Best Cycling region, USA?
08-31-15, 12:42 PM
#51
SuperGimp
Besides, it's a dry heat and you can acclimate to it. Just stay hydrated.
If I were picking a locale, I'd name North County down by San Diego. Better weather than LA / OC, better roads and cost of living isn't any worse either.
08-31-15, 01:09 PM
#52
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I don't know what area may be the best, but I can tell you that my area of Florida is among the worst.
It's flat, few meaningful bike paths. Bike lanes on most roads are for the suicidal only.
drivers are often too old to see or hear you (even when in full kit and screaming.
If it's it not January it's hot and humid.
sudden torrential downpours occur without warning.
road hazards include, snakes, armadillo's, lizards, turtles, and golf carts.
That being said, I'm living the dream another day in paradise.
It's flat, few meaningful bike paths. Bike lanes on most roads are for the suicidal only.
drivers are often too old to see or hear you (even when in full kit and screaming.
If it's it not January it's hot and humid.
sudden torrential downpours occur without warning.
road hazards include, snakes, armadillo's, lizards, turtles, and golf carts.
That being said, I'm living the dream another day in paradise.
08-31-15, 01:20 PM
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+1 for Northern California. Obviously I'm biased since I live there, but if you ignore the cost of living it has to be one of the premier cycling locations in the world.
08-31-15, 01:41 PM
#54
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Vermont...except in the winter, unless you like Fatbikes. And the Autumn? On the back roads? HEAVEN!
But you better like hills!
But you better like hills!
08-31-15, 01:52 PM
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08-31-15, 04:43 PM
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If considering Orange County CA, I would also look at Ventura County. Other than the Southeast county (Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Agora Hills) it is more rural in character. You can easily get to SB or LA counties if you want too. (Then again , I guess you could live up near Taft or the Grapevine and still be technically in Ventura County but that would be like a whole 'nother world).
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08-31-15, 05:18 PM
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Best Cycling region, USA?
Are you looking only for cycling, or to live and cycle? As a cross country cyclist, it’s New England for me to live and ride. Though the cost of living might be high, the job market is pretty good, and you get what you pay for. Terrain, air quality, food, arts/culture, and cycling variety are outstanding.
Regarding the weather, in response to the thread, “Does a near-perfect weather place exist?
A famous regional quote about New England is ”Ya cahn’t get theah from heah.” and the road system is amazingly haphazard unless you know it personally. One might say, ”New England is a nice place to live (and ride), but I wouldn’t want to visit there.” 
Before you say, right here! Think about it. What part of the country, state, or even city has the best of what any cyclist would want? Criteria?
-Terrain? Mountains, Flat, rolling
-Favorable seasons? Cant be stuck inside 6 damn months out of the year!!!!
-Reasonable cost of living?
-Plentiful job market?
-Air quality?
-Great food? Gotta have amazing places to eat, right?
-Arts/Culture?
-Heck, even cycling variety might be important. Road(of course), MTB, Cyclocross
I know I'm probably missing something but, you get the point.... Where?
-Terrain? Mountains, Flat, rolling
-Favorable seasons? Cant be stuck inside 6 damn months out of the year!!!!
-Reasonable cost of living?
-Plentiful job market?
-Air quality?
-Great food? Gotta have amazing places to eat, right?
-Arts/Culture?
-Heck, even cycling variety might be important. Road(of course), MTB, Cyclocross
I know I'm probably missing something but, you get the point.... Where?
Regarding the weather, in response to the thread, “Does a near-perfect weather place exist?
Personally the only weather I don’t like to ride in is rain, and no rain would be a desert. That said, I really like riding in all seasons, even winter. So my near perfect weather would present the best of all seasons, without the extremes, and I already live here. Nice, albeit short Spring with beautiful blossoms and that first few weeks of relief from Winter; glorious summer; cool crispy Autumn with colorful foliage; and even a bracing, and challenging Winter, but not one impossible to ride in…
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 09-02-15 at 08:42 PM.
08-31-15, 05:25 PM
#58
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Best Cycling region, USA?
Are you looking only for cycling, or to live and cycle? As a cross country cyclist, it’s New England for me to live and ride. Though the cost of living might be high, the job market is pretty good, and you get what you pay for. Terrain, air quality, food, arts/culture, and cycling variety are outstanding.
Regarding the weather, in response to the thread, “Does a near-perfect weather place exist?
A famous regional quote about New England is ”Ya cahn’t get theah from here.” and the road system is amazingly haphazard unless you know it personally. One might say, ”New England is a nice place to live (and ride), but I wouldn’t want to visit there.”
Are you looking only for cycling, or to live and cycle? As a cross country cyclist, it’s New England for me to live and ride. Though the cost of living might be high, the job market is pretty good, and you get what you pay for. Terrain, air quality, food, arts/culture, and cycling variety are outstanding.
Regarding the weather, in response to the thread, “Does a near-perfect weather place exist?
A famous regional quote about New England is ”Ya cahn’t get theah from here.” and the road system is amazingly haphazard unless you know it personally. One might say, ”New England is a nice place to live (and ride), but I wouldn’t want to visit there.”
