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Urban Off-Road
Bike's Top 15 Cities in
North America
By Monique Cole
Let's face it: If our entire world revolved
around mountain biking, we would all live in Crested Butte, Colo.,
or Snowshoe, W.Va. But we probably have other interests, like
nightlife, a career that reaches beyond bike repair, or maybe
the opportunity to date individuals whose vocabulary is not limited
to "dude," "gnarly," and a few miscellaneous
conjunctions. Well for those who want to have it all, we have
compiled a list of 15 of the best cities in North America for
mountain biking.
In writing this article, we found some
interesting trends. Deer are as common to a city's trails as
rats are to its sewers. Like Muslims flocking to Mecca, North
Americans will drive as many as 21 hours to ride in Moab. "Ride
Responsibly" is a common mantra among urban dwellers as
high traffic threatens to close their favorite trails.
Our completely non-scientific process
of elimination included surfing the Internet, perusing guide
books, and surveying countless vagabond cyclists. The qualifying
cities may not have 200 miles of single track within their boundaries,
but they all have some urban dirt trails and easy driving access
to off-road gold mines. And they have other mountain biker friendly
things going for them, like micro-breweries, coffee shops, and
job opportunities. Maybe you will be inspired to pack your bags
and move. We hope you will at least consider bringing your bike
along on your next business trip to one of these cities.
ASHEVILLE, NC
City: 61,607; Metro Area: 174,821
As "the eastern gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains,"
Asheville gets a steady flow of tourism from the metro areas
of the East Coast. The Pisgah National Forest and Great Smoky
Mountains National Park surround the city to the north, west
and south. Because of high traffic, even bike store owners are
discouraging visitors from biking in the Bent Creek area within
Asheville. "It's getting so much use just from the locals,
says Claudia Nix, owner of Liberty Bicycles and secretary of
the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club. "Sometimes there are 100 cars
a day parked there." Bike access to this "experimental
forest" is currently under review. Bob Geyer, also of the
Blue Ridge Bicycle Club adds, "If everyone who used the
trails -- bikers, hikers and horseback riders -- also maintained
the trails, we would have no problems."
Local rides
Fletcher Fields, Spencer Branch,
Yancey Ridge are favorite trails in the Pisgah National Forest.
There are campgrounds in North Mills River and Davidson River.
Road trips
Tsali Recreation Area includes
a 40-mile single track that winds around the edge of Fontanna
Lake. Nantahala Outdoor Center, Wolf Laurel, and the ski areas
near Boone also offer great riding.
Typical terrain
Trails run through pine, mountain
laurel and rhododendron forests and vary from mountainous with
river rock to flat, converted railroad beds. Springs and river
crossings mean year-round mud. The Davidson River area is so
lush it is considered rain forest.
Wildlife
Deer, turkey, grouse rabbits,
birds, squirrels, black snakes, copperheads, rattle snakes.
Bonus points
Called the "Paris of the
South," downtown Asheville has 20 outdoor cafes.
Recommended reading, maps, resources
"Off the Beaten Track,"
by Jim Parham. An excellent waterproof map of Pisgah is available
from the Forest Service. Pisgah District Ranger Office: 704-877-3265,
Nantahala Outdoor Center 704-488-2175, ext. 188; Blue Ridge Bicycle
Club http://www.main.nc.us/BRBC, 704-274-7774, bob@hbdi.com
Bike Shops
Liberty Bicycles 704-684-1085,
Carolina Fatz 704-665-7744
AUSTIN, TX
City: 465,622; Metro: 781,572
Not all of Texas is flat. In the midst
of West Texas Hill Country lies Austin with its green hills,
limestone bluffs, and abundant lakes. Sure it gets hot and sticky
in Austin in the summer, but you are never far from a cool swimming
hole, river or lake.
Local rides
Within Austin you will find
Barton Creek Greenbelt (easy riding with a 68-degree spring at
the trailhead), Emma Long Motorcross Park (more technical with
limestone ledges and loose rock), and Forest Ridge Nature Preserve
(two-thirds of the single track has been closed to protect endangered
wildlife). The city is surrounded by huge ranches and other private
lands that have a gold mine of single track, but not all property
owners extend the infamous Texas hospitality -- rider beware.
