View Poll Results: How do you like the riding where you live?
Voters: 133. You may not vote on this poll
How do you like the riding in your area?
03-05-17, 04:35 PM
#26
Erik the Inveigler
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Heat doesn't bother me as much as cold does, thanks to being 138 pounds and having a little extra metal in my body. Tucson is probably too big of a city for me. That's the bigger issue. I'm trying my best not to overreact to an unusually bad winter, but it's tough right now.
I hear you. I'm at about 135 pounds. And as I type this I am watching the snow fall--again--out of my window.
03-05-17, 04:45 PM
#27
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Way up north, Ogden Valley.
Looks more like this right now.
Tough winters, I had snow at least 39 inches deep in the middle of the yard last month. 20 + mph winds today killed me on the ride and more snow tonight....
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03-05-17, 09:36 PM
#30
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The one and only thing I miss about the bay area, the road riding. Being in the east bay, I had Mt Diablo, plus plenty of other smaller climbs all throughout the Berkeley hills, or flats, or rollers, or anything. Here in Boise (well, Meridian), there is one main climb, that is great, but a good enough distance that at my current fitness level I need to drive to, so I tend to stick to the shorter climbs or flat, and get my mountain goat on when I ride my MTB. And there is the huge cycling benefit living here, LEGAL SINGLETRACK! So, lost out on road for my tastes, but gained on the MTB side.
03-05-17, 10:52 PM
#31
got the climbing bug
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1 hr pedal to the base of a 5k climb or 1 hr pedal to the land of bikinis at the beach
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03-06-17, 12:04 AM
#32
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I grew up in the (L)East Bay next to Oakland/Berkeley. Riding up and down the coast range is what feels right to me. Then I spent two decades in the Central Valley, where one learns to ride double centuries just so one can do some climbing.
Now I'm back near the coast range in Oregon and couldn't be happier with the terrain. Sometimes I miss those long, flat rides in 110F heat, but then I come to my senses.
Now I'm back near the coast range in Oregon and couldn't be happier with the terrain. Sometimes I miss those long, flat rides in 110F heat, but then I come to my senses.
03-06-17, 01:16 AM
#33
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Although real mountains nearby would be nice, I feel very lucky with the variety of roads available where I live. However, reading various threads I wonder how happy others are with what's available to them; whether it's flat, hilly, or varied; and whether they have strong feelings about it. Hence, a little poll.
It could be worse here. I've travelled through areas where I thought that I would simply not want to live and cycle. So there's that going for this area.
It's very hilly here which provides some interesting challenges ... but it is so hilly that a person can't just go out for a casual after-work ride right from home. We've got to drive to find flatter terrain.
And then there's the traffic! Lots of narrow, busy roads.
Going up Mt Wellington ... and that was a ride from home ...
And there's Mt Wellington from the bottom ... phone taken from just up the road from where we live ...
This would be my commute, if I were brave enough to commute ...
But this area is scenic ...
Have you ever seen the Kettering Incident?
.
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03-06-17, 01:22 AM
#34
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Out my door, I can do a 5,000+ foot climb in 15 miles or so. The other direction I can do a 50 mile ride to the beach (100 rt).
03-06-17, 06:19 AM
#35
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I've got it all where I live. Fairly quiet country roads, views, mountains, a lake to ride around, etc....
This view has the road that is part of my basic daily route. So I get to see this everyday.
And then this shot is of the climb up the mountain in the background of the first picture. This is a category 2 climb. There is another category 2 out of this valley, a Cat 1, and then the crazy HC climb up the 4th climb out of our valley.
More views on my base route.
Yeah, so I am definitely delighted.
This view has the road that is part of my basic daily route. So I get to see this everyday.
And then this shot is of the climb up the mountain in the background of the first picture. This is a category 2 climb. There is another category 2 out of this valley, a Cat 1, and then the crazy HC climb up the 4th climb out of our valley.
More views on my base route.
Yeah, so I am definitely delighted.
03-06-17, 06:24 AM
#36
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I love riding where I am (Richmond, VA). My yardstick is having moved here from South Florida, where it's miserable to ride (traffic, flat, no bike infrastructure, angry motorists, constantly windy). I'm sure there are better places in the country to ride but I'm perfectly happy where I am.
