Best Places for Route Discovery

Hey All,

I'm looking for some advice on "discovering" new routes and such. When I'm planning a new route, I typically spend some time on Google Maps Streetview, and I cross reference to Garmin's Popularity Layer.

I'm a seasoned city cyclist, but I have my limits on the more wide open roads as I get out of the city. I tend to gravitate to trails, but there's only so many options within reach.

Question: what are the best resources out there for finding new routes? I know there's paid options out there, is it ride with GPS and just browsing everyone's else's hard work? Join a club? Looking for suggestions to make the most out of this year.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on April 5, 2022 at 6:54am

Strava Heat Map.

https://www.strava.com/heatmap#12.00/-87.69245/41.89925/hot/all

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on April 5, 2022 at 11:13pm

The street.

Go ride around when you don't have a schedule and check out streets, trails, paths and alleys that look like they might be nice riding.

The only way to find the gems is to ride them.

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Permalink Reply by David P. on April 6, 2022 at 4:46am

What Doug said. Once I rode to Calumet Fisheries after work with a friend, a route I had done lots of times. She was leading that ride and took us to a couple of places that I had never been. They were barely off my standard route, but were all-new to me. Start with maps and something you’re familiar with, then start looking for what’s nearby that you haven’t seen and go explore it.