Road trips
The mountain bike parks of Rocky
Hill Ranch and Bluff Creek Ranch offer some well-planned trail
systems for a small fee. Further out of town, great trails are
found in Waco and the Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera.
Typical terrain
Hill Country is full of angular
limestone ledges, loose rock and quick, steep climbs. In a semi-arid
tropical zone, Austin itself is very green with mesquite, conifers,
oak, cedar, grasses and wildflowers. Outside of town you will
find more typical Texas ranch land with loamy soil and pine trees.
Wildlife
Deer, raccoon, snakes, squirrels,
skunks, an occasional bobcat.
Bonus points
About 20 bars crowd 6th Street
and offer intimate settings for performances by musicians like
Chris Duarte, Eric Johnson, Bonnie Raitt, and John Cale. The
four-day South by Southwest Festival in March features over 500
bands playing at venues across town.
Resources
"Mountain biking in Austin
and Central Texas," by Beckos and Ricardo; Austin Ridge
Riders 512-454-2185
Bike shops
Freewheelin' 512-477-6789
Bicycle Sport Shop 512-477-3472, hillclimb@aol.com
CALGARY, AB
City: 749,073
Nestled in the foothills of the Canadian
Rockies at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers, Calgary
is the gateway to Banff and Jasper National Parks. Given the
area's short riding season and the sheer abundance of challenging
trails, it would take several lifetimes for a mountain biker
to get bored here.
Local rides
Nose Hill Park (200 acres with
all single track trails) and Fish Creek Park (mountain bike access
under review) are both within city limits. Kananaskis Valley
Provincial Park has so many trails it "makes Banff look
tiny," according to Loyal Ma of Rocky Mountain Bike 'n Board.
Local races are held on the ski and hiking trails in Bragg Creek
and at the Canmore Nordic Center.
Road trips
Destinations include Banff National
Park and Sunshine Ski Resort, where a 40-minute gondola ride
lets you spend all day on downhills. Thanks to a short riding
season, Calgary die-hards are known to make the 21-hour drive
to Moab, Utah in search of sunshine.
Typical terrain
Massive altitude changes are
common -- you start at 3,500 feet and then go up -- and the climbs
are made more technical by loose rocks. Spectacular views abound;
crowds don't.
Wildlife
Grizzly bears (bear bells are
standard equipment), moose, elk, deer, sheep, partridge
Bonus points
Prices for food and lodging
are biker friendly and tend to be about 20 percent cheaper than
in Vancouver.
Resources
"Backcountry Biking in
the Canadian Rockies," by Eastcott and Lepp
Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance 403-284-5560
Bike shops
Ridley's Cycle & Fitness
403-283-1421
Spokes & Attire 403-283-1523
DENVER, CO
1,848,319 (Metro Area)
Denver is sandwiched between the Great
Plains to the east and the equally great Rocky Mountains to the
west. After rolling through the flat plains of Kansas with all
their worldly belongings in covered wagons, and seeing the monumental
road block of the Rockies, it's a wonder any of the early pioneers
made it past Denver. Aside from some great Foothills riding in
the metro area, Denver is also a gateway city to Colorado's mountain
biking meccas.
Local rides
Downtown the Cherry Creek Bike
Path offers six miles of fast, twisty single track. The Colorado
Trail starts in Nearby Chatfield Reservoir and continues to Durango.
Denver's neighbor, Jefferson County, allows bikes in its parks:
Elk Meadows, White Ranch, Apex, Matthews Winters, Hogback, Bear
Creek Canyon, Alderfer/Three Sisters, Mt. Falcon, Deer Creek
Canyon, and Reynolds. Popular trails in nearby Boulder include
Walker Ranch and Betasso Preserve.
Road trips
All the ski towns along the
I-70 corridor offer great trails -- Summit County, Winter Park,
Durango, Crested Butte, and Vail are some favorites. Denverites
will escape crowds in Laramie, Wyom. and the Black Hills of South
Dakota. Moab is six hours away.
