Best bikepacking city

[c0rpse]

I currently live in Orlando FL where there isn't a ton of mountain biking. I just graduated from college, and I am looking to move to a new city that will allow me to mountain bike every day and bikepack on weekends without needing a car for travel. I have been a bicycle mechanic and sales person for over five years now, so finding a job shouldn't be too difficult.

Does anyone have any suggestions for cities that I should look at? Preferably hotter climates, and I have student loans to pay off so a lower cost of living is better.

Thanks

[AZTtripper]

Tucson fits the bill perfectly.

Lots of bike shops, huge road and off road riding communities.

5 mountain ranges from 4,000 foot peaks to 9,000 feet. Great year round riding to be had.

Yep it's hot here in the summer but you can just run up the mountain on the weekends.

Cheaper parts of town are a little rough but that's true of most bigger cities. Tucson's not really that big. Commuting by bike is pretty easy as most of town is flat, in between the mountains, and the buses have bike racks.

Tim

[JRA]

Arizona has some affordable living and good riding, as mentioned above.
Also, southern Utah, (St. George, Hurricane, Cedar City, etc.) has great riding, hiking and affordable housing.

Colorado, New Mexico?

[cackalak]

Just head West.  Anything along or near the rocky mtn range will be great.

[c0rpse]

I have a friend living in Reno. Does anyone know about the riding there?

[JRA]

I have a friend living in Reno. Does anyone know about the riding there?

I'm somewhat familiar with the Reno area.  I don't know of great riding right in town but there is an abundance of good riding in the nearby mountains.  Lake Tahoe is just a half hour away.

[ScottM]

I vote Tucson.  Great climate, year round riding, bikepacking opportunities abound.

St. George would be a good second choice.

[jhl99]

Someone has to ask the question:

Why would you go to college, and incurr debt, in order to maintain a career as bike mechanic? 

Think of all the bike stuff you could have purchased with the tuition money!

[dave54]

I have a friend living in Reno. Does anyone know about the riding there?

Reno is a university and ski town with casinos.  All the amenities.  Tahoe and Downieville are just a short hop away.  No winter riding.  Lots of dual track riding on the desert side, and you can dirt road ride to good single track from the Sierra side.  You are close to Cali without having to pay Cali taxes (NV is considered a low tax state with no income tax, Cali is the highest tax state).  so stay out of Cali except to visit.

[kardar2]

Redding CA. is the place to be!
1} No snow in the winter just rain
2) we have 3 huge lakes close by with awesome mountain bike trails
3) 3 hours from the big city SF. 3 hours from coast. 1 hour from snow skiing 3 hours from Reno
4) we have about 100k people.... not to big not to small.

Downside it does get hot in summer but you get use to it  

as soon as I get my gear and new bike I am going to bikepack to the coast

[AnatolyG]

I currently live in Orlando FL where there isn't a ton of mountain biking. I just graduated from college, and I am looking to move to a new city that will allow me to mountain bike every day and bikepack on weekends without needing a car for travel. I have been a bicycle mechanic and sales person for over five years now, so finding a job shouldn't be too difficult.

Does anyone have any suggestions for cities that I should look at? Preferably hotter climates, and I have student loans to pay off so a lower cost of living is better.

Thanks

Phoenix AZ is pretty great from November to April. It's not yet April, and the temperature is already in the 90s -- not great. How about Portland? I am moving there from Phoenix, and really looking toward to rainforest riding.

[dgjessee]

Asheville, NC - Pisgah National Forest has everything you need and the city has more breweries per capita than any other city. You can mountain bike year round but it's also way cooler than the rest of the south or much of the west in the summer. And you have the Blue Ridge Parkway for the occasional road tour as well. It truly is a "western" city with none of the price.

[evdog]

San Diego is a good place in terms of local MTB trails and a great place for bikepacking.  The Stagecoach 400 which passes a 10min ride from my place, is a great example of going big.  There are endless possibilities here for connecting together various riding areas, with much of the connectivity possible on dirt.  I live 10min from the beach and have done 50mi rides out my back door with minimal pavement.  There is also plenty of riding areas within a couple hours that expand the possibilities greatly:  Santa Anas in OC, San Jancinto Mtns, San Bernardinos, etc. 

Bike commuting is easy if you are smart about where you choose to live.  Weather is great most of the year and even in summer it is not too hot if you stay near the coast.  There are higher elevation options within 1-2 hours as well.  We have more bike shops than we know what to do with and a good MTB community. 

Check out mountainbikebill.com for some descriptions and maps of our local rides.  On his blog do a search for "archipelago" for a perfect example of connecting various riding areas into a 45mi route.  Lots of other routes can connect into this one.

[FatCloud]

Redding CA. is the place to be!
1} No snow in the winter just rain
2) we have 3 huge lakes close by with awesome mountain bike trails
3) 3 hours from the big city SF. 3 hours from coast. 1 hour from snow skiing 3 hours from Reno
4) we have about 100k people.... not to big not to small.

Downside it does get hot in summer but you get use to it 

as soon as I get my gear and new bike I am going to bikepack to the coast

I just moved to Oakland. I've never experienced living near a big city with such an ability to get away so easily. I really want to hit the Sierras this summer (on my not so bikepack Crosscheck)

[mjr5house]

Funny that you think that there is not much Mt biking in Florida, home to the CFITT, Hurican 300 and The Nakid Indian ride! Two of witch are bikepacking events that draw riders from all over the U.S.. Santos was just named number six in the top ten winter destination rides MBA magazine. We also have a decent size list of "Tour Divide" finishers! Karlos at bikeworks in Orlando is starting in Banff for the GDMBR this year as well as Steve Martine from south fl (Steve rode and finished last year, now  he's headed Banff to better his last ride). And I live in Oviedo and have personally logged 1,000s of miles many with overnights.

http://youtu.be/cBTzlJeDZZg

The pic is Karlos myself and Steve Martine at the start of an 80mi CFITT training ride.
The other is my CFITT setup.