Oddly, I moved from there (Rancho Bernardo, but I worked in Carlsbad) to here (Vancouver, but I work in Portland) and I agree. Bike riding here is year 'round, and it's great. The cycling community is occasionally full of itself, but it's kind of fun to come to a 4-way stop and have car drivers wave you through the intersection.

This guy: http://montanatransitauthority.com/ has built some wild creations.