Typical terrain
The Front Range has an abundance
of steep, loose, rocky trails with lots of switchbacks and water
bars. Vegetation ranges from the sagebrush and yucca of the plains
to the conifer and aspen forests of the mountains.
Wildlife
Deer, elk, bighorn sheep, black
squirrels, falcons, an occasional mountain lion or black bear.
Bonus points
Of the 78 micro-breweries and
brew pubs in Colorado 13 are found in Denver and nine in Boulder.
Resources
"Denver Rides" and
"Boulder Rides" by Dave Rich. There are also specific
guidebooks too numerous to mention for most of the ski towns.
Jefferson County Open Space has maps of its parks, 303-271-5925
Bike shops
Denver Spokes 303-777-1720,
Mojo Wheels 303-985-4487
LOS ANGELES, CA
3,485,398 (City)
8,863,164 (Metro Area)
"When I'm riding in the Santa Monica
Mountains near my house, I think that if I had paid $500 for
a mountain bike tour and this was it, I wouldn't ask for my money
back," says Los Angeleno Dave Story. Despite its smog and
traffic jams, the megalopolis contains vast tracts of wilderness.
The Santa Monica Mountains run from Hollywood west to the Pacific
and the San Gabriels run east from Pasadena.
Best trails within city or 1-hour
drive (preferably single track)
In the Santa Monica Mountains,
there are sweet trails in Topanga Canyon, Pt. Magu, and Malibu
Creek state parks. Lesser known trails exist in the Angeles National
Forest near Pasadena. A nine-mile grind up Mt. Wilson Toll Road
affords an incredible 14-mile single-track descent through several
ecosystems.
Best road trips (longer than 1 hour)
For variety, Los Angelenos travel
to Big Bear, Mammoth, Death Valley, Santa Barbara, and San Luis
Obispo. The more adventurous will drive to St. George, Brian
Head, and Moab in Utah and Baja California in Mexico.
Typical terrain
Cactus and chaparral are found
along firmly packed trails, some are dusty and sandy. Angeles
National Forest contains areas of true alpine forests.
Wildlife
Lizards, rabbits, coyotes, bobcats
and mountain lions, hawks, eagles, ravens
Bonus points
After a hard ride you can chow
down on inexpensive dishes from countries as far flung as Guatemala
or Bombay at the small restaurants that reflect L.A.'s ethnic
diversity.
Resources
"The Mountain Biking and
Hiking Trails of the Santa Monica Mountains," by Fine Edge
Productions (map). Santa Monica Mountains 800-533-PARK, Angeles
National Forest 818-574-1613
Bike shops
Helen's Cycles 310-829-1836,
Beverly Hills Bike Shop 310-275-2453
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
City: 368,383; Twin Cities Metro
Area: 2,464,124
Considered the cultural heart of the
midwest, Minneapolis is home to the Minnesota Orchestra, Minneapolis
Institute of Arts, and the Guthrie Theatre. Located across from
St. Paul on the Mississippi River near its confluence with the
Minnesota River, the city also has 20 lakes and more than 100
parks. All that water makes for long, cold winters and humid,
mosquito-filled summers, so Minneapolis riders truly know how
to appreciate a 70-degree day with clear skies.
Local rides
Within the metro area you will
find varied single track in Terrace Oaks, Bloomington River Bottoms,
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve. Seven miles of single track and
rolling grass ski trails are found in Afton Alps Ski Area, just
outside of town.
Road trips
At Lutsen Ski Resort the Gondola
takes you to a whopping 1,100 feet where you can enjoy views
of Lake Superior before heading down a technical descent. About
three hours away is the Chequamegon Area of Wisconsin with its
famous Birkebeiner Trail and fat tire festival. Hundreds of miles
of gravel and dirt roads and snowmobile trails are found near
Grand Marais, Minn.
Typical terrain
Soft loamy soil, tight single
track through the woods -- mix of hardwoods and pine. Some single
tracks are so narrow your bar ends catch on trees.
Wildlife
Moose, deer, fox, mosquitoes
Bonus points
Some of the best bratwurst this
side of Germany can be found in Minnesota.
