Best City to Live in for Cycling

PTestTeam · May 2016

SheffSimon wrote:

nbalcombe wrote:

Hi, I thought of something the other day that would be a good discussion point among fellow cyclists.

I consider myself pretty lucky living in Chester. It's a great little city with all the amenities you would expect. On the cycling front, I can be out in the welsh mountains in well under an hour. I also have the Cheshire plains with great villages and cafe stops all within minutes of my front door.

Now I know there are probably better places to live for cycling like little villages in the peak district but then they're not cities with all the infrastructure that they bring.

So, where do you think is the best city to live in for Cycling?

Sheffield, west side obviously, cos I can be in the peak district in 10 minutes from my front door. Unfortunately, we don't have a zoo like you Chester lot...

Good shout. I used to live near Barnsley and rode over Sheffield way and the Peak district a lot. I live in North Leeds now which is a good place to live. I'm in Otley within 15mins and then you have loads of routes into the Dales, Nidderdale, Ripon, York etc to choose from

bendertherobot · May 2016

St Davids.

Frank Wilson · May 2016

Wonder if the OP stills rates Chester so highly now they have thrown loose gravel over every available inch of tarmac in and around the city.

vinnymarsden · May 2016

Can I just make a case against Sheffield!! I live here…and whilst I agree its on the doorstep of the Peak District..it cannot rest on that laurel!! As one poster said the roads in the city are some of the worst in the country..across the board, where they are bad, they are shocking, I mean potholes deep enough to seriously smash car wheels let alone cyclists. And do not get me started on the "alleged" cycle lanes we have in totally random places! Someone needs to tell the town planners…painting red areas at the side of roads do not make it a cycle "Super Highway"!! Far from it, in most places they just fizzle out to nothing..oh sorry, just the word END where there is no godly reason to stop it…and the best one… 30yard long stretches of the red stuff, for NO REASON at all, oh and then theres the cycle path that takes you off the busy junctions…but seems to dump you in a subway..riding on the normal footpath which is what they're meant to avoid! The list goes on!
I would agree as a city..its well placed for other areas, but for cycling in the city itself or its immediate environs…its a joke!
RANT over!!

tomisitt · May 2016

Girona

Frank Wilson · May 2016

VinnyMarsden wrote:

Can I just make a case against Sheffield!! I live here…and whilst I agree its on the doorstep of the Peak District..it cannot rest on that laurel!! As one poster said the roads in the city are some of the worst in the country..across the board, where they are bad, they are shocking, I mean potholes deep enough to seriously smash car wheels let alone cyclists. And do not get me started on the "alleged" cycle lanes we have in totally random places! Someone needs to tell the town planners…painting red areas at the side of roads do not make it a cycle "Super Highway"!! Far from it, in most places they just fizzle out to nothing..oh sorry, just the word END where there is no godly reason to stop it…and the best one… 30yard long stretches of the red stuff, for NO REASON at all, oh and then theres the cycle path that takes you off the busy junctions…but seems to dump you in a subway..riding on the normal footpath which is what they're meant to avoid! The list goes on!
I would agree as a city..its well placed for other areas, but for cycling in the city itself or its immediate environs…its a joke!
RANT over!!

Vinny, like your part about the potholes, taking this thread one stage further perhaps we could have the worst laid road competition. I will put forward (those who cycle out of Chester / The Wirral will know it) Willaston down to Hooton especially down the bottom end.

sheffsimon · May 2016

VinnyMarsden wrote:

Can I just make a case against Sheffield!! I live here…and whilst I agree its on the doorstep of the Peak District..it cannot rest on that laurel!! As one poster said the roads in the city are some of the worst in the country..across the board, where they are bad, they are shocking, I mean potholes deep enough to seriously smash car wheels let alone cyclists. And do not get me started on the "alleged" cycle lanes we have in totally random places! Someone needs to tell the town planners…painting red areas at the side of roads do not make it a cycle "Super Highway"!! Far from it, in most places they just fizzle out to nothing..oh sorry, just the word END where there is no godly reason to stop it…and the best one… 30yard long stretches of the red stuff, for NO REASON at all, oh and then theres the cycle path that takes you off the busy junctions…but seems to dump you in a subway..riding on the normal footpath which is what they're meant to avoid! The list goes on!
I would agree as a city..its well placed for other areas, but for cycling in the city itself or its immediate environs…its a joke!
RANT over!!

I cycle into the centre of Sheff every weekday. No potholes, in fact some lovely smooth brand new tarmac. Some of it even has a usable cycle lane (Clarkehouse Rd for the benefit of the locals), some of it on dedicated bike paths.

