There are tons of reasons that Colorado is a great place to ride. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here are five reasons I love riding in Colorado. Leave a comment below to let us know why you think Colorado is a great place to ride.

1. The weather

The vast majority of days here in Colorado start with clear, crisp, sun-filled mornings perfect for an early ride. And though thunderstorms routinely roll across the state in summer, they are somewhat predictable and typically short.

Even in winter, mild weather makes it pleasant to ride in many places in the state, with temperatures that feel a little warmer than they are because of the abundant sunshine.

2. The scenery

For me, this means a few things. Obviously the mountains have their allure, but for me it’s the high plains—more specifically the long views and vistas that create a sense of openness and possibility—that make me feel lucky to ride here. (Every once in a while this openness tricks me into thinking I’m only a few miles away from my destination, when in reality I have many miles to go at the end of a long ride, but most times I love it.)

Growing up on the East Coast, I didn’t have nearly as many of these majestic views that stretch for miles and miles—riding more often than not in dense tree cover.

3. The cycling community

We are fortunate to have a large and visible bicycling population that cares deeply about cycling in our state (and shows it by supporting a statewide advocacy organization—yes, I refer to my own workplace Bicycle Colorado—as well as many local and national advocacy groups.) From large, supported road rides all over the state to cycling clubs to cruiser rides to road and mountain bike races, the bicycling community offers something for everyone.

4. The space

There are just over five million residents in about 100,000 square miles here in Colorado. Compare that with England: 53 million people in roughly 50,000 square miles. We still have a little space here. Colorado is growing fast, but we have many wide open spaces and people committed to protecting them.

5. The Bicycle Friendly Communities

With 20 Bicycle Friendly Communities, Colorado is second only to California in the number of cities and towns in the state that are on the League of American Bicyclists’ list. The fact that so many communities from all over the state are on the list shows that Coloradans not only care about bicycling, but are committed to continuously improving things like policy and infrastructure to make cycling better.

So tell us, why do you think Colorado is a great place to ride?