Resources
"Twin Cities Bicycling,"
by Sjoquist and "North Country Guide to Mountain Biking,"
by Bijold, Breckenridge, Owen and Storm.
Minnesota Coalition of Bicyclists 612-452-0907
Bike shops
Alternative Bike & Board
Shop (612) 374-3635
Freewheel Bicycle (612) 339-2219
PHOENIX, AZ
City: 983,403, Metro Area: 2,122,101
Dry and hot are the best words to describe
Phoenix. Annual rainfall is about seven inches and January temperatures
are a cool 50 degrees compared to July days that average 90 degrees.
"You get acclimated to the heat, though," says Wade
Dollar of Sun Cyclery who commutes to work year-round on his
mountain bike. "And with the season being so long, you really
get in good shape." When the temperatures rise to a blistering
110 degrees, you can always make a short trip east to the higher
elevations of Tonto National Forest with its 7,000-foot peaks.
Local rides
You can ride for three hours
inside Phoenix without ever doing the same single track twice.
Between the two parks of South Mountain and Phoenix Mountains
there are 65 miles of trails on a total of 23,500 acres. Some
favorite rides are Trail 100, Desert Classic, Mormon, National,
Ridgeline, and Javelina. The Squaw Peak area, Pinnacle Peak and
the Estrella Mountain Range are all a quick drive away.
Best road trips (longer than 1 hour)
Mount Elden near Flagstaff,
Mount Lemon and Chiva Falls in the Tucson area and the Santa
Catalina and Bradshaw ranges are popular road trips. Sedona has
slickrock type riding.
Typical terrain
Sonoran Desert with sand, rocks,
Saguaros, and other cactus that are most beautiful in spring.
Mt. Lemon rises to almost 9,000 feet and the area has forested
fern groves and cold springs.
Wildlife
Quail, road runners, coyotes,
bear, deer, rattlesnakes, sidewinders.
Bonus points
It's easy to get a job in Phoenix
where the unemployment rate is only 3.3 percent.
Resources
"Fat Tire Tales & Trails:
Mountain Bike Fun in Arizona," by Comic Ray. "Phoenix
Mountains Trail Guide," from the City of Phoenix, 602-262-7901.
Bike Shops
Sun Cyclery 602-971-0730, Trailhead
Outdoors 602-484-7758
PITTSBURGH, PA
City: 369,879, Metro area: 2,242,798
Pittsburgh is no longer the dirty, smoky,
industrial armpit that it once was. The last of its steel plants
closed in the 1980's and an urban redevelopment plan begun in
the 1940s has cleaned up the city's act and air. An abundance
of city and state parks and local ski areas keep the mountain
bikers happy in Pittsburgh.
Local rides
In town Frick Park has 20 miles
of tight, steep single track. Settler's Cabin, Boy's Park, Babbington
State Park, Seven Springs, North Park, and Hidden Valley Ski
Resorts are all less than an hour away.
Road trips
The Allegheny National Forest,
Canaan Valley, W.Va. and Snowshoe, W.Va. are popular weekend
destinations.
Typical terrain in area
Rooty, rocky, muddy, hilly East
Coast woods. Poison ivy will attack your legs and thorns your
tires. Weather is humid making rides after 10:00 a.m. in July
and August miserable.
Wildlife
Whitetail deer, bears, foxes,
turkey, pigeons
Bonus points
Spectator sports: Pittsburgh
supports professional hockey, football and baseball teams.
Resources
"Mountain Bike Adventures
in Northwest Pennsylvania," by Barry Bryan
Pittsburgh Off-Road Club (PORC) 412-492-9909
Bike shops
Shadyside Ski & Bike 412-683-9600,
Pennsylvania Mountain Exchange 412-381-6727
PORTLAND, OR
Population: 437,319
Portland is sandwiched between
the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges and between the Willamette
and Columbia rivers. A relatively mild climate allows for year-round
cycling on a variety of trails ranging from river bluffs to mountain
ridges.
Local rides
In the eastern part of the city
Forest Hills Park has 50 miles of dirt trails. Other areas close
to town include the Molalla River corridor, the Coast Range,
Hood River, Powell Butte and Mt. Hood, Wash.