DeVlaeminck · May 2016

bernithebiker wrote:

I'm quite surprised how many of these are UK cities.
Don't want to knock UK cycling as there are some great rides and roads, but best city to live in for cycling? This means climate, food, roads, rides, etc. I guess?
Has noone here been to Nice, Girona, Biarritz, Palma, Geneva, Barcelona?! And that's without even getting all exotic like Cape Town, USA (which I don't know that well), New Zealand.....

Well yes I was talking UK cities but apart from climate are those places better than say the Peak District? You need a density of roads as well as scenic roads - some areas that are great to visit on a cycling holiday would be pretty limited as places to ride year in year out - and how many have a velodrome?

bernithebiker · May 2016

DeVlaeminck wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

I'm quite surprised how many of these are UK cities.
Don't want to knock UK cycling as there are some great rides and roads, but best city to live in for cycling? This means climate, food, roads, rides, etc. I guess?
Has noone here been to Nice, Girona, Biarritz, Palma, Geneva, Barcelona?! And that's without even getting all exotic like Cape Town, USA (which I don't know that well), New Zealand.....

Well yes I was talking UK cities but apart from climate are those places better than say the Peak District? You need a density of roads as well as scenic roads - some areas that are great to visit on a cycling holiday would be pretty limited as places to ride year in year out - and how many have a velodrome?

Are we talking cycling areas (Peak District)? Or cities? Different thing.

To my mind Pyrenees > Alps > Peak District.

If talking cities (which I think we are), ("Best City to LIVE in for Cycling"), then I think Sheffield or Chester may struggle against the six cities I listed above.

But I accept that if you are English (I am) and the UK is your home (not for me), then it isn't easy to consider living full time abroad.

cgfw201 · May 2016

I live in SW London and really like it. I know there’s merits to everywhere, and having cycled extensively in Yorkshire, Devon & East Anglia in particular I can see the merits they all have, and for sure as places they are all superb for living and cycling.

But the reality is I’m 27, work in London and will do for the next few years and living there gives me access to

- 5 mins from Richmond Park which is sensational for riding as long as you avoid times it’s busy with cars.
- 45 mins to the Surrey Hills. Yes Box Hill is busy, but the view at the top is sensational, and theres dozens of quieter and more challenging climbs in all directions.
- 1hr to the Kent Hills, more great riding with steeper and shorter climbs the speciality
- 1hr to the Chilterns
- 1hr to Windsor
- 3hrs to Brighton
- 3hrs to Cambridge

All the above are great rides in their own right, and it takes me 20 mins to get to work down the new (brilliant) segregated E-W superhighway. Regent’s Park and Swain’s Lane are great for pre/post work riding.

London’s not perfect, but it is a great place to be based for riding.

I even write a blog about the best places to ride in London and the SE for those who think there’s nowt more to it than Richmond Park and Box Hill.

https://aridewithaview.wordpress.com/

iPete · May 2016

I was going to do a proper list but it's been nailed above. To add a few;

- excellent bike cafes like LMNH
- Herne Hill and Lee Valley velodromes
- Clubs: big ones, small ones, fast ones, fixie ones, etc.
- Crit Racing: Hillingdon, Hog Hill, Crystal Palace, Lee Valley, random city crits, there's somewhere to race every night in the summer!
- Road racing: plenty of Surrey League circuits all a short drive away

Downsides? It's a bit popular but I'm not sure that's a proper down side!

DeVlaeminck · May 2016

bernithebiker wrote:

Are we talking cycling areas (Peak District)? Or cities? Different thing.

To my mind Pyrenees > Alps > Peak District.

If talking cities (which I think we are), ("Best City to LIVE in for Cycling"), then I think Sheffield or Chester may struggle against the six cities I listed above.

But I accept that if you are English (I am) and the UK is your home (not for me), then it isn't easy to consider living full time abroad.

I mention the Peak District as both Derby and Sheffield have it on their doorstep. My point is this, apart from a warmer climate what do those cities you mention have going for them in terms of cycling - Derby has the Peak and it has rural Leicestershire within an easy club run distance. It has a huge amount of lanes to explore such that after 14 years as a club cyclist I can still find new roads to explore on a day ride. It has a very active cycling scene with multiple clubs within 10 miles. It has a huge amount of villages, cafe stops, a diversity of scenery and it has a velodrome so yes I do think it matches up to anywhere you've mentioned.

If you disagree give us your reasons why, tell us what makes Nice, Cape Town or Barcelona so good for cycling.

dinyull · May 2016

Hahahahaha

bernithebiker · May 2016

DeVlaeminck wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

Are we talking cycling areas (Peak District)? Or cities? Different thing.

