United Kingdom - City vs Country riding

I was just wondering how many of you prefere riding in a city environment instead of a country environment, i ask this because of the other 12 serious bikers i know, only one of them would rather ride through a city than throught open country lanes, there is no shortange of country lanes near me, but also there is Manchester and Liverpool for city riding. ( FYI,my preference is city:D )

I prefer country, i live in a very buisy area so every where i ride is flooded with cars.

Just keep an eye open for us "Yank" drivers around Lakenheath and Mildenhall!

I was just wondering how many of you prefere riding in a city environment instead of a country environment, i ask this because of the other 12 serious bikers i know, only one of them would rather ride through a city than throught open country lanes, there is no shortange of country lanes near me, but also there is Manchester and Liverpool for city riding. ( FYI,my preference is city:D )
I'd say city.

I live out in the sticks and of my two most common rides, one is zero traffic country lanes, and quite pleasant but the other is the A339 which in places is too curvey for cars to see to pass which means you quite often have the impression of a lorry sitting on your rear mudguard. Ick.

NB - Basingstoke (http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/services/transport/cycling/cycleroutes.htm) has a v.good cycle route system and the council even produce a free paper map!

Riding in the city is usually just a commuter function. Does make me feel good in heavy traffic, that I beat the average car to our respective destinations. One thing cycling and motorists might share a dislike for; having to stop at red lights. How can one get in some exercise if you are parked at a red light.
Plus, the countryside is how the earth is supposed to look. Cities can have interesting archtecture, but , I'll take the the beauty of the country anytime.

I was just wondering how many of you prefere riding in a city environment instead of a country environment, i ask this because of the other 12 serious bikers i know, only one of them would rather ride through a city than throught open country lanes, there is no shortange of country lanes near me, but also there is Manchester and Liverpool for city riding. ( FYI,my preference is city:D )

i like the city for any ride <2hrs (i have a great street curcuit) but for bigger rides i can roll south from home down to the coast or north up into the dandenong mountain ranges - country is great for a big 4-5 hr adventure!!!!

But, sometimes , I recall seeing cyclists in L.A. They stopped at EVERY stop light. Just like those of us in the car. What fun is that.

City riding can be a bit more exciting than country riding due to the fact dodging traffic etc. Although country riding is more relaxing and easier to keep up a high average speed

+1
Cycling in the city is a lot more exciting. In genral if I am on my own I would prefer to be in the city because there is plenty of things to keep my mind bussy when dodging cars e.t.c but if I am with someone I like the country side so we can talk and point things out to each other. I don't enjoy cycling in the country side that much when I am on my own, need to talk need to talk!

I guess it depends on my mood. I enjoy both equally as I live in an area with quite a few challenging hills and interesting routes in both the cities and countryside alike. Some of them can be fairly traffic-free too.

Here are a few shots of a Wednesday night ride through some areas in the city (Magnolia, Fremont, Ballard, Queen Anne Hill) just north of downtown Seattle.

http://www.neebu.net/%7Ekhuon/albums/20040818-cbc-wed_night_ride/pict0004.jpg
http://www.neebu.net/%7Ekhuon/albums/20040818-cbc-wed_night_ride/pict0094.jpg
http://www.neebu.net/%7Ekhuon/albums/20040818-cbc-wed_night_ride/pict0098.jpg
http://www.neebu.net/%7Ekhuon/albums/20040818-cbc-wed_night_ride/pict0120.jpg

Nice pictures khoun. That view from Kerry park is breathtaking.

I don't care to much for city riding (starting/stopping), I just like to get into a rhythm and ride.

Both have their place. Country is nice, quiet, relaxing but gets boring. City is all that country is not. It's exciting, trying, a little dangerous and much more technical.

My daily commute home has both. I ride quiet streets and abandoned roads. It's very relaxing and generally nice ride. After 20 minutes I hit the city streets at quittin' time.

That's when I turn into a prarie dog. Up, down (on the seat), accellerating, hard braking. Always on the lookout. Riding fast, trakstanding, taking lanes, and giving lanes. When I do get to my car, 10 miles from the office, it's usually with a smile, and a big exhale.

The inbound commute are the same roads, but at 6AM, it's basically me and overnight road kills.

It's all on the photo blog HERE (http://fairhavenroadie.blogspot.com/2006/03/commute-to-work-photos.html)


EDIT**** The following says what I feel best.


+1
Cycling in the city is a lot more exciting. In genral if I am on my own I would prefer to be in the city because there is plenty of things to keep my mind bussy when dodging cars e.t.c but if I am with someone I like the country side so we can talk and point things out to each other. I don't enjoy cycling in the country side that much when I am on my own, need to talk need to talk!

I was just wondering how many of you prefere riding in a city environment instead of a country environment, i ask this because of the other 12 serious bikers i know, only one of them would rather ride through a city than throught open country lanes, there is no shortange of country lanes near me, but also there is Manchester and Liverpool for city riding. ( FYI,my preference is city:D )

hey, you're in my part of the world.

I have to say, i'm split, most of the time i'm riding my bike to get somewhere and riding up parbold hill/round haigh hall is much harder both in terms of narrow roads with stupid drivers and the effort to get somewhere compared with cycling around london (where i live 8 months of the year) where there's cyclists everywhere all the time and drivers are more used to them.

I ride pretty early in the morning, and the views i get from the hills near where i live, are breath taking (during the spring/summer anyway), so it's a thumbs up for the countyside from me. Although when i do ride through the town/city, i find i forget being tired (which is great obviously) because i'm so switched on to everything else around me, and don't have time to be tired!

Both. I love riding to London at 05:00 AM you can really see how beautiful this city is. I have however, been hit no more than 5 times since 1998 and the last one resulted in me buying a new bike. Still cycling as I still love it but it has to be the country.

Hmmnnn... Just realised that I contracdicted my self there... Both is the answer with the country as a preference.

Got to say the city. Having done most of my riding throughout my life in London (and a year or two in Manchester) it is what I am used to and as stated before the city provides constant mental and visual stimulous. I prefer the country when riding with my girlfriend as we can talk. I feel safer riding in the city because here in London there are so many cyclists that motorists are more aware of your presence. Generally riding is all round good where ever!

For me, nothing beats the country, especially with mates. London is not the best place to live for this :p

I just dont like the built up landscape, the dirty car fumes etc. Prefer the natural earth and fast country runs. I like getting away from civilisation.

Country rides hands down, just think of all those lovely pubs!

I enjoyed ridin in London last time i ws there,waking up and rolling at 5am was fantastic (plus jetlag sucks) amazing how empty the city can be.Richmond pk is fantastic before they let the cars loose.
But you cant beat riding in the countryside,especially the mountains.

Hi living in the NW as you do I'd have to say why would anyone want to ride in a city when you can ride in the country? Quiet lanes, hills, valleys, the only thing riding in a city has going for it is that there's the Velodrome in Manchester :)