The city itself is small so you can get out onto country roads within 15-20 minutes of riding in just about any direction. There are rolling hills and spectacular views of the river, or you can go east and ride flat country roads. If you drive an hour west you're in the Blue Ridge mountains and can enjoy some of the best roads in the east, particularly the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive.
The city itself is small so you can get out onto country roads within 15-20 minutes of riding in just about any direction. There are rolling hills and spectacular views of the river, or you can go east and ride flat country roads. If you drive an hour west you're in the Blue Ridge mountains and can enjoy some of the best roads in the east, particularly the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive.
03-06-17, 08:19 AM
#37
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Didn't take the pole, but my feeling for Tampa, FL:
Pros - Year round cycling weather.
Enough infrastructure for my needs.
Rarely harassed by motorist.
Cons - Only so many places to ride (area is crisscrossed with major roads, highways and river).
Scary statistics re: bike vs. car collisions.
Really hot and humid in summer.
Scenery doesn't vary too much. I'm jealous of other people's post.
Neutral - It is flat, no hills except for slight inclines and overpasses. I'm not sure this is good or bad
since I haven't ridden in mountainous terrain. I would like to try, but not sure if my heart
would explode.
Pros - Year round cycling weather.
Enough infrastructure for my needs.
Rarely harassed by motorist.
Cons - Only so many places to ride (area is crisscrossed with major roads, highways and river).
Scary statistics re: bike vs. car collisions.
Really hot and humid in summer.
Scenery doesn't vary too much. I'm jealous of other people's post.
Neutral - It is flat, no hills except for slight inclines and overpasses. I'm not sure this is good or bad
since I haven't ridden in mountainous terrain. I would like to try, but not sure if my heart
would explode.
03-06-17, 08:54 AM
#38
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i live in a private little enclave with maybe 15 streets that have only 3 streets feeding it. and they're all homes. so as a result, i have a wonderful ~5.3 mile loop that i ride over and over (taking different routes always). since they're all homes, there is barely any car traffic and this makes the riding so much more enjoyable. i still follow the rules, still keep right, but i love not having to fear that a car is gonna hit me from behind. but i still use front/rear flashing lights to gain attention. its a mix of flats, uphills/downlhills so i pick the route based on what i feel like doing that particular day. my rides are usually 10-15 miles, depending on the time i have.
the loop gets tiring since its pretty repetitive but i prefer that over riding in car traffic.
the loop gets tiring since its pretty repetitive but i prefer that over riding in car traffic.
Last edited by sh00k; 03-06-17 at 08:58 AM.
03-06-17, 09:04 AM
#39
Senior Member
hard to beat Southern California: 50-70 Miles you can go from sea level to 5000-6000 ft elevation, with one or two traffic light.
Eg: Seal Beach (sea level) following San Gabriel River Bike Path to Hwy 39 (Crystal Lake Elv 5200 ft) or all the way to Mt Baldy Ski Lift (Elv 6400 ft)
Eg: Seal Beach (sea level) following San Gabriel River Bike Path to Hwy 39 (Crystal Lake Elv 5200 ft) or all the way to Mt Baldy Ski Lift (Elv 6400 ft)
03-06-17, 09:07 AM
#40
Erik the Inveigler
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hard to beat Southern California: 50-70 Miles you can go from sea level to 5000-6000 ft elevation, with one or two traffic light.
Eg: Seal Beach (sea level) following San Gabriel River Bike Path to Hwy 39 (Crystal Lake Elv 5200 ft) or all the way to Mt Baldy Ski Lift (Elv 6400 ft)
Eg: Seal Beach (sea level) following San Gabriel River Bike Path to Hwy 39 (Crystal Lake Elv 5200 ft) or all the way to Mt Baldy Ski Lift (Elv 6400 ft)
In theory, I'm totally with you.
If only it weren't for all of that nutrient agar amassed in one place.
03-06-17, 12:03 PM
#41
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I recently replied to this thread on the Touring Forum, “Suggestions for next epic ride”:
I grade hills on a personal 1 to 6 scale, and in Metro Boston the hills are up to about #3; harder ones are available further afield in Vermont and New Hampshire. There is an Annual Bike race up the Auto Road to the top of Mt. Washington, highest in the East Coast.
Personally. I'm very happy cycling in Metro Boston, and have posted an informal CyclingGuide to Metro Boston that would make a nice hub and spoke tour of nine days (and is easily accessible from Washington, DC).