Road trips
Popular destinations include
Puget Sound, Lewis River Trail, McKenzie River Trail,
Three Corner Rock, and the Cascade Foothills.
Typical terrain
Forest Hills Park is very lush
with firs, cedars and ferns. Portland's ash laden clay is dusty
in the summer and muddy and rocky the rest of the year. Many
trails run along ridges with views of mounts Baker, Hood and
St. Helens and the Cascades.
Wildlife
Elk, cougar, moles, voles, red
hawks, bald eagles, beavers. Deer and bear have both been sighted
in Forest Hills Park.
Bonus points
Portland has it all -- coffee
to rival Seattle's, micro-brews to rival Denver's and live entertainment
to rival Austin's. And with Hood River Gorge and Mt. Hood nearby,
you can sailboard or snowboard when you're not biking or imbibing.
Resources
"50 Choice Single Tracks"
by Michael Orendurff; "The Single Track Anthology,"
by Tyler Barnes & Kent Reynolds; PUMP- Portland United Mountain
Pedalers, 503-223-3954
Bike Shops
Fat Tire Farm 503-222-3276,
Bike Gallery 503-222-3821
RAPID CITY, SD
City: 54,523, metro area: 81,343
With the Black Hills just to the west
and the Badlands to the east, it's no wonder Rapid City has become
a magnet for offroad cyclists. Bikers of the leather rather than
lycra kind congregate every summer in nearby Sturgis for the
town's famous motorcycle rally.
Local rides
There are some short trails on hills within Rapid City including
"M" Hill, but most of the riding is out of town. There
are 6,000 miles of trails and unpaved roads in the Black Hills.
The 111-mile Centennial Trail spans the Black Hills from North
to South and offers extremely challenging riding. Sheep Mountain
is a remote, unspoiled area near the Badlands.
Road trips
With 6,000 miles of trails in
your backyard, why would you go anywhere?
Typical terrain
In the hills: Black Hill spruce,
ponderosa pine, aspen, and birch. To the east: prairie grasslands
and Badlands with evergreens, sage, yucca, and cactus.
Wildlife
In the hills: Buffalo, antelope,
bighorn sheep, mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, turkey, mountain
goats. In Badlands: deer, prairie dogs, turkeys, variety of birds.
Bonus points
Legendary rock climbs are a
short drive from Rapid City -- the Needles area of the Black
Hills and Devil's Tower in Wyoming.
Resources
"Bike Rides in the Black
Hills, Badlands, & Prairies of South Dakota," by Daley
and Kirsch (almost out of print). Trails Illustrated topo maps
and Forest Service maps are available at bike stores.
Bike shops
Mountain Mania 605-343-6596,
Two Wheeler Dealer Cycle & Fitness
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Population: 1,072,227 (Metro area)
If it weren't for the heavy influence
of Mormons and their aversion to alcohol and caffeine, Utah would
probably be over-run with mountain bikers. Look at a map and
you will see why. Almost the entire state is green designating
various public parks. Salt Lake City is set in a high (4,400
ft) desert valley, surrounded by the peaks of the Wasatch and
Oquirrh mountains. While legendary trails are found within a
four-hour drive, there are also plenty of dirt playgrounds within
biking distance of downtown.
Local rides
Tanner Park is a gully full
of trails with good spring riding, jumps, etc. Shoreline Trail,
Perry's Hollow and Ridgeline Trail are also within the city.
A dirt path runs from North Salt Lake City to Antelope Island,
which is famous for the country's largest buffalo herd. Countless
other trails are found in the nearby ski areas.
Road Trips
Flaming Gorge National Recreation
Area, Moab, Brian Head, Lake Powell, Uintah Mountains, Wasatch
Mountains. In the Utah Valley a favorite trail is Hot Pots which
passes a couple of waterfalls on the way to a natural hot springs.
Typical terrain
Terrain varies from high desert
to alpine forest with all types of trail surfaces from loose
rock to hard-packed dirt and slickrock. Awe-inspiring rock formations
abound in Southern Utah.
