But be honest with them about what type of riding you want to do and what your fitness level is. There are plenty of horror stories about people getting stuck on death rides because they allowed themselves to get in over their heads. Shops may have maps of local routes, including bike paths, bike lanes, and bike trails. You can also find trail guides and books at the shop. These lanes and routes are a good way to improve your cycling skill before you venture out into intimidating traffic.
Some cities have bike paths that are completely closed to motorized travel.
Such paths are a great place for families to ride. Once again, your city may have a map of these. You can find the address and phone number of your parks and recreation department in the phone book. Another source for this information would be local or regional travel bureaus which often print brochures to entice tourists to their area. JOIN THE CLUB Cycling clubs are also an excellent source of information.