San Francisco
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: Fisherman's Wharf to Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito Distance: 8 miles (almost 13 km)
In this hilly city, where cyclists use a zigzagging route known as the Wiggle to avoid steep climbs in the city center, the ride from Fisherman's Wharf on the Embarcadero to Sausalito in Marin County is one of the easiest — and the most spectacular. Start at the Wharf, where $7-per-hour bike rentals are available at Bike and Roll, and pick up the bike path that heads north toward the Golden Gate Bridge. The ride along the San Francisco Bay is lined with landmarks: historic, touristy Ghirardelli Square, full of restaurants and shops; the San Francisco Maritime Museum, where the tourist hordes will begin to thin out; Fort Mason, the former Army post that is home to several cultural institutions; the colonnaded Palace of Fine Arts theater, which is the only building remaining from the 1915 World's Fair; and, finally, Crissy Field, the waterfront wetlands within the Presidio, a former military base turned national park.
Before the short climb up to the bridge, take a break at the Warming Hut, at the western end of Crissy Field's promenade; the café has an Alice Waters–designed menu of treats to fortify you. On windy days the ride across the bridge can be dicey, but the views are always glorious. After crossing, it's a 10-min. downhill ride to Sausalito, where you can hop a 30-min., $9.50 ferry back to Fisherman's Wharf. But don't hurry — it's worth lingering a while here. The quaint downtown is full of restaurants, including Fish and the Lighthouse Café for lunch, or Sushi Ran for dinner — all with views of the bay.
Verona, Italy
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: City Center loop Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
The historic center of Verona is almost completely encircled by a sharp curve in the wide Adige River, which makes it easy to pedal around these ancient streets and alleyways without fear of straying too far. Bikes can be rented at stalls on the corner of Piazza Bra and Via Roma, which should serve as the southern border of this free-form trip. Since cars are prohibited in parts of Verona's city center — it's not friendly to traffic at any rate — your ride will be relatively stress-free. The Arena, Verona's famous — and enormous — Roman amphitheater, is here; so is the Museo di Castelvecchio, housed in a 14th century castle on the riverbank. Also not to miss: the Porta dei Borsari, an ancient Roman gate; the Arche Scaligere, a walled cemetery whose gates are an outstanding example of Gothic architecture; and Via Leoni, where you can peer into excavated Roman ruins. The heart of the city is the lovely Piazza delle Erbe, which was the former home of the Roman Forum and is less touristy than Piazza Bra. As always in Italy, there is excellent food and drink in all directions.
Portland, Ore.
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: Colonel Summers Park to Mount Tabor to Rocky Butte Distance: 18 miles (29 km)
Portland really knows how to treat its cyclists. Overlaying the city is a grid of well-used bike lanes, many of which lead to beautiful parks and lakes (click here for bike maps). You can rent bikes for $20 per half-day at Citybikes, a workers' cooperative. The ride from Colonel Summers Park to Rocky Butte offers a look at several residential neighborhoods along with short but strenuous climbs to the tops of two extinct volcanoes — with spectacular city views — while staying within the city limits and on designated bike lanes. Start by heading east from Colonel Summers, mostly on SE Belmont Street, to Mount Tabor Park, your first climb up a volcanic cinder cone. If you pack a picnic lunch, there are places to lounge and eat here — the views of downtown Portland are stunning. From Mount Tabor, go north to the Rocky Butte Natural Area, another cinder cone. The views from here are different, but just as spectacular: you'll be at eye level with planes landing at Portland International. After riding down Rocky Butte Drive, complete the loop by heading back to Colonel Summers Park on Tillamook and NE 20th streets.
