Cycling in the United States
Photo: GeneMJ530, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Within the United States, you'll encounter untold thousands of miles of outstanding cycling options. On offer; anything from short 24-hour overnighters, to grandiose and life-changing multi-month odysseys. But the toughest challenge? Selecting the right route for you. Your passions and previous experiences will help guide you through the bewildering array of road surfaces, climates, and elevations that splay out before you. Intrepid explorers might craft a custom route from the nations' capillary network of crisscrossing roads, paths, trails, and greenways. But for most, following in the footsteps of those who have come before will provide the best bang for your buck as it were. Follow any of the routes listed below, or combine the best bits of several to choose your own adventure. Alternately, pick one personal highlight and work backwards from there. As always, it pays to do your research! Remember, what follows is only a very broad outline of the possibilities to consider, when you're considering cycling in the United States.
RegionsYep. Colorado is the undisputed heavyweight champion of cycling in the United States.
CitiesFor those without months to spend spinning your way across the country, consider the cycling options offered in these American cities.
TrailsIf you're planning a once in a lifetime adventure, you could do worse than to include any of these routes in your journey:
PlanningIn America, it's rare to have a rail-trail run for more than a handful of miles. So for longer trips, you'll need to string together dozens of trails and work to fill in the gaps between.
EventsOn any given day there may be dozens to hundreds of cycling events taking place across the nation. They tend to fall into one of three categories. The first is racing, where you'll need a USA Cycling Permit to take part.
Get aroundVery generally speaking, the majority of public transit in America is quite capable of handling bicycles. Almost any city bus will have a front mounted bike rack.
Stay safeCycling is not an inherently dangerous undertaking. But, since you'll be sharing the road with motorists, it never hurts to keep a few basics in mind:
Cope
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Cycling in the United States" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: GeneMJ530, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons