Seriously; where should a bikie retire?

Jim said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.
Best,
Jim

Tucson, Arizona has really beautiful mountain roads,but it's really hot
in the summer.
San Diego has fabulous weather and there are hills enough nearby. And
the ocean is beautiful.

Jim said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.
Best,
Jim

Not mountainous, but nice and hilly....central Texas hill country does
offer some very fine cycling fare....Fredricksburg, Kerrville and lots
of smaller towns. Good luck in your search.

I was just about to suggest Central Texas as well. I grew up in
Colorado, and raced there for years. I live in Austin now, and they
cycling here is great. No long climbs, but there are plenty of steep
ones. There's even the annual Tour das Hugel, which climbs 9,000 feet
in 100 miles, and much of the climbing is over a 10% grade - with some
spots up to 26%.

http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/health/11/14fitcity.html

Anyway, in Central Texas, there are only maybe 5 days a year you can't
ride due to ice or crazy bad rain. Most of the natives feel otherwise,
but if you come from a place that actually has seasons, you can ride
year-round here.

It's warm in the summer, but you can beat that by just getting out in
it. I ride from 1pm-2pm just about every weekday all year long, and the
heat never plays into my decision to ride -- and I grew up as a
mild-weather Colorado boy.

Oh, you might also consider Hawaii... we were in Maui this year, and I
would ride all over that place. Bad traffic in spots, but that doesn't
really bother me.

-Mike

Guiseppe Corvo said:

Jim said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.
Best,
Jim

Not mountainous, but nice and hilly....central Texas hill country does
offer some very fine cycling fare....Fredricksburg, Kerrville and lots
of smaller towns. Good luck in your search.

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:00:21 -0800, "Jim" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.

Someone else already suggested central Texas, and that's an area with
pretty much whatever kind of mix you want, as long as the small-town
attitudes aren't a problem. If you like it dry, hot in the summer,
and artsy, then Marfa, TX might be a good choice. Much of northern
California might also fit the bill if you like it damper and cooler,
and Prescott in Arizona is pretty, on a mountain, and has fairly
decent weather though it gets cold in the winter. Not much flat
around it, though; unless you really like climbing, there are probably
better choices. Flagstaff has terrain and atmosphere, and the Grand
Canyon is just a looooong climb uphill through varying types of forest
and scrub. Santa Fe, NM is another potentially good choice IMO. A
lot depends on what kind of weather you consider pleasant. I like
what I've got here in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be
unmitigated hell. (I grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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Werehatrack said:

I like
what I've got here in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be
unmitigated hell. (I grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

Uganda?

Chalo

Chalo said:

Werehatrack said:

I like
what I've got here in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be
unmitigated hell. (I grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

Uganda?

Close. Miami.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Quoted message said:

I was just about to suggest Central Texas as well. I grew up in
Colorado, and raced there for years. I live in Austin now, and they
cycling here is great.

But what about wind? Here in the Dallas area, the wind is usually 15-25 mph
daily. I get so d@#$%d tired of the constant wind even if the weather is
otherwise nice.

Pat

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:00:21 -0800, "Jim" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited

by

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.

Someone else already suggested central Texas, and that's an area with
pretty much whatever kind of mix you want, as long as the small-town
attitudes aren't a problem. If you like it dry, hot in the summer,
and artsy, then Marfa, TX might be a good choice. Much of northern
California might also fit the bill if you like it damper and cooler,
and Prescott in Arizona is pretty, on a mountain, and has fairly
decent weather though it gets cold in the winter. Not much flat
around it, though; unless you really like climbing, there are probably
better choices. Flagstaff has terrain and atmosphere, and the Grand
Canyon is just a looooong climb uphill through varying types of forest
and scrub. Santa Fe, NM is another potentially good choice IMO. A
lot depends on what kind of weather you consider pleasant. I like
what I've got here in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be
unmitigated hell. (I grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

In Houston, our summer weather is really horrible. I have done too many
races at 6pm in the park when you could steam eggs (frying with high
humidity) on the top tube. Our rides start at 7am and you really need to be
off the road by 11. On the other hand, you can ride for most of the winter
in what most places consider summer jersey and shorts.

