Best place to ride in the world?
#1
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Best place to ride in the world?
As retirement begins to creep over the horizon, I find myself more and more day-dreaming about the ultimate bike holiday, where I can ride all day on picturesque paved roads with little traffic (or at least traffic that doesn't try to run me over). Some place where the people are friendly, food is good, and the weather is warm and sunny (sounds like Heaven, as I watch the snow fall outside). Realistically, some place where I can do 100 - 200 km rides, and don't have to carry lots of gear, food or water. If it was someplace far away, I'd want to be able to do a number rides out of the same location to justify the time and expense of getting there.
I'm sure that there's people on the forum that can point me in the right direction, maybe even fine-tune my spec list for the best place to ride in the world.
I'm sure that there's people on the forum that can point me in the right direction, maybe even fine-tune my spec list for the best place to ride in the world.
#2
Peloton Shelter Dog
I'd recommend the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (The BQE), but wait until 3AM on a weeknight to avoid traffic. And watch for drunk drivers going 110mph.
#3
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Alpha Centauri.
I've been all over Europe and I think that southern Spain has the best overall weather, food, roads, and people.
And you can easily travel to southern France, Italy, Switzerland, etc from there.
Az
I've been all over Europe and I think that southern Spain has the best overall weather, food, roads, and people.
And you can easily travel to southern France, Italy, Switzerland, etc from there.
Az
#4
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It's not too hard to narrow things down, you got either USA, Canada, or Europe. It's all based on opinions but obviously you'd want something with beautiful surroundings and not alot of population. In the US I would have to go with the Colorado/Utah area, Central California, Sonoma (Wine Country) California, Northern California/Oregon.
You want to ride year round, go with California.
For the parts of Europe I've been to I'd say you can't go wrong with either France or Wales.
You want to ride year round, go with California.
For the parts of Europe I've been to I'd say you can't go wrong with either France or Wales.
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The middle of Australia is the place your looking for...Just a bit warm in summer but lots of very long flat roads with little or no trafic and us Aussies are always friendly
#6
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French Alps - tons of cyclists, and the people are (relatively) friendly. Better, the local drivers actually understand the concept of sharing the road, and the climb to Col du Glandon is amazingly pretty.
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Originally Posted by furiousferret
It's not too hard to narrow things down, you got either USA, Canada, or Europe. It's all based on opinions but obviously you'd want something with beautiful surroundings and not alot of population. In the US I would have to go with the Colorado/Utah area, Central California, Sonoma (Wine Country) California, Northern California/Oregon.
You want to ride year round, go with California.
For the parts of Europe I've been to I'd say you can't go wrong with either France or Wales.
You want to ride year round, go with California.
For the parts of Europe I've been to I'd say you can't go wrong with either France or Wales.
Basically, you forgot Australia and New Zealand as 2 of the best places on Earth to ride and to visit.
#8
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if you're thinking about now, the san francisco bay area is a great place to ride, but weather is touch and go...it rained on wednesday and saturday. but in addition to great places to ride, there is lots of great food, lots of things to do, and lots of great places to visit.
#9
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Originally Posted by Russ9000
and us Aussies are always friendly
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Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. I'm a little biased but come here in the spring, summer, or fall and the beauty will amaze you.
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We did an early retirement.. had thought California to be tremendous cycling. and it is. But now we are in Roussillon department of France. hills , plains, valleys, mountains, coastal rides. rural roads through vineyards, orchards. total respect by motorists, even a little awe. Roussillon. a cyclists heaven.
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The Lake District of Chile. It is a very large plain between the two mountain ranges. Mostly paved roads with very little traffic. You can rent a nice home for about 400$ a month. Temp is never over 27C and it does not drop below freezing.
#17
Originally Posted by CycleFreakLS
I'd say here ...
#18
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Originally Posted by bccycleguy
Realistically, some place where I can do 100 - 200 km rides, and don't have to carry lots of gear, food or water. If it was someplace far away, I'd want to be able to do a number rides out of the same location to justify the time and expense of getting there.
Here are some places to consider:
1. Lake Como. Stay along the eastern shore (Varenna is a nice town) and you'll have your choice of flat rides around the lake, or more mountain loops than you dreamed possible. The Madonna del Ghisallo cycling monument is nearby in Bellagio. You can also hit some of the great passes into Switzerland from here.
2. Tuscany. Pick a smaller town, say near Siena, and ride a different route every day for a week or two. Lots of rollers. Mid-April through May, then September-October are best times of year there. June-August is brutally humid, and packed with tourists. (Also consider doing Andy Hampsten's Cinghiale tour if you want terrific rides and one-of-a-kind Tour stories.)
3. The Veneto. My most recent trip was to the area near Bassano del Grappa, and I have to say, it's pretty spectacular. Flat valley rides, wine country routes, and, best of all, mountain climbs with hardly any traffic. Classic rides include climbing Monte Grappa (27km up), and the Croce d'Aune pass where Tulio Campagnolo brainstormed the quick release. Learn more on this excellent site: https://www.biciveneto.it/intro.htm
Beyond Italy I'd highly recommend the Basque Country in Spain -- stay in the captial of Vittoria, ride really quiet roads, and eat tapas every night.
Enjoy!
Steven
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Originally Posted by climbo
Wales ain't in Europe !!
Basically, you forgot Australia and New Zealand as 2 of the best places on Earth to ride and to visit.
Basically, you forgot Australia and New Zealand as 2 of the best places on Earth to ride and to visit.
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Originally Posted by AppStateEvan
Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. I'm a little biased but come here in the spring, summer, or fall and the beauty will amaze you.
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#22
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[QUOTE=climbo]Wales ain't in Europe !!
QUOTE]
Really? Did it suddenly float away from the UK and end up in the tropics?
Europe is not just the continent...Rep of Ireland, UK, Iceland, Greenland to name a few are all in Europe.
QUOTE]
Really? Did it suddenly float away from the UK and end up in the tropics?
Europe is not just the continent...Rep of Ireland, UK, Iceland, Greenland to name a few are all in Europe.
#23
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The best place..............excuse me ladies. The best place would be where beautiful naked women would line the road and hand me refreshments and towel me off when done. Back to reality!
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#24
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Hey bccycleguy- Cycling paradise daydreams- I like that . Here's one of my favorite places to ride:
Mt. Fuji and the surrounding mountains. The pic is of White Thread Falls on a 117 km route encircling Mt. Fuji. Then all the mountain rides in the Japan Alps just to the west and you can do lots of 100 - 200 km rides with good places to eat, hot springs, etc. What do you think???
- RJ
Mt. Fuji and the surrounding mountains. The pic is of White Thread Falls on a 117 km route encircling Mt. Fuji. Then all the mountain rides in the Japan Alps just to the west and you can do lots of 100 - 200 km rides with good places to eat, hot springs, etc. What do you think???
- RJ
#25
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curiosity point about Maui.. we are Maui lovers. considered living there, if possible. but, sort of a circular repeat of one repeat ride over and over? but, the scenery! my question. how about the ride to Hana. pretty narrow and twisty in the car? noticed the Maui tour group did not go all the way to Hana.