What's your favorite places to ride in the US?

[weisan]

Reading about an interview on Bicycling about a couple who quit their day jobs and traveled around the country riding and hiking. They were asked what were their favorite places to ride in the US so far and they mentioned:

1) Beartooth Highway - Montana-Wyoming
2) Acadia National Park
3) Down East Maine
4) Lost Coast in northern California
5) Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and West Virgiinia
6) Top of the World Highway from Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon

What's yours?

:banana:

Keep it to your top 5.

:D

[cadence90]

In no particular order:

Where joostx rides.
Where Mzilliox rides.
Where K u r t rides.
Where colker rides.
Where round rides.

[joosttx]

Marin County

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4261/35661840512_617b53e1b5_b.jpg

[rnhood]

Shenandoah Valley (Monterey VA area in particular)
Western NC
Northwest GA
Clermont Fl
Wherever there is a group ride

[gomango]

Northern Minnesota Arrowhead to the BWCA to the Range.

Lanesboro area in southern Minnesota

Moab/Fruita

Gravel anywhere in Minnesota/Wisconsin

Cuyuna Lakes mtb facility up in the Range

[tiretrax]

Wherever Velotel rides. DONE!

[dem]

I just spent a month riding around the western us:
Mt Harrison, ID
Bear Tooth Pass, MT
Highway 14A, WY
Granite Pass, WY
Trail Ridge Parkway, CO
Mt Evans, CO
Pikes Peak, CO
Guardsman Pass, CO
Big Cottonwood Canyon, CO
Grand Mesa, CO
Colorado National Monument, CO
Mt Spokane, WA
Mt Hood, OR
Mt Shasta, CA

I've motorcycled Lost Coast & Top of the World

Today I bicycled my standard loop in the Bay Area: Old La Honda - Tunitas Creek.

It beats them all. :)

[cadence90]

Wherever Velotel rides. DONE!

Winner! :D

[exapkib]

I just spent a month riding around the western us:
Guardsman Pass, CO
Big Cottonwood Canyon, CO

I've motorcycled Lost Coast & Top of the World

Today I bicycled my standard loop in the Bay Area: Old La Honda - Tunitas Creek.

It beats them all. :)

First, let me say that I am extremely jealous of the riding you have done.

Second, let me represent my local scene by pointing out that Guardsman Pass and Big Cottonwood Canyon are in Utah.

I haven't traveled as much as many of you, but my favorites that haven't been mentioned yet:

--Alpine Loop/American Fork, UT
--Southern Utah (Boulder Mountain, Burr Trail, Scenic Highway 12, National Parks . . . )
--Yellowstone before the roads open to cars in the spring
--Country Roads of Vermont
--Huron River Drive and environs (SE Michigan)

(Many of these are favorites for sentimental reasons, which may or may not transfer to other riders.)

[choke]

BLM and Forest Service roads in Wyoming.

[thunderworks]

I've ridden the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier. It was spectacular.

I've ridden in Northern California and Sonoma county. It's wonderful.

But for day in and day out terrific riding, it's really hard to beat Trempeleau County Wisconsin. It's a terrific combination of scenic, quiet, safe, varied and has a multitude of choices.

[jmal]

I really like the Blue Ridge mountains in VA. My riding has been limited to MD, VA, KS, OK, WV, PA, and NM. The abundance of great rural roads in VA/WV is amazing.

[bart998]

Lake Tahoe area. Beautiful lake, mountain passes, even desert. It has it all.

[FlashUNC]

As much as I love Western NC and North Georgia, nothing comes close to Northern California in my experience.

[Ken Robb]

I can't be the only guy here who has had some lovely rides in The Finger Lakes Area in New York. Thanks DBRK for loaning me your Richie Sachs bike.

If you want a relaxing, scenic ride with charming towns every few miles The Erie Canal Tow Path is fun. It would be excellent for new riders and kids too. Most of the towns along the way have cafes, coffee shops, bakeries, and ice cream shops right by the path so you can burn 3,000 calories riding and ingest 4,000 calories having treats. :D

[gomango]

Wherever Velotel rides. DONE!

Are his rides in the US?

[93KgBike]

These days?Anywhere cars are not.

Not kidding. I love riding everywhere, but no cars. I've only ever had 6 bad rides, and they all involved cars.

I even had fun the day I broke my arm mtb'ing in CA and I had to ride home on that thing, because - no cars.

But weirdly, some of my fondest biking memories are of the big cities I worked in after undergrad. When I was really stressed out, I would bike the city all night until there was no-one and all the streets became mine. Boulevards and traffic circles, ramps, tunnels... BRIDGES...

I guess this is what middle-age feels like.

:beer:

[Bob Ross]

Lake Tahoe area. Beautiful lake, mountain passes, even desert. It has it all.

I've done this twice (just two weeks ago while vacationing with my sister's family in Truckee, and back in 2010 when my wife & I did the Markleeville Death Ride) and I have to agree, Tahoe is up there with the best I've experienced.

Other contenders for me are Keystone CO and Tucson AZ. And riding the Pacific Coast Highway in CA, which should be a bucket list item for every cyclist.