We have a number of really terrific bike clubs and there is always an
organized ride to do. In April we have a huge MS150 from Houston to Austin.
This year the herd is supposed to top 12,000. There are numerous organized
rides that lead up to the MS150. After that all of the corporate types hang
up the bike until next January. The serious riders are going all year long.
My daughter's race team used to come down here every winter vacation to
train with us. Most of them were from the upper Midwest. It was a real treat
for them.

If you like seriously fast rides, we have one that starts from Memorial Park
near downtown. It is called the Death Ride. We have a few seniors that do
it. Another one is called the Kirkwood ride on Saturday mornings. You could
be a child molester and try to beat up some cat 2 racer who is a third of
your age :-)

Northwest Cycling Club has a superb club ride setup every Saturday. There
are numerous groups sequenced by speed ability.

The roads are reasonable. but Houston is not a bike friendly town. Not like
Seattle or something like that. We went up there to work the bike expo last
February. They have a bike culture that is absolutely stunning. The Cascade
club has something like 5,500 members. The scenery is exquisite and the
roads are beautiful. After the show, we went to visit some of our dealers on
the Olympic Peninsula (I think that is what it is called). We took the ferry
and then drove to Sequim and Port Angeles. It was breathtaking. I could be
happy there...

I agree with wherehatrack, the Texas Hill country is really nice. Kerrville
and the general vicinity is wonderful. There is a NORBA race that we look
forward to working every year. There is a great organized ride called the
Easter Hill Country Tour that is worth doing. Another terrific ride is the
Piney Wood Purgatory in Lufkin. If you like a hot challenge check out the
Katy Flatland Century in July.

There I go rambling again, Sorry for the drivel. There are way too many
bottles and orders to fill and not enough time to ride...

Bruce

"Chalo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Werehatrack said:

I like
what I've got here in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be
unmitigated hell. (I grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

Uganda?

Chalo

Actually New Orleans is a bit hotter than Houston. We noticed it when we
used to go there.

Bruce

"Pat in TX" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I was just about to suggest Central Texas as well. I grew up in
Colorado, and raced there for years. I live in Austin now, and they
cycling here is great.

But what about wind? Here in the Dallas area, the wind is usually 15-25

mph

Quoted message said:

daily. I get so d@#$%d tired of the constant wind even if the weather is
otherwise nice.

Pat

One of my riding buddies used to live there. He used to remark how you went
10 miles an hour to the ride turn around and 40 on the way back...

Bruce

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chalo said:

Werehatrack said:

I like
what I've got here in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be
unmitigated hell. (I grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

Uganda?

Close. Miami.
--

I never found South Florida as uncomfortable as Houston.

Werehatrack said:

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:00:21 -0800, "Jim" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.

I recommend either here in eastern Pennsylvania, or Maryland/Delaware. We
do have winter to deal with, but usually it's not too bad. There is a
great selection of rolling hills, picturesque landscape, and quiet,
scenic roads. If you avoid the Philadelphia area, also, prices are quite
reasonable. Riding in Lancaster County is full of surprises: Amish
buggies/farms, gorgeous creeks and valleys, and surprisingly challenging
hills. Here in Lehigh/Northhampton counties, the hills tend to be even
more substantial, but we make up for it with quiet country roads, covered
bridges, and one of the best velodromes in the country.

Quoted message said:

Someone else already suggested central Texas,

I've lived in central Texas. Yes, winters are milder, but summers are
killer. Riding in 100+ degrees/80%+ humidity is not my idea of fun.

Quoted message said:

pretty much whatever kind of mix you want, as long as the small-town
attitudes aren't a problem.

Yeah.

Quoted message said:

If you like it dry, hot in the summer, and
artsy, then Marfa, TX might be a good choice.

