Best U.S. cycling towns: Readers' Choice winners

Nicknamed "Bike City USA" and the "Bike Capital of America," Davis enjoys bike lanes on 95 percent of its arterial roadways, and a whopping 22 percent of residents commute by bike.

What's not to like about a city with a local brewery (New Belgium) that hosts an annual Bike-In Cinema series on its front lawn? Fort Collins' 310-mile network of paths and bike lanes, an innovative bike share program started back in 2008, and miles upon miles of mountain biking trails in the surrounding plains and mountains simply add to the appeal of this city.

Despite its northern latitude, Minneapolis often ranks among the top cities in the world for cycling, with features like indoor bike parking and over 120 miles of on- and off-street paths and trails.

Madison's network of off-street bike paths and on-street lanes make it simple to get almost anywhere on two wheels. B-cycle, the city's bike share program, makes 350 bikes available from 35 stations spaced throughout the city.

Greenville is "the best place to ride a bike on the east coast," says George Hincapie, renowned competitive cyclist, this category's expert and a Greenville resident. Located in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, the city's own Paris Mountain lures serious cyclists, but a vast network of low-traffic roads make this a very bike-friendly city.

With ample green belts and a 10-mile multi-use path along the Tennessee River, Chattanooga has become a new 'it' spot among cyclists. The Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System features 30 stations spread throughout the city with touchscreen kiosks, making it easy for visitors to rent a bike and explore.

George Hincapie nominated Tucson for, among other things, its strong winter appeal. During the colder months, the city becomes a hotbed of cycling activity as northern-based enthusiasts come down to enjoy mild winter temps and dry conditions of the high desert.

With Durango as a base, a cyclist has access to thousands of miles of world-class singletrack downhills, switchbacks and trails in the mountains just outside of town. For road warriors looking to explore town on two wheels, there's the 7-mile Animas River Trail running almost the entire length of Durango.

A frequent starting point for the Tour of California, Sacramento's main claim to cycling fame is its 32-mile American River Parkway bike trail, with plenty of access points to hop on and off to explore the city.

Considered one of the nation's best destinations for mountain biking, Bend sits in the foothills where the Cascade Mountains meet the high desert, so it enjoys mild weather and a long riding season.

Ann Arbor earns points as a fantastic cycling city for its 71 bicycle lane miles, more than 400 bike hoops and dedicated bicycle parking in the downtown area.

Expert George Hincapie chose Asheville for its convenient proximity to an abundance of top-notch cycling trails, including the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.

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Boulder is "a huge cycling community," says George Hincapie. "Lots of pro cyclists live there. Most of the U.S. Pro cycling team lives there." It's easy to see why. The city's on-street bike lane network allows cyclists to go just about anywhere.

When winter temps get too chilly for cyclists up north, they often head south to Gainesville to train on traffic-free rolling roads. The 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail is perfect for wildlife viewing from the saddle. The city's Ride & Stride program has helped create 67 miles of bike lanes and an additional 16 miles of paved shoulder.

Malibu is one of George Hincapie's favorite places to ride on the West Coast, thanks to its beautiful coastal scenery and challenging terrain.

Mountain bikers flock to Moab to take on some of the world's most spectacular mountain biking terrain - everything from scenic canyons and mesa tops perfect for beginners to highly technical singletracks.

In true Utah style, the mountain biking in Park City - more than 400 miles of singletracks - is top notch. All three area resorts offer lift-serviced mountain biking in the spring and summer, ferrying cyclists and their bikes up the mountain in minutes.

With 180 miles of bike lanes and another 79 miles of off-street paths, Portland has a loyal community of cycling commuters, and our expert found the climb out of town and into the mountains to be both convenient and beautiful.