Best Bike Rides

"Veloise" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Huron River Drive headed north out of Ann Arbor MI, on a Saturday
morning

Sparta Elroy trail in Wisconsin (for variety, return on the road)

Almost any Bluegrass Cycling Club-approved route near Georgetown KY
(Horsey Hundred)

Almost any loop of the routes at the Easter Hill Country Tour out of
Kerrville, TX

The Amishland day of Amishland & Lakes out of Howe, IN

US-2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan in the UP (head east in
early September and enjoy the migrating monarchs)

The 3 on the list above that I'm familiar with are all great rides, so I'm
saving this list for future use.

I'm going to make a very quirky suggestion:
Downtown Chicago, IL to New Buffalo, MI along US 41 and US 12 (and parallel
side roads).

You will go from skyscapers and lakeront condos, to lakefront parks, through
ethnic neighborhoods, part casinos, refineries, and (mostly closed) steel
mills. There's a national park along the dunes, a large outlet mall,
marinas, and vacation places along Lake Michigan. The sheer variety is
staggering. Anyone who doubts that man, and man's political decisions, makes
a huge difference in the environment will have plenty of things to ponder
along this route through what is originally all low-lying lake marsh.

"Tom or Mary" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I have noticed at the library books which describe the "100" things you
should do before you die or the "100" places you should visit before you
die. What are 100 bike rides or bike trails I should ride before I die.
High on my list would be the one in Missouri "Katy."

I did the Katy Trail once. 200 miles and flat as a pancake. The few miles
along the Missouri River are nice, but most of the trail is through open
fields which aren't much different from farm roads anywhere else.

I think most of my top 100 day rides would be duplicating the mountain stages
of the Tour de France or the Giro or the Vuelta. Some longer rides on my
list would be the old Silk Road between China and Europe, the Ho Chi Min
Trail, the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Mexico, RAAM (at my own pace), and
Patagonia.

Tom or Mary said:

I have noticed at the library books which describe the "100" things you
should do before you die or the "100" places you should visit before you
die. What are 100 bike rides or bike trails I should ride before I die.
High on my list would be the one in Missouri "Katy."

For me it will be the greater trail network we're trying to get built here
in southwest Virginia, connecting everything from Bristol to Roanoke and
beyond, and over to Martinsville/Danville.

Matt O.

I have noticed at the library books which describe the "100" things you
should do before you die or the "100" places you should visit before you
die. What are 100 bike rides or bike trails I should ride before I die. High
on my list would be the one in Missouri "Katy."

Tom

Quoted message said:

Some longer rides on my
list would be the old Silk Road between China and Europe, the Ho Chi Min
Trail, the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Mexico, RAAM (at my own pace), and
Patagonia.

I'll add a few to the generic longer list:

(1) Number one would be a long tour across one's own country or
continent. So depending on where in the world you live, this could be
something like:
a. A coast-to-coast ride across the USA
b. A ride across Canada
c. Australia, across the Nullabor Plain
d. Australia, circumnavigation
e. UK, Land's End to John O Groats
f. Europe, Gibraltor to North Cape
g. Russia from St Petersburg to Vladivostok
What is interesting to me about these types of rides is having a
connection in terms of language, history, culture and seeing this as
your ride along.

The rest aren't necessarily in order, but are places I've come across
in my travels or added to my own list over time:
2. Cabot Trail in Cape Breton
3. Natchez Trace
4. Pacific Coast of USA, particularly Washington to San Luis Obispo
5. Dalton Highway, Alaska to Prudhoe Bay
6. Alaska Highway (or several other roads in AK/YT)
7. Following the Klondike Gold Rush route from Skagway to Dawson City
8. Oregon Coast (subset of #4, but interesting to list by itself)
9. Highway 50 across Nevada "the loneliest road"
10. Baja Penninsula
11. Trans-Labrador Highway from Quebec City to Goose Bay
12. One lap around Iceland
13. Bangkok to Singapore
14. Lhasa Tibet (from one of several routes)
15. Northen India in Rajastan
16. Karakarom Highway in Pakistan Himalaya
17. Across South Island of New Zealand
18. Following the Danube through Europe
19. Africa between Cape of Good Hope and Mediteranian
20. Crossing Asia on one of several routes, e.g. Europe to Turkey,
Iran, Pakistan, India, Mynamar (or China),... or further north
Ukraine, Russia, Mongolia, China.

