The Fun of Riding a Bicycle in a New Place

One of my favorite things about traveling is getting on a bicycle and riding somewhere I’ve never ridden before.

There’s something different about seeing a new place from a bike. In the van, the scenery goes by quickly. Walking lets you see everything, but your range is limited. A bicycle seems to hit the sweet spot. You can cover a surprising amount of ground while still moving slowly enough to notice what’s around you.

And when everything is new, even an ordinary ride becomes an adventure.

You Never Quite Know What’s Around the Corner

At home, I know my usual routes. I know where the hills are, where the traffic gets annoying, where the good views are, and approximately how long it will take me to get from one place to another.

Ride somewhere new and all of that disappears.

Every turn becomes a small discovery.

Where does that road go?

Is there a trail along that river?

What’s on the other side of that hill?

Should I turn here or keep going?

Sometimes the answer is a beautiful overlook, an interesting neighborhood, a little café, or a stretch of road that makes you wonder where does this go? Other times you discover a gigantic hill you definitely would have avoided if you’d looked at the map more carefully.

That’s part of the fun too.

A Bicycle Is the Perfect Speed for Exploring

Travel by vehicle and you tend to move from destination to destination. You see the hotel, the restaurant, the attraction, the trailhead.

On a bicycle, you see all the stuff in between.

You notice the houses and gardens. You smell somebody cooking lunch. You hear music coming from an open window. You see people walking their dogs, kids playing in parks, commuters heading home, and little businesses you probably never would have noticed from a vehicle.

You also have the freedom to stop.

See something interesting? Pull over.

Find a great view? Take a picture.

Spot a bakery? Suddenly it’s time for a very important refueling stop.

A bike turns the journey itself into part of the destination.

You Learn a Place Differently

I’ve found that riding also gives me a much better sense of the geography of a place.

After a day or two on a bicycle, things start connecting in my head. I understand which roads connect to each other. I know where the river runs. I recognize landmarks. I start figuring out shortcuts and remembering which streets are pleasant to ride and which ones I’d rather avoid.

The place begins to feel less like somewhere I’m visiting and a little more like somewhere I know.

That feeling is one of the things I enjoy most about riding while traveling.

The Unexpected Stuff Becomes the Story

Of course, riding somewhere unfamiliar doesn’t always go according to plan.

You take a wrong turn.

The bike path suddenly ends.

The “small hill” on the map turns out to be a serious climb.

The road you planned to ride looks considerably less bicycle-friendly when you’re actually standing beside it.

Weather changes. Construction appears. Your carefully planned route gets replaced by whatever seems like a good idea at the moment.

Those are often the rides I remember best.

There’s satisfaction in figuring things out as you go. And when the day is over, the unexpected detour is usually more interesting to blog about than the perfectly executed route.

You Don’t Need an Epic Ride

The best part is that none of this requires a huge cycling adventure.

You don’t need to ride 100 miles. You don’t need an expensive bike.

The mileage really isn’t the point.

The point is getting out there and seeing what you find.

Ride Somewhere You’ve Never Ridden

There are plenty of reasons I enjoy bicycles. Exercise is one. Friendships is another.

But exploration might be my favorite.

A bicycle gives you enough range to wander but keeps you connected to the place you’re wandering through. You experience the hills, the weather, the smells, the sounds, and all the little things between Point A and Point B.

And for a while, you get that wonderful feeling of not knowing exactly what’s coming next.

So when I arrive somewhere new and see a bike path, a quiet road, a lake (always looking for water!!) I usually start wondering the same thing:

Where could I ride from here?