Lenore

I currently live in Philly and have so ever since I've started road cycling. I think Philadelphia is a great city to go road cycling because there are many people who are enthusiastic about cycling (i.e., there are many bike clubs to join, for the most part a bike-friendly city) and Fairmount Park offers a great way to get out of the city into the suburbs. I hear that in other cities, like NYC, it takes a while (~40 mi), to go road cycling out in the suburbs. Also, it doesn't rain as much as it does as in say... London. Are these accurate claims? or is Philly a terrible place to go road cycling? What other cities offer the best combination of characteristics that are ideal for roadies?

55/Rad

Portland Oregon and surrounding areas. From where I live, I can go 1 mile in several directions and be out in the sticks on the way to the hills, mountains or flats. Or I can go a few miles in one direction and be in the city. Lots of bike lanes and most of the drivers are courteous.

55/Rad

casicua

New York City- because I have a death wish. Actually, once you get past the massive potholes, exhaust fumes and cabs with no regard for your wellbeing, it's actually a fun place to ride.

drmarthacastro

San Diego, California. San Diego is considered the road cyclists paradise of the US. Yeeehah!

ViperZ

I have read in many places, articles and magazines that Portland, OR. is tops...

Kenal0

Chicago- I can leave my house and go one mile in any direction and be on flat roads or flatter roads, traffic and wind are always available as well. Not the kind of wind that is at your back, the kind that no matter which direction you are going it is in your face or pushing you off the road.
Oh yeah don't forget the nice hot 90+days like today where the are is THICK!!

Kenal0

SwimBike

I really like my current little spot up here in NH for all the reasons mentioned above. Central NH is great for cycling however the season can be a bit limited as compared to San Diego and work can be tough to come by.

i killed judas.

I'm gonna take a vote against Philly. For one, SEPTA drivers are completely psychotic whackjobs. I cant explain how many times I have seen them almost completely obliterate cyclists. And it is not just the bike messengers weaving in and out of cars, but the business-people and so-on that are sticking to one lane, stopping completely at lights, etc. Taxi drivers are almost the same. They do not follow the laws and whatnot that taxi drivers are supposed to follow. I am a first-hand victim of this. A taxi was driving by me and slowing down to let a passenger out. Well, the passenger was so kind as to open his door on me and attempt to exit the cab before it had not even come to a complete stop. Now many of you may say, "Oh, well that is the passenger's fault." It is, but it is moreso the cab drivers fault because it is a law that cab drivers must not only be at a complete stop before their passenger exits, but they must make sure it is clear and safe for their passenger to exit the vehicle. But, as we all know, incompetence is not strictly limited to one city, state or even country. As for all other 'recreational' drivers, unless they are a roadie of any sort, they are rather arrogant to cyclists as well. Once you leave Center City, this all diminishes little by little. I still have yet to find a place within a 25 mile radius of Center City that I feel 100% safe and can ride with as much confidence as I ride with in my true home (South Jersey).

That being said, I feel like most places in the Great Plains and the Rockies (Colorado, Utah, Kansas, Wyoming, etc) would be ideal cycling cities. Most people are very outdoor-oriented, and ride themselves, making for a generally more cyclist-conscious and cyclist-educated public.

niknak

I would say Palo Alto and the surrounding suburbs are great. The weather is moderate year round, there's big hills to climb, plenty of backroads with few cars and a huge population of cyclists. San Diego is probably nice too. I love Portland, it's a bike friendly city, but the rain can be a real drag sometimes. I've never been as cold as when I spent a winter in Portland!

PSR215

Take a ride out in West Philly.In an armed car. The morning news reports make Bagdad look safer.Two or three shootings a night are not uncommon. Yes the city of brotherly love at its finest.However I wouldnt hesitate to ride around Fairmont Park on a Sat afternoon.Nice views paths etc.

nycphotography

I've never lived in Ashville NC, but I would imagine it to be about as close to the ideal as possible.

Beautiful mountains, lots of hilly routes, endless miles of back roads, winters that are 'not too nasty', and only a 5 or 6 hour drive to warm climates in the winter.

I imagine Spartanburg/Greenville SC would offer similar benefits, but with a less appealing ambience / living experience.

Next choices would probably be desert southwest... Tahoe? Or southern California someplace east of the smog.

Best combinations of weather, extended season, and challenging terrain.

i killed judas.

this is very true. same goes for North Philly (North of Temple U. Hospital). I would never drive a car through there, let alone ride a bicycle. I go to school at Temple U. but I don't ride any further North than C.B. Moore. Someone was actually shot directly outside of where I was living last year. At 9pm at night next to a crowded movie theater. Kid was 15 years old and took to .9mm bullets to the balls.

Yes, when I say balls, I mean his nutsack, testicles, etc. One would imagine how it would fair afterwards given that the bullets were probably the size of a testicle themselves.

Lenore

wow... maybe i should stop riding around there.

USAZorro

City? No city is best for roadies. Smooth, lightly traveled roads with nice terrain and scenic beauty are best. Get out of the polluted air and really enjoy yourself.

Mariner Fan

I second the Portland Oregon nomination. I was amazed by the amount of bike lanes and people riding there. Great City for bikes. Eugene Oregon is small but it's even better.

i killed judas.

https://www.phila-tribune.com/channel...6/shooting.asp

for those Philly riders interested.

EDIT* He was 16 yrs old, not 15. And this is on a college campus...

yak

+1 Ain't no city that's good for roadies

benbaconlewis

Doesn't NYC have higher average rainfall than London?

johnny99

+1.

Also:
1. the local college won the NCCA cycling championships this year
2. the Tour of California prologue will be in Palo Alto next year
3. Palo Alto is a gold level "Bicycle Friendly Community": https://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity....ommunities.htm
4. the local PTA is active in encouraging kids to bike to school: https://www.saferoutes.paloaltopta.org/index.shtml

benbaconlewis

Have lived near Asheville and Spartanburg/Greenville and both are awesome places to ride. Good call.

shawneebiker

Its definitely not Kansas City.

JohnKScott

Hey, I like Franklin, TN (just south of Nashville). Beautiful countryside, lot's of lower traffic areas to ride (including the Natchez Trace), rolling hills (big enough climbs for me, for now ), a nice cycling club (Harpeth Bicycle Club) which I haven't gotten inolved with yet - but I heard they are nice. Lot's of cyclists around here. If I flat I can always count on at least a dozen folks asking me if I'm ok while I'm fixing it. It's been a great place to ride for this newbie!!

billallbritten

That's a nice area. Nashville is a good city to ride in, too. Percy Warner Park, Belle Meade area, etc. My Bianchi LBS, Granfondo, is near there, and my LD(ive)S is in Franklin. Interesting that my home is 120 miles away in Murray, KY. I'll head for Nashville given any opportunity.

The Harpeth Cycling Club has lots of nice events in the area south of Nashville around Franklin

www.mapmyride.com has some nice rides in your area.

indygreg

Not Indy.

grahny

Cycling in Philly is awesome... I feel blessed every time I make it back home in one piece

That being said, I really want to move to the pacific northwest, or SoCal... someday