Cycling City Guides
Hand-curated guides to the best rides in 81 cycling cities worldwide — including how the prevailing wind and seasonal weather should shape your route choice. Pick a city to see its signature loops, climatology, and season-by-season advice.
West
Anchorage
Anchorage riding is unlike anywhere else — the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail hugs the inlet with mountain and glacier views, and summer daylight runs almost around the clock. The season is short and spectacular.
Open guideBend
Bend is a high-desert riding hub with the Cascade Lakes Highway, the McKenzie Pass climb, and a deep trail network. Altitude, dry air, and a short alpine season define the road riding.
Open guideEugene
Eugene — 'Track Town USA' — is a running and cycling town wrapped around the Willamette River, with the Ruth Bascom riverbank paths at its heart and the Coast Range and Cascades within a ride. Mild, wet, and green most of the year.
Open guideHonolulu
Honolulu riding offers year-round summer — the steep Tantalus climb, the Diamond Head loop, and coastal roads. The reliable trade winds and tropical heat are the constants.
Open guideLas Vegas
Las Vegas riding escapes the Strip fast — Red Rock Canyon and the River Mountains Loop offer world-class desert roads. Extreme heat and dry air define the calendar.
Open guideLos Angeles
LA riding spans the beach path, the Santa Monica Mountains canyons, and Griffith Park. The afternoon onshore breeze and the heat are the two factors that move the ride window earlier.
Open guidePalm Springs
Palm Springs is a winter cycling escape — a flat desert valley floor ringed by the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains, with the legendary Palms-to-Pines climb rising out of the heat. Glorious October to April, brutal in between.
Open guidePortland
Portland is a cycling-first city wedged between two rivers and a coast range. Prevailing winds come up the Gorge from the west — favorite loops are designed around that.
Open guideSacramento
Sacramento has one of the best bike paths in America — the American River Trail runs car-free for 30+ miles to Folsom. Valley heat and the Delta breeze set the daily window.
Open guideSan Diego
San Diego is year-round riding paradise — coastal climbs, flat island loops, and canyon roads. The afternoon sea breeze from the west is the main variable on most rides.
Open guideSan Francisco
SF is wind country with a coastal twist. The afternoon westerly through the Golden Gate is famously brutal. Morning is the riding window.
Open guideSan Jose
San Jose riding ranges from flat creek trails to the brutal Mt Hamilton climb. Mild South Bay weather means a long season; afternoon wind off the bay is the main variable.
Open guideSanta Barbara
Santa Barbara serves up Mediterranean coastal riding with a brutal foothill payoff — the famous Gibraltar Road climb. Mild weather all year makes it a dream training base.
Open guideSeattle
Seattle riding is built around the lakes and the trail network — the Burke-Gilman, Lake Washington, and Mercer Island laps. Marine air keeps it cool and the wind comes off Puget Sound from the south.
Open guideSpokane
Spokane riding follows the river through town on the long Centennial Trail, with dry inland-Northwest climbs and rolling Palouse roads to the south. A drier, sunnier counterpart to the coast.
Open guideMountain West
Albuquerque
Albuquerque riding sits a mile high against the Sandia Mountains — the flat Bosque trail along the Rio Grande contrasts with the massive Sandia Crest climb. Dry air and altitude define it.
Open guideBoise
Boise riding runs from the car-free Greenbelt along the river to the long Bogus Basin climb into the foothills. High-desert dry air gives a long, pleasant season.
Open guideBoulder
Boulder is the cycling-mecca cliché for a reason. Dry climate, low humidity, and 300+ riding days a year. Wind off the foothills is the deciding factor on most rides.
Open guideColorado Springs
Colorado Springs rides in the shadow of Pikes Peak, with red-rock parks, foothill canyons, and high plains to the east. At 6,000 feet the air is thin and dry, and the wind off the mountains sets the tone.
