Northern California (Bay Area) is a better place to ride, IMHO. If you can afford to live on the Peninsula it is amazing how quickly you can get into fairly undeveloped areas. Of course, you've gotta like hills. I can get from my house to the ocean with no stop lights and three or four stop signs. You've also got lots of clubs. In addition to club-sponsored rides, there are the Noon Ride, The Valley Ride, and the Spectrum Ride. Most of the races are crits. If you want road races you generally have to travel out to the Valley.