08-31-15, 05:30 PM
#59
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If considering Orange County CA, I would also look at Ventura County. Other than the Southeast county (Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Agora Hills) it is more rural in character. You can easily get to SB or LA counties if you want too. (Then again , I guess you could live up near Taft or the Grapevine and still be technically in Ventura County but that would be like a whole 'nother world).
scott s.
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08-31-15, 05:32 PM
#60
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08-31-15, 05:35 PM
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the few time I drove through northern CA, I left my heart there. Amazing place up along the coast & near the Oregon border. If only one could afford to live comfortably in some of the nicer areas.
08-31-15, 05:38 PM
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My vote is Southern Oregon, far superior to Portland Oregon. Weather is better, more hills, less people, less signal lights, less traffic, more wine, more trees, less hipsters and fixed gears, as much beer, more space, more scenery, more fishing, and we have Keith Anderson, Jeff Lyon, Land Shark, and more. Cost of living is low and the plants grow well. Lots of water, not a lot of competition for it.
shall i carry on?
shall i carry on?
08-31-15, 05:44 PM
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This is a place people come to live, not work... cities are places where people go to work, make money and find mates. I played that game, its not nearly as fun as this game.
08-31-15, 05:45 PM
#64
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On another note(or the same)...the closer you are to the ocean, the cooler it is on those hot days.
08-31-15, 05:49 PM
#65
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I guess it depends on what you dig. for me its not a city or people, and I can get a job anywhere. I'm more concerned with water, ability to grow food, lifestyle, and physical beauty. Eugene is not my favorite, too grey, but once you get south of there, the climate is more similar to NoCal, but you don't have the cost of living of California. Medford and Ashland would be the hubs for industry, and neither is exciting unless you are in specific industries.
This is a place people come to live, not work... cities are places where people go to work, make money and find mates. I played that game, its not nearly as fun as this game.
This is a place people come to live, not work... cities are places where people go to work, make money and find mates. I played that game, its not nearly as fun as this game.
08-31-15, 05:50 PM
#66
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I don't know what area may be the best, but I can tell you that my area of Florida is among the worst.
It's flat, few meaningful bike paths. Bike lanes on most roads are for the suicidal only.
drivers are often too old to see or hear you (even when in full kit and screaming.
If it's it not January it's hot and humid.
sudden torrential downpours occur without warning.
road hazards include, snakes, armadillo's, lizards, turtles, and golf carts.
That being said, I'm living the dream another day in paradise.
It's flat, few meaningful bike paths. Bike lanes on most roads are for the suicidal only.
drivers are often too old to see or hear you (even when in full kit and screaming.
If it's it not January it's hot and humid.
sudden torrential downpours occur without warning.
road hazards include, snakes, armadillo's, lizards, turtles, and golf carts.
That being said, I'm living the dream another day in paradise.
.
08-31-15, 05:51 PM
#67
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Yes, Just moved down form Portland 2 years ago, Portland got way too big way too fast. this area is more my pace now that I'm married and in my 30s.
08-31-15, 05:52 PM
#68
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I need to visit such a place!
08-31-15, 05:57 PM
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yeah, I love Portland. It's a bit much though. We considered moving back there before deciding on Vermont. We just couldn't bring ourselves to do it. It's not exactly the place I remembered. I still may give in at some point. We have family in the area.
08-31-15, 07:32 PM
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08-31-15, 07:42 PM
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Athens, GA has to be up there. Look at how many group rides there are every single day:
Group Ride Calendar | Athens, Georgia the premier bicycling community in the United States!*
Group Ride Calendar | Athens, Georgia the premier bicycling community in the United States!*
09-01-15, 04:31 AM
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09-01-15, 04:35 AM
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Athens, GA has to be up there. Look at how many group rides there are every single day:
Group Ride Calendar | Athens, Georgia the premier bicycling community in the United States!*
Group Ride Calendar | Athens, Georgia the premier bicycling community in the United States!*
09-01-15, 10:07 AM
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I have to 2nd the Southeast, particularly Florida. I am sure that Seattle and Portland are nicer places to ride when it comes to hills and views. Too much rain and too cold though. I can ride every day all year. That to me trumps everything. I would hate to live in an area where you could not go out whenever you please. I would lose my passion as often times it is built upon consistency. Once I get habitual about something it is hard for me to ever stop. The snow and or rain would prohibit me from doing things that I love consistently. Plus, I love coming home from a ride and just jumping in the pool. I am not into the artic plunge so I will pass on any area where it is not reasonably warm year round.
09-01-15, 11:31 AM
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[QUOTE=chasm54;18124441]I'm not a Merkin, but as a visitor I'd have to agree with Caloso. For a combination of year-round climate and variety of terrain I'd think that Northern California would be hard to beat. I had a great time cycling in New England and upstate NY, but that is lot less practicable in winter. The South East would bore me (speaking purely as a cyclist, here). Proper cycling needs proper hills.
Plenty of hills here in the Southeast. Cheaha in Alabama, Six Gap in Georgia, Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the list goes on and on.
Plenty of hills here in the Southeast. Cheaha in Alabama, Six Gap in Georgia, Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the list goes on and on.