Where should we move so we can bike more???

[Blueberry]

If you're in tech, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill is a great place to be. We do get cold weather, but it's bike-able all year, really. We haven't had any ice in ~3 winters if I recall correctly (and when we get it, it doesn't stick around long). The downside is that we have very few bike lanes, and our drivers are not accustomed to cyclists (and can be downright hostile).

When we went to San Diego for a visit, we fell in love. Cyclists paradise based on what I saw. Flat rides if you want them, climbing if you want them, bike lanes everywhere. The problem is that the cost of living is probably 2x what it is in Raleigh-Durham. I think I like cold weather too much to move there, but the other major west coast cities are on our radar for long term places to live.

CA

[jobob]

For what it's worth, home prices have fallen considerably in the SF Bay area as well as the rest of California in the past year.

As for cycling in the SF Bay area, we can do it pretty much year round.

We've entered the rainy season now , and around here, when it rains, it pours! We don't so much get the steady drizzle that our friends in western OR and WA experience. Luckily for us (but, not necessarily for the water supply), the rains diminish come March and are pretty much over come April, and then they don't start up again until December. Roughly speaking of course.

Sometimes, like right now, temperatures in the SF Bay area can drop into the 30's but that's somewhat unusual. The farther inland you go they experience more winter-like weather, then of course a few hours east of us you have the ski areas.

Our summers don't get particularly hot, especially if you're right near the coast (where it can be downright chilly thanks to the fog blowing in from the ocean) although temperatures can get into the 100's the further inland you go. "But it's a dry heat".

And the cycling around here is great - you've probably seen some of our ride reports in the Northern CA forum.

Good luck in your search.

[knapplaura]

If you want to ride in 0-20 degree weather, sure, come to Denver!

It was a high of 27 for my ride of 90 minutes yesterday, and right now it is a whopping 12 degrees at 10 a.m. as I try to decide what to do today.

Don't believe that year-round riding is possible here!

I moved here from Montgomery, AL....great place for biking, low cost of living, and nice medium-size city. Tons of great routes in the countryside and hills. There I was doing centuries in JAN & FEB.

Sure, it was hot in the summer but so are lots of places. Check it out!
Laura

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Cobalt,
do you need to actually live in a city in order to work?
Do you intend to bike to work, or use mass transit to commute?
Are you going to retire soon, or not for many years yet?
Do you intend to drive out of the city in order to go on bike rides, or are you wanting to ride from home?
These questions and more will have a big bearing on your decision.
You might want to consider factors like mass transit and gas prices/availability when thinking about all this. Right now, suburbs are rapidly going down in value because people no longer want to drive a lot to get back and forth to work, plus they can no longer afford a large house and high mortgage. Smaller urban dwellings are now becoming more sought after.
Just a few things to think about.

[DebTX]

If I had the chance I'd move back to Athens, GA in a heartbeat.

Funny, a few years ago I was looking to leave NYC and like you had my pick of locales. It was while on a biz trip to Athens, GA (one of the great little spots in America!) that I decided to move to Austin. Athens reminded me of everything I had loved about Austin.

I learned to cycle here so I have no basis for comparison - I'll leave that advice to all those far more experienced with cycling across the country. But it was because of the plethora of lycra here that I said, "Wow, what a beautiful sport - I have to learn to do that!"

I'm a complete non-athlete, but was captivated by the beauty of a body moving on a bicycle. One of these days (years), people will look at me grunting my way up a hill and say, "Man, I wanna learn to do what she's doing!"

[tulip]

Asheville, North Carolina. Oh, but there are hills. Great music, food, weather (not muggy in the summer), etc.

I live in Richmond and I love it. Riding all year round, rolling hills, close to the Chesapeake Bay, great river right downtown for kayaking and such--very outdoorsy. The cost of living is extremely reasonable, and you can easily get to Washington DC and NYC/Boston on the train.

What do you do professionally? That would seem to be a big deciding factor.

[cobalt]

Wow, thanks! I am reading the replies to my fellow bikers. Trying to convince our best friends to go with us.

We are looking for general thoughts and then we will look in depth at the cities we think might work. I don't want to exhaust you!

Husband is in IT

We have two dogs so I suppose we'll have to be out of the city a bit but I'd rather be in a condo with my bike hanging on the wall. Would love to bike to work or take a train. Hate the thought of a chicago commute from a suburb.

WI cost of housing is may be much less than many of the cities we are looking at but I am not looking at that yet. If there's a will there a way etc

We would take a cooler winter over a hot, humid summer.

Barbara, we'd get along great. We could use you in WI too.

[solobiker]

If you want to ride in 0-20 degree weather, sure, come to Denver!

It was a high of 27 for my ride of 90 minutes yesterday, and right now it is a whopping 12 degrees at 10 a.m. as I try to decide what to do today.

Don't believe that year-round riding is possible here!

I moved here from Montgomery, AL....great place for biking, low cost of living, and nice medium-size city. Tons of great routes in the countryside and hills. There I was doing centuries in JAN & FEB.