To my mind Pyrenees > Alps > Peak District.

If talking cities (which I think we are), ("Best City to LIVE in for Cycling"), then I think Sheffield or Chester may struggle against the six cities I listed above.

But I accept that if you are English (I am) and the UK is your home (not for me), then it isn't easy to consider living full time abroad.

I mention the Peak District as both Derby and Sheffield have it on their doorstep. My point is this, apart from a warmer climate what do those cities you mention have going for them in terms of cycling - Derby has the Peak and it has rural Leicestershire within an easy club run distance. It has a huge amount of lanes to explore such that after 14 years as a club cyclist I can still find new roads to explore on a day ride. It has a very active cycling scene with multiple clubs within 10 miles. It has a huge amount of villages, cafe stops, a diversity of scenery and it has a velodrome so yes I do think it matches up to anywhere you've mentioned.

If you disagree give us your reasons why, tell us what makes Nice, Cape Town or Barcelona so good for cycling.

Er, well Geneva has like the Alps around it? You know, the ones with world famous cols? But if you're not into them you also have the huge Jura range on the other side.

Nice just has a fantastic climate and easy access to some glorious riding, Italy and the Southern Alps.

Biarritz is a great place to live - glorious Altantic beaches, surfing and a stone's throw from the Pyrenees. Toulouse isn't bad either.

Barcelona is just a beautiful city where I would be happy to live, with excellent cycling although not in the league of those above.

Girona is a lovely city, great climate, superb riding into the Pyrenees, and a shed load of pros live and train there. But what do they know right?!

Palma is my favourite place right now, like a smaller Barcelona, but better climate, better cycling. 25 000 cyclists a week in the winter must know something we don't? I spend 2 to 3 months a year there.

Cape Town sees thousands flock there worldwide for various events like the Argus. The riding to the Cape of Good Hope is sublime. The coast is gorgeous. Wouldn't want to live there though.

And all of these places have better food and climate than the UK (in my humble opinion).

Personally I don't enjoy riding in the rain and cold, so I could only enjoy the places you mention about 3 months of the year.

Bobbinogs · May 2016

Yes, but apart from all that, what have the Romans ever done for us?

DeVlaeminck · May 2016

bernithebiker wrote:

Er, well Geneva has like the Alps around it? You know, the ones with world famous cols? But if you're not into them you also have the huge Jura range on the other side.

Nice just has a fantastic climate and easy access to some glorious riding, Italy and the Southern Alps.

Biarritz is a great place to live - glorious Altantic beaches, surfing and a stone's throw from the Pyrenees. Toulouse isn't bad either.

Barcelona is just a beautiful city where I would be happy to live, with excellent cycling although not in the league of those above.

Girona is a lovely city, great climate, superb riding into the Pyrenees, and a shed load of pros live and train there. But what do they know right?!

Palma is my favourite place right now, like a smaller Barcelona, but better climate, better cycling. 25 000 cyclists a week in the winter must know something we don't? I spend 2 to 3 months a year there.

Cape Town sees thousands flock there worldwide for various events like the Argus. The riding to the Cape of Good Hope is sublime. The coast is gorgeous. Wouldn't want to live there though.

And all of these places have better food and climate than the UK (in my humble opinion).

Personally I don't enjoy riding in the rain and cold, so I could only enjoy the places you mention about 3 months of the year.

Hang on, what have the food or the coast got to do with cycling ? We are talking about the best cycling city yes ? If it's where would we choose to live then that's different why not throw in nightlife, housing costs and crime rates ?

As for the climate - yes the Alps are lovely in December I hear !

If I am taking a cycling holiday yes give me the Alps over the Peak District - but the Alps doesn't have anything like the network of roads you'll find round here - no high mountain region does and the valley roads are often busy and not great for cycling. The thread is about the best city to live in for cycling not the best destination for a couple of weeks with the bike.

vinnymarsden · May 2016

Berni,
Love the idea you have, deluded though it is that anyone is pitching Sheffield against those cities you named!! It's akin to pitching Scunthorpe in against say Boulder in the USA!! Now if only Sheffield had more than just the hills in common with Boulder !!

Omar Little · May 2016

cgfw201 wrote:

I live in SW London and really like it. I know there’s merits to everywhere, and having cycled extensively in Yorkshire, Devon & East Anglia in particular I can see the merits they all have, and for sure as places they are all superb for living and cycling.

