where is the best place and worst place to bike
01-12-19, 01:41 PM
#51
Banned
Mackinac Island has been car free for 100 years, but it might not be so nice for cycling in the dead of winter.. so it can be Both..
01-12-19, 10:08 PM
#53
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,328
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 990 Times
in
522 Posts
Cambodia.
01-12-19, 10:26 PM
#54
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
Pretty much all of Wisconsin, except the far north, has fully paved roads, thanks to the dairy lobby: they need to get their product to market in a timely manner year-round, regardless of weather conditions, so they aggressively pushed for paving all secondary roads. But I agree, the driftless area in Southwestern Wisconsin has the best scenery. That said, there's still plenty of fine riding in Northeastern Wisconsin and Door County in particular.
01-12-19, 11:19 PM
#55
☢
Best: Among places I've lived and done a lot of riding, western Wisconsin is among the best. On the Wisconsin side, there are miles of paved, low-traffic roads, and on the Minnesota side and into Iowa, miles of gravel. There are plenty of steep hills for climbers, fast twisty descents, and some flat stretches in valleys. Commuting is fine, too, as there are enough side streets and connector paths to get around.
I don't MTB or trail ride, but there's decent MTB trails and flat gravel trails as well. In the winter, you can fatbike, or throw on studs and hug the road shoulders.
Worst: Among places I've lived, let's talk about Mobile, AL. I tried to commute there. My issues: narrow streets, no infrastructure, intersections that were dangerous for all road users, heat, packs of feral dogs, random aggressive loose dogs. Road riding was okay, but still hot with no infrastructure and no hills other than bridges!
Southern California and the Denver area were promising, though seemed to be a bit of a hike through traffic to get into good road cycling.
I don't MTB or trail ride, but there's decent MTB trails and flat gravel trails as well. In the winter, you can fatbike, or throw on studs and hug the road shoulders.
Worst: Among places I've lived, let's talk about Mobile, AL. I tried to commute there. My issues: narrow streets, no infrastructure, intersections that were dangerous for all road users, heat, packs of feral dogs, random aggressive loose dogs. Road riding was okay, but still hot with no infrastructure and no hills other than bridges!
Southern California and the Denver area were promising, though seemed to be a bit of a hike through traffic to get into good road cycling.
01-12-19, 11:55 PM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 661
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 224 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
106 Posts
My best spot? Hard to say. I do like New Hampshire. It's very hilly. But with incredible views.
My worst areas? Livingston County Michigan. Horrible roads, no shoulders, heavy traffic going 55mph. I sometimes hate that I even live here.
My worst areas? Livingston County Michigan. Horrible roads, no shoulders, heavy traffic going 55mph. I sometimes hate that I even live here.
01-13-19, 07:43 AM
#57
Junior Member
Probably the worst country roads I have seen are around the Nashville suburbs where my son lives. The roads are raised above the surrounding terrain, but fairly narrow and with no shoulder, and then an abrupt ditch just past the tarmac to make sure you get badly hurt if you go off the edge. Even for cars, they seem pretty insane to me, but I wouldn't want to try riding on them, squeezed between the vehicles and the ditch.
01-14-19, 08:44 AM
#58
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 154
Bikes: 1996 Cannondale R900, 2016 Trek Boone, 2005 Giant Yukon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 584 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times
in
54 Posts
So far the three places I've lived and biked in have been great. Biking in northern California was great. Cumberland Valley (PA, MD, WV, VA) around the Appalachians. Phoenix is probably the worst. Only due to the weather. But there is an abundance of trails. But it's pretty much the same temperature as the surface of the sun in summer. But you can always travel up to Sedona, or Flagstaff and bike there.
01-14-19, 09:02 AM
#59
Full Member
Heading there this weekend and my better half's foot is bothering her so my planned hiking is out. Planning on bringing my 2 folders which can handle light off-road trails, dirt roads. I can stick with the canal paths, but is either the Sonoran, Brown's Ranch, or Pemberton trails hard packed dirt that a basic bike (non-MTB) can handle?
01-14-19, 11:05 AM
#60
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Boston area for urban riding:
Within a few blocks from each other, you can go from a beautiful, albeit crowded, ride along the Charles River to Watertown Square, which is the 5+ way intersection from hell.
Within a few blocks from each other, you can go from a beautiful, albeit crowded, ride along the Charles River to Watertown Square, which is the 5+ way intersection from hell.
