What are the distinct features of riding where you live?
04-20-06, 12:24 AM
#51
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Singapore
Bad -
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- small place - our 'round the island/country' weekly ride is 140k
- always riding in traffic; semi rural areas will take you 15 minutes to ride through
- no hills. 540 feet is highest elevation/lowest is sea level
Good-
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- some great riding groups- organized, helpful, competitive to recreational. Even get to ride often with National Team (they are a respectable bunch, racing in Tour of Thailand, Commonwealth Games, a couple in Tour de Langkawi
- this means I'm in the top 1000 in my country!
- get to ride year round
- no wind
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- small place - our 'round the island/country' weekly ride is 140k
- always riding in traffic; semi rural areas will take you 15 minutes to ride through
- no hills. 540 feet is highest elevation/lowest is sea level
Good-
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- some great riding groups- organized, helpful, competitive to recreational. Even get to ride often with National Team (they are a respectable bunch, racing in Tour of Thailand, Commonwealth Games, a couple in Tour de Langkawi
- this means I'm in the top 1000 in my country!
- get to ride year round
- no wind
04-20-06, 01:01 AM
#52
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One of the mpls roadies should chime in on this before I do. I know my goals and perceptions of riding here in Minneapolis are probably different than that guy that dusted me on the Felt today...
I'll probably still post tomorrow...
But the trails are probably most of what makes things special here.
I'll probably still post tomorrow...
But the trails are probably most of what makes things special here.
04-20-06, 02:04 AM
#53
Phat but not too fat
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Tauranga, New Zealand:
Good:
- excellent weather, year round cycling with range of 0C winter low to 30C summer high
- good terrain, mix of flat coastal, steep mountain hills and rolling hills
- good social riding, active local club and a good bunch of training mates
- cycle lanes and facilities being developed by council due to active cycle action lobby group
- if you want a break from road riding, there are excellent MTB trails and parks
Bad:
- glass, loads of broken glass
- bad drivers
- chip seal
- frosts/ice on winter mornings
- glass, loads of broken glass
Good:
- excellent weather, year round cycling with range of 0C winter low to 30C summer high
- good terrain, mix of flat coastal, steep mountain hills and rolling hills
- good social riding, active local club and a good bunch of training mates
- cycle lanes and facilities being developed by council due to active cycle action lobby group
- if you want a break from road riding, there are excellent MTB trails and parks
Bad:
- glass, loads of broken glass
- bad drivers
- chip seal
- frosts/ice on winter mornings
- glass, loads of broken glass
04-20-06, 02:21 AM
#54
Senior Member
quiet country roads surrounded by vineyards and orchards
indecision about whether refreshments stops are either
wine tastings or pastry.
hills, plains, mountains , or coastal rides
respectful motorists
numerous pathways dedicated for cyclists only.
a meditterrean climate offering like 300 days of cycling
per year.
a huge cycling population, making cycling common and
accepted.
only disadvantage. god, those 'tres montagne', winds.can
blow a bike over in an instant. blow like one day in seven.stops
a group ride more often than even bad weather.
indecision about whether refreshments stops are either
wine tastings or pastry.
hills, plains, mountains , or coastal rides
respectful motorists
numerous pathways dedicated for cyclists only.
a meditterrean climate offering like 300 days of cycling
per year.
a huge cycling population, making cycling common and
accepted.
only disadvantage. god, those 'tres montagne', winds.can
blow a bike over in an instant. blow like one day in seven.stops
a group ride more often than even bad weather.
Last edited by cyclezealot; 04-20-06 at 02:29 AM.
04-20-06, 07:12 AM
#55
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Originally Posted by (Y(L|S+
Location: Southeastern Lower Michigan, USA.
Mostly flat with some rolling terrain here and there, narrow sholders on the roads (gotta ride the white line), potholes and cracked, rough pavement everywhere, tons of debris on the roadside, impatient drivers, not at all biker friendly. Gotta be really committed to cycle here
. But we are the warriors of the north.
