dalava

i only been to Taipei a couple of time, but remember the humidity to be suffocating, and seems to be raining a lot. May be the wrong seasons when I went.

Machka 

Hualian is right on the ocean, so you get some of the sea breezes. We were there in late June, and it was hot and humid but not too bad. And it only rained once, I think.


My Taiwan (Hualian) photos start here ...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...detail/?page=6


Those beautiful roads.

Clipped_in

I'd have to agree, as far as cycling goes.

I have no interest in living in California, but for year-round pedaling it's hard to beat. The riding here in northern Utah is incredible--for 7 months out of the year. Those 12 degree lunch rides I did last January I can't recommend to anyone. For the past couple of weeks we've been hovering in low 100 degree afternoon temps. It has forced me to abandon my commuting, and opt for the sublime riding of eeeaaarly mornings in the canyons.

Carbon Unit

California will continue to decline until they change their approach to financial management. California's long term debt is between 848 billion 1 trillion. California's prison system cost twice per inmate to operate than Texas and Florida. The state can not tax their way out of this. California's state income tax goes up to 14% and there are people in Orange County where I live paying almost 2% property tax on million dollar homes. California has the highest gas tax, one of the highest car taxes and sale tax.

Whether you like ballot initiatives or not, it is democracy. In the 70s, property taxes were increasing every year and voters were getting tired of it

mrwonderful

I lived in Southern California for 13 years and the weather is very nice, but being close to the "big" cities definitely makes it less appealing. I have traveled and lived in different places quite a bit the past few years, Seattle, Spokane, Scottsdale, Whitefish, and my current spot in Kauai. Kauai has everything you need except for the big city. Ditto with Whitefish which was amazing but the winters are brutal. I liked Scottsdale but the riding was a bit bland and drivers really go fast. Seattle is lovely but the roads are narrow and it rains a ton. Spokane (population 200,000) is a good size and the riding is good but winters, while not as bad as Montana are still cold.

I traveled a lot last fall and really liked northern Wisconsin, Michigan and upstate NY - they were lovely. I also really liked parts of Kentucky and Tennessee which have a lot going for them from a quality of life aspect.

Anyway, I could throw out the best biking of the places I've lived and been to but really quality of life is more important IMHO as long as you live in a beautiful spot. Personally, unless you have a real reason to live near a "big city" there is a lot to be said for mid sized towns. Louisville, Knoxville & Nashville were awesome places - I would rank them very high. Even Boise, Reno, Spokane have a lot going for them and are relatively cheap. If you have a job that is transferable like a nurse, dentist, accountant etc. I strongly believe that your best quality of life is in the smaller amazing tourist towns like Whitefish, areas of Hawaii like where I am now, Jackson, Wyoming, Telluride, Colorado, Bend,OR. etc. Even though I enjoy the 12 month riding like Hawaii and Arizona (or California), it isn't bad to have a bunch of hobbies where you can take advantage of the four seasons.

My 2cents. Lots of great places, lots of great riding. Available work and proximity to friends/family usually is important also.

Lazyass

Hendersonville, NC or thereabouts.

floridamtb

Too many Navy people around </sarcasm>
I got out just before the P-3 squadrons moved to Whidbey, flew threw there many times in my day and I have to say it is beautiful there, although a little too wet for me at times. I'll stick to south Florida now, great weather to ride all year and some really spectacular scenic drawbridges to "climb"

Doge

We live in San Clemente 1 mile from Camp Pendleton on the coast. Might be too flat for you and that ocean does take away bike routes.
I think the West Lake Village area is good. Ride around the mountains and get to Malibu or over them. Google Mike Nosco ride.
East San Diego is great - but a bit remote. I would find Chico (was there 2 weeks ago) too remote, as Reno/Carson. Was in Ft Collins last year and that is attractive.

Carbon Unit

I loved riding in Irvine and Newport Beach. It is the one thing I miss about California now that I live in Austin, Texas.

DevinL

I've not biked in many states, but the ones I have outside of Colorado have been rather scary(Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Kansas). With that being said, I'll vote for the home track, Colorado.

I did forget to mention I follow a few guys in the hills of CA and their rides look absolutely identical to ours out this way, without the elevation.. but still amazing climbs! So, CA you're next on the list!

kraftwerk 

Cyclists are revered in France like hockey players are in Canada, football players in the USA, there is so much respect on the road, makes a big difference.
Also in Switzerland I never saw a pot hole. Hard to believe but the roads are pristine there.
Germany has bike paths everywhere especially the Munich, Bavaria area.

California for the weather.

Gus90

Lake Tahoe. The Flume Trail is breathtaking. Just don't die. Plus it's not on the California side.

rideBjj

Over-rated, excessively sandy, tourist gaper fest. Worth doing once and only once, just so you can talk about it when the subject comes up. So many other way better rides in Tahoe.

The road riding is also quite good. The ride around the lake itself is a good stiff 72 mile effort with a lot of climbing.

I lived there for the better part of a decade.

Gus90

Your first sentence pegged me pretty good. lol

falconsusi

Check out the Chattanooga Bike Club webpage Chattanooga Bicycle Club

For mountain biking there is also https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/

falconsusi

Around Chattanooga, Tennessee there are also many other close cities with big cycling communities like Dalton, Ga with an active cycling FB page. Active cycling in Atlanta area, Huntsville Alabama, Nashville, Knoxville - all within 2 hours. The sister valleys like the Sequatchie Valley has a facebook cycling group (this is my valley) and it is beautiful 60 miles lone with 1,000-1,400 mountains on either side...

Chattanooga is a great place.

Events like the 3 State 3 Mountain Century Ride May 2nd provide big local challenges https://www.chattbike.com/index.php?o...d=63&Itemid=37