Originally Posted by SteveE

I'll put in a plug for the S.F. Bay area, especially the Peninsula ('cause I live near there!). Lot's of good climbs (Mt. Hamilton, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Diablo, the Santa Cruz Mtns.), riders (Freddy Rodriguez (Emeryville), Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa), bunch of Sierra Nevada riders (including Eric Wohlberg), Webcor, many Masters racers, good number of local races (including SFGP, Sea Otter Classic), clubs (racing and touring), velodrome (Hellyer Park), centuries and double centuries (Tierra Bella, Sequoia, Grizzly Peaks, Wine Country, Devil Mountain Double, Terrible Two, throw in the Davis rides, Santa Cruz Mtn. Challenge, Strawberry Fields, Cinderella (for the ladies), and on-going regular rides that have developed a life of their own (The Noon Ride, The Valley Ride, The Spectrum Ride, The Morning Ride).