You must live in north Austin. I can't stand it up there. I'm in south Austin and I absolutely love it down here. For me, going past the river is considered "north".

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

Having spent a lot of time in Austin in the mid 90s and now currently living in Madison, the two cities have a lot of similarities -- weather not being one of them, though. Both are very liberal cities in otherwise conservative areas. Both are big college sports towns. Both offer a lot more culture than their size would suggest. Both have economic futures tied to the high-tech industry. And both offer a great playground for endurance athletes.

Don't mind Chip too much -- he had a bad experience at IMWI one year and will be forever pissed off about it. Besides, asking a guy who lives in Rockford his opinion on other cities is kind of like asking a guy who drinks Natural Light his opinion on other beers. I guarantee he'll put on a hell of a race at Rockman Tri, though....

So there is a "good" part of Austin, and a "bad" or "less desirable" part of Austin? I was starting to think the place is Nirvana.

No, seriously, I was there in the summer and I thought it was as hot and way more humid than Phoenix.

Here's a reality check for everyone who's perpetually looking for the "coolest", "hippest", "most underground", whatever place to live. All cities, towns, and villages have their positives and negatives -- I live in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies and still haven't found as nice a metropolitan park as Kensington Park in suburban Detroit. Rural Arkansas has some of the most beautiful rivers and mountains I've ever seen, but the poverty and drug use is absolutely overwhelming. If you're smart enough, you'll find a way to survive and thrive anywhere. Believe it or not, it's your job and the people you surround yourself with -- not where you are -- that will make the biggest difference.

Edit: I graduated from UT Austin in 1989 and people were bitching even then about how Austin was losing its character.

You must live in north Austin. I can't stand it up there. I'm in south Austin and I absolutely love it down here. For me, going past the river is considered "north".

GAWD!!!! That line just makes me MISS the ATX sooooooo badly. I love rolling south on Mopac and then out east for 120 miles of TT-ing LOVE!

PUT THE HAMMER DOWN BABY!

Something about your post reminded me about black asphalt, maudies, shiner, and the south part of austin just around ATC that is still a bit nutty.

*sigh*..... it is going to the yuppies tho.... and Boulder is just pretty damn cool. Still on the look out for that truly "authentic" place tho.

L8trs

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

"she" and thanks, 'cause that's what I thought the question was, not "what cities are like Austin now?"

I'm going to be biased...I was born here in ...umm....sometime in the 60s. ;) Have lived here most of the years since then (except school and residency)and have seen the changes for good and for bad (mostly related to crazy growth on both parts).

Great for training, though I didn't think the question was asking specifically about that.

Madison, WI and Eugene, OR are both somewhat funky college towns, liberal, yet conservative...and both have a strong fitness community. And Eugene, at least (don't know as much about Madison--was just there for IMMOO '02) hasn't outgrown itself in the way Austin has. And I hope for their sakes they never do.
So, that's where I was heading with that.

Here's a reality check... If you're smart enough, you'll find a way to survive and thrive anywhere. Believe it or not, it's your job and the people you surround yourself with...

and here's a reality check for you: Whatever.

Certain cities offer certain things to different people. They all have their own "character" or "soul" or "vibe", if you will. Sure, some punk rockers can thrive in a town with a 3:1 ratio of churches:people (SLC Punk! comes to mind), but some would rather find environs more suitable to their liking, and there's nothing wrong with that. I, for one, would prefer to avoid any northern states as I think anything below 60 degrees is too-damn-cold and cold weather makes me miserable. Could I be happy living in Idaho? No fucking way, unless I had a winter home in Arizona. Likewise, those punks in Salt Lake City had better like spending time with mormons, cause guess what kind of people they're going to run into in the workplace?


I, for one, don't think it's "unrealistic" to live in a place you love and work at a job you love.

Have a nice time moving to where the grass is greener.

No no...Imoo and one idiot is not Madison. Madison is 100% represented by hippie dope smokers on State Street right?

The people are not part of what I see as a comparison. The hills and roads, the swimming (due to weather but mostly due to natural springs), the running path at Town Lake is genius and was fully stocked with free cups, ice water and power aid! The downtown was much more "up class" than Madison is with many many more resturants. Madison has a bit if tech, nothing even close to Austin however (Dell, Motion, CSA [EVA], and on and on and on) Austin is a very rich city, not that Madison does not have a much higher budget than Rockford / Loves Park has....but Auston has seemingly everything going for it (but I was not there in July)

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

I don't live in austin. Was interviewing there, and realized it wasn't the same as I remembered it - maybe it's because we weren't hanging out on 6th street drinking and listening to bands - but it felt just like any other city with stripmalls on every corner. It used to not feel that way, but maybe austin's the same and I'm the one that changed. I was in north austin (aka south dallas).

have fun making life judgements on others you have no knowledge about.

Hey, you need to give me info on some good rides from my house. I'm getting lazy and don't like driving when I'm doing long rides. BTW, 1626 is open all the way now and it has some nice, smooth, black pavement. Unfortunately, there are no trees so wind is a problem but it's a great road to get in your aerobars and just ride.

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

All this talk of the "best" place to live as a triathlete.

Frig... I'm in Adelaide, Australia. This city has better cycling than almost anywhere outside of Europe... no contest.
Weather? Pfft! Better than anywhere in mainland USA.... only Hawaii is better. Rain? What rain?
Numerous outdoor 50m pools, killer hills to run and bike in, and beaches (although mediocre by Aussie standards) that are warm, clean and usually calm for open water swimming... or just checking out bikinis.

I might just have to delete this post.. this place is a training paradise few know about...

Yeah, but you have 20+ foot sharks in the ocean, though.

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/

You're right. Adelaide sucks. Forget I mentioned the place.

How are the beaches in Austin? Oh wait.. you don't have any....

Considering my parents live in Pendleton, OR, you would be wrong:)

you'll find a way to survive and thrive anywhere

Sure wouldn't want to have to find a way in East Saint Louis, aka america's most dangerous city, especially with the yung'un.

Hmmmm.... been considering a work move to SA or NSW or QLD lately... just got to get that work permit. I'd say my skills in Finance and Accounting are universal... and I'd have to say that there'd probably be a better chance that my addicitions errrr hobbies would be more accepted down under by employers. :)

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

You're joking, right?

It always amuses me how people think wherever they live is nice.

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Too f@ckin depressed from various injuries to care about having a signature line.

Sponsored by Blue Shield PPO.

Sport IS Aussie culture. I think your hobbies will be tolerated well. :-)

SA has the highest avg. temps and lowest rainfall... and IMO, the best cycling.
There is a good reason they have the Tour Down Under here...

And if you like cheap, plentiful and damn good wine...

Another year or two in Boulder.... then I'm there! Hmmmm.... want. to. pull. pro. card. :)

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App

What time did you hit the road? It was around 55 by 9am and over 65 by 10am. I thought it was quite nice, maybe a little brisk at the beginning but it didn't take long to warm up and no arm/leg warmers were needed. Have to admit, the info I just wrote was lived vicariously from my wife, as I am nursing an ankle injury I sustained after the AT&T Half mary.

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"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Elliot | Cycle2Tri.com
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Dude... if it's 70 out she rides the trainer... too cold.

And I'm only half kidding. :)

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36 kona qualifiers 2006-'23 - 3 Kona Podiums - 4 OA IM AG wins - 5 IM AG wins - 18 70.3 AG wins
I ka nana no a 'ike -- by observing, one learns | Kulia i ka nu'u -- strive for excellence
Garmin Glycogen Use App | Garmin Fat Use App