Open guideDenver
Denver riding mixes flat front-range trails with foothill climbs just west of town. Altitude and afternoon storms shape every summer ride; the wind decides which trail direction you start.
Open guideFlagstaff
Flagstaff sits at 7,000 ft in the pines — a high-altitude training destination with cool air, the Lake Mary Road, and the San Francisco Peaks. Altitude and a short, intense season define the riding.
Open guideFort Collins
Fort Collins is a dry, sunny college cycling town at the foot of the Rockies — the Poudre Canyon, Horsetooth Reservoir, and miles of quiet plains roads. Altitude and afternoon wind shape the rides.
Open guideMoab
Moab is red-rock country — towering canyon walls, the Colorado River, and pavement that winds between national parks. Famous for mountain biking, it's a stunning road-riding base too, best enjoyed outside the summer furnace.
Open guidePhoenix
Phoenix riding is all about beating the heat and using South Mountain and the canal paths. The desert sun dictates a dawn-or-dusk schedule for half the year.
Open guideSalt Lake City
Salt Lake riding means canyon climbs straight out of town — Emigration, Big and Little Cottonwood — plus the flat Antelope Island causeway. Altitude and canyon wind shape every ride.
Open guideSanta Fe
Santa Fe rides high and dry at 7,000 feet, with the Sangre de Cristo mountains rising right out of town. Long climbs, sweeping high-desert views, and thin clean air define riding here — once you've acclimated.
Open guideTucson
Tucson is a winter-training destination built around Mount Lemmon, the Saguaro loops, and a famous Saturday group ride. Heat management in summer and the long climb season define it.
Open guideMidwest
Chicago
Chicago riding is dominated by the Lakefront Trail and the constant lake-effect wind. North or south wind decides which way you start.
Open guideCleveland
Cleveland riding is anchored by the Metroparks 'Emerald Necklace' and the long Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath heading south. Lake Erie sets the weather and sends a steady wind off the water.
Open guideColumbus
Columbus riding is flat and trail-connected — the Olentangy and Scioto greenways run right through the city, with open farm roads beyond. Midwest wind is the main resistance.
Open guideDes Moines
Des Moines sits in the heart of trail country — RAGBRAI's home state — with the famous High Trestle Trail and a deep network of paved paths radiating into the farmland. Wide-open Iowa wind is the whole game.
Open guideDetroit
Detroit riding has been transformed by greenways — the Dequindre Cut and RiverWalk in the city, Belle Isle laps on the river, and Hines Drive out west. Flat terrain means wind is the only real resistance.
Open guideIndianapolis
Indianapolis riding is flat and trail-rich — the Monon and the Cultural Trail link the whole city. Open Midwest roads mean wind is the main resistance you'll meet.
Open guideKansas City
Kansas City riding mixes a growing trail network with rolling Missouri-side bluffs and flat Kansas-side roads. Open Midwest exposure means the prevailing south wind is the main thing you plan around.
Open guideMadison
Madison is a top US cycling city, set between two lakes with a deep trail network and the rolling Driftless hills to the west. A short, intense season makes the warm months count.
Open guideMilwaukee
Milwaukee rides along Lake Michigan, with the Oak Leaf Trail threading 100+ miles of car-free paths through the county and quiet farm roads opening up to the north. The lake both cools the summers and feeds a steady breeze.
Open guideMinneapolis
Minneapolis is a top-tier cycling city with the Grand Rounds and a deep trail network linking the lakes and the river. The season is short and intense; wind off the prairie is a constant.
Open guideSt. Louis
St. Louis riding pairs urban park loops with the legendary Katy Trail — the longest rail trail in America runs right past the metro. Humidity and Midwest wind define the year.
Open guideSouth
Asheville
Asheville is a Blue Ridge climbing town — the Parkway, Mount Mitchell, and endless mountain roads radiate from the valley. Elevation and afternoon mountain storms shape the summer.