Amsterdam
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: Museumplein, Vondelpark, Jordaan and Western canal ring Distance: 9 miles (14.5 km)
Cyclists rule the roads in Amsterdam, which has a well-deserved reputation as the world's best — and most beautiful — biking city. Every route is a scenic one, lined with elegant Dutch townhouses and festive street cafés, and the only hills are those over the historic canal bridges. Start by picking up an upright bike, just like the locals, for $14 per day at Mike's Bike Tours, near Leidseplein in the southwest section of the central city. Bike through the square, then cross the Singelgracht canal into Museumplein, a lovely park that is home to three of Amsterdam's major museums: the Van Gogh Museum; the Rijksmuseum, the national museum that houses a major collection of Dutch masters; and the city's museum of modern art, the Stedelijk Museum. From here, it's just a few blocks north to Vondelpark, Amsterdam's largest and most popular park. Ride the lovely, 3-mile (5 km) loop around the park, then head north back into the central canal district along the Prinsegracht canal. It's an especially beautiful one, which takes you past the Anne Frank House and the Westerkerk, the tallest church tower in Amsterdam. Take a left on Westerstraat to the Jordaan, a former working-class neighborhood that has become an artists' (and diners') enclave. Locals love Toscanini or, for outdoor dining, Café de Jordaan. Head south on the Keizergracht to return to Mike's.
Los Angeles
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: Canoga Park to Long Beach Distance: 51 miles (82 km)
A ride along the dry, concrete riverbed of the L.A. River is a truly authentic urban experience — with views of graffitied walls, highway overpasses and a multitude of L.A. communities. (You might recognize the scenery as the backdrop of the pyrotechnic tractor-trailer chase in Terminator 2.) The river begins in Canoga Park, in the San Fernando Valley, and heads south to the Pacific Ocean, passing through 30 neighborhoods, including downtown L.A. It's a comfortable, flat ride, with frequent street access for exiting — and no cars! Just make sure you cycle here in dry season, June through October. If you prefer green to gritty, check out the several miles of river that flow through Griffith Park, where there is a traditional bike path with pocket parks, birds and food stands. Bike rentals are available inside the park at Spokes 'n' Stuff for $7 per hour.
Bruges, Belgium
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: Market Square to Damme loop Distance: 11 miles (almost 18 km)
The center of this small Belgian port town is a web of winding streets and canals — said to be the best-preserved medieval city in Europe. To see it by bike, rent one at the train station or at the Bauhaus Hotel near the city center for about $12 per day. Every tour of Bruges should start at the leaning bell tower that has loomed over Market Square since 1300. (There are 366 steps up to the top — leave your bike behind, obviously — but the views are worth it.) Head south on Blinde-Ezelstraat (Blind Donkey Street), which takes you under a vaulted passageway, across a canal and past the fish market. Turn down the Dijver and bike along the canal, past a weekend flea market and the Groeninge Museum, one of Belgium's major art museums, which houses a good collection of works by Flemish masters. Take a left on Mariastraat, and you will see the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady), which dates back to the 13th century; the altarpiece is Michelangelo's famed sculpture Madonna and Child. Continue south on Katelijinestraat and take a right on Wijingaardstraat to the tranquil grounds of the Begijnhof convent, then onto Minnewater, the former inner harbor that is now a beautiful lake. From there, it's a 4-mile (just over 6 km) trek northeast along a canal path to the town of Damme (pop. 10,000). Hungry? Refuel at any of the more than two dozen restaurants here — our favorite is Restaurant De Lieve. Should you overindulge, there are boats for the return trip to Bruges.
New Orleans
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: French Quarter to Lower Ninth Ward to City Park Distance: 9 miles (14.5 km)
New Orleans is home to a bevy of historic neighborhoods — all of them fascinating, all of them topographically flat. Touring by bike is an easy way to take in the details. Start by renting your two-wheeler at Bicycle Michael's, near the French Quarter. From there, head east to the adjacent bohemian neighborhood of Bywater. Even though you will have just started your ride, stop here for breakfast at Elizabeth's (don't miss the praline bacon) or, if it's lunchtime, try Bacchanal Wine, where the garden is open in the afternoon.
