Virginia,
I came to the Phoenix area from Illinois thirty years ago, and I will never move back there. The weather is great in the winter, and to tell the truth, I don't mind the early mornings in the summer, either. It's a dry heat in May and June, but pretty miserable July-September during the monsoon season. The city itself has alot of traffic, but you can find bike paths on streets and even some long stretches of off-road pavement. Although I don't participate in any clubs, there appear to be several active clubs with regularly scheduled rides. If you mountain bike, there are plenty of trails of all kinds. It's a great place to live, and with all the people moving here, most businesses are booming. With all the suburbs sprouting around the main city, there are plenty of places to live that may feel a little less urban.
Maybe you should take some vacations in places you might like to reside. If you come here, rent awhile before you buy, to make sure you can tolerate the summers!