Best time of year to ride is Autumn. The colors are beautiful and the weather cooler. Lets me forget what a crappy cycling area I live in. I visited my sister just outside of Seattle a couple years ago and THAT was a terrific place to ride!
Mostly flat with some rolling terrain here and there, narrow sholders on the roads (gotta ride the white line), potholes and cracked, rough pavement everywhere, tons of debris on the roadside, impatient drivers, not at all biker friendly. Gotta be really committed to cycle here
. But we are the warriors of the north.Best time of year to ride is Autumn. The colors are beautiful and the weather cooler. Lets me forget what a crappy cycling area I live in. I visited my sister just outside of Seattle a couple years ago and THAT was a terrific place to ride!
The good: Hines Drive is an excellent place to bike.
The bad: Hines Drive is the only place to bike.
Everywhere else you'll get killed. And I commute here sometimes...
04-20-06, 09:27 AM
#56
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fogot to mention - Singapore!
Originally Posted by ridgeracer
Bad -
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- small place - our 'round the island/country' weekly ride is 140k
- always riding in traffic; semi rural areas will take you 15 minutes to ride through
- no hills. 540 feet is highest elevation/lowest is sea level
Good-
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- some great riding groups- organized, helpful, competitive to recreational. Even get to ride often with National Team (they are a respectable bunch, racing in Tour of Thailand, Commonwealth Games, a couple in Tour de Langkawi
- this means I'm in the top 1000 in my country!
- get to ride year round
- no wind
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- small place - our 'round the island/country' weekly ride is 140k
- always riding in traffic; semi rural areas will take you 15 minutes to ride through
- no hills. 540 feet is highest elevation/lowest is sea level
Good-
- weather? EVERY day is 31-35 degrees Celsius with 70%+ humidity
- some great riding groups- organized, helpful, competitive to recreational. Even get to ride often with National Team (they are a respectable bunch, racing in Tour of Thailand, Commonwealth Games, a couple in Tour de Langkawi
- this means I'm in the top 1000 in my country!
- get to ride year round
- no wind
04-20-06, 05:24 PM
#57
Senior Member
one thing I noticed today. when the french drive. they give every consideration to cyclists and dogs. They actually will hold up traffic for long periods of time for a dog wondering in the road.
but, pedestarians and other motorists. watch out. I don't know if traffic laws mention who has the right of way? Pedestarian walk ways are supposed to yield pedestarians access to a cross walk. Don't believe it. You will wait all day until someone yields to your right to cross.
but, I am a cyclist more often than a pedestarian, so I am all right.
HOw can they be so very polite outside of the car . But once inside , wow? hell on wheels.
I think driver's etiquette is . who ever gets there first. yield signs mean nothing. and close calls happen all the time. think Italy, Spain still have higher mortality rates than France, so I hear.
but, pedestarians and other motorists. watch out. I don't know if traffic laws mention who has the right of way? Pedestarian walk ways are supposed to yield pedestarians access to a cross walk. Don't believe it. You will wait all day until someone yields to your right to cross.
but, I am a cyclist more often than a pedestarian, so I am all right.
HOw can they be so very polite outside of the car . But once inside , wow? hell on wheels.
I think driver's etiquette is . who ever gets there first. yield signs mean nothing. and close calls happen all the time. think Italy, Spain still have higher mortality rates than France, so I hear.
05-01-06, 10:05 AM
#58
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Originally Posted by ridgeracer
fogot to mention - Singapore!
05-01-06, 10:12 AM
#59
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Originally Posted by Veloduo
Do they really bust you if you spit? In Austin, they bust you if you DON'T spit...
Velo after watching the TdG on Sunday I think I might be buying you some beer!
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05-01-06, 10:21 AM
#60
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Saint Louis, MO USA.
