Published June 12, 2019 12:00AM

Outside’s favorite places to ride
Each year we head to a cycling mecca to test dozens of road and mountain bikes in search of the best new models. And we're pretty picky: the location needs to have the whole range of world-class riding, from smooth climbs and descents on pavement to flowy and technical trails. Luckily, Grand Junction, Colorado, and Tucson, Arizona, haven't left us wanting.
For 2019, we spent more than a week in Grand Junction, and every ride—on roads, gravel, and trails—elicited rave reviews from our testing crew.
The previous winter, we landed in Tucson and spent two weeks whipping around in the desert. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the gear, riders, and whiskey that play a part in the test.