Texas - Working in Austin for 4 months - Where to live?

Hi,

Semi-typical roadie here.

I'll be starting a 4 month work project in Austin starting late February and wanted to gather some info & opinions (shouldn't be too tough on BF :)) regarding where to stay in Austin. Don't worry, I'm not going to become an east coast Yankee transplant and contribute to Austin sprawl and congestion --- I've already committed to doing that in Denver.

I'll mostly be working in Austin Monday thru Thursday w/ an occasional weekend stay to explore. I'll be working about 10 miles north (and a tiny bit west) of downtown off of highway 183. And there are 2 scenarios that'd make my stay more enjoyable:

Scenario 1 - I rent a place on the outskirts of town (the hillier the better) so that I can commute to and from work and/ or be able take a good, hilly ride by just walking out the front door. I figure a 10-15 mile one way commute to work would be ideal.

Scenario 2 - I rent a place in/ close to downtown that's near bicycle trails, bike shops, record shops, coffe shops, live music, etc.. Ideally, I'd still be able to commute via bike at least a few days a week.

I'm just not too sure which scenario would offer a better, easier, method of bike commuting and an occasional solo hammerfest while still giving me a chance to enjoy Austin entertainment.

Thank you.

If you're working up off 183, a commute from downtown (scenario 2) would be a hard way to start your day. It's congested and mostly uphill (at least the downtown up to 183 part).

Scenario 1 would suit me better. A lot of accessable "wide shoulder" riding and not as difficult for a commute. The best part is you have almost unlimited options for your hill work. This would be the Cedar Park area or around Lakeline Mall.

If you're working up off 183, a commute from downtown (scenario 2) would be a hard way to start your day. It's congested and mostly uphill (at least the downtown up to 183 part).

Scenario 1 would suit me better. A lot of accessable "wide shoulder" riding and not as difficult for a commute. The best part is you have almost unlimited options for your hill work. This would be the Cedar Park area or around Lakeline Mall.

Thanks for the advice dstrong. I would actually welcome the uphill commute, but I'm not a big fan of congestion. I did a congested bike commute on a project in northeast Jersey last year and it was a sucky way to start a workday.

I'm going to give myself a good week or 2 to explore Austin before commiting on where to rent.

I would live on 6th Street.

http://www.6street.com/

Of course, that is only if you are into beautiful college girls every night of the week. If thats not your thing, well then maybe Austin isn't for you.

Check into the Arboretum area (360 & 183). Grocery stores, restaurants & all kinds of retail nearby, so you won't be wasting time going from place to place for the needs of life. Jollyville Road parallels 183 and is very bikeable from the Arboretum northward to Spicewood Springs. The Jollyville/183 corridor lies along the rim of a big canyon, plenty of hills down there. The Arboretum area is well served by Capital Metro and all buses have bike racks.