live for cycling

[dave1215]

been a long time since any discussion
of best places to live for a cycling lifestyle

if your work would enable you to life anywhere
where would you want to live and why?

[WFSTEKL]

If I had the money, I would live in Amherst, MA. There you will find roads that rival the cobbles of Roubaix. A plethera of young co-eds will keep your legs fresh and supple. Can you say souplesse? There are many fine restaurants available to fill a hollow belly after a 100 mile spin around the valley and up and down the dirt roads that are like veins through the hilltowns. What else could you want?

[velobran]

If I had the money, I would live in Amherst, MA. There you will find roads that rival the cobbles of Roubaix. A plethera of young co-eds will keep your legs fresh and supple. Can you say souplesse? There are many fine restaurants available to fill a hollow belly after a 100 mile spin around the valley and up and down the dirt roads that are like veins through the hilltowns. What else could you want?

How about someplace with at least 9 months of rideable weather? Maybe Cali, north of LA? Or even north of San Fran seems like it would be nice. As much as I hate dead pan flat roads down here, I'm happy that it only gets into the 40s for a few weeks per year ( or 30's in the AM time when I ride and I freeze my ass off).

[962]

been a long time since any discussion
of best places to live for a cycling lifestyle

if your work would enable you to life anywhere
where would you want to live and why?

I'm really happy with the San Francisco peninsula. There is one main ridge to the west and one to the south toward Santa Cruz where there is plenty of riding and you can connect the rides all up. East Bay is nice too. I could live a little closer to the foothills but it's $$

If I could consider it work-wise I would also look at Orange County. Higher temps are ok with me, and winter is probably more rideable, though overall the wet/forest climate is more my style.

Colorado sounds great but I'll take my year-round riding on smaller mountains and ridges over big mountains and snow.

Vancouver is a beautiful place but I see myself continuing to live in America as an American and even if the winter is mild there it's still rather more wet than I personally need to deal with I would guess.

Of course if you're talking outside of North America why not Italy?

[1centaur]

I went to high school and college in Amherst, so I say no way to that. Humid, thunderstorms, bitter cold winds in November, lots of snow, lack of culture. Eastern Mass/Southern NH has way better weather most of the year.

I'd take somewhere from Thousand Oaks to SLO because of the weather, which works during and after the ride. I'd be looking for route variety and low traffic roads, if not there then somewhere else in California.

[Mat]

Oh man, I literally think of this daily. I'll take just about anywhere at this point with less humidity. OK, not pancake flat - sorry velobran - but other than that, I'm game. I love my job and wish it were portable. Sadly, it ain't. But a man can dream, right?

Edit: having lived and ridden in both Northern and Southern California, I'd say those are areas that are pretty close to cycling nirvana.

[Britishbane]

I'm intrigued by Oregon, specifically the places just to the east of the mountains. Not sure what the winters are like but that seems like ideal country to cycle through. I lived for a time in Tuscany (though not a cyclist at the time) and cannot imagine a better place in which to ride a bike. Simply divine.

[e-RICHIE]

visit, but don't move to D2R2 country.
we're closed atmo.

[brucew]

Vacationing in the Front Range of Colorado, I really thought I could live there. The riding is excellent, and the variety endless. Although there are a few roads I'd really like to try to become bored with.

On another forum, a guy in Livermore, CA keeps tempting me with pics from his rides. The roads there look just plain delicious.

Unfortunately for me, I'm locked-in to the New York State pension system, so this is only daydreaming for me. OTOH, riding through four Upstate winters now has taught me how easy it is to ride year 'round (just HTFU a bit) and it really helps me to deeply appreciate the other eight months of the year.

[pdmtong]

I am quite happy here in the SF Bay Area
Plenty of hills, the ocean and rollers. On top of that, excellent windsurfing, food and culture. I know it's $$$$ but that just means I don't have a better vehicle

[ashwa64]

anywhere is better than an indian metropolis.

[JBLANDE]

rural america: central oregon, north carolina

world: northern italy; basque country; andalusia; where i live now, konstanz.

[zetroc]

The SF bay area, as others have said, is pretty great. SF itself is fun but the east bay should not to be discounted lightly.

[Bittersweet]

visit, but don't move to D2R2 country.
we're closed atmo.

I rode by Stekl's house in my Johnny Reb' outfit last night and tried to invade Franklin County but was repelled at the border and returned to Hampshire. It was a nice.

[SteveP]

howd you find stekls house?
hes in hatfield trying to get there now...
" i think its a left...maybe a right? ill go straight to be safe...didnt come out where i thought... better go back..."*

* actual quote.

[WFSTEKL]

How about someplace with at least 9 months of rideable weather? Maybe Cali, north of LA? Or even north of San Fran seems like it would be nice. As much as I hate dead pan flat roads down here, I'm happy that it only gets into the 40s for a few weeks per year ( or 30's in the AM time when I ride and I freeze my ass off).

You can't ride in Amherst for 12 months? Don't you know about the dome?

[Yodelinpol]

Blue Ridge Parkway

[Scott G.]

Luxembourg City, nice town, good beer, trains, close to civilization, delightfully tourist free.

[bellman]

I had a two week job in Palo Alto two springs ago and was just blown away at the quality rides starting from the edge of town. I've always meant to go back for a self inflcited mini camp but haven't made it back yet. A couple more weeks of riding there are on my bucket list. I think the temp is pretty stable year round.
I'm pretty sure this area is included in the san francisco peninsula mentioned above. Hard to beat IMHO

[Ryun]

charlottesville VA
Foot of the blue ridge. Nelson county is close. Good racing, great roads.

I miss it