Structuring Advantages/Disadvantages to subdomains vs regular domains

[jdomaha]

If someone was to start a niche network, based on geographic location, what would be the better way to set up/link up this network?

a) One master domain, with geographic locations as subdomains and all domains linking to each other.

Intensebiking.com
arizona.intensebiking.com
cleveland.intensebiking.com
portland.intensebiking.com

b) One branded domain with geographic locations included into expandable areas as additional domains, all linking to each other.

arizonaintensebiking.com
clevelandintensebiking.com
portlandintensebiking.com

c) One master domain, funnelling to additional geographic domains, none of those domains linking back to original domain.

Intensebiking.com ---- links to:
arizonaintensebiking.com
clevelandintensebiking.com
portlandintensebiking.com

Any thoughts? Does google prefer one over the others?

 

[Drake]

I think the first one is preferable to me at least.

It is cheaper to do. Less domains.

It does not seem like you are trying to trick the viewer or google that there are likely other domains.

And it might encourage people to check out other states near them where they want to ride.

But you still have to decide how to organize and if cities get there own subdomain. I wouldnt. it will get too thin at the tails.