Bloglander

It's not uncommon for glossy magazines to profile the top-ten-most-beautiful-rides/trails/experiences-you absolutely-must-do-before-you-drop-dead. In the newest issue of Bicycling magazine, though, the editors tone down the rhetoric and focus not on the touristy jaw-droppers but on local bike shops — "the epicenter of the local cycling community" — and the regular rides they provide.

To that end, they've provided a list of America's 50 Best Shop Rides and, wouldn't you know it, the only ride in Washington is that of Spokane's Bicycle Butler, near the Five Mile Shopping Center.

Here's their write-up:

THE RIDE: Mixing various loops around the area and inside nearby Riverside State Park, this Wednesday-night mountain-bike ride features 30 to 35 miles of flowing trails and some climbing, with a few technical sections.
THE SCENE: Postride, cyclists grab a beer and BBQ at the shop and are welcome to use the shop's stand to make adjustments or fixes.

Find the nation's 49 other best shop rides here.