Lets see:
Forest Park - Very nice place to bike, outer ring has water fountains, hills and flats (not to mention cute girls running
Drivers are forgiving as long as you signal and ride close to the shoulder, I did have one incident of apples being thrown at me
Many streets have "Bike St. Louis" lanes on them, which is nice
Not many bike shops
No traffic past 7pm on weekdays, almost none on the weekends
Really... nothing special.
Lets see:
Forest Park - Very nice place to bike, outer ring has water fountains, hills and flats (not to mention cute girls running
Drivers are forgiving as long as you signal and ride close to the shoulder, I did have one incident of apples being thrown at me
Many streets have "Bike St. Louis" lanes on them, which is nice
Not many bike shops
No traffic past 7pm on weekdays, almost none on the weekends
Really... nothing special.
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05-01-06, 12:23 PM
#61
I like 3.14!!!
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Originally Posted by ElJamoquio
Also in SE Michigan:
The good: Hines Drive is an excellent place to bike.
The bad: Hines Drive is the only place to bike.
Everywhere else you'll get killed. And I commute here sometimes...
The good: Hines Drive is an excellent place to bike.
The bad: Hines Drive is the only place to bike.
Everywhere else you'll get killed. And I commute here sometimes...
.
05-01-06, 12:35 PM
#62
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West Palm Beach, FL
Good:
Beautiful year round
Rideable weather year round
Big peloton ride every saturday
Lots of cyclists
Great LBS (bicyclery)
Sunrises on A1A
More......
Bad:
Its getting freakin hot man!!!
Humid too
No hills at all. Have to use bridges.
Its south NYC down here, drivers are idiots
Tourists gum up the place when the weather is perfect during season
Hurricanes
The big peloton ride drops me every week (I could probable fix this one)
A1A is narrow and needs to be paved. They won't pave it cuz if they do they have to widen it.
Good:
Beautiful year round
Rideable weather year round
Big peloton ride every saturday
Lots of cyclists
Great LBS (bicyclery)
Sunrises on A1A
More......
Bad:
Its getting freakin hot man!!!
Humid too
No hills at all. Have to use bridges.
Its south NYC down here, drivers are idiots
Tourists gum up the place when the weather is perfect during season
Hurricanes
The big peloton ride drops me every week (I could probable fix this one)
A1A is narrow and needs to be paved. They won't pave it cuz if they do they have to widen it.
Last edited by pharmboyrx; 05-02-06 at 07:39 AM.
05-01-06, 02:04 PM
#63
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Alpharetta GA - also where last stage of Tour de Georgia finishes.
I'll stick to facts and not be judgemental as to good or bad.
I'll stick to facts and not be judgemental as to good or bad.
- It get pretty hot and humid from May through October
- It can be pretty cold (20s Fahrenheit) December through February
- There's a huge amount of growth so the roads are in bad shape in a lot of places
- The Atlanta metro area is not the most bike-friendly, to put it mildly, you have to be careful where you go
- We have a fantastic 6-mile Greenway that's getting significantly expanded
- There are a lot of interesting places to ride, you just have to pick a (relatively) safe time to ride
- There's a mentality among many drivers that bikes do not belong on the road
- Traffic is pretty bad in a lot of places, and drivers take their frustration out on riders
- There are a lot of group rides if you're into that - I can only afford to do one a week to allow time for training and recovery
- There are plenty of LBS's although none that are really great
- Lots of rolly up and down, no problem getting some work done if that's your choice
- First two weeks of April are insanely beautiful
05-01-06, 02:34 PM
#64
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Bay area, California
The good:
- Nearly year-round riding weather (though the rain doesn't let up for a few months straight in wintertime).
- Unbelievable views of the ocean, the bay, gorgeous bridges, gorgeous architecture. You almost can't plan a route that doesn't involve at least one breathtaking view.
- Any kind of hill you want, probably no more than a mile from anywhere you might live here. Several good mountains are easily accessible, too.
- Lots of well-maintained mountain roads, through sleepy mountain towns, with virtually no motor traffic (people take the freeways instead).
