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Best place for cycling in the USA?

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Best place for cycling in the USA?

Old 05-25-13, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by CMC SanDiego
You're right the "sun tax" is high, but since this is where my job is, I'm enjoying it as much as possible. I live in east San Diego county and have some great rides on roads less travelled just a mile or two from my home (Dehesa, Alpine, Jamul areas). I work on the coast just south of Torrey Pines State Beach in La Jolla, and have some fabulous lunchtime rides into Del Mar, Solana Beach, or down into La Jolla itself (although that one has much more traffic).

The CEO of my company would come visit from Connecticut every two or three months, and when we had a chance we'd go out for a ride together and every time he'd say to me something like..."you have no idea how lucky you are to have a place like this to ride on a daily basis, there are only a handfull of places in the world with this scenery and temperate climate". I guess I was taking it for granted, but I'm trying not to do so anymore.
I was raised in So Calif for 50 years so I know the story there. I moved to Indiana 10 years ago due to my company, but now I can't afford to move back, so I'm stuck here, but I could have moved to worse areas! At least here when I retire I will actually be able to afford to retire! Heck, when I became unemployed a year ago I was able to afford being unemployed! I don't think that would have worked out so well in California!
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Old 05-25-13, 07:38 AM
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Originally Posted by kroozer
OK, what would be the best place in the world for a cyclist to live? (Assuming you can get a visa, pay the rent, etc.)

The first place that popped into my mind was southern France: nice weather, beautiful and varied scenery, great food, in the middle of the vintage bike universe, and people just know how to live well there.
You know, it always looks greener on the other side of the fence.
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Old 05-25-13, 10:55 AM
  #78  
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Originally Posted by lasauge
The naked bicycle movement has gained a mass following in Tucson?
No, just *****s.
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Old 05-25-13, 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
Frank, you gotta come to Portland. Heck, there's museum exhibits of bicycles: https://www.portlandartmuseum.org/special/cyclepedia

And scenery? This is a easy ride from downtown Portland:

I grew up in Southern California. What passes for scenery is rented- they put mountains up there every month or two to convince people that it's not possible to leave. Then they put up smug (ugly smog) so you can't see that the mountains aren't there anymore.

Portland is a little pricey, but Vantucky (across the river) is pretty affordable. My wife and I have been here 17 years, and everything is paid off: house, cars, cats, etc. Year-round riding is easy if you have fenders.
I spent about a year-ish down in Portland, in the early 90s, when I first came out west. I liked it a lot, but I have an evil step-sister up here in Seattle, so I ended up here instead. I was working out of a temp agency in Beaverton, which wasn't all bad, but just not steady enough. When I hit Seattle, I worked for a moving company, & was getting 60 & 70 hours a week for a long while, LOL. Be careful what you wish for.
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Old 05-25-13, 11:50 AM
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Here in SW Wa at the mouth of the Columbia we've a rural environment and fickle winter weather but late spring summer and fall are fine. Sand beach for that future snow bike, thousands of miles of logging roads for weekend exploring on an MTB or cross, good rural arterials for early morning no to low traffic, a positive bike and trail culture that will give us great connectivity in the next 20 years, regional loop rides that combine some of the best river and ocean scenery ever. (A local buddy and I are developing some very cool rides and races including the ORB Invitational (Ocean River Bay)...a double metric century that includes a ferry, long bridge and covered bridge). Easy access to Seattle, Portland and Bend for a two week got away. Both sides of the river (Clatsop and Pacific counties) have tight bike aficionados groups that are dedicated to increasing public awareness and assets. A great place to bike is what you invest and make of the assets you have.
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Old 05-25-13, 11:50 AM
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I love how some on here say riding is easy in the winter.

