What makes a ride great?

Opinions vary when it comes to determining the qualities of a great ride, but let’s start with the premise that rides should be scenically beautiful, safe and above all, FUN! This website aims to help cyclists pick rides that match their abilities, bike, and safety preferences.

Our time is valuable so it’s disheartening to drive to a new venue only to discover it unsuitable for us.  Obviously, we all have different opinions about what makes a ride great. We are different people and like different things. Age, experience, fitness level and technical riding ability affect our choices too.  But these are the specific qualities the author considers when deciding whether or not a ride is included as a “Great Ride”.

1.  Scenery – Visual stimulation and scenic variety are necessary.  We need to be entertained by what whizzes past us as we pedal. “Ooh. Aah. Wow. OMG!” The best scenery brings out these exclamations in us. The bigger the “wow”, the better. The more often the “wow” the better. Variety is the spice of life. Staring at the same thing long enough becomes tedious. Riding mile after mile through a corridor of trees is especially numbing. Some open countryside with ever-changing views is perfect.

2.  Safety –  It’s awfully hard to have fun while fearing for your life. Crashing on a difficult trail or being hit by a vehicle are legitimate concerns.  Car-free paths and gravel roads with slow-moving traffic make wonderful rides.  Busy roads with little to no shoulder are miserable.  Easy mountain bike trails with no technical features offer up a small challenge without much risk of serious injury.  The presence of heavy traffic, very rooty terrain, gap jumps, super skinny bridges or height exposure automatically eliminates a ride from this website.

3. Hills – Riding on flat terrain is definitely easier than struggling up big hills, but riding too long without a change in elevation can  eventually grow tiresome. Hills require a change in body position and demand use of different muscle groups.  They also allow rest and recovery while coasting down. Yes, we need a moderate level of fitness to climb comfortably (or an electric motor) but even small bumps can add excitement. And once you’ve put in the hard work of pedalling up, the excitement of flying down the other side feels all the more deserved.

4. Twists and turns – A long straight road or trail appears endless. But add in lots of sweeping turns? The finish line disappears and the enjoyment factor skyrockets.

5. Smoothness – The smoother the surface, the easier the speed. The faster the speed, the more it feels like flying. Rocks, roots and drop offs create a challenge. Too many, though, and it feels like bone-jarring turbulence rather than a nice smooth flight.

6. People – Solitude versus busy.  Sometimes it’s a difficult choice. Connecting with nature in it’s natural state brings inner quiet and peacefulness. At the same time, meeting friendly locals and other cyclists can yield wonderful memories. Amazingly built trails brings crowds. It’s unavoidable.

7. Cycling Infrastructure – The availability of infrastructure and nearby services can improve the cycling experience. Included here is everything from tourist facilities such as campgrounds, breweries and restaurants to safe parking lots, toilets, water taps, maps, signs, bike lanes, traffic-free paths.

8. Direction – Loops always beat out-and-backs. Always. One way trips are great if you can swing ’em.

9. Trail conditions – Trails need constant love. A correctly built and maintained trail holds up well to rain and heavy use.

10. Proximity to home – Leaving from your front door beats driving somewhere to ride your bike, but once we’ve exhausted all the “close to home” options, adventure and exploration eventually requires some travel.