- Lots and lots of roadies. Almost every small city has its own cycling club.
- Dozens and dozens of large, orgnized rides here every year. I'd venture it's the best road cycling culture in the US.
- People don't think it's weird at all to show up at work in spandex.
The bad:
- Urban traffic can be a beast in some places. Cagers can get pretty edgy when they're stopped at a light for 20 minutes.
- Many of the major bridges are closed to bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Those are truly the only two downsides I can think of... wow.
- Warren
The good:
- Nearly year-round riding weather (though the rain doesn't let up for a few months straight in wintertime).
- Unbelievable views of the ocean, the bay, gorgeous bridges, gorgeous architecture. You almost can't plan a route that doesn't involve at least one breathtaking view.
- Any kind of hill you want, probably no more than a mile from anywhere you might live here. Several good mountains are easily accessible, too.
- Lots of well-maintained mountain roads, through sleepy mountain towns, with virtually no motor traffic (people take the freeways instead).
- Lots and lots of roadies. Almost every small city has its own cycling club.
- Dozens and dozens of large, orgnized rides here every year. I'd venture it's the best road cycling culture in the US.
- People don't think it's weird at all to show up at work in spandex.
The bad:
- Urban traffic can be a beast in some places. Cagers can get pretty edgy when they're stopped at a light for 20 minutes.
- Many of the major bridges are closed to bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Those are truly the only two downsides I can think of... wow.
- Warren
05-01-06, 08:35 PM
#65
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Originally Posted by blue_nose
San Diego Ca
The Good:
1. Year round cycling weather. Never too cold or too hot and only average about 10-20 rainy days per year.
2. Good mix of flats, hills and mountains. I can ride from the ocean out to some good hills all in one ride. Great scenery.
3. Many dedicated cycling lanes.
4. Tons of other cyclists on the road.
5. Rides up to Palomar Mt and Julian are just great climbs.
The Bad:
1. I am convinced that Southern California drivers are the worst - too many distracted drives on the road.
The Good:
1. Year round cycling weather. Never too cold or too hot and only average about 10-20 rainy days per year.
2. Good mix of flats, hills and mountains. I can ride from the ocean out to some good hills all in one ride. Great scenery.
3. Many dedicated cycling lanes.
4. Tons of other cyclists on the road.
5. Rides up to Palomar Mt and Julian are just great climbs.
The Bad:
1. I am convinced that Southern California drivers are the worst - too many distracted drives on the road.
Another good you could add is the Silverstrand MUP. 8.5 miles of bike path with a few intersections of traffic (which rarely require a complete stop). Busy, busy, busy when it's nice out and sometimes you'll encounter lots of foot traffic coming from the Navy base, but if you get there early you can get in a real nice ride. Get off the path, merge with traffic and ride past a golf course and some gorgeous houses to another bike path that'll take you under the Coronado bridge and into tidelands park. Gorgeous views of downtown San Diego and there's a ferry you can take to get to San Diego. A roundtrip (including going into tidelands park) is 22 miles. The only bad I can think of about riding here and along the coast is the afternoon winds which can get very annoying.
05-01-06, 09:11 PM
#66
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Mandeville, LA
The Good
25 miles north of what used to be New Orleans
above sea level
food
above sea level
St Tammany Trace-32 mile rails to trails project
above sea level
a fair amouht of rural/country roads
freindly cyclists
above sea level
flat
mild winters/12 month riding
Jazz Fest
The Bad
only 25 miles north of what used to be New Orleans
LA politics
Army Corp of Engineers
Some jerk burned the bridge on the St Tammany Trace
beau coup trees that double as projectiles during hurricanes
flat
average hunidity 90+%
summer humidity 100%
hot summers
hot ladies
few club rides, especially for the non-hammerheads
The Good
25 miles north of what used to be New Orleans
above sea level
food
above sea level
St Tammany Trace-32 mile rails to trails project
above sea level
a fair amouht of rural/country roads
freindly cyclists
above sea level
flat
mild winters/12 month riding
Jazz Fest
The Bad
only 25 miles north of what used to be New Orleans
LA politics
Army Corp of Engineers
Some jerk burned the bridge on the St Tammany Trace
beau coup trees that double as projectiles during hurricanes
flat
average hunidity 90+%
summer humidity 100%
hot summers
hot ladies
few club rides, especially for the non-hammerheads
05-01-06, 10:13 PM
#67
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This is a good thread!!