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

Tom or Mary said:

I have noticed at the library books which describe the "100" things you
should do before you die or the "100" places you should visit before you
die. What are 100 bike rides or bike trails I should ride before I die. High
on my list would be the one in Missouri "Katy."

Grand Canyon, and any national park in Utah.

Bill

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| The surest way to become a pacifist is to join the infantry. |
| --Bill Mauldin |
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Tom or Mary said:

I have noticed at the library books which describe the "100" things you
should do before you die or the "100" places you should visit before you
die. What are 100 bike rides or bike trails I should ride before I die. High
on my list would be the one in Missouri "Katy."

June Lake Loop, ~20 mi rt, E. Sierra
Lake Tahoe Perimeter, 72 mi RT
Lemon Cove to Cedar Grove, 96 mi and 11,600', ow, Sequoia/Kings Cyn
Sonoma Coast, <20 mi. OW, Jenner to Bodega Bay
Death Valley, 65 mi ow, Furnace Creek to Shoshone
Central Coast, ~65 mi OW, Ferguson Naciminto to San Luis O.

Needless to say, I like water and mtns and live in CA.

I've done the Cabot trail (my only effort in N.America). It was nice
but wouldn't touch European cycling for scenery.

My best ones (I've done). In no particular order.

Yorkshire Dales cycle route. (Very steep hills but smashing cycling).
South West Irish coast.
West of Scotland including Mull, Skye.
Sardinia.
Corsica.
Paris-Nice.
Barcelona-Santiago de Compostella.
Provence.
Bavaria.
Almeria-Granada-Ubeda-Almeria.
Dolomites in Italy-Austria. Difficult.

Here's a few thoughts:

1. Sardinia - Maybe the best in the world, combine with Corsica. Camp
in the vineyards for great food and on the coast for great sunsets
2. Croatia - Amazing and very tolerant drivers but not the best cycling
roads, Islands are the best, coastal roads are busy
3. Newfoundland & Labrador - This is a one way ride because of winds
but beautiful and lonely
4. Trail f the Coeur D'Alenes - 76 mile paved path in Idaho
5. Iron Horse Trail in Washington
6. Trails around Montreal, great food and Beer and nice relaxed
cucling. Ride from Vermont border to Gramby (mixed road and trail but
traffic is light) then to Montreal. They have the biggest bike events
in the world in Montreal and lots of people ride.
7. From Freyburg to Rangely, Maine - world class views of the White
Mountains - no traffic except on weekends
8. Franconia Notch, NH - Toughest paved bike path according to
Bicycling Magazine - this is a very special place

Roland
Dover, NH

I definitely recommend staying away from the Cabot Trail in the Summer
and early September. The roads are clogged with RVs. We had many close
calls from RV mirrors. The traffic backed up for 10 miles when a truck
had trouble on one of the hills. Very dangerous for bicyclist.

Get on the ferry and go to Newfoundland. It's prettier and no traffic
except when cars come off the ferry. The best part of the ride is from
Channel Port aux Basques to Gros Mourne National Park. Above that is L'
Anse aux Meadows, the Viking Settlement., a very interesting spot.

Above, Gros Mourne things get pretty windy. We did 160 mile days fully
loaded with out even tring. But you will have to take the bus back to
Corner Brook. Riding against those winds is no fun.

Roland
Dover, NH

Paul Kopit said:

June Lake Loop, ~20 mi rt, E. Sierra
Lake Tahoe Perimeter, 72 mi RT

I can vouch for these.

I'll add the central CA coast. I'm glad to see the Tour of California
come into being. This road is a natural for TV coverage of a cycling
event -- just follow along with a helicopter, and capture the action
amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Matt O.