Wildlife
Deer, bear, elk, porcupine,
bald eagles, buffalo
Bonus points
Some of the best powder skiing
in North America is found within a half-hour drive of the city
including the resorts of Solitude, Snowbird, Alta and Brighton.
Resources
"Mountain Biking the Wasatch
and Uintahs," and "Mountain Biking Utah's Canyon &
Plateau Country," both by Gregg Bromka; "Wasatch &
Beyond," by Matt Kirksey. Bureau of Land Management, 801-977-4300;
Wasatch-Cache National Forest 801-625-5112
Bike shops
Rocky Mountain Surf Company
801-466-0098, Guthrie Bicycles 801-581-9977
SAN FRANCISCO
723,959 (city)
1,603,678 (metro area)
San Francisco is mountain biking's birth
place and the sport continues to thrive there. The weather is
perfect for year-round riding with very little rain and the city's
famous fog providing atmosphere. San Francisco lies on a peninsula
between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, one of the world's
most beautiful natural harbors. A 30-minute pedal across the
scenic Golden Gate Bridge takes you to another peninsula and
Marin County.
Local rides
Golden Gate Park has a huge
network of single track trails and Presidio National Park includes
15 miles of trails that meander through forest with views of
the ocean and the bay. Across the Golden Gate in Marin County,
Mt. Tamalpais and China Camp offer fabulous riding. Farther out
of town there are trail networks in the San Bruno Mountains and
East Bay Regional Park District.
Road trips
Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, Skyline
Park in Mendecino County.
Typical terrain
You can find sand, hard-pack
and mud all on one trail, according to Chris Jorgensen of Open
Road Bicycles. Most trails are through pine forests with the
area's unique Monterey Pines along the coast.
Wildlife
Hawks, deer, mountain lions
(scarce), porcupines, skunks, raccoons
Bonus points
Fresh seafood is everywhere
-- try the fish monger stands at Fisherman's Wharf where you
can buy a fresh crab sandwich for about $4.
Resources
"Bay Area Mountain Bike
Trails," Conrad Boisvert, "The Marin Mountain Bike
Guide," by Armor Todd. Clubs: Different Spokes 415-681-5720;
WOMBATS 415-459-0980; Bay Area Ridge Trail Council 415-391-0697.
Bike shops
Open Road Bicycles 415-753-6272;
City Cycles 415-346-2242
SANTA FE, NM
City: 55,859
Santa Fe is where the high desert meets
the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 7,000 feet. In winter
cyclists head for the desert to the south and in summer they
head for the Sangre de Cristos to the east. Santa Fe's rich past
is displayed in its Spanish colonial and adobe architecture and
numerous museums.
Local rides
Just on the outskirts of town
is the technical, steep Atalaya Mountain Trail. Otherwise, most
of the local trails are off of the road to Santa Fe Ski area
including Windsor, Borrego and Black Canyon trails. The motorcross
area of La Tierra offers fire road riding and some single track.
Road trips
San Juan Mountains above Los
Alamos and Taos and the Rio Grande and Pecos River valleys offer
in-state riding. The South Boundary Trail near Angel Fire is
classic high-altitude single track through an aspen forest. Other
Four Corners destinations include Moab, Utah, Durango, Colo.,
and Flagstaff, Ariz.
Typical terrain
Terrain varies from the sand,
sage, pinion and juniper of the desert to the hard-packed dirt,
evergreens and aspen of the alpine zone much higher. There is
little user conflict on these trails and the general atmosphere
is friendly.
Wildlife
Wild turkey, quail, coyote,
cottontails, jack rabbits, and an occasional bobcat, elk, black
bear, and mountain lion.
Bonus points
Santa Fe has a thriving arts
community dating back to before the turn of the century. Artist
Georgia O'Keefe, author Lew Wallace and musician Aaron Copeland
lived there. Musicians Herbie Mann, Dave Grusin and Ottmar Liebert
still reside in Santa Fe.
