Pacific Northwest - Best part of Portland to live in?

I am considering a move to Portland. I'm hoping to get a good idea of where the best place to live in Portland is. I plan on commuting to work on bike so it would have to be close to the busy part of the city but I'd also like somewhere that is close to trails.

I'll be looking to work at a auto service shop or at a car dealership so a location to a part of the city where those would be located at would be best.

I ride Mountain Bikes and I'm planning on buying a Touring bike.

I'd also like to get some snowboarding in this winter, what are the closest ski resorts?

Thanks for any ideas!

As far as snowboarding go, you need to go to Mt. Hood, and Meadows (skihood.com) is by far the best place, great night riding too, and much cheaper than during the day, it is best if you live on the East side so you avoid traffic on the way out. Renting is still fairly cheap around here but buying has become way expensive and it is slowing down so don't buy. There is not much Mountain biking in town, as far as I know, most good stuff in the parks is closed off, again if you drive to Mt. Hood in the summer it is fairly good and a bit further is Bend, great mtbiking there.
Good luck and hope you like it as much as I do.
Ciao
Paolo

Yeah, the east side would be your best bet to look at. Plus, we have the I205 bike trail that follows the I205 freeway quite well.

And Hood is an hour away, for skiing in the winter and biking in the summer.

Thanks guys! That definitely narrows down my search.

I'd look into Sellwood and Milwaulkie. Both are close to the Springwater Corridor. The Springwater will take you to Downtown Portland if needed.

I lived in the Portland/Vancouver area 10 yrs back in the 80s, worked downtown & had an easy bike commute downtown from my house on NE 70th between Glisan & Burnside. Later, I lived in Orchards, WA(East of Vancouver & I205) and found there was a bus that ran from Vancouver Mall to Downtown Portland with an added bonus that the Vancouver monthly bus pass cost much less than the Portland pass but tri-met honored the Washington pass all over town. It worked on the Max light rail system also. My oldest son enjoyed life in the Reed College neighborhood but it was spendy! This info is old but still applies to the bike commute as that has only gotten better. Don