Flatter than Kansas, surrounded by vineyards, a stone's throw from the picturesque foothills of the Mother Lode, there isn't a friendlier place for bicycling for many miles. There are uncrowded roads calling to cyclists of any skill and fitness level.

Families with little ones can take the bikes to Lodi Lake and ride a half-mile or so in either direction from the parking lot.

The lake is a great place for a picnic or barbecue. On any day, you'll see ducks, geese, squirrels and birds of many feathers.

A reasonably fit couple will enjoy winetasting on two wheels.

From Lodi Lake parking lot, take the bike path west along the beach and out to Lower Sacramento Road. A right turn there and a left on Mokelumne Street will soon have you heading west on Woodbridge Road.

After a mile and a half, turn left on Davis and look for Lucas Winery on the left.

After you've sipped through the Lucas collection, ask for directions to Jessie's Grove winery across the road or a map of the rest of the Lodi-Woodbridge Wine Trail. If you're up for a 30-miler, you can probably hit half of Lodi's 50-plus wineries.

But be careful. Alcohol not only saps your cycling energy, riding drunk is just as illegal as driving that way.

In addition, local cyclists know to avoid these danger zones: Turner Road between I-5 and Highway 99; Peltier Road from I-5 to Highway 88; Highway 12 from Rio Vista to Lodi.

Really strong riders might want to ride in the hills around Camanche and Pardee reservoirs or ride as far as Stockton and Galt.

For a taste of hills, park in Ione's Howard Park or at the saloon in Buena Vista and ask for an Amador County map. Except for Highway 88, you have your choice of quiet back roads that wind through Jackson Valley and the Campo Seco area.

If you're heading from Lodi south to Stockton, use Davis Road (the traffic can be fast and moderately heavy but the shoulder is wide) or DeVries Road (narrower shoulder, a little less traffic). Stay off the main motorways south: West Lane and Lower Sacramento Road.

"Lower Sac" has a nice wide shoulder and only moderate traffic if you're headed from Lodi north to Galt. Or use Dustin Road, which becomes Alta Mesa in Sacramento County; turn left at Boessow Road to reach downtown Galt.

Galt has every conceivable variety of fast food. Or sit out on the verandah at Wholey Ravioli to carb load in the finest Italian style.

Browse the rest of Discover for tips on Lodi restaurants and directions to the Lodi-Woodbridge Wine and Visitors Center.

Check the Internet for information on three great organized rides: Giro d'Vino in the fall and the Delta Century in the spring (http://www.sbclub.org) or the Lodi Sunrise Century in May (http://www.lodisunrisecentury.com).