Resources
"Santa Fe Area Mountain
Bike Trails," by Craig Martin, Books: "Mountain Biker's
Guide to New Mexico," by Sarah Bennet; Santa Fe National
Forest 505-988-6940
Bike shops
New Mexico Bike & Sports
505-820-0809; City Different Bicycles 505-983-4473
SEATTLE, WA
516,259 city proper
1,972,961 in the greater metropolitan area
Rain, coffee and the fatal angst of
Kurt Cobain are three things that come to mind when one thinks
of Seattle. Add mountain biking to that mix. Spectacular mountains
dominate the horizons -- the Olympics to the east and Cascades
to the west. You can easily catch a view of 14,410-foot Mt. Ranier
on clear days. And, yes, there are clear days. Average annual
precipitation is only 35 inches and there is measurable rainfall
a mere 150 days out of the year. Temperatures average 41 degrees
in January and 64 degrees in July meaning it is rarely too cold
or too hot to ride.
Local rides
While Seattle is very bicycle
friendly with designated lanes on its main streets and bike racks
on its municipal buses, there are few dirt trails open to bikes
within city limits. In town there are short unpaved trails in
Woodland Park with fun jumps and singletrack. There's a large
community of bike messengers, some of whom congregate at the
University of Washington at night for trials riding. Great single
track is found on Tiger Mountain near Issaquah.
Road trips
Seattleites are likely to road
trip to trails near Mount St. Helens, Cougar, Capitol Forest
(Olympic Peninsula), Wenatchee, Greenwater and Hood River in
Oregon. Winthrop is worth the six-hour drive with single track
similar to that found in Colorado -- "pretty fat stuff"
in the words of Pat Conrardy of Gregg's Greenlake Cycle.
Typical terrain
Technical single track over
mud, rocks and roots, through dense dark forest. Old growth forest
is found on the Olympic Peninsula.
Wildlife
Raccoons, squirrels, occasional
black bears, bald eagles, hawks, woodpeckers, blue jays.
Bonus points
At every intersection in downtown Seattle there is a java
shop on at least one corner, sometimes on all four. Experts believe
the city would come to a screeching and grumpy halt if the bean
flow was ever cut off.
Resources
"Kissing the Trail: Greater
Seattle Mountain Bike Adventures," by John Zilly, Olympic
National Forest 206-956-2300, Winthrop Ranger District 509-996-2266.
Bike Shops
Bike Stop, 206-622-4060, Gregg's
Greenlake Cycle, Inc. (206) 523-1819
Toronto, ON
City: 635,395; Metro: 2,275,771
You get off work at 5:00, bike over to Dawn Valley and hit the
technical single track, then ride over to McSoreley's Pub where
no one seems to mind that you, your friends, and your bikes are
covered in mud. This could be you if you lived in Toronto. The
city is located on the shores of Lake Ontario at the terminus
of the St. Lawrence Seaway. There are no sizable mountains in
the area, but ravines and rolling hills will keep climbing fiends
happy.
Local rides
In downtown Toronto the Dawn
Valley Park system has a lot of ravines and single track. Within
an hour you can ride in Durham Forest, Kelso Provincial Park,
Hardwood Hills, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, and about 10 other
trails on private land.
Road trips
Kolapore, Three Stages, Lorie Forest, Haliburton Forest,
Rideau Area, Gatneau Hills, Ganeraska Provincial Park, Algonquin
Provincial Park are sweet destinations.
Typical terrain
In town you will enjoy views
of Georgian Bay and Lorie Hills, technical rocky trails, lots
of climbing. Outside of town you will find a variety from sandy
soil to clay-based, off-camber trails. Hardwood forests are the
norm.
Wildlife
Squirrels, foxes, porcupines,
raccoons, deer, moose.
Bonus points
It seems all good trails end
in a pub near Toronto. Aside from McSoreley's near Dawn Valley,
try the Mono Inn near Mono Cliffs Provincial Park.
Resources
There are no guidebooks to the area, but any local store
will tell you where the trails are and most offer guided tours.
Canadian Mountain Bicycling Alliance 416-445-9997, Dawn Valley
Mountain Bicycling Association 416-445-9997
Bike shops
Two Sports Swap 416-481-0249,
Sporting Life Bikes 416-485-1611
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