Best place for cycling in the USA?
#76
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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.
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.
#77
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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.
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.
#78
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No, just *****s.
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#79
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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.
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.
#80
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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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#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.
#83
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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.
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#84
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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.
#85
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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.
#86
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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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#87
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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.
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.....
#88
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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.
#89
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It took 50 years to raise you? You mature more slowly than most of us.
Well put!
Well put!
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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#90
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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.
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!
#91
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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.
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#92
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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!
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!
#93
Senior Member
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.
#94
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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!
#95
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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.
#96
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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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