Considering moving within US, What city/area would you suggest?

[Lenusik]

To make a short story long:

I am married and living in Phoenix, AZ and I enjoy it here. I was born and raised Ukraine and my husband is originally from Wisconsin, just north of Madison.

I've only really gotten into road riding in the last year and absolutely love it. And I am doing quite well too. My husband has been riding for 3 yearsand he is a great rider. I also play tennis and my husband joins me as well sometimes.

Here's the deal. We're both looking for new jobs as the changes with our current employers have us looking elsewhere. We've not yet been considering anywhere other than Phoenix until yesterdays ride. We realized 10 miles into my normal weekday 22 miler that the air quality here REALLY SUCKS! I know it, and it motivates me to NOT ride. As the wheels and the thoughts roll, I wonder then, why I live here if it's 110 degrees in the summer and you have to get up at 5 am to ride, and the air quality in the winter is terrible. What's the point? This is when I realized that our job searches should include more of the US.

We live in Chandler and our normal ride is on Pecos. In order to get out of the pollution is not possible during weekday rides. I can do that for weekend rides, but that's not often enough.

Some more about us. We're both IT project managers, so ideal city size would be large enough to host IT companies seeking employees.

I also must point out that I'm not fond of Wisconsin winters, but considering the air quality in AZ, I'm not against moving back to my husband's home state. There is something about endless rolling country roads through farm country. Clean air, greenery and very little traffic, that really are a bikers dream.

I don't want to limit our future job search to just WI, so I am looking for your suggestions.

Btw, we have already crossed off the following cities/areas (due to similiar pollution/population problems):
Los Angeles
New York
Chicago
Houston
Denver

The key qualities we are looking for are:
1. Jobs - employers in area
2. Weather - Seattle's rain probably keep that from being on the good list, and Wyoming wind as well.
3. Bikable - roads available. Where ever we live our house MUST be situated such that we can ride out of garage door and get in a decent 20 mile ride. I have managed to manufacture that in Phoenix, as I have only two heavy trafficed miles to Pecos Road.
4. Good for raising kids. We're planning on kids in the next few years.
5. Air quality. IT's the reason I started this line of thought.
6. Overall livable, low crime rate, ample entertainment
7. Decent airport within 1 hour. I travel enough that this is a consideration. Consider however that I think Madison's airport is serviceable.
8. Outdoor and indoor (in case it is a cold area) tennis courts.

Other thoughts. I love rolling hills, trees and greenery and lakes. If our new community was near/in all of that. I think I would be in heaven.
Oh housing costs! Yeah, I suppose that helps a LOT! We're not looking to spend more than $300,000 on our next home. In fact, the closer to $200,000 it is, the happier I would be. (More money for the bike, you understand.)

Anyway, so the country is ours to discover, suggest an area we should consider moving to and why.

[Bike Goddess]

Check out the SF Bay Area. I live in a small town called Benicia. I roll out of my garage and in 10 mins am in the country. Rolling hills, good climbs, excellent training. Check out the Benicia Bicycle Club website for pictures.
Also, check out Benicia for schools. We have some of the best in Northern California.

Other spots in the Bay Area- San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County. Marin County is a great place as well. All of the schools up here are great and you can't beat the weather! We all ride year round, there are many great bicycle clubs, and if you want to get into competitive riding that's here as well.

Quite a few of the women who are from California on this site meet and ride together from time to time which just adds to the fun!

Good luck on your quest.

[Eden]

We may have rain here in Seattle, but if you can put up with a little wet we have nice bikeable weather all year round (in fact *crossed fingers* its been very dry on the weekends this winter). It usually doesn't get very cold here in the winter - and if it does get cold it is clear so no percipitation! It also does not usually get excessively hot or humid here in the summer. Our biggest downside is being so far north that our days in the winter are very very short - like sun up at close to 8am and dark at around 4:30 at the worst, of course that means light until about 10 pm in the summer though. The other bummer, the cost of living is quite high here - housing especially.