Sure, it was hot in the summer but so are lots of places. Check it out!
Laura

The cold temps we have been having here have been a little out of the norm. We have had record cold temps. For the most part you can ride all year with exception to maybe 3-4 weeks. There are quite a few people that commute by bike year round. What is nice about the Denver area is that when is does snow it does not last very long with the sun. The snow is also a dry snow, not a wet snow like the NE. And once March comes the weather is awesome..temps in the 50s with the occ snow storm. The job market out here is still pretty good.

[Aggie_Ama]

Husband is in IT

We have two dogs so I suppose we'll have to be out of the city a bit but I'd rather be in a condo with my bike hanging on the wall. Would love to bike to work or take a train. Hate the thought of a chicago commute from a suburb.


We would take a cooler winter over a hot, humid summer.

Austin would be good for his job.

Living in city- HAHA!! Unless you are very well off you will be in suburbia but I don't know your situation. Condos in the city (where practically zero IT jobs are) will cost you a lot. I have to say my commute from past suburbia (I cannot stand the urban sprawl of closer burbs) is not bad. It is 20 miles and takes about 40 minutes plus I have the luxury of biking from my house and being in ranch land with little traffic in 3 miles. Austin motorists are impatient and obnoxious, I wouldn't bike in city without some stronger nerves. I personally do not think our public transportation is up to par but maybe I am just cynical.

Hot summer, don't think you want to come here. Last summer was exceptionally hot but 90's and humid are a norm. I was born here and never left, most summers don't phase me but even last summer was enough to have me whining. By noon on a summer day in Texas you are back in the AC. Another thing transplants don't get- AC is a way of life don't bring a car without AC. That one never ceases to amaze me, the number of northerners that bring cars down with no AC and then quickly realize they can't sell it here to get one with AC. My 90 year old grandma doesn't have it but I think she is the last person in Austin to refuse it.

Still many transplants find themselves in love with Austin. Honestly I love Texas, I am a native Texan through and through. I cannot stand cold, hate winter and don't mind sweating like a pig all summer. I learned a long time ago what a river or lake is for.

[Tuckervill]

Don't forget findyourspot.com

Karen

[fidlfreek]

Hey! Look, another Cowtown girl! Hi! I live on the southwest (aka cool!) side of town and agree totally w/ Barbara. FW is economically very very stable, quite attractive, and has great arts/museums and a kick *** trail system. If you live on the west side you have multiple neighborhoods that the trails meander through (mostly on the banks of the trinity river where people fish, there are ducks etc. so not a concrete jungle). I live in a walkable neighborhood and can get on the trail in 1.5 blocks. In the summer it is warm. True. But not humid. Plus, in the summer I get up and bike at 6 am and then am in a great mood for the rest of the day. Fall has been perfect with day after day of breathtakingly awesome riding. Winter is windy but we almost never have ice/cold that lasts more than a few days. There is great country riding just west of the city where you get more big hills than you can shake a stick at. The biking community here is also very active! On beautiful days I will see dozens and dozens of road bikers on the trails.

Did I mention that housing is cheap? You can get a loft in our thriving litte walkable downtown for 300k and up, a beautiful 1920s bungalow in a charming neighborhood for around 250k, and condos all over the city start around 100k.

Don't be scared off by whole red state thing. I know plenty of dems in the city and there are still lots of Obama bumper stickers on cars all around.

Having grown up near Austin I can't say enough how cool it is. However, Austin has terrible traffic, a smaller airport, and sky high property values. Fort Worth is much friendly in every on of those respects. Good luck!

[crazycanuck]

Well, if you'd like a perpetual summer & don't mind travelling...you can always get a work visa for Australia. Darwin, Brisbane, Perth...

Just a thought....

[Misandal]

I have to put in a plug for the Charlotte, NC area. I live about 30 miles north of Charlotte, but this whole area has quite an active bike culture. Even uptown Charlotte is becoming more bike-friendly with designated bike lanes. There are lots of organized events all year long with mutliple distance choices, and no shortage of people to ride with. The climate is absolutely heaven! I'm originally from Michigan, so I know what your winter is like. North Carolina is where I plan to stay!!!

As an added plus, this is one region where the economic downturn hasn't had as much impact as most of the country.

[msincredible]

Well, if you'd like a perpetual summer & don't mind travelling...you can always get a work visa for Australia. Darwin, Brisbane, Perth...

When I was thinking about moving, my ideal was Scandinavia for half the year, and Oz for the other half. I'm sure you can guess which half would be where.

[sundial]

Well, I'm going to make a plug for the southeast region. Our weather is mild pretty much year round. The cost of living is lower and the lifestyle is a little more laid back. The downside is you may not have access to many bike friendly parks or paths, but there are many rural farm roads that make it nice to cycle. Oh, and if you don't mind living in tornado alley, or dealing with the humid, hot summers, then it's for you!