participation in any group ride is entirely voluntary and at your own risk. By joining any ride referenced here, you assume full responsibility for your own safety and well-being. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear, ride within your abilities, and consult a medical professional before engaging in strenuous physical activity.

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