I stay home when it's under 40! or rainy!!!
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Old 05-25-13, 12:06 PM
  #82  
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The best place to ride starts where you are and ends where you want to be when you get there.
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Old 05-27-13, 06:36 PM
  #83  
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Originally Posted by sloar
thats funny because i was going to post my city as one of the worst, about 40 miles from you. no bike shop, and i think im the only one in the whole town that can ride more than 5 miles at one time. riding in central indiana is very boring, especially if you ride solo like i do. farm after farm nothing but fields. the only good thing is i see about 5 cars in a 30 mile ride.
The dogs will keep you on your toes! I can't ride in the backroads without being chased.
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Old 05-28-13, 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by roadrunner2012
All things considered, San Diego and environs has to be tops, Phoenix/Tucson close behind, in that order. It's all about weather, roads and scenery.
S CA is great of course... but Phoenix? I lived in Phoenix for a couple years... never again... too damn hot for too long. Tucson is a little cooler, and also has mountain climbs very near. The desert looks a lot better too IMO.

Where I live now the avg high is 50 in Jan and 82 in July. I don't bother going out unless it is at least 45 and sunny, and I get plenty of riding in winter. Being able to ride in the middle of the day helps.

I met some people visiting from Tucson recently (they bought a vacation home here), and the woman stated that this was the most beautiful place she's ever seen. I wouldn't rank it that high, but it definitely isn't bad.

The higher elevation parts of southern AZ, NM, and TX have the mildest and sunniest year-round climate in the US outside of the CA coast.
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Old 05-28-13, 09:24 AM
  #85  
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Originally Posted by gaucho777
Oh, and mountain bike trails galore. Although it is close to the L.A. suburbs, you only have to go a few miles into Hidden Valley (shown below) before you feel like you are in the country.
Did you say Hidden Valley? There is the bonus of famous salad dressing>

I live in Orange County, CA. I like riding here but this is all I know since getting serious about cycling. Plenty of traffic but there are lots of bike friendly trails in Irvine. The river trail takes you from the ocean in Huntington Beach for about 40 miles. Riding Pacific Coast Highway is a nice view.

I grew up in suburban Maryland 20 miles from DC. That was quite nice when I rode as a teenager. Probably crazy crowded now unless you go farther out into the country.
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Old 05-28-13, 09:37 AM
  #86  
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Originally Posted by rekmeyata
I was raised in So Calif for 50 years so I know the story there. I moved to Indiana 10 years ago due to my company, but now I can't afford to move back, so I'm stuck here, but I could have moved to worse areas! At least here when I retire I will actually be able to afford to retire! Heck, when I became unemployed a year ago I was able to afford being unemployed! I don't think that would have worked out so well in California!
Funny thing, I moved back here 15 years ago went through several jobs and now I have one that pays decent and has excellent benefits, but I can't afford a house here now, nor can I afford to leave (find a good job at my age?)... I'm planning on buying some property somewhere else to retire on, Portland looks nice as do some parts of AZ.

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Old 05-28-13, 10:00 AM
  #87  
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Originally Posted by rruff
S CA is great of course... but Phoenix? I lived in Phoenix for a couple years... never again... too damn hot for too long. Tucson is a little cooler, and also has mountain climbs very near. The desert looks a lot better too IMO.

Where I live now the avg high is 50 in Jan and 82 in July. I don't bother going out unless it is at least 45 and sunny, and I get plenty of riding in winter. Being able to ride in the middle of the day helps.

I met some people visiting from Tucson recently (they bought a vacation home here), and the woman stated that this was the most beautiful place she's ever seen. I wouldn't rank it that high, but it definitely isn't bad.

The higher elevation parts of southern AZ, NM, and TX have the mildest and sunniest year-round climate in the US outside of the CA coast.

+1. I haven't spent time in NM, but southern AZ (Tucson area) has great weather and great riding.....
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Old 05-28-13, 10:04 AM
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I'll throw another vote in for The Mile High City. Great trail network, thrilling vistas, and the weather is awesome, too.
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Old 05-28-13, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by rekmeyata
I was raised in So Calif for 50 years ...
It took 50 years to raise you? You mature more slowly than most of us.

Originally Posted by rhm
The best place to ride starts where you are and ends where you want to be when you get there.
Well put!
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Old 05-28-13, 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Popeyecahn
Funny thing, I moved back here 15 years ago went through several jobs and now I have one that pays decent and has excellent benefits, but I can't afford a house here now, nor can I afford to leave (find a good job at my age?)... I'm planning on buying some property somewhere else to retire on, Portland looks nice as do some parts of AZ.
I liked Portland but not for cycling, it rains far too much there and is cloudy more then it isn't, I would find that depressing after awhile, I'm sure people get use to it but I like far less rain and more sunshine.