Otherwise it's great. Huge cycling community. Miles of bike trails if you can put up with the crowding and fairly sane drivers if you can't (at least compared to some of the stories I hear from other places). Traffic can be bad, but avoidable if you plan your living, working and commuting well. I rarely drive anywhere these days so its not my worry. Very green, very lush, little rain in the summer (shhh its a secret!). Relatively easy access to incredibly beautiful places like Mt. Rainier and Olympic National Park. Full compliment of cultural activites - oh and really great sushi.
I moved here from the east coast and I love it. I grew up in Pittsburgh and though I think its a really great city and undeserving of some of the bad reputation it retains from the old days of the steel mills, I sure don't miss the hot and humid summers and cold winters.

[bcipam]

Well if you can afford it (and that's a big if) there is nothing like the year around riding and beautiful roads in Orange County, CA or even better San Diego, CA.

[CorsairMac]

If I may be so bold: New Mexico. Las Cruces might be closer to what you're used to in Chandler without the pollution. Albuquerque tends to be - ummm - cooler in the winter than Phx but I bike commute all year. There is a bike path here on the Rio Grande that is 33 miles long in and of itself. I can ride from my house to the path, ride the path and ride back home and get in a 50 mile ride without ever leaving the city or having to deal with traffic cept where the bike trail crosses it. I'm a Chandler transplant and while I would LOVE to get back there, Albuquerque is a wonderful second choice. Not sure what jobs you are looking for so not sure if the market will support you - but I would suggest my fine and beautiful city/state!!

Plus that way I've got Another person to ride with And someone else who can help me razz the East Coast girls during the winter!!

[cindysue]

We're not looking to spend more than $300,000 on our next home. In fact, the closer to $200,000 it is, the happier I would be. (More money for the bike, you understand.)

up to this point, i was thinking Bay Area, but you won't find much under 500K..... unless you want to live in a 1970's 1br condo....

heck even the lovely Benicia is out of touch for many folks.........

good luck!

[snapdragen]

I'm not too sure about the SF Bay Area being such a great place. I'd move in a minute if it weren't for my job.

Housing is $$$$$$
Schools are iffy -- some are great, others not so much.
Air Quality

I don't know what the jobs are like, but I know a couple people (cyclists) in Boulder, CO that just love it.

Spokane WA is nice too, but again, I know nothing of the job market.

[Grog]

While we're considering Seattle: why not take a step up North and try Vancouver? It fits pretty much all the criteria but being in the United States, and it would be easy for the two of you to get work permits, being in the field you are.

As for the wet weather, I think we're just a slight bit better than Seattle (but I'm not sure), and people do ride year long, we just have fenders and, for a few of us, winter bikes. (I don't have a winter bike for now.)

Just a thought...

[cindysue]

I don't know what the jobs are like, but I know a couple people (cyclists) in Boulder, CO that just love it.

ohhhhhh, Boulder is way cool! I visited there once when I went hiking up in the Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Forest.

some say it's a little snooty, some say it's a little granola, I say it is absolutely beautiful and a great location for outdoor enthusiasts.....

[cindysue]

why not take a step up North and try Vancouver?

I've heard great things about Vancouver also. Never been there myself but it is on my list.

Hey Grog, how far are you from Fernie? I will be skiing up there from Feb 8-12....

[doc]

A friend of mine moved to Boise Idaho for similar reasons. She and her husband and kids are always fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting and so on. I don't know about biking only because she isn't a cyclist. But I know she LOVES living there. She moved from a big eastern city to be there (philly).

[bikerHen]

OK, since it was mentioned, I'll put in my two cents for Spokane, WA and Coeur d'Alene, ID which is just across the state line. Housing is still affordable, great place for outdoor anything, lots of good road riding and mountain biking and we have an airport. We moved here 18 years ago to get out of So. Cal. and we never looked back. It has been a great place to raise a family. Don't know much about the job market. I would say good if your in the medical field and we are getting a few more high tech industries in the area plus there are a number of universities in the area. We do get winter, but every year there seem to be less snow and more wet. Today is just beautiful! But of course I'm at work. Daughter and I are planning a road ride tomorrow if the weather holds All in all I'd say check us out. And yes, I could use another road rider to play with too! BikerHen

[cindysue]

A friend of mine moved to Boise Idaho for similar reasons. She and her husband and kids are always fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting and so on. I don't know about biking only because she isn't a cyclist. But I know she LOVES living there. She moved from a big eastern city to be there (philly).

andrew wants to buy a second home there. I'm curious what others think of Boise. Sounds like a lot of great outdoor activities, but I'm wondering what the city is like? Restaurants, entertainment? a good sushi place? organic produce? marinated tofu? falafel and hummus?

[profàvélo]

The key qualities we are looking for are:
1. Jobs - employers in area
2. Weather - Seattle's rain probably keep that from being on the good list, and Wyoming wind as well.
3. Bikable - roads available. Where ever we live our house MUST be situated such that we can ride out of garage door and get in a decent 20 mile ride. I have managed to manufacture that in Phoenix, as I have only two heavy trafficed miles to Pecos Road.
4. Good for raising kids. We're planning on kids in the next few years.
5. Air quality. IT's the reason I started this line of thought.
6. Overall livable, low crime rate, ample entertainment
7. Decent airport within 1 hour. I travel enough that this is a consideration. Consider however that I think Madison's airport is serviceable.
8. Outdoor and indoor (in case it is a cold area) tennis courts.

Other thoughts. I love rolling hills, trees and greenery and lakes. If our new community was near/in all of that. I think I would be in heaven.
Oh housing costs! Yeah, I suppose that helps a LOT! We're not looking to spend more than $300,000 on our next home. In fact, the closer to $200,000 it is, the happier I would be. (More money for the bike, you understand.)

Anyway, so the country is ours to discover, suggest an area we should consider moving to and why.

Look into Greenville, SC. Reasons:
1. Michelin headquarters and BMW plant are here; I think the employment front is pretty good.
2. Weather: cycling year-round, winter not too harsh, but definitely four seasons. I think people play tennis year-round, as well, and there are both indoor and outdoor courts.
3. I ride out of my driveway (north side of town) for rides of any length (20 to 65, generally). You can choose rolling, hillly, or you can find some big climbs (e.g. a six-mile climb up Caesar's Head). Not really any flat riding. George Hincapie (and others) rides from downtown out to those same routes, so that is possible, too. I can be really out in the country in under 15 miles. (I have to say, it's pretty cool to run into George out on the road. He's quite friendly.)
4. There are good public schools, but some are better than others. Verify before buying a house. Otherwise seems kid-friendly to me--there's a children's museum and theatre company--but I don't have children yet, either.
5. I'll have to check on the air quality, but my unofficial evaluation of it is "good". We don't generally talk about staying inside due to bad air.
6. High quality of life. Interesting and fun downtown that has been revived over the last 15 years. Peace Center for the Performing Arts brings in national and international performers. Atlanta is not too far away if you need a big-city fix (2 1/2 hours down I-85). Seems to have low crime rate.
7. Nice, smallish airport, Greenville-Spartanburg. Much nicer to fly in and out of than Atlanta, but often more expensive to do so.

Other: G'ville is at the foot of the mountains, close to Asheville, NC (1 1/2 hour) and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Only about 4 hours from Charleston, SC, which is beautiful, and the beaches there. Large, active cycling community that is growing. Housing is reasonable, I believe. Our brick 3 BR/3 BA ranch in an older neighborhood (the house was built around 1970) with lots of trees was around $150,000 three years ago, but I wouldn't stay in this neighborhood if we had children older than elementary-school age. There are some nice lakes close by. The only downside, for me, is the conservative nature of most residents. I work at a university with other like-minded (read: liberal) people, so I can tolerate it.

I just talked myself into staying here for quite a while! Based on your requirements, I think you should check it out. In fact, you could sign up for the Assault on Marion in May, see what the riding is like.

[Crankin]

I laughed when I read your thread. I also left the valley for similiar reasons. Twenty years ago I was using a nebulizer every four hours for my asthma and my then preshchoolers couldn't play outside for most of the year. We moved back to the Boston area, where i grew up and I never regret it. I don't see how you can ride there! I know the Boston area is too expensive for what you want to spend on housing, but there are places where you can enjoy being outside, have four seasons, and you can ride right from your door. Don't rule out places that have winter. I never did any sports as a kid, and now i cross country ski and snowshoe pretty much right out of my door (or within a 20 minute drive). Cold and snow are what you make of it, and part of dealing with it is getting outside in it.
Good luck!