But tbh I feel like I haven't seen/cycled nearly enough of the USA for my opinion to be well-rounded enough for a poll!

[Cicli]

Not everyones cup-o-tea but rural iowa in july. Only bike ride I look froward to every year.
People, fun and more fun. :banana:

[R3awak3n]

upstate New York

western Massachusetts, d2r2 area

North Carolina, Asheville area

Pacific Northwest

[bigbill]

I like to be away from cars and I like mixed terrain.

I enjoyed my time stationed in San Diego. There are too many people but early morning rides inland from La Jolla heading north to Escondido around Lake Hodges through the Elfin Forest out to the coast and then south along the coast with a tailwind. I could do that every day.

Fredericksburg, TX. The town is like the hub of a wheel with the spokes being routes radiating out. You can choose to punish yourself on steep hills, do some rolling stuff along rivers, or ride to Luckenbach and enjoy the surroundings.

I like the east side of Phoenix, the Scottsdale and Fountain Hills areas. Not in the summer, but I ride there for a week each March. Many different routes, lots of other riders, you just have to make sure your routes have places to fill bottles. You can get in trouble pretty quick if you don't.

Surprise pick, I rode through Petrified Forest National Park in June. The roads are good, if you ride from the north entrance, you drop into a valley and a headwind so even though you're climbing out, there's a gentle push helping you along. Go early, it gets hot.

I used to like Flagstaff but there's too many people and only a few good routes anymore.

Paris, TX. I live here. Can't say it's my favorite place but the weather allows me to ride year round plus the NE Texas Trail lets me do some gravel riding.

[oldpotatoe]

Where ever I happen to be. When in SanDiego or Camarillo, CA, some great rides..PCH, Elfin Forrest, Lake Wolford, Berrego Springs, around Santa Monica..When in Va Bch, some great rides there..and now in Boulder, great rides around the republic.

Some really awesome rides in Italia..but you said 'in the US'...:p

[thunderworks]

I've done this twice (just two weeks ago while vacationing with my sister's family in Truckee, and back in 2010 when my wife & I did the Markleeville Death Ride) and I have to agree, Tahoe is up there with the best I've experienced

I drove through Tahoe in early July. The traffic was bumper to bumper. Are there routes which avoid the traffic? I can't imagine riding around that level of traffic.

[fuzzalow]

It's all relative.

I truly miss the riding from the simple loops on the North Shore of Nassau County conducted from to point of leaving my house, out 'n back, and comin' home. Shelter Rock Road to the service road of the Long Island Expressway fer heavens sake! Lots of quiet(er) roads to ride, lots of space on the shoulder to do it. You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

Favorite place where I get to bring a bike to ride? Martha's Vineyard.

[Ralph]

As I get older.....I'm more and more enjoying paved routes with little or no traffic. Especially enjoy Colorado front range trails. Don't mind if they aren't as exciting as some of the mountain routes, just don't want to get hit 2000 miles from home. NC Mountains, N Ga mountains, Greenville SC, VA eastern shore....New England....all have great riding. Basically just like to ride in some different (cooler in summer than here) safe routes. Also enjoy the twice weekly rides with my also retired buddies around here. For an old guy.....if I had to ride in just one place all the time....it would be Central Florida. Florida is being designed to be the "Eco Tourist" destination in the USA. Trail coming down from Ga. The only tourist activity that draws more tourists to Florida than our paved trails is Disney. (BTW....we don't consider Disney as Orlando) I see folks from all over the world on the paved trail near my home. I'm seeing cycling as more and more a main stream activity. Not just for us "enthusiasts".

[Climb01742]

For me, the answer encompasses more than great riding. Food has to figure in too. And the vibe of the place. The total experience, on and off the bike. With that in mind, my two picks are Asolo, Italy and Healdsburg, CA.

[marciero]

Maine:
Midcoast and Downweast. Anywhere as long as you avoid Route 1.
Southwestern-Lyman/Limington/Parsonfield, etc.
other misc. rural areas.

Vermont:
East Burke/NE Kingdom (mostly dirt)
Green Mountains (Gaps, etc)
Brattleboro area (dirt; overlaps D2R2)
Woodstock area (more dirt)

New Hampshire:
White Mountains

Western Mass:
Deerfield/D2R2
Great Barrington/Berkshires
Graylock area

NorCal Marin/Sonoma/Mendo counties

Yet to explore: Catskills

Edit: Forgot about..
North Carolina-Boone, Asheville..
South Carolina- Greenville, etc

[gomango]

Fredericksburg, TX. The town is like the hub of a wheel with the spokes being routes radiating out. You can choose to punish yourself on steep hills, do some rolling stuff along rivers, or ride to Luckenbach and enjoy the surroundings.

My parents live in between Kerrville and Fredericksburg. I go down there to visit 2-3 times a year. I've decided to ship the Kvale I just bought down there to take advantage of the fantastic rides in the area. Beats riding through the ice and snow in the winter here in Minnesota.

[colker]

In no particular order:

Where joostx rides.
Where Mzilliox rides.
Where K u r t rides.
Where colker rides.
Where round rides.

