Poole is flat. After the cliff-backed towns east of here, that is a revelation.
The harbour loop
From Baiter round the shoreline to Hamworthy, level the whole way, with traffic-free stretches and two bridges to cross. Add Poole Park and Upton Country Park for more car-free riding.
Out to the beaches
The run along the peninsula to Sandbanks is flat and, in summer, genuinely faster than driving it, since you are not looking for a parking space at the end.
The Castleman Trailway
A traffic-free route on a former railway line running inland from Broadstone towards Wimborne. Good for a half day, and a different landscape from the coast.
Into Purbeck
The one worth planning a day around. Ride to Sandbanks, roll onto the chain ferry, and four minutes later you are in quiet lanes with Studland, Corfe Castle and the Purbeck hills ahead of you. The hills are real once you leave the coast, so take gears.
Practicalities
Cycle hire operates in and around Poole, seasonally in places. See cycling in Poole and days out without the car.