Castroville is also a good option in that area. Very picturesque; if you
don't need a way to generate income, it's a great place to live.

Quoted message said:

Much of northern
California might also fit the bill if you like it damper and cooler,

But that area is outrageously expensive.

Quoted message said:

Santa Fe, NM is another potentially good choice IMO.

Santa Fe would be nice. Lots of not much once you get out of town,
though.

Quoted message said:

I like what I've got here
in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be unmitigated hell. (I
grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

I've lived in Houston. I have to know, where in Hell did you grow up,
that the summers were worse than Houston?

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Accept risk. Accept responsibility. Put a lawyer out of
_`\(,_ | business.
(_)/ (_) |

Jim said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding. Best,
Jim

If you like hills (you said mountain roads), I'd pick right here in
Blacksburg, VA. If you want a sample, come to our Cycling Doubleheader
this spring (www.mountainsofmisery.com).

We do have real winter weather, but it's nice in between. It's rarely
cold or icy for more than a few days.

Nothern CA is great too, if you can afford to live well enough there.

Matt O.

Werehatrack said:

Chalo said:

Werehatrack said:

I like
what I've got here in Houston, but my SO considers the summers to be
unmitigated hell. (I grew up where they were worse, and longer.)

Uganda?

Close. Miami.

Ah. That explains it.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve
_`\(,_ | death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to
(_)/ (_) | them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.
-- J. R. R. Tolkein

Joshua Mermelstein said:

Quoted message said:

Tucson, Arizona has really beautiful mountain roads,but it's really hot
in the summer.

Lived in Tucson for 15 years! Biking is great, just stay indoors
between 11am and 3pm.

Jim said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.

Detroit, Michigan or Cleveland, Ohio. 😉

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley Pedant

Quoted message said:

Oh, you might also consider Hawaii... we were in Maui this year, and I
would ride all over that place. Bad traffic in spots, but that doesn't
really bother me.

Except that you'd run out of new roads in a month or so (maybe less), and
it's not as if you can just get in your car and drive a few hours to new
territory. I could easily spend a couple months in Maui, but don't think I'd
want to retire there.

But if I did, wonder how often I'd be riding up Haleakala?
http://www.chainreaction.com/haleakala.htm. Undoubtedly more often than my
wife would want me to. On the other had, if I were retired, maybe she'd want
me someplace else anyway?

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Quoted message said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.
Best,
Jim

One of the most beautiful places I've been to (and, unfortunately, not had a
chance to ride) was the high desert area of Oregon (which actually extends
up into Washington). Doesn't rain very much there, and it's got mountains,
valleys, you name it. Not too crowded yet, but retiring Californians are
beginning to change that. The lack of jobs helps keep costs reasonable
though.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

Wrong forum I know, but the other rec.bicycles forums are now inhabited by
trolls...
Anyone here know a USA destination with well-paved mountain roads, thin
traffic & pleasant weather? I'm looking to buy a vacation/retirement home
fit for a bikie.
No pricey ski resorts needed, just good road riding.
Best,
Jim

One of the most beautiful places I've been to (and, unfortunately, not had a
chance to ride) was the high desert area of Oregon (which actually extends
up into Washington). Doesn't rain very much there, and it's got mountains,
valleys, you name it. Not too crowded yet, but retiring Californians are
beginning to change that. The lack of jobs helps keep costs reasonable
though.

I'm thinking about retiring there myself (well, a long time from now).
I have ridden there a fair amount, and liked it, for the most part.
Living in eastern Oregon, you'd be a short ways from Western Oregon and
the Willamette Valley, which is wonderful cycling territory in late
spring/summer/fall. (That's where I live now). Not too bad outside of
the very depths of winter, either. If I could somehow afford two
houses, I'd like in Western Oregon April through October and Eastern
Oregon November through March - but that's just a not-well considered
pipe dream.

BTW, I notice that most of the posts suggest that the best place is
where they are now, mine included. I suppose that means most of us have
managed to live in areas we like.

Mark (in Salem, OR)