01-14-19, 01:54 PM
#61
Member
I have only two places where I spent more than a whole season; Bay Area(SF, Marin Co. etc) and Greater Los Angles Area and Costal Part of OC(that's Orange County).
Base on that experience, I love the Bay Area. Great Scenery and people(drivers/motorists) in general offered good room for me. I can go for short cafe ride to SOMA, go up to Mt. Tam to challenge my leg and Marine Highlands for a scenic ride, and my fav. 'Paradise Loop'.
LA and OC? Has some of the great locations to cycle around, but to get there, I fear for my life more often than I'd like to. I see so many distracted drivers on the road than any other place I've ridden. In particular drivers with their smart phone... I just think there should more enforcement. I feel that people here drive more aggressively than any other place I've been to. Well, that's all imho tho.
Base on that experience, I love the Bay Area. Great Scenery and people(drivers/motorists) in general offered good room for me. I can go for short cafe ride to SOMA, go up to Mt. Tam to challenge my leg and Marine Highlands for a scenic ride, and my fav. 'Paradise Loop'.
LA and OC? Has some of the great locations to cycle around, but to get there, I fear for my life more often than I'd like to. I see so many distracted drivers on the road than any other place I've ridden. In particular drivers with their smart phone... I just think there should more enforcement. I feel that people here drive more aggressively than any other place I've been to. Well, that's all imho tho.
01-15-19, 03:44 AM
#62
☢
I have only two places where I spent more than a whole season; Bay Area(SF, Marin Co. etc) and Greater Los Angles Area and Costal Part of OC(that's Orange County).
Base on that experience, I love the Bay Area. Great Scenery and people(drivers/motorists) in general offered good room for me. I can go for short cafe ride to SOMA, go up to Mt. Tam to challenge my leg and Marine Highlands for a scenic ride, and my fav. 'Paradise Loop'.
LA and OC? Has some of the great locations to cycle around, but to get there, I fear for my life more often than I'd like to. I see so many distracted drivers on the road than any other place I've ridden. In particular drivers with their smart phone... I just think there should more enforcement. I feel that people here drive more aggressively than any other place I've been to. Well, that's all imho tho.
Base on that experience, I love the Bay Area. Great Scenery and people(drivers/motorists) in general offered good room for me. I can go for short cafe ride to SOMA, go up to Mt. Tam to challenge my leg and Marine Highlands for a scenic ride, and my fav. 'Paradise Loop'.
LA and OC? Has some of the great locations to cycle around, but to get there, I fear for my life more often than I'd like to. I see so many distracted drivers on the road than any other place I've ridden. In particular drivers with their smart phone... I just think there should more enforcement. I feel that people here drive more aggressively than any other place I've been to. Well, that's all imho tho.
01-15-19, 06:30 AM
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,035
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 297 Times
in
207 Posts
I grew up cycling in Ireland, and loved the feeling of being able to ride 20 minutes from central Dublin and not see a traffic light the rest of the d day. Dublin is bigger now, but there's a lot more cyclists on the road,and they're building rail to trail greenways everywhere like they're going to lose their EU funding. I love riding there when visiting home now.
Last edited by Leinster; 01-15-19 at 08:35 AM.
01-17-19, 03:41 AM
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 727
Bikes: Current: 2016 Bianchi Volpe; 1973 Peugeot UO-8. Past: 1974 Fuji S-10-S with custom black Imron paint by Stinsman Racing of PA.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 215 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
142 Posts
For me the worst is Northern VA at evening rush hour. Pissed off drivers, in a hurry with lots of tasks and not enough time, plus there are the ubiquitious white commercial vans filled with ladders and paint cans. Signal, signal, we don't need no stinking signal.
Best place: Ontario Canada! The Canadians can really build a billiard table smooth road (sans potholes) in spite of the cold winters. The shoulders are wide and paved or small grave with minimal drop off the paved part. The best part is not that many cars. The only down side is some months, if you stop you are devoured by black flies or mosquitos. You can outrun them, but they transmit your location for their friends to jump as you slow down. Even so it is great and even better in late August and early September.
Best place: Ontario Canada! The Canadians can really build a billiard table smooth road (sans potholes) in spite of the cold winters. The shoulders are wide and paved or small grave with minimal drop off the paved part. The best part is not that many cars. The only down side is some months, if you stop you are devoured by black flies or mosquitos. You can outrun them, but they transmit your location for their friends to jump as you slow down. Even so it is great and even better in late August and early September.