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…
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 03-06-17 at 12:07 PM.
03-06-17, 08:18 PM
#42
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I love riding where I am (Richmond, VA). My yardstick is having moved here from South Florida, where it's miserable to ride (traffic, flat, no bike infrastructure, angry motorists, constantly windy). I'm sure there are better places in the country to ride but I'm perfectly happy where I am.
The city itself is small so you can get out onto country roads within 15-20 minutes of riding in just about any direction. There are rolling hills and spectacular views of the river, or you can go east and ride flat country roads. If you drive an hour west you're in the Blue Ridge mountains and can enjoy some of the best roads in the east, particularly the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive.
The city itself is small so you can get out onto country roads within 15-20 minutes of riding in just about any direction. There are rolling hills and spectacular views of the river, or you can go east and ride flat country roads. If you drive an hour west you're in the Blue Ridge mountains and can enjoy some of the best roads in the east, particularly the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive.
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03-06-17, 08:39 PM
#43
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I've got it all where I live. Fairly quiet country roads, views, mountains, a lake to ride around, etc....
This view has the road that is part of my basic daily route. So I get to see this everyday.
And then this shot is of the climb up the mountain in the background of the first picture. This is a category 2 climb. There is another category 2 out of this valley, a Cat 1, and then the crazy HC climb up the 4th climb out of our valley.
More views on my base route.
Yeah, so I am definitely delighted.
This view has the road that is part of my basic daily route. So I get to see this everyday.
And then this shot is of the climb up the mountain in the background of the first picture. This is a category 2 climb. There is another category 2 out of this valley, a Cat 1, and then the crazy HC climb up the 4th climb out of our valley.
More views on my base route.
Yeah, so I am definitely delighted.
03-06-17, 08:48 PM
#44
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OK, I was going to brag about riding where I live. Strawberry fields, orange groves, horse and alpaca ranches, the Pacific Ocean, world famous PCH, climbs that have been featured on several stages of the AMGEN Tour of California, nearly year-round sunshine. But you got me beat. Those are outstanding pictures! Congrats.
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03-06-17, 08:50 PM
#45
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I feel very fortunate to live in such a wonderful area to ride. It would be too flat for climbers, but we have a lot of rolling hills and that suits me just fine. And endless miles of beautiful country roads, many nicely shaded, with very little traffic. I only started riding about 5 years ago, so it's pure chance that I happened to buy a house in such a perfect riding area. Many riders drive to get here, while I have it at the end of my driveway. Couldn't ask for more.
03-06-17, 09:00 PM
#46
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NYC here. Mostly flat in the city with enough climbs in the parks to be ok for basic training. Plenty of good climbs outside of the city, either ridden to or (even better) driving too!
Can't beat the parks for training laps though!
I can't stress how much I love Central and Prospect park. Having a car free place that you can do laps and compare performance to is amazing. Maybe it is monotonous after a while (I have data/laps 10+ years in CP and 3+ in PP) but being able to go out daily and bang out set training in a fairly controlled space is great. Supplement with longer rides out of the city and things are good here in NYC.
Can't beat the parks for training laps though!
I can't stress how much I love Central and Prospect park. Having a car free place that you can do laps and compare performance to is amazing. Maybe it is monotonous after a while (I have data/laps 10+ years in CP and 3+ in PP) but being able to go out daily and bang out set training in a fairly controlled space is great. Supplement with longer rides out of the city and things are good here in NYC.
Last edited by Fourtwelves; 03-07-17 at 07:17 AM.
03-07-17, 06:59 AM
#48
Senior Member
My area has a really good variety. My commute to work is pretty flat, there are small mountains all around me, and the city next to me has good hills, and I can ride to the ocean easily. Lots of the nice rides also have little traffic, but on the other hand there are all kinds of traffic lights. The other downside is that the roads here are not straight at all, so getting lost can be easy.
03-13-17, 12:47 PM
#49
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I moved here (Calgary) last summer and love the riding, both mountain and road. I live in the city, but about twenty minutes from Bragg Creek so great hilly road rides and great after-work mtg rides! It's great out here (especially after growing up in Saskatchewan)!
03-13-17, 12:52 PM
#50
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I enjoy it greatly. But not so much this time of year because I'd rather be skiing. Anyway, we have plenty of vert, and there are some flats, too, but they're not terribly common.