From Bywater, continue on Saint Claude Avenue across the Industrial Canal (be warned: the bike path stops just before the bridge) to the Lower Ninth Ward, where the devastation of Hurricane Katrina is still evident in the neighborhood's empty, silent streets. There are some bright spots, though: the renovation of Fats Domino's home is under way at the corner of Caffin Avenue and Marais Street, and the House of Dance and Feathers, a cool museum of local culture on Tupelo Street, is now open (call 504-957-2678 for appointments). From the Lower Ninth, Claiborne Avenue will take you back across the canal to Bywater; continue west on Esplanade Avenue to see some 150-year-old mansions en route to your endpoint: City Park, where you can visit the New Orleans Museum of Art and the sculpture and botanical gardens or ride the carousel.
New York City
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: Pier 84 to City Island Distance: 18 miles (29 km)
The popular Hudson River Park bike path, which runs along Manhattan's west side, offers 13 miles (21 km) of continuous city sights on one side and the Hudson River and New Jersey on the other — and is absolutely worth its own ride. But for a more off-the-tourist-track journey, take the bike path north from Manhattan into the Bronx. Start at Pier 84 at West 43rd Street (near the Intrepid Museum), where Bike and Roll offers $10 hourly rentals. From there, it's nothing but paved cycling paths — and fabulous people-watching — to the George Washington Bridge at 178th Street. Cross under the bridge into Inwood Hill Park, where the crowds thin and the vegetation thickens, and then cross the Harlem River into the Bronx for a mix of urban grit and lush parks. The path turns east through Bronx Park, along Pelham Parkway, and finally over a series of small bridges to City Island in Long Island Sound. (Click here for a very detailed route description.)
City Island is an oddity: a sleepy New England fishing village in the middle of the city, with antiques shops, a nautical museum, some Victorian mansions and a diverse bird population that includes monk parrots. Best of all, it has 30 restaurants at which to chow down after a day's ride. Locals (there are only 4,500) prefer Sammy's Fish Box, the Black Whale and a pub called the Snug. After dinner, it is a short ride to the No. 6 subway line, which heads back into Manhattan.
Montreal
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: St. Lawrence River and Lachine Canal loop Distance: 22 miles (about 35 km)
Montreal makes riding easy, with 300 miles (480 km) of bike paths and 300 self-service BIXI bike-sharing stations (click here for bike availability in real time). There is a beautiful waterfront loop that begins at Atwater Market, a huge indoor/outdoor expanse of local-, organic- and exotic-food stalls. From there, it's a short ride on bike lanes to Les Berges Cycle Path, which runs 13 miles (21 km) through a greenbelt along the St. Lawrence River. The stunning views include the Lachine Rapids and Saint-Pierre Lake. At the western end of the path, it's worth taking a detour into the long, skinny peninsula that is René-Lévesque Park, home to 22 huge sculptures; from there, you can link to the Lachine Canal path, which heads north, back into central Montreal. When you return to Atwater Market, ice cream awaits at Montreal favorite Havre aux Glaces.
Chicago
By ELIZABETH BLAND
Route: Hyde Park loop Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
Move over, Grant Park; there's a new bike ride in town: the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park. Although it's probably best known as President Obama's old stomping grounds, it has several other oft-overlooked city treasures. Start at the DuSable Museum of African American History in Washington Park, Hyde Park's western border, and head northeast through the neighborhood's quiet, leafy streets. Cycle up to President Obama's home (5046 South Greenwood Avenue), then wend your way back down to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House (5757 South Woodlawn Avenue), which is the greatest example of the architect's Prairie style. A few blocks to the east is Jackson Park, which contains the excellent, kid-friendly Museum of Science and Industry and the quiet oasis of the Osaka Japanese Garden. Don't miss the University of Chicago campus on the neighborhood's southern edge; there are two museums here, the Smart Museum of Art, a lovely small gallery with an impressive collection, and the Oriental Institute Museum, which has a significant collection of ancient Near East artifacts.
You can rent a bike for $8 per hour at Bike and Roll in Grant Park downtown (or check out the Chicago Bike Shop Database for a good list of area bike shops), and either take a trolley or ride the 9 miles (14.5 km) south to the DuSable. After your tour, you'll find no shortage of places to recharge in Hyde Park: Valois, on East 53rd Street and South Lake Park Avenue, is a popular cafeteria that serves a great breakfast and all-day comfort food.
source: Time.com
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