10 Best Cycling Cities in the United States

culled from:http://www.about.com/travel

 

1. The beaches

Thailand gets millions of visitors each year. Yet, it has some of the most unspoiled beaches in the world. The sight of the powdery white sands of Thailand’s beaches running up to the emerald waters is likely to make up for you some of the most beautiful memories that you will ever have. These beaches don’t back out on thick, urban chaos, either. More often than not, you’re likely to see even more nature – dense, tropical forests abundant in wildlife. Much of your time in Thailand, though, will usually be taken up simply soaking in the beauty of the beaches.

2. The cultural attractions

From temples and palaces to museums and traditional shows, Thailand is a cultural paradise. One of their first places that you should head to is the King’s 150-year-old residence, the Grand Palace of 1782. With dazzling architecture and spectacularly landscaped grounds, it’s a must-see.

3. Durango, Colorado

If you like mountain biking more than paved cycling, Durango offers access to a wide variety of spectacular dirt trails – switchbacks, down hills and other great routes. For paved cycling, the Animus River Trail that runs 7 miles along the length of Durango is picturesque, calm and inviting.

4. Tucson, Arizona

As Tucson cools down over winter, it begins to attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts from around the country, who love the challenging cycling terrain that it offers. Tucson also has paved cycling – 700 miles of bike lanes and a car-free Urban Loop that’s 50 miles long.

5. Davis, California

Home of the US Bicycling Hall of Fame, Davis is called the bike capital of America. It deserves the title because nearly every one of the main roads has bike lanes. One in five Davis residents commute to work on their bicycles.

6. New York City, New York

On Memorial Day 2013, New York City launched America’s largest bike share plan with more than 5000 bicycles spread out over 300 bike stations all over the city. The city has great bike rentals and hundreds of miles of bike lanes, too.

7. Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville’s claim to cycling fame comes from its 100-mile Louisville Loop bicycling trail that the city plans to expand. One day soon, cyclists will be able to go anywhere in the city on safer cycling trails. If you find yourself in Louisville and don’t have your own bicycle, the city even has its own bike sharing program called the Louisville B-Cycle.

8. Missoula, Montana

Montana may sound like a place where you’d see more horses and pickups on the street than bicycles, but the city of Missoula has steadily added bike lanes and trails for years. If you’d like something off-road, Rattlesnake Recreation Area, Blue Mountain and Pattee Canyon can give you a great variety of cycling fun.

9. Washington DC

While DC is spread out, it’s spectacularly picturesque, with its parks and monuments. With bike rentals dotting the city, it’s an enjoyable place to ride a bike in. If you’d like a dedicated cycling trail, the C&O Canal Trail runs 185 miles along the Potomac River, all the way to Maryland.

10. Austin, Texas

Austin is a surprisingly cycling-friendly town. Not only is it home to the Lance Armstrong Bikeway that runs through the town, it has Texas Hill Country too that offers great variety of off-road trails.
With dedicated bike tracks and populations that are extremely bicycle friendly, these are wonderful places to try pedaling in. What’s your favorite cycling city?