I moved to San Diego six-years ago for winter time bicycling. It is hard to imagine a better place to live an be a full time bicycle rider. I live on a 40-foot sailboat on Harbor Island just 2-miles from downtown. I was a hard core road and mountain bike rider in the Pacific NW for 40-years before moving to San Diego. I rode year round rain, shine, or snow up there. Now - after a couple years in San Diego I will not go for a ride if the road is wet or the temperature is below 62. I seldom miss a day of riding here.

- I ride all winter in shorts and light jersey. Sometimes I wear a wind breaker. The daily coastal high is always 65 to 70 and the inland (more than 8-miles from the coast) is usually 70 to 78.

- It rains about 36-hours every 10-days from early December thru mid-March.

- There is a wide variety of riding available.

-Road rides - From our boat we can pickup bike paths or bike lanes that lead to several 50-mile rides with very little climbing. Or, I can ride east 12-miles and be in the foothills where I can ride beautiful scenic 5% - 8% grades up to 6,000'. It is easy to plan a 50 to 100 mile ride with 4,000' feet climbing on a circular route. Or, drive 45-minutes east and start at 3,300' and do one of dozens of mountain centuries in spectacular scenery. Typical 5,000' temperatures mid-day in January are 50 to 60 degrees.

- Dirt rides - there are hundreds of fantastic fire roads, easy single track, and highly technical single track within a 45-minute drive from my boat. I can ride three technical routes a week and not repeat a ride during the winter. There is even 8-miles of pretty interesting single track in Balboa Park with some technical climbs and drops- just one mile from the heart of downtown.

The only drawback to San Diego is the cost of living. Rentals are expensive and purchasing a home is almost beyond a regular person's financial ability.

And - the summers are nearly perfect! If you stay within the coastal zone the temperature seldom exceeds 80. Or, head inland and you can ride in 90 to 95 degree dry sunshine every single day.