Open guideAtlanta
Atlanta riding is rolling, wooded, and humid, with the Silver Comet Trail for flat miles and the north-side roads for hills. Heat and afternoon storms set the summer schedule.
Open guideAustin
Austin riding is about heat management and finding the rare windless day. South wind dominates spring/summer; north winds bring sharp cold fronts in winter.
Open guideBaltimore
Baltimore riding ranges from urban greenways to the long, rural NCR rail trail north of the city. Rolling Piedmont terrain and a humid mid-Atlantic climate shape the season.
Open guideCharlotte
Charlotte riding is rolling Piedmont terrain, anchored by the famous Booty Loop in Myers Park. Heat and humidity build through summer; the shoulders are long and pleasant.
Open guideChattanooga
Chattanooga is a scenic Southern climbing town wrapped around the Tennessee River — Lookout Mountain, Raccoon Mountain, and the riverfront. Humidity and afternoon storms shape the warm months.
Open guideDallas
Dallas riding centers on White Rock Lake and the Katy Trail, with open prairie roads to the north. The relentless south wind is the defining factor on every ride.
Open guideGreenville
Greenville punches far above its size in cycling — pro champions train here on Paris Mountain and the Swamp Rabbit Trail links it all. Rolling Upstate terrain and a long mild season make it a riding hub.
Open guideHouston
Houston riding is flat, fast, and built on the bayou greenways. Heat, humidity, and Gulf wind are the whole game — the trail network keeps you off the busy roads.
Open guideLouisville
Louisville rides through the Olmsted-designed Cherokee Park and out across the Ohio River into the rolling Indiana 'Knobs.' A long, green season is bracketed by humid summers and the river valley's own weather.
Open guideMemphis
Memphis riding centers on the Shelby Farms Greenline and the Big River Crossing over the Mississippi — the longest pedestrian-and-bike bridge across the river. Heat and humidity define the calendar.
Open guideMiami
Miami riding is flat, fast, and hot, centered on the Rickenbacker Causeway and Key Biscayne. Wind off the ocean and the heat-and-humidity index are the only real variables.
Open guideNashville
Nashville riding means rolling hills and the smooth, low-traffic Natchez Trace Parkway just southwest of town. Humidity and afternoon storms shape the warm months.
Open guideNew Orleans
New Orleans riding is dead flat and built on greenways and the lakefront. The whole challenge is heat, humidity, and the wind off Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf.
Open guideRaleigh
Raleigh and the Triangle ride on a deep greenway network plus the long American Tobacco Trail. Wooded, rolling, and humid — the trees keep the wind and sun off you.
Open guideRichmond
Richmond hosted the UCI Road World Championships for good reason — punchy cobbled climbs in town and the smooth Virginia Capital Trail running out to Williamsburg. Rolling and wooded throughout.
Open guideSan Antonio
San Antonio riding is built on the river greenways linking the missions, with Hill Country roads rising to the northwest. Heat and south wind shape the schedule most of the year.
Open guideSavannah
Savannah riding is flat, shaded, and coastal — historic squares in town, the rail trail out to the marsh, and the run to Tybee Island. Heat, humidity, and the sea breeze set the schedule.
Open guideTampa
Tampa is flat, warm, and built for winter miles, with waterfront boulevards, causeways over the bay, and long paved trails north of town. The trade-off is summer — heat, humidity, and near-daily storms push riding to dawn.
Open guideWashington
DC has one of the best trail networks of any US city — the Capital Crescent, Mount Vernon, and W&OD radiate out of town, with Hains Point and Beach Drive for laps. Summer humidity sets the ride time.
Open guideNortheast
Boston
Boston riding leans on the rail trails and river paths in close, with rolling roads to the west and north. Coastal wind and a short season make spring through fall precious.
Open guideBurlington
Burlington rides along Lake Champlain — the causeway bike path out to the islands is a New England classic, backed by rolling Green Mountain roads. A short, beautiful season packs in the miles.
