If you HAD to live in a CITY, which one and why?

[Dexter Rutecki]

I often wonder if those people have ever even been to NYC

It's probably only the people who have been here (I know LB is hard on the Denver crackpipe, but let's be real).

For me if you're going to include skiing as one of the criteria then you probably have to throw NYC out--if skiing is a factor in choosing a city then you should be able to ski somewhere decent (sorry Mtn. Creek and Huntah) without too much trouble. Having to fly or drive 5+ hours (except when Magic is OK) rules out NYC.
I've always really liked Vancouver, but never spent much time there. I could probably deal with living in Grenoble and I even like Geneva, so I guess my vote is across the pond or VAn.
Or maybe Squamish...

And Trayc's 60+ days isn't that hard to do, if you're single and committed to it. If you just ski all weekends from start to finish you can easily get above 60 days, I used to do it in my pre-fatherhood days, and when the second kid gets on skis I'll probably get back to it.

[Tippster]

I beg to differ...Santiago has notoriously awful food, on average. It is actually hard to find great food, even while searching.

Same goes for Monterrey, Mexico.... unless you like Cabrito. Over a million people and ONE fine dining establishment (read - Wine, tablecloths, and silverware.) Unbelievable. All the rich local families had their own tables there.

Same goes for Des Moines, IA. One good steak hose? Puhleeeez.

[powski3]

The "good food" argument seems a little spurious. Any big city is going to have a wide variety of good food.

And you can make good food yourself, saving money for skiing.

[Rontele]

Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[rideit]

And you can make good food yourself, saving money for skiing.

If I am going to live in a city, it is going to be ALL ABOUT the culinary diversity. Period.

[Shen]

New York.

Especially, the part they named twice.

Besides, where else can you get fucked in every possible situation.

[rideit]

So, how many of you would rate Mt. Biking and trail access as the #1 or 2 consideration?

[Dromond]

So, how many of you would rate Mt. Biking and trail access as the #1 or 2 consideration?

#2 or at least #3. You've got to do something in the summer. This is why Vancouver especially kicks most other places' ass. (Assuming that you like to ride lifts in the summer as well.)

[ShiveringSkier]

BUDAPEST

been here for almost a year, and have visited numerous other european cities and this is the best place so far- although I might make lausanne home in about another year

AMAZING girls and nightlife

about 4 hours to good austrian skiing

close to every european country

great place, and at the moment lots of rioting happening!

shivSKi

[filthyfrenchbum]

The "good food" argument seems a little spurious. Any big city is going to have a wide variety of good food.

I beg to differ, the population of immigrants and proximity to an ocean makes a huge difference to the variety and quality of food. Here in Vancouver the asian food is incredible, wherever it is from. Not your typical chinese take-out either, there are some real restaurants. Malaysian, thai, korean, indian cuisine is really awesome and varies from cheap to gourmet (not something you find in every city). Supposedly best place for sushi in the world, and incredibly cheap (less than 10 bucks for sushi combos usually). Lots of luxurious french/european/italian cuisine restaurants too, but those you can find anywhere.
However, no good mexican food, which is probably the opposite in California for example...

[PNWbrit]

I beg to differ...Santiago has notoriously awful food, on average. It is actually hard to find great food, even while searching.

Only thing world class about Santiago is the smog.

[rideit]

ISupposedly best place for sushi in the world, and incredibly cheap (less than 10 bucks for sushi combos usually). ...

I would live in Van in a heartbeat, BUT, for quality and price, Lima kicks Van up and down the street, Sushi-wise.

[Natedogg]

And Trayc's 60+ days isn't that hard to do, if you're single and committed to it. If you just ski all weekends from start to finish you can easily get above 60 days

I'm a little slow, explain me the math to this one?

December = four weekends
January = four weekends
February = four weekends
March = four weekends

4 months x 4 weekends x 2 days/weekend = 32 days.

I'll throw you a bone and give you (although this is stretching it):
November = 2 weekends
April = 2 weekends

And I'll give you:
Christmas/New Years = 3 extra days
Presidents Day break = 1 extra day

Now we're up to 44 days... And that is skiing every single friggin weekend possible from start to close and during major holidays.

Not even close to 60 days. So I'm not sure where you're getting an "easy" 60 days. Unless you have no life and don't get bored as hell skiing the same old EC boilerplate crap. Oh yeah, and if you don't mind putting a shitload of miles on your car...

Sorry, I'm just bitter cuz I can't ski 100 days like some of you fuckers.

[Cliff Huckable]

Vancouver, BC.

Cities without great skiing:

Montreal
Paris
NYC
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Montpellier (France)

[Natedogg]

So, how many of you would rate Mt. Biking and trail access as the #1 or 2 consideration?

#1 tied with skiing

[The AD]

I beg to differ

I don't really see anything in your post that contradicts my point. Yes, Vancouver has good food. So does Toronto, Chicago, LA, NYC, etc.

I've never been to Santiago so I'll take rideit's word that the food sucks. Big deal, though. My point is you can't pick city X because of good food, because nearly all big cities have good food.

[rideit]

Too many differs being begged in one post!

[powski3]

So, how many of you would rate Mt. Biking and trail access as the #1 or 2 consideration?

So for the sake of continued argument, what cities would you rate as top in this category? I'm thinking easy access without driving a significant distance outside the city.

I think Vancouver, SF, Portland, Denver, and Boise would all make the list, not sure about other places.

[lemon boy]

You think San Fran has biking like that? Maybe when they invented mountain biking....

[Tippster]

So for the sake of continued argument, what cities would you rate as top in this category? I'm thinking easy access without driving a significant distance outside the city.

I think Vancouver, SF, Portland, Denver, and Boise would all make the list, not sure about other places.

Santa Monica/LA's West Side. Seriously - there are some amazing trail heads in Pacific Palisades.

[rideit]

No offense, but S.F. kinda sucks for singletrack.
Amazingly, Austin, TX is hands down the BEST in the lower 48 for in town, killer technical singletrack. Everywhere else you have to drive a bunch. Austin also has killer food, lots of hotties, but the heat and distance from mountains or surf rules it out for me.

Edit: I lived in Brentwood, up Kenter canyon, got to ride from the house every day...good, but the smog was brutal.

Boise riding gets old, Quick.
Denver=driving
Portland=rain

Van wins again (you can ride on cedar in the rain)

[Mofro261]

"You belong to the city
You belong to the night
Livin' in a river of darkness
Beneath the neon lights

You were born in the city
Concrete under your feet
It's in your blood, it's in your moves
You're a man of the street

You can feel it, you can taste it
You can see it, you can face it
You can hear it, hey, you're getting near it, hey
You wanna make it, cause you can take it
You belong to the city, you belong to the night
You belong to the city, you belong to the night
You belong, you belong"

[Dromond]

(less than 10 bucks for sushi combos usually)

Like $5 for a 24 piece the last time I was there. Cheap enought o be suspect, but definitely delicious!

[powski3]

Portland=rain

Forest Park stays pretty rideable in the rain, although its mostly fire road. San Jose has some good rides, but most involve a 20-40 minute drive.

[rideit]

Like $5 for a 24 piece the last time I was there. Cheap enought o be suspect, but definitely delicious!

That IS good, I'll have to go back for a research project....