I am moving to CA for a few months or more in order to launch an online business. I’ve been in Flagstaff for the past 9 months training for an upcoming IM in November and have built a good base to continue to improve on. Please provide recommendations for locations to live that have close proximity to a 50 meter pool and not far away from good running & cycling. I’m leaning towards Irvine but am debating about Carlsbad and SD.
Thanks,
Crash
Many choices depending on your priorities other than training. Folsom might fit your needs and budget. Run CIM while there.
Irvine, is a planned community area. Lots and lots of bike paths good for running and access to good roads to Ride. BTW there is nothing flat in South Orange county so you will be getting some climbing in on the bike. Swimming you have access to the Ocean, and I believe there is a masters program at Irvine High.
I am sure you can say the same for Carlsbad and SD. I have not lived in either place.
One thing though, you will need to bring your checkbook as So Cal is expensive.
Look at Chico (note not Chino). North valley, college town, population under 100,000 right at the edge of the Sierras. It also has Bidwell park which is one of the largest municipal parks in the country inside the city limits with miles of running and biking trails. Cycling if you go east you can climb for hours and if you go west you ride the almond orchards for hours. Also has a nationally recognized gym with olympic size swimming pools at In motion Fitness. Went to college there, great place with inexpensive housing.
Fair Oaks, Folsom, El Dorado Hills… 
D
All big towns in CA are good. LA is iffy due to it being so crowded so although there’s great options they can be limited without 30-45+ minute drives. Bay Area is good but expensive. North Bay Area is probably the best in terms of tri related training. Overall cali id suggest SD. Great training areas plus great community. Carlsbad works as well. Folsom is also a solid choice. All three you’d get great experiences.
Money no object? Besides swimming, running, and cycling… what do you want?
Don’t know why people are recommending N CA… winters ain’t that nice.
Don’t know why people are recommending N CA… winters ain’t that nice.
Depends on what ain’t that nice means. In the Sacramento area, we don’t get snow, and barely dip below freezing. So year round cycling and running, albeit sometimes in the rain. We have the Sierra if you want snow.
Incidentally, the CIM is already filled up. But there are many other and better runs.
Thanks All, Yes cost is always a factor and the better the higher value for the dollar is attractive but must take into account training areas, pools, traffic, temperature, and the local Tricommunity.
From a business perspective not sure why you would want to move here, but from a training perspective San Diego is pretty awesome.
Good question… But that is relative to population density. Higher density = higher business potential with less resources. Offsetting taxes and CODB.
I would have thought that the advantages of plugging into the Silicon Valley scene (SF thru San Jose) would have been more of an advantage than any triathlon-related reason to move. Networking, seed funding, mentors, collaborators, galore in the web industry.
No argument with the available resources in the Valley area for start-ups. And great area for cycling running and swimming as well.
The whole state has a pretty good scene. Personally, I’d go with North San Diego area.
Crash,
I’m biased (because I live in C’bad now), but… I’d pick C’bad over Irvine (lived in that area a year) in a heartbeat.
Here’s the shortlist why:
Less congestion
EZ access to the ocean for OW swims (You want a 50 meter pool? Ha!..How about a 50 to “almost infinity” meters of swim training?) No charge… 
Biking/running along the coast, but you can easily head inland if you want hills. (up to and including Palomar Mountain)
Tri Club San Diego… just check out Triclubsandiego.org (hit the training tab) to get an idea of the quantity/quality of workouts/activities going on daily.
Need convincing? Just visit for a few days, check the TriClub website for some workouts and/or activities during that stay… and,… join in for a few.
+1
Living in Carlsbad as well, you have all the resources plus the amazing weather year round. Cant beat riding and running on the coast. Plus HWY 1 runs for days all through LA so theres good long rides to there and back!
I am moving to CA for a few months or more in order to launch an online business. I’ve been in Flagstaff for the past 9 months training for an upcoming IM in November and have built a good base to continue to improve on. Please provide recommendations for locations to live that have close proximity to a 50 meter pool and not far away from good running & cycling. I’m leaning towards Irvine but am debating about Carlsbad and SD.
Thanks,
Crash
I love Carlsbad. Lived there for 3 years. I also lived on Coronado and in Orange County. I would not choose any of those if my goal was training for IM. I would go to San Louis Obispo (SLO). Much quieter roads, good trail running, great small town vibe. San Diego and Orange County are too congested. Forget cycling on the coast. That is the worst place to ride a bike in San Diego. Too much stop and go and traffic. I honestly cannot understand why people ride there. However, the coast ride around SLO is perfect, quiet, beautiful.
I live in San Clemente and couldn’t think of a better spot to be in. Plenty of hills OR flats to train in, easy access to Camp Pendleton for rides heading into SD County, Tons of trail running options right out my door, open water swim options in Dana Point, etc.
Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo
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Good question… But that is relative to population density. Higher density = higher business potential with less resources. Offsetting taxes and CODB.
You said it was an online business… usually that means you are selling nationally and internationally. And being in a state with low population is better from a tax perspective… no sales tax for out of state.