Open guideNew York City
NYC riding is split between Central Park morning laps, the West Side bike path, and weekend escapes up to Nyack or the Palisades. Wind off the Hudson dictates which way you ride first.
Open guidePhiladelphia
Philadelphia riding centers on the Schuylkill River loop and the Wissahickon, with the famous Manayunk Wall for the climbers. A four-season climate makes spring and fall the sweet spots.
Open guidePittsburgh
Pittsburgh riding is defined by three rivers, steep hills, and the legendary Great Allegheny Passage. River trails keep it flat; the hills make it brutal when you leave them.
Open guideCanada
Montreal
Montreal is a passionate cycling city built on the Lachine Canal, the Mont Royal climb, and a deep bike-path network. The summer riding culture is huge; the winter is long and fierce.
Open guideToronto
Toronto riding runs along the Lake Ontario waterfront and up the ravine trails, with rolling roads in the hills to the north. A short, intense summer season makes the warm months count.
Open guideVancouver
Vancouver riding pairs the flat Stanley Park seawall with serious North Shore climbs and the dykes of Richmond. Mild, wet coastal weather means year-round riding for those who embrace the rain.
Open guideEurope
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the cycling capital of the world — pancake-flat, endlessly connected, and built for bikes. With no hills to fight, the wind off the North Sea is the only resistance you'll meet.
Open guideBerlin
Berlin riding is flat, green, and gloriously spacious — from the Tiergarten to the old Tempelhof airfield and the lakes beyond. Wide bike infrastructure makes the city easy; the open terrain leaves you to the wind.
Open guideCopenhagen
Copenhagen rivals Amsterdam as a cycling city — flat, supremely connected, with cycle superhighways out into the countryside. The North Sea wind and the long Nordic light cycle define the riding year.
Open guideDublin
Dublin riding runs from the flat coastal bays out to the Wicklow Mountains on the city's doorstep. Phoenix Park gives car-light miles in town; the Sally Gap and Howth Head give you the climbs and the views.
Open guideGirona
Girona is the adopted home of the pro peloton — a medieval city ringed by quiet farm lanes, brutal test climbs, and the Costa Brava coast. The Mediterranean climate makes it a year-round training base.
Open guideLondon
London riding escapes the traffic via the Royal Parks and the lanes of Surrey and Hertfordshire. Mild, damp weather means a long season — the main variables are rain showers and the wind off the North Sea.
Open guideMallorca
Mallorca is the winter-training capital of European cycling. The Serra de Tramuntana mountains rise straight from the sea in the north-west, while the flat Es Pla plain in the centre offers easy miles — all under a mild island sky.
Open guideMunich
Munich is a cyclist's city with the Alps on the horizon — the Isar river path runs right through the center, and the foothills and lakes to the south offer endless road riding. Flat in town, climbing within an hour.
Open guideNice
Nice sits where the Mediterranean meets the Alps, which is why so many pros live here. From the seafront Promenade you can be on a 3,000-foot col within an hour, then descend back to the coast for a café.
Open guideParis
Paris riding centres on the two great Bois — Boulogne and Vincennes — with the Seine quays for car-free miles and the Vallée de Chevreuse for hills. A mild climate keeps the season long.
Open guideVienna
Vienna pairs a flat, car-free Danube corridor with the vineyard climbs of the Vienna Woods on the city's edge. The Donauradweg makes easy miles; the Kahlenberg gives you a real ascent without leaving town.
Open guideAsia
Australia
Melbourne
Melbourne is one of the world's great road-cycling cities — the dawn Beach Road bunch, the Boulevard climbs, and the Dandenong Ranges. Famously changeable weather is the local joke and the main variable.
Open guideSydney
Sydney riding mixes Centennial Park laps with the wild coastal road through the Royal National Park and the Northern Beaches. Mild year-round weather means the seasons here run opposite the northern calendar.
Open guideAfrica
Want your city covered? Email guides@ridebyweather.com.