Steamboat, Colorado
Good:
Lots of great rides right from town.
Many world class rides within a days car trip
Wide shoulders
Always cops on the pass to keep crazy drivers in check
Pretty good number of cyclists
Great weather
Great people live here
Bad:
People from all over the world in rental cars and looking at the scenery
Can snow every month of the year
Winter can be long
They just started using MgCl on the roads
some chip and seal
late evening descents can be downright cold
Steamboat, Colorado
Good:
Lots of great rides right from town.
Many world class rides within a days car trip
Wide shoulders
Always cops on the pass to keep crazy drivers in check
Pretty good number of cyclists
Great weather
Great people live here
Bad:
People from all over the world in rental cars and looking at the scenery
Can snow every month of the year
Winter can be long
They just started using MgCl on the roads
some chip and seal
late evening descents can be downright cold
05-01-06, 10:54 PM
#68
Upgrading my engine
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Originally Posted by gawnfishin
Mandeville, LA
The Bad
only 25 miles north of what used to be New Orleans
LA politics
Army Corp of Engineers
Some jerk burned the bridge on the St Tammany Trace
beau coup trees that double as projectiles during hurricanes
flat
average hunidity 90+%
summer humidity 100%
hot summers
hot ladies
few club rides, especially for the non-hammerheads
The Bad
only 25 miles north of what used to be New Orleans
LA politics
Army Corp of Engineers
Some jerk burned the bridge on the St Tammany Trace
beau coup trees that double as projectiles during hurricanes
flat
average hunidity 90+%
summer humidity 100%
hot summers
hot ladies
few club rides, especially for the non-hammerheads
05-02-06, 12:38 AM
#69
94 Trek 1400
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Originally Posted by BryE
East-central Illinois (Mahomet):
It's flat. Really flat. The largest hills occur where the road goes over a highway. Did I mention that it's flat?
Strong winds are not uncommon, particularly in the afternoons.
Very high humidity in the summer, and the winters can be extremely cold. Riding on summer afternoons is not a lot of fun, but summer mornings and any time in the spring or autumn is very enjoyable.
There are country roads that are largely untraveled. They form a grid of one-mile squares, except where some natural barrier such as a river or a lake disrupts the grid. The quality of the roads aren't great, but some aren't too bad, either. You can ride for hours and hours and not see more than five cars the whole time. I've never had a problem with an unfriendly driver.
There are small towns every so often, mostly along railroad lines, with populations of 500 to 5000. The usually have a few gas stations, a few restaurants, a few bars, a few churches, a large park in the middle of town, and any number of houses with tree-lined streets. The smallest towns only have a gas station and a church.
The land is all corn or beans. You can see for miles and miles. The blue sky above you is immense. On summer afternoons, there are archipelagos of cumulus clouds that stretch over the horizon. In late summer and autumn, you will see wild morning glories that have grown up and twisted their way around the corn stalks so that you can ride for miles and see violet, blue, and purple flowers for yards into the corn field. It has a kind of austere beauty the I really enjoy, but I think some people would get tired of it quickly.
The University of Illinois is quite close to where I live, so there are lots of things close by that you wouldn't normally see in the Midwest, such as lots of ethnic shops and restaurants. There are also two local bike clubs - one for racers and one for more casual cyclists.
If I want, I can put my bike in the back of our car when we drive down to my father-in-law's farm, and all the hills I could want are a twenty-minute ride from there.