Matt O'Toole said:

Paul Kopit said:

June Lake Loop, ~20 mi rt, E. Sierra
Lake Tahoe Perimeter, 72 mi RT

I can vouch for these.

June Lake is nice but the Tahoe ride surprises me. I live part of the
year in Tahoe and avoid the road around the lake like the plague. The
level of traffic, even on a weekday, is as bad as the city streets of
San Diego (my hometown). Plus the fact that there are many more
peaceful roads in the vicinity.

Just my opinion,
Tom

"[email hidden]" <[email hidden]> wrote in
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Quoted message said:

June Lake is nice but the Tahoe ride surprises me. I live part of the
year in Tahoe and avoid the road around the lake like the plague.

The Tahoe Rim Trail is a better choice, if you have a mountain bike.
Unfortunately, bikes are not allowed on much of the trail.

"Mike Kruger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Veloise" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Huron River Drive headed north out of Ann Arbor MI, on a Saturday
morning

Sparta Elroy trail in Wisconsin (for variety, return on the road)

Almost any Bluegrass Cycling Club-approved route near Georgetown KY
(Horsey Hundred)

Almost any loop of the routes at the Easter Hill Country Tour out of
Kerrville, TX

The Amishland day of Amishland & Lakes out of Howe, IN

US-2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan in the UP (head east in
early September and enjoy the migrating monarchs)

The 3 on the list above that I'm familiar with are all great rides, so I'm
saving this list for future use.

I'm going to make a very quirky suggestion:
Downtown Chicago, IL to New Buffalo, MI along US 41 and US 12 (and
parallel side roads).

You will go from skyscapers and lakeront condos, to lakefront parks,
through ethnic neighborhoods, part casinos, refineries, and (mostly
closed) steel mills. There's a national park along the dunes, a large
outlet mall, marinas, and vacation places along Lake Michigan. The sheer
variety is staggering. Anyone who doubts that man, and man's political
decisions, makes a huge difference in the environment will have plenty of
things to ponder along this route through what is originally all low-lying
lake marsh.

Expand that, and make it a trip around the whole of Lake Michigan.

My other favorites:

1. The Mosel from Koblenz to Trier
2. The Danube from Krems to Melk
3. The St. Lawrence from Montreal to Quebec City, especailly the northern
part, where the route elevates a bit.
4. Around Lakes Superior and Huron

I've done the Mosel twice. It's good.

"Tom or Mary" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have noticed at the library books which describe the "100" things you
should do before you die or the "100" places you should visit before you
die. What are 100 bike rides or bike trails I should ride before I die.
High
on my list would be the one in Missouri "Katy."

Tom

Circumnavigate the etoile of the Arc de Triomphe then blast down the Champs
Elysees to Place de la Concorde during peak rush hour.

JJ said:

Circumnavigate the etoile of the Arc de Triomphe then blast down the Champs
Elysees to Place de la Concorde during peak rush hour.

....and then have a pair of Vanna White types zip you into a special
jersey and hand you some flowers!

--Karen D.

re: "I definitely recommend staying away from the Cabot Trail in the
Summer
and early September."

I rode the Cabot Trail two summers ago in July. Very peaceful and
beautiful. I'm not sure why my experience was so different than yours.
I've never heard anyone mention the Trail being "clogged" before. It's
a fairly remote place afterall. Just prior to visiting Cape Breton
Island we cycled Acadia National Park in Maine. Now that place is
seriously conjested! Someday I get around to posting a trip report.

Steve
www.steephill.tv bike travelogue

"[email hidden]" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I definitely recommend staying away from the Cabot Trail in the
Summer and early September. The roads are clogged with RVs. We had
many close calls from RV mirrors. The traffic backed up for 10
miles when a truck had trouble on one of the hills. Very dangerous
for bicyclist.

Not my experience when I rode it several years ago in mid July at the
end of a x-Canada ride. I will say that either North Mtn was on of the
toughest climbs of the trip or I was getting tired.