Originally Posted by chaadster

I think I've got it pretty good here in Ann Arbor. A 10min warmup ride through "city" and I'm in the country in just about any direction, though heading due east requires some planning as it's mostly post-industrial decay all the way to Detroit.

Even riding in town isn't so bad, as there are lots of bike lanes, great secondary roads, a riverside MUP, and various trails and parks that can be stitched together for a fun ride. We don't have mountains, but nice rolling terrain with some ~3min/7% climbs that are great for quick repeat workouts.