It's flat. Really flat. The largest hills occur where the road goes over a highway. Did I mention that it's flat?
Strong winds are not uncommon, particularly in the afternoons.
Very high humidity in the summer, and the winters can be extremely cold. Riding on summer afternoons is not a lot of fun, but summer mornings and any time in the spring or autumn is very enjoyable.
There are country roads that are largely untraveled. They form a grid of one-mile squares, except where some natural barrier such as a river or a lake disrupts the grid. The quality of the roads aren't great, but some aren't too bad, either. You can ride for hours and hours and not see more than five cars the whole time. I've never had a problem with an unfriendly driver.
There are small towns every so often, mostly along railroad lines, with populations of 500 to 5000. The usually have a few gas stations, a few restaurants, a few bars, a few churches, a large park in the middle of town, and any number of houses with tree-lined streets. The smallest towns only have a gas station and a church.
The land is all corn or beans. You can see for miles and miles. The blue sky above you is immense. On summer afternoons, there are archipelagos of cumulus clouds that stretch over the horizon. In late summer and autumn, you will see wild morning glories that have grown up and twisted their way around the corn stalks so that you can ride for miles and see violet, blue, and purple flowers for yards into the corn field. It has a kind of austere beauty the I really enjoy, but I think some people would get tired of it quickly.
The University of Illinois is quite close to where I live, so there are lots of things close by that you wouldn't normally see in the Midwest, such as lots of ethnic shops and restaurants. There are also two local bike clubs - one for racers and one for more casual cyclists.
If I want, I can put my bike in the back of our car when we drive down to my father-in-law's farm, and all the hills I could want are a twenty-minute ride from there.
05-02-06, 12:52 AM
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Templeton, CA
Perfect!!!!!!
Hills and great scenery. Beautiful all year.
The guy from Dallas said there are less red necks in big trucks there than you might think.... Well here, there are more. But with no challenge they just go on past burning fuel like a porch fly with a bottle of wild turkey.
Perfect!!!!!!
Hills and great scenery. Beautiful all year.
The guy from Dallas said there are less red necks in big trucks there than you might think.... Well here, there are more. But with no challenge they just go on past burning fuel like a porch fly with a bottle of wild turkey.
05-02-06, 02:00 AM
#71
Senior Member
- even temperature year-round 60-85F (15-30C)
- rains maybe 2-months out of the year in the winter
- easy pace of life, most people aren't rushing around to get somewhere. You can meet someone while shopping at the mall and hang out for 30 minutes+..
- not too crowded, plenty of space for the population
- no high-rise buildings, so the scenery's always nice and native
- no traffic congestions, maybe for 30-minutes during rush-hour
- most roads well-paved, clearly marked bike-lane on most roads
- separate dedicated bike-path goes from the west-end by UCSB almost all the way to the east-end past Santa Barbara (a 30-mile stretch with minor street sections)
- fairly low crime-rate, the most the cops typically have to deal with is drunken college students on weekends
- the city-council's run by a group of little-old-ladies (+80 years old), we need more clubs and pubs, lighten up on the liquor licenses already!
- no liquor allowed on the beach
- some people complain about a high cost of living, but no one makes you buy a new BMW or Mercedes each year...
- 4 major colleges in town, meaning tonnes of barbies running around everywhere!
- lots of quaint mom & pop shops, not too many big-chain stores
- beach, ocean, sun, did I mention the betties?
Then if you want a tougher workout, you'll have to go north into hills:
But the workout's more than worth it for the view:
Since it's only about 5-miles from the ocean to the mountains, you're limited to going in a east-west direction. Here's looking east down towards Butterfly beach:
and looking back up from the bottom of the hill at the Coral Casino:
But don't hang around the beach too much, you might run into major distractions at the volleyball courts that'll ruin your ride:
Last edited by DannoXYZ; 05-02-06 at 02:06 AM.
05-02-06, 02:17 AM
#72
Portland, OR, USA
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: portland
Posts: 1,626
Bikes: kona paddywagon, trek 2.1, lemond nevada city, gt zrx
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Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon
The Good
Well marked and generally wide bike lanes all over the city.
A vast network of bike routes through low traffic gridded neighborhoods.
Generally courteous drivers, generally.
Bike co-ops that let you use their tools.
Very diverse natural terrain, hilly forested parks to ride in and scenic farm roads near downtown.
Zoobombers
Tons of grass roots cyclist groups.
A mayor who used to ride to work in the eighties.
The hot chick I cross paths with on the white carbon trek.
Often seeing people 65+ still riding their road bike.
Most of the bike shops in town are mom and pop types with knowledgeable staff.
Only in Portland, a PORNO theater with indoor bike parking. I am not kidding.
Some of the random Bad
The rain.
Pretending you are not completely drenched when you are in fact soaked from head to toe.
Self righteous critical mass weenies who never obey traffic laws.
Hipsters in black hoodies and buddy holly glasses who never obey traffic laws too.
Did I mention the rain.
Once you leave Portland proper, you are pretty much riding in Any-Suburb USA.
The bad list is pretty short and the only time it gets ugly is when Im not riding.
The Good
Well marked and generally wide bike lanes all over the city.
A vast network of bike routes through low traffic gridded neighborhoods.
Generally courteous drivers, generally.
Bike co-ops that let you use their tools.
Very diverse natural terrain, hilly forested parks to ride in and scenic farm roads near downtown.
Zoobombers
Tons of grass roots cyclist groups.
A mayor who used to ride to work in the eighties.
The hot chick I cross paths with on the white carbon trek.
Often seeing people 65+ still riding their road bike.
Most of the bike shops in town are mom and pop types with knowledgeable staff.
Only in Portland, a PORNO theater with indoor bike parking. I am not kidding.
Some of the random Bad
The rain.
Pretending you are not completely drenched when you are in fact soaked from head to toe.
Self righteous critical mass weenies who never obey traffic laws.
Hipsters in black hoodies and buddy holly glasses who never obey traffic laws too.
Did I mention the rain.
Once you leave Portland proper, you are pretty much riding in Any-Suburb USA.
The bad list is pretty short and the only time it gets ugly is when Im not riding.
05-02-06, 02:43 AM
#74
Reverend
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Mateo, CA
Posts: 528
Bikes: 2005 Trek 2100, Iro Angus Fixed Gear
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Danno, I am seriously considering grad school at UCSB, and those pics make it just slightly clearer to me what I should consider. Thanks!
05-02-06, 06:12 AM
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Western Morris Cty, NJ
Posts: 558
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Blaine Minnesota (Minneapolis suburb - due north):
The good:
Wide roads everywhere with good shoulders.
Courteous drivers in abundance.
A real velodrome (250 meter, 43 degree banking) right here in town.
A big biker community in nearby Minneapolis/St. Paul, one of the friendliest bike cities there is.
Good hill riding and scenic routes within driving distance.
The biking season from April - November has pretty good weather, dry and not too hot.
The bad:
The whole county is as flat as a billiard table. Want hills? Get in the car.
Suburban sprawl. The whole area is housing developments and strip malls. Chain stores in abundance.
Want a donut? Get in the car.
The winters are long and cold.
The good:
Wide roads everywhere with good shoulders.
Courteous drivers in abundance.
A real velodrome (250 meter, 43 degree banking) right here in town.
A big biker community in nearby Minneapolis/St. Paul, one of the friendliest bike cities there is.
Good hill riding and scenic routes within driving distance.
The biking season from April - November has pretty good weather, dry and not too hot.
The bad:
The whole county is as flat as a billiard table. Want hills? Get in the car.
Suburban sprawl. The whole area is housing developments and strip malls. Chain stores in abundance.
Want a donut? Get in the car.
The winters are long and cold.