But the reality is I’m 27, work in London and will do for the next few years and living there gives me access to

- 5 mins from Richmond Park which is sensational for riding as long as you avoid times it’s busy with cars.
- 45 mins to the Surrey Hills. Yes Box Hill is busy, but the view at the top is sensational, and theres dozens of quieter and more challenging climbs in all directions.
- 1hr to the Kent Hills, more great riding with steeper and shorter climbs the speciality
- 1hr to the Chilterns
- 1hr to Windsor
- 3hrs to Brighton
- 3hrs to Cambridge

All the above are great rides in their own right, and it takes me 20 mins to get to work down the new (brilliant) segregated E-W superhighway. Regent’s Park and Swain’s Lane are great for pre/post work riding.

London’s not perfect, but it is a great place to be based for riding.

You are setting the bar pretty low if Richmond Park is considered sensational. It is a good option for cyclists because of the scarcity of quiet pleasant roads for riding on...but the loop is only 6 miles long, it must get pretty dull blasting round that regularly. The route options and quiet lanes within riding distance of London are pleasant enough but it is only quiet relatively speaking - the roads are still too busy and as a result much less pleasant than those found elsewhere.

Also the view from the top of Box Hill is quite nice but for a lot of the country it would barely pass comment.

Where London scores big is for utility cycling and crit racing opportunities...the other stuff, much less so. If the population of the city and surrounding area was about 1 million then it might be different, but it's not.

DeVlaeminck · May 2016

VinnyMarsden wrote:

Berni,
Love the idea you have, deluded though it is that anyone is pitching Sheffield against those cities you named!! It's akin to pitching Scunthorpe in against say Boulder in the USA!! Now if only Sheffield had more than just the hills in common with Boulder !!

Hmm, I'll continue to be deluded then because having visited various areas of the Alps in Winter and Summer I doubt the cycling is that great for much of the year - if you disagree then fine but as I say tell us why don't just tell people they are wrong and leave it at that. If we are going to branch outside the UK then I can think of far nicer places to cycle than Geneva and I wouldn't base myself in Nice just because it's not that far from Italy and the Alps.

By reputation Boulder sounds like a better shout though I've never been there or maybe somewhere in Tuscany but I still don't buy the idea that the climate rules out anywhere in the UK especially when Geneva is thrown into the mix as an alternative.

robbo2011 · May 2016

Synthetic happiness.

robbo2011 · May 2016

Synthetic happiness.

bernithebiker · May 2016

DeVlaeminck wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

Er, well Geneva has like the Alps around it? You know, the ones with world famous cols? But if you're not into them you also have the huge Jura range on the other side.

Nice just has a fantastic climate and easy access to some glorious riding, Italy and the Southern Alps.

Biarritz is a great place to live - glorious Altantic beaches, surfing and a stone's throw from the Pyrenees. Toulouse isn't bad either.

Barcelona is just a beautiful city where I would be happy to live, with excellent cycling although not in the league of those above.

Girona is a lovely city, great climate, superb riding into the Pyrenees, and a shed load of pros live and train there. But what do they know right?!

Palma is my favourite place right now, like a smaller Barcelona, but better climate, better cycling. 25 000 cyclists a week in the winter must know something we don't? I spend 2 to 3 months a year there.

Cape Town sees thousands flock there worldwide for various events like the Argus. The riding to the Cape of Good Hope is sublime. The coast is gorgeous. Wouldn't want to live there though.

And all of these places have better food and climate than the UK (in my humble opinion).

Personally I don't enjoy riding in the rain and cold, so I could only enjoy the places you mention about 3 months of the year.

Hang on, what have the food or the coast got to do with cycling ? We are talking about the best cycling city yes ? If it's where would we choose to live then that's different why not throw in nightlife, housing costs and crime rates ?

As for the climate - yes the Alps are lovely in December I hear !

If I am taking a cycling holiday yes give me the Alps over the Peak District - but the Alps doesn't have anything like the network of roads you'll find round here - no high mountain region does and the valley roads are often busy and not great for cycling. The thread is about the best city to live in for cycling not the best destination for a couple of weeks with the bike.

Well, the title is 'Best City to LIVE in for Cycling', so presumably the quality of the city itself has some importance?

Otherwise, it'd be titled 'Which City has the best Cycling?' surely? Maybe re-read that bit?

And we're talking Geneva. Not the Alps. I lived there for 4 years. GVA has a great network of quiet country lanes in the valley and you can cycle all round the lake. Superb mountain cols with GENUINE amazing views are less than an hour to the top. However, not my top choice as a) weather isn't that brilliant outside of May-October and b) it's a bit boring and expensive.

