Pacific Northwest - Georgia to Seattle

So, it looks like I may get the chance to get out of the Southeast. I'm working on a possible transfer with my job. The job is based out of Renton. I've never been to the Seattle area but have done a little research online. How bike friendly is the Renton area? Are there any trails near by or even within riding distance? Any recommendations on some affordable apartments that aren't a dump? Lastly, what cycling clubs are in the area that have a strong group of riders? Any insight on the area would be great (i.e. pros/cons).

Plenty of trails near Renton.

For road biking, you probably want to start here:

http://www.cascade.org/Home/

For Mountain Biking, you'll want to start here:

http://www.evergreenmtb.org

Cannot help you with places to live as I don't live down that way.

Best of luck!

Renton is more drive by shooting friendly than bike friendly, certainly on Rainier Ave.

There are a ton of excellent mtb trails in Goldbar, 30 miles north of Seattle and 20+ miles east of Everett. Reiter pits.

Renton is more drive by shooting friendly than bike friendly, certainly on Rainier Ave.

There are a ton of excellent mtb trails in Goldbar, 30 miles north of Seattle and 20+ miles east of Everett. Reiter pits.

Oh my.

Not all of Renton is bad. Like anywhere else there are bad spots and there are good spots.

There are also much better places to mountain bike than Reiter Pits. Check out the trail wiki on the Evergreen website. Year-round mountain biking at Tapework, Tokul, Tolt, Sawyer, Paradise, St. Ed's all within 5-40 minutes drive from Renton. Just a little further drive are places like Banner Forest, ACFL, Galbraith, Green Mtn. etc. Plus in the summertime you've got a lot of the really EPIC cascade rides: Skookum, Palisades, Ranger Creek, etc. Reiter Pits has got some good trails, but most are moto-churned.

The motorized stuff stops at the fork for road 6010. Where they blocked the road with the huge pile of rocks. From there on up it's usually motor free. They really never ride the single track trails.
From the top of the wall.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff224/kellyjdrummer/Bikes-057.jpg

The whole area is great for riding, IMO. Renton, Kent, Auburn, Black Diamond, etc. There are quite a few of the Seattle Randonneur ride down there.
I did have a couple of issues this summer with having loose change thrown at me during a couple events, but there were similar incedents up north in Snohomish and Monroe, so it's not area specific.

Aside from Cascade Bike Club, many rides down that way are part of the Tacoma Wheelmen domain, so that's another club to check out.

Renton itself covers a surprisingly large geographic area -- the neighborhoods are very diverse, ranging from pretty tough to new suburban apartments and housing developments.

If you're working in central Renton itself (say, around Boeing), there are several good ways to get to work by bike -- you can live in Seattle and bike down the west side of Lake Washington; live up in Bellevue and bike down the east side of Lake Washington; or live further out toward rural areas (like past Maple Valley) and bike into work along the Cedar River Trail.

A lot of my recreational rides take me through Renton. The Cedar River Trail is a good way to get from the city (Seattle) out toward the country. Right now, it's full of salmon making their way upstream, and this time of year there are naturalists hanging out along the river to explain the salmon migration to you. The loop around Lake Washington goes right through Renton.

As for apartments - you don't have to live in Renton, of course, but there is a big new development right at the south end of Lake Washington called "The Landing" with hundreds of apartment units that just opened. They must be hurting for renters in this economy. The Landing is a block from the lake, and is close to a bunch of new stores, movie theaters, and restaurants (and is right close to Boeing, as well).

Also, Jimi Hendrix is buried in Renton - it must have something going for it.

Some photos from a bike ride along the Cedar River trail in Renton during salmon season a year ago...


http://i36.tinypic.com/11lmq6f.jpg



http://i38.tinypic.com/o5yxl4.jpg


http://i34.tinypic.com/14watfc.jpg


Salmon


http://i38.tinypic.com/ajp9ip.jpg

I hate to say it but my commute will be by car as the car will be my office. I'm an insurance adjuster. I do want to live somewhere that is relatively bike friendly but regardless of where I live, I'll be driving frequently. My main service area would be in Renton. What places near Renton are recommended that wouldn't be too bad of a commute?

I live in SE Seattle - the Lakewood/Seward Park area. From here I'm probably 10-15 min from "downtown" Renton. More importantly, I'm a quick coast from a few of the best bike routes in the city - Lake Washington Blvd, Seward Park, I-90 loop around Mercer Island, S. Lake WA loop, etc.

I live in SE Seattle - the Lakewood/Seward Park area. From here I'm probably 10-15 min from "downtown" Renton. More importantly, I'm a quick coast from a few of the best bike routes in the city - Lake Washington Blvd, Seward Park, I-90 loop around Mercer Island, S. Lake WA loop, etc.

How safe is the area and how affordable is the area. I cant imagine anywhere is the Seattle area is more dangerous than where I'm living now. My current hometown averages about 3 murders a week with a population less than 100,000. Not to mention the other violent crimes. But of course, that is what we're trying to get away from. So we would like somewhere that is pretty safe and reasonably priced until my wife is able to land a job.

I have been looking at some stuff in the Newcastle area. Any thoughts or opinions on that area?

I have been looking at some stuff in the Newcastle area. Any thoughts or opinions on that area?

Nice area. Great area for road cycling -- you'd be convenient to the Lake Washington Loop, you can head east toward Lake Sammamish.

Look on a map for May Valley Road - it's a favorite cycling road of mine near Newcastle that ambles along the southern edge of Cougar Mountain; it has a very rural feel even though you're right on the edge of Newcastle.

Really if you work in Renton you have a lot of housing options -- up toward Seattle if you want to be more urban; over toward Newcastle/Bellevue/Issaquah if you want to be more suburban; out toward Maple Valley if you want to be more rural.

I would imagine if you are going to be working from your car, Newscastle would be great - easy access to I90, I405, or across the I90 bridge to I5.