If my wife was to die before me I would probably sell everything I own and move to Morro Bay California and buy a small house, I really liked it there, it's quaint, plus it has the lowest beach real estate prices in California. And the weather is nice for cycling all year round, I can cruise on hwy 1 to lots of places or go into the mountains and ride all over those roads. I love the beach and would love to move back but right now financially it wouldn't work. I would probably keep one of my rental properties here so I would have an income stream, then sell the other and my house and pay cash for a small house there.

Of course if I'm over 80 if that happened I just stay put where I'm at now!
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Old 05-28-13, 02:19 PM
  #91  
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Originally Posted by rekmeyata
If my wife was to die before me I would probably sell everything I own and move to Morro Bay California and buy a small house, I really liked it there, it's quaint, plus it has the lowest beach real estate prices in California. And the weather is nice for cycling all year round, I can cruise on hwy 1 to lots of places or go into the mountains and ride all over those roads. I love the beach and would love to move back but right now financially it wouldn't work. I would probably keep one of my rental properties here so I would have an income stream, then sell the other and my house and pay cash for a small house there.
Not sure what the job market is like in Morro Bay / San Luis Obispo area, but it is definitely beautiful and there is some great riding to be done around there. The folks from Path Less Pedaled wrote several blog posts about a short-ish tour they did around the area earlier this year:

https://pathlesspedaled.com/2013/01/c...ng-playground/

https://pathlesspedaled.com/2013/02/c...g-photo-recap/
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Old 05-28-13, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by rekmeyata
I liked Portland but not for cycling, it rains far too much there and is cloudy more then it isn't, I would find that depressing after awhile, I'm sure people get use to it but I like far less rain and more sunshine.

If my wife was to die before me I would probably sell everything I own and move to Morro Bay California and buy a small house, I really liked it there, it's quaint, plus it has the lowest beach real estate prices in California. And the weather is nice for cycling all year round, I can cruise on hwy 1 to lots of places or go into the mountains and ride all over those roads. I love the beach and would love to move back but right now financially it wouldn't work. I would probably keep one of my rental properties here so I would have an income stream, then sell the other and my house and pay cash for a small house there.

Of course if I'm over 80 if that happened I just stay put where I'm at now!
The central coast is really nice, I'd love to live in Cambria, Morro Bay, Pismo etc, even inland somewhat would be nice. Ay perchance to dream...
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Old 05-28-13, 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by mainstreetexile
Not sure what the job market is like in Morro Bay / San Luis Obispo area, but it is definitely beautiful and there is some great riding to be done around there.
A great place for sure... but the cost of living is the issue for most people. Houses are still over $400k in Morro Bay and over $500k in SLO. The area around Santa Maria is only ~$250k though.
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Old 05-28-13, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Popeyecahn
The central coast is really nice, I'd love to live in Cambria, Morro Bay, Pismo etc, even inland somewhat would be nice. Ay perchance to dream...
Yeah, a dream. I have ridden in those areas too a lot and loved it that's why I would love to go back. But maybe in my next lifetime.

The job situation I'm not worried about since I have an income stream, and if I did it when I retired then I would have SS too, but that's assuming I could sell my house and one of my properties for enough to pay cash for a small house there, then I would only have to worry about paying the property taxes. But my wife wants to die here in Fort Wayne so there's no way I could even remotely consider moving till she was gone...assuming she dies first of course!
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Old 05-28-13, 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by rruff
A great place for sure... but the cost of living is the issue for most people. Houses are still over $400k in Morro Bay and over $500k in SLO. The area around Santa Maria is only ~$250k though.
I didn't like Santa Maria, though years ago they had a drag strip there but not anymore I've heard. I have heard they still have tri tip barbecue summer weekends. I would be willing to spend an additional $250k not to live in Santa Maria.
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Old 05-28-13, 09:33 PM
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I would add to the Washington/Pacific Northwest list. Anywhere out here is nice, WA, OR, ID... Make sure you have fenders though for the rain, but when its nice, nothing beats it! Though I may be biased since I have lived here all my life.
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