01-17-19, 05:20 AM
#65
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
where is the best place and worst place to bikeBoston area for urban riding [BEST]:
I have described the Watertown Square intersection as the gateway to the beautiful cycling in the western suburbs.
Personally. I'm very happy cycling in Metro Boston, and have posted an informal Cycling Guide to Metro Boston...
It may seem parochial, but I think the cycling around here is great. One can be in scenic countryside within about one hour from downtown, while passing through an interesting, compact urban and suburban scene. Furthermore you can extend your range with a convenient Commuter Rail that allows fully-assembled bikes during off-peak hours. In Spring through Fall it’s a temperate climate.
Besides the cycling, Boston is such a popular tourist destination that there will always be something interesting to do off the bike…culture, nightlife, sports and so forth.
It may seem parochial, but I think the cycling around here is great. One can be in scenic countryside within about one hour from downtown, while passing through an interesting, compact urban and suburban scene. Furthermore you can extend your range with a convenient Commuter Rail that allows fully-assembled bikes during off-peak hours. In Spring through Fall it’s a temperate climate.
Besides the cycling, Boston is such a popular tourist destination that there will always be something interesting to do off the bike…culture, nightlife, sports and so forth.
…And I cycle a nice distance of at least 14 miles through one of America’s most charming, interesting, and historic metropolises on residential and light commercial roads (and partially on a bikepath in a park) in the reverse commuter direction early in the morning, during all four (pleasant to tolerable) seasons.
For training purposes, I can expand my routes to encompass popular high-level cycling outer suburbs
For training purposes, I can expand my routes to encompass popular high-level cycling outer suburbs
My experience is that people drive differently in every city and treat cyclists very differently. The best advice often comes from cyclists that live the closest to you …
The exception here would also be Jim from Boston--anyone that can successfully commute around Boston has my full respect and probably knows how to deal with about every intersection imaginable!
The exception here would also be Jim from Boston--anyone that can successfully commute around Boston has my full respect and probably knows how to deal with about every intersection imaginable!
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 01-17-19 at 06:03 AM.
01-17-19, 10:08 AM
#66
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Ridiculous numbers of accidents and levels of hostility--here's an extreme example of both:
https://www.boston.com/news/local-ne...abbing-details
That being said, overwhelmingly I love riding in the immediate Boston area. There are just places I avoid as much as possible--unfortunately, Watertown Square is rather unavoidable for me as my sons live very close to it.
Really nice bike shop there, though.
01-17-19, 10:36 AM
#67
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
Agreed that it is the place where lots of great rides intersect, but Watertown Square is so confusing to drivers that you have to watch out for absolutely crazy maneuvers from cars. It's awful for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
Ridiculous numbers of accidents and levels of hostility--here's an extreme example of both:
https://www.boston.com/news/local-ne...abbing-details
That being said, overwhelmingly I love riding in the immediate Boston area. There are just places I avoid as much as possible--unfortunately, Watertown Square is rather unavoidable for me as my sons live very close to it.
Really nice bike shop there, though.
Ridiculous numbers of accidents and levels of hostility--here's an extreme example of both:
https://www.boston.com/news/local-ne...abbing-details
That being said, overwhelmingly I love riding in the immediate Boston area. There are just places I avoid as much as possible--unfortunately, Watertown Square is rather unavoidable for me as my sons live very close to it.
Really nice bike shop there, though.
As a social ballroom dancer with years of lessons, as well as urban commuter, may I say, "Well said."
There was thread once about rural vs urban cycling, and a concensus was that urban cycling was safer, because of the congestion and slower speeds. Even with heavy traffic, I know the patterns of traffic, the "dance steps," and can anticipate the car's movements.
Earlier on this thread, I wrote: An important aphorism I learned on BF is, "To know where a car is going, watch the front wheels, not the body or hood," though we don't watch our feet when we dance.
There was thread once about rural vs urban cycling, and a concensus was that urban cycling was safer, because of the congestion and slower speeds. Even with heavy traffic, I know the patterns of traffic, the "dance steps," and can anticipate the car's movements.
Earlier on this thread, I wrote: An important aphorism I learned on BF is, "To know where a car is going, watch the front wheels, not the body or hood," though we don't watch our feet when we dance.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 01-17-19 at 10:41 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
colorado dale
Fifty Plus (50+)
0
08-15-11 09:36 AM
