How it all started
Designs that move you.
This project began as a personal solve—born not from a brief or client, but from years of riding and not having a map that truly worked for cyclists.
In Boulder, rides tend to head west into the mountains or east onto the plains. That’s how our maps are oriented: west-up, like a ride itself. We kept noticing how existing tools were cluttered or incomplete, so Zach started sketching a clearer way to show the roads, climbs, and connections that locals actually use.
The first version was built on collective knowledge—from old Coors Classic routes to modern gravel favorites—and designed to be easy to use, easy to carry, and easy to trust.
Like a subway map for cyclists, it tells you just enough to feel confident, without weighing you down. No batteries. No guesswork. Just a beautiful, durable tool for exploring by bike.
Zach brings an environmental graphic design and wayfinding background to every map — obsessed with clarity, type, and the kind of detail you only notice when something's off. He rides to test routes, refine the work, and occasionally chase a KOM.
Michelle combines a multidisciplinary design background with a focus on operations, content, and the relationships that sustain the business. She's motivated by impact: does this help people ride better and enjoy it more?.
They founded Simple Cycling Maps in 2014 and have been working on it full-time since January 2025.
Michelle and Zach Lee, co-founders of Simple Cycling Maps, with the Boulder Road Climbs poster. Photo: Poppy & Co. by Kelsey Huffer.
Who We Are
Collaborator Highlight
Cory Pomerantz
The Santa Monica Mountains System Map, Regional Map, and Profile Series wouldn’t exist without the insight and dedication of Cory Pomerantz. As a local rider with deep knowledge of the area’s roads, trails, and riding culture, Cory worked closely with Zach—refining routes, testing connections, and ensuring every detail reflected the lived experience of cycling in and around Santa Monica Mountains. This kind of collaboration is what makes our maps both beautiful and deeply usable. Thank you Cory!
Want to collaborate, share an idea,
or bring our maps to your shop or city?
Say Hello:
zach@simplecyclingmaps.com
Inquiries:
michelle@leedesign.co