Maybe if you'd been there / cycled there for a few days, you'd be better qualified to comment?

navrig2 · May 2016

Inverness.

It's a city but small enough that you can be out of it from centre to fully rural in less than 15 mins. To the east you have the rolling topography of Nairnshire and Moray. To the north you have the Black Isle and beyond. To the west you are heading for hills and hills.

Chuck the bike on the car and within an hour in any direction and you have a completely varied landscape.

No doubt we'll get the usual comments about the crap weather but having lived there for 12 years I know better than the broad assumptions made by those living in the south.

Compare the average rainfall data with say Sheffield:

http://www.holiday-weather.com/inverness/averages/

http://www.holiday-weather.com/sheffield/averages/

bigmat · May 2016

This thread makes sense as a "why my city is good for cycling" thread. Not sure we need the willy waving "which is the best " element really.

Love how the guy above uses Sheffield as an example of somewhere down south!

vinnymarsden · May 2016

I agree Mat, lol

I am DEFFO not WWaving as you call it for Sheffield…it is a city that has access to some good/sometimes great cycling around it…but as a city for cycling..I'm sure a lot of the cities mentioned are great…but city riding in general..not for me..I think the OP might actually have meant a cites location in relation to good cycling..in which case I think Sheff is on the list…but there are loads of great cycling spots in the UK…so if you happen to be in a city/town near to say The Lakes or other National Park areas, then your city is equally as good as Sheff or anywhere in essence isn't it.

DeVlaeminck · May 2016

bernithebiker wrote:

Well, the title is 'Best City to LIVE in for Cycling', so presumably the quality of the city itself has some importance?

Otherwise, it'd be titled 'Which City has the best Cycling?' surely? Maybe re-read that bit?

And we're talking Geneva. Not the Alps. I lived there for 4 years. GVA has a great network of quiet country lanes in the valley and you can cycle all round the lake. Superb mountain cols with GENUINE amazing views are less than an hour to the top. However, not my top choice as a) weather isn't that brilliant outside of May-October and b) it's a bit boring and expensive.

Maybe if you'd been there / cycled there for a few days, you'd be better qualified to comment?

You do like making a few assumptions firstly about whether I've ever lived abroad and now where I've been. Yes I have lived abroad, yes I have visited some of the cities you've mentioned, no not Geneva but I've been close enough to know the terrain and it's not the paradise for cyclists 12 months of the year you imply.

Oh and yes I am taking it as the best city for cycling, I'm not considering the food, surfing, quality of the schools, crime or anything else other than the cycling. If I was then your suggestion of Cape Town wouldn't be high on my list of places to live that's for sure.

As for The Alps, yes I have been there a few times in case you ask, high mountain areas are great for a holiday but not so much for everyday cycling. I'm sure there are some great areas in Europe probably better than we have in the UK that haven't been discussed but your choices, of those I am familiar with, wouldn't be mine.

Maybe the Dutch could make a case for their cities based on their infrastructure, too cold for you though? I'd rather hear about where people think is good to ride and why, I'd never have had London down as somewhere to be a cyclist but it's interesting to read people make the case for that.

navrig2 · May 2016

BigMat wrote:

Love how the guy above uses Sheffield as an example of somewhere down south!

Just had a look.

There is 2/3 of the UK to the north of Sheffield. By my books that puts Sheffield well into the south.

nbalcombe · May 2016

I see that this thread has caused a fair bit of discussion as I though it would.

Seeing as I started it, just thought I would put my 2 pence worth back in. I'll admit that I was thinking originally in just the UK, hence my rather biased suggestion of Chester. However, I see no reason why we can't include other cities around the world. But to keep it on track, I'm not talking best cycling destinations, I'm talking best places to live that offer good cycling. For me this has to include culture and lifestyle available in the city (another reason why Chester is so great) coupled with the ability to get out into the countryside and experience a variety of cycling routes.

Back to you guys....

nbalcombe · May 2016

Navrig2 wrote:

BigMat wrote:

Love how the guy above uses Sheffield as an example of somewhere down south!

Just had a look.

There is 2/3 of the UK to the north of Sheffield. By my books that puts Sheffield well into the south.

My missus is form Sheffield, I would love to see someone tell her family they lived in the south

N0bodyOfTheGoat · May 2016

Thank goodness a thread search failed to find a post hailing Southampton in a positive way!

I'd imagine somewhere in the vicinity of my long gone days of youth would be fairly good, up in Wirral (so Chester or Liverpool, if talking about cities). There are some nice undulating routes on the peninsula, plus access to north Wales.

Best City to Live in for Cycling

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