Originally Posted by Machka
You have to be a little bit careful with this one.
-- If the local cyclists are avid, adventuring cyclists who really know cycling (different aspects of it) and know their area, you can get some good answers.
-- But if the local cyclists are the ones who do 5 miles a day on bicycle paths, you'll get the directions to the local bicycle path which might be scenic, but will slow you down significantly and will usually take you quite a bit out of the way. That might be all right, but if you are trying to make some time, it might not be what you're looking for.
-- Or if the local cyclists are racers who easily ride straight up mountains at 30 mph on their 3 lb bicycles, they might tell you that the road ahead is basically flat ... and once you get there you discover you are pushing your 60 lb loaded touring bicycle up the never-ending, steep hills.
It wasn't long before I started taking all directions and suggestions with just a tiny grain of salt.
Oh yeah! I'm lost. It's raining hard and I ask a couple of farmers for directions. They have local knowledge. Problem is the farmers in that area are tired of bikers going down their lanes. They have had a few too many close calls with bikes and tractors. They have removed the bike route sign posts. That is why I'm lost.
They direct me to a superhighway. It's illegal, but I biked the 12 km on the shoulder.
TIP: Always carry a good map.