Rio de Janeiro>

[Cicli]

Rio de Janeiro>

Mmmmmmmm sewage. :banana:

[Mzilliox]

In no particular order:

Where joostx rides.
Where Mzilliox rides.
Where K u r t rides.
Where colker rides.
Where round rides.

haha, thanks!

Has anyone been riding around the Kings Range in No Cal? thats next on my list to explore, looks like a bunch of nothing in the middle of nowhere. i also want to ride some open vista stuff in montana soon.

but i love riding this varied nocal and southern oregon landscape: mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, desserts, big vistas, tight valleys, wine country, weed country, hard to beat it.

oh and plenty of this:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4306/36166782221_e91733ba45_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/X6WdjH)Trails begin (https://flic.kr/p/X6WdjH) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4361/36224985812_85c3454202_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xc5wdU)good ****s (https://flic.kr/p/Xc5wdU) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr

[saab2000]

Western Wisconsin - everything between Hwy 94 to the south and west is remarkable riding. Quiet, rolling roads that follow the contours of the terrain. Hard to beat.

[Elefantino]

Wherever the wheels are at the moment, sure, but if I could place them anywhere, in no particular order:
Lake Tahoe. Preferably clockwise.
Iowa. Everyone should do RAGBRAI at least once.
Boone, N.C. So many rides from that great town.
North Georgia mountains. Out of Dahlonega and Helen, the roads are magic
Sonomendocino: Coastal roads, huge redwoods and climbs, climbs, climbs.

[colker]

Mmmmmmmm sewage. :banana:

Jealousy.:banana:

[bouldergary]

20 mile radius of Walden Pond cannot be beat. Great New England towns, tree covered road etc. Just damn beautiful!!!

[bob heinatz]

Willamette valley rural roads.

[xjoex]

Moab is my favorite place to ride these days.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4066/35715034005_ded3d6d5a7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wq1Tjn)P7010354 (https://flic.kr/p/Wq1Tjn) by Joe (https://www.flickr.com/photos/indianpeaksjoe/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4243/34093578224_a3e78cb542_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/TWJv1d)IMG_6587 (https://flic.kr/p/TWJv1d) by Joe (https://www.flickr.com/photos/indianpeaksjoe/), on Flickr

-Joe

[estilley]

Anywhere there's a CX race!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bob Ross]

I drove through Tahoe in early July. The traffic was bumper to bumper. Are there routes which avoid the traffic? I can't imagine riding around that level of traffic.

There were a few sections (eg., the main drag of Tahoe City) where it was bumper-to-bumper. Admittedly that didn't strike us as a cycling problem, as we could ride past all the traffic, but if it had been more than that one small stretch I can see how it would be annoying. Stay away from the lake and things open up immediately.

[texbike]

Essentially anything Coastal California North of Malibu. I adore the area and look forward to every chance to ride out there.

Unfortunately, I haven't spent any time riding in Oregon (except for Forest Park) or in Washington (except for the Port Angeles/Sequim areas), but imagine that they would be just as great.

Texbike

[seanile]

I've ridden the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier. It was spectacular.

I've ridden in Northern California and Sonoma county. It's wonderful.

But for day in and day out terrific riding, it's really hard to beat Trempeleau County Wisconsin. It's a terrific combination of scenic, quiet, safe, varied and has a multitude of choices.
hahah what's interesting is that i've gone a cross-country trip, including Going to the Sun Road, and i also always tell people that my favorite roads were in southwestern Wisconsin, namely on the southern side of LaCrosse, by Soldiers Grove.

[cgolvin]

My scope is limited since there are many places I would like to ride but haven't had the chance But for me it's Santa Cruz County, CA, hands down. Many great rides and climbs, perhaps none as beautiful as SR 236 through Big Basin.

[Ken Robb]

There were a few sections (eg., the main drag of Tahoe City) where it was bumper-to-bumper. Admittedly that didn't strike us as a cycling problem, as we could ride past all the traffic, but if it had been more than that one small stretch I can see how it would be annoying. Stay away from the lake and things open up immediately.

Last Summer traffic at Lake Tahoe in the northwest quadrant was the worst I have seen there due to roadwork at the major intersection by "Fanny" Bridge. It sounds like the work is still underway.

[Ken Robb]

My scope is limited since there are many places I would like to ride but haven't had the chance But for me it's Santa Cruz County, CA, hands down. Many great rides and climbs, perhaps none as beautiful as SR 236 through Big Basin.

I rode through Big Basin on my motorcycle on a foggy, drizzly day and was dazzled by its etherial beauty. It's probably also pretty nice when the sun comes out. :beer:

[Benneke]

I lived in Santa Cruz, which is hard to beat as a riding destination. The riding there is fantastic, but there have been 2 places that have beaten it for me: The Klamath Mountains in northern California and the Allegheny mountains in West Virginia. Both offer very long climbs with an endless network of rivers, 1 lane paved roads, and gravel roads free of traffic.

[Heisenberg]

Sonoma.

And Moab.

[BobC]

Winston-Salem

[weisan]

http://alicehui.com/pics/nc/img/1.jpg

http://alicehui.com/pics/nc/img/11.jpg

[witcombusa]

Boulder County, Colorado :beer: