rando_couche

PBP
Raid Pyreneen (probably the cyclotouriste version)
Cascade 1200
Mt Evans
Mt Ventoux
All of the iconic Alpine climbs

What can I say? I like to climb hills.

SP
OC, OR
...where pretty much every ride includes a few double-digit gradients.

rhm

You guys have some great ideas for rides! It's just a bummer, in my opinion, that so many of them involve a lot of time spent in cars and planes.

I'd like to ride across the US still, also want to do some touring in Nova Scotia, the Gaspé Peninsula, Newfoundland. Cino Heroica, too.

gomango

Not a bummer at all for our family to travel to Germany. The boys love to fly and so do we. We've made the trip nine of the last 18 years and we have it down to a routine. I am going to leave the Della Santa I am building at my bil's house, so I'll have something to ride other than the Rivendell.

Easy peasy.

likebike23

It's funny that the D2R2 takes place less than an hour from me and I never heard of it until a little before my daughter was born 4 1/2 years ago. Needless to say, I have been pretty busy these last few years, but time's starting to open up. I'd like to do the 100K this year.

I'd also like to do a self supported tour on the GAP and C&O.

I'm also going to try and work a ride throughout Brooklyn then into Manhattan's west side when I visit my cousin in ****r Heights.

rhm

Oh, I don't mean to imply I don't like to fly. I love it. Or at least, I used to. Flying has changed pretty radically over the years.

My last flight to Europe, jammed between an obese German lady and a window, alternately trying not to listen to the woman carrying on a conversation with her equally obese husband in the seat on front of her, and trying not to listen to the loudmouth English guy in the seat behind her, evidently a band leader telling his band mates amusing anecdotes from his past career(including Woodstock) was trying indeed. Neither one was interesting, and the linguistic tension between German and UK English were extremely trying. Getting off the plane i vowed that, after returning home, I wouldn't fly again. The cost to the environment is awfully steep, and the pleasure I derive from the flight diminishes with each trip (echoes of hallucinogens?) to the point that it's just not worth it to me.

I wish it were not so. But I can't pretend it isn't.

gomango

Yep, that would be a drag.

I carry my Bose headphones and use them on similar occasions.

Problem solved.

Flog00

My daughter spent two weeks last summer in the south of France (no bike). She wants to return sometime with me to bike.
Since she has just been accepted to Denison University, I'm not sure if the finances will allow

iab

That's why I asked for pictures. I only know what I know. I'm no Rumsfeld, unknown knowns or unknown unknowns are all unknown to me.

Think of downtube42's suggestion for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Never knew about it and now I am intrigued because of the picture.

But I also think bucket list rides need time spent in planes trains and automobiles. I've done the local ones, they can't be on the list.

downtube42's picture,

Barrettscv 

Ill pick the Adriatic coast from the Motor Bay in Montenegro to Italy. This includes the Dalmation Coast of Croatia.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/dubrovnik-and-balkan-sidetrips "Montenegro, Kotor Bay" - (Š)AIRPANO.COM - Project by Oleg Gaponyuk

Kactus

Tuscany would be my #1 choice.

crank_addict

So many places.... events, or solo.
Park the vintage ride and go modern with a 15 pounder + disc and ride the Stelvio Pass. Cuz' ya gonna need it
Of course at least one of the L'Eroica events, make it Italy.
The entire east/west cycleway Loire- Danube in France or follow the coast from Roscoff to Biarritz. Then take another week in the Alps.
Need to explore Moab off-road and or the whole Enchilada trail.
San Francisco to San Diego. Bigger ambition- Mission Bay, CA to Miami, FL




Oh my....

On the days closed to motor vehicles-



taste of Moab

Frenchosa

>D2R2

I'm originally from Massachusetts, and never heard of this ride till today. I plan on going back this summer and would love to try to complete the 160 KM. Is it possible to ride the course on a different day... (are the roads on public land??) I might have to be back in Japan...

southpawboston

They're all public roads, but signage is poor and many roads are unmarked and unmaintained. You'd need to find a cue sheet (available if you search around ridewithgps.com) and a map, and bring a bike with gearing low enough to tackle repeated 15% grades. But it's a beautiful ride (I've only done the 100k and 115k versions).

To be honest, the next time I do D2R2 will probably be on a day other than the official event, because in my opinion the event has grown to the point where the sheer volume of riders detracts from the tranquil beauty of the region.

gomango

You can't miss here.

We stayed on the island of Trogir, across the bay from Split.

Sun baked, beautiful water, great seafood and ample sight-seeing for the family.

I rented a Trek 29er while I was there. The main road circling the island was relatively flat, but everything else was straight up. I thought my lungs were going to explode from the constant climbing, but the views of the Adriatic were well worth it.

I would go back there every summer if I could.

Kactus

That is so beautiful... but looks so painful!

kroozer 

Tops on my list is the Karakoram Highway from Western China to Pakistan. I read that they recently closed it to cyclists in Pakistan due to security concerns (security for the cyclists, that is), but hopefully by the time I go the religious fanatics will have tamed down a bit.

Barrettscv 

Yes, I enjoyed cycling along the Mediterranean in Italy this year. The Adriatic coast should also be fantastic.

rhm

Okay, fair enough! So here's a photo from somewhere on the Gaspe Peninsula. No idea where. That body of water might be the St. Lawrence River. Or not. But it makes me think, that would be a fun place to ride.



One ride I'd like to do, close to home, is the Princeton Freewheelers' "Longest Day" ride. In one day (the Saturday closest to June 21) you ride from High Point NJ:

to Cape May, NJ:

It's somewhere between 200 and 210 miles, depending on the route.

SvenMN 

L'Eroica.

The Dolomites.

I'd like to get back to the Dogliani, Italy area for more than a Sunday ride on a rental bike while there for work. The people from the Piemonte region are friendly, the slow food is fantastic, and the reds are my absolute favorites.


The October ride from Kona to Hawi and back.

@iab A "leisure" ride of the Firehouse 50 course to be able to take in the views.

crank_addict

Rudi- Reminds me of some beautiful riding in Maine. We timed it during an Autumn color change and it was so perfect... temp, climate, scenery.


By chance, I just found this link on an interesting route following waterways in Maine. Looks like a nice little getaway.
BikeMaine Ride Details | BikeMaine

crank_addict

Anyone know what cycling Sardinia is like? Have a reason to visit but the host are not cyclist and wouldn't know what to expect.

iab

Do it several times a year. Nice.

Full set of pictures here, https://www.flickr.com/photos/681231...7630876129330/

The start,

Up_North_2012 112 by iabisdb, on Flickr


Top of the hill

Up_North_2012 133 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Lake Namakagon

Up_North_2012 047 by iabisdb, on Flickr



Namakagon River & Mt Telemark

Up_North_2012 065 by iabisdb, on Flickr



The Chequamegan National Forest near Lake Owen

Up_North_2012 092 by iabisdb, on Flickr


On the road to the finish in Grand View

Up_North_2012 105 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Barrettscv 

It should be excellent. Most of Sardinia is rustic and undeveloped.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=6100

crank_addict

^Mike thanks- Figured you'd know more of it. Destination start would be south near the Casteddu. I've scoped it by Ggle street maps and looks very populated in that section. Ancient history to explore. Limited on time plus for her pace, will be comfortable and slow going with lots of stops. Might rent bikes. If I was solo riding and to get the most out of it, would probably drive to multiple destinations and then ride.

Barrettscv 

I use Map My Ride to develop and map my own routes. Map My Ride includes a Google Earth "Fly By Video". This is found by clicking on the 3D icon on the Map My Ride map. This allows the viewer to fly over the route in 3D using software. It also provides "Street View" with enough detail to evaluate road quality.

Amantea to Cerisano 14700 ft total vert, 22% steeps in Amantea, Italy | MapMyRide

Another aid I use while out cycling is to drop a pin at the half-way point on the route using the map and directions app on my iPhone. If I need directions while on the route, I can ask the app to map the route from my current location.

I could use this methodologies to plan rides in most of the scenic locations in Italy or any other Mediterranean region. Most of the rural roads are scenic and bike safe. I'll combine reviews of touring routes from Crazy-Guy-on-a-Bike with Map My Ride to plan a route anywhere in Italy and beyond.