I’ve lived in Austin off and on for about seven years and one cannot train outside year round except for running. I had a pool and that was not useable without a heater from late October to February sometimes. Also on the bike I can remember about a month a year of freezing weather (at least if you lived in the hills on the West side) with sleet or hail thrown in the mix for additional challenge. I lived next to the trail in Barton Creek and had to shorten mtb workouts, it was simply too dangerous to cross after spring rains, too cold to risk in winter solo - due danger of drowning mixed with hypothermia if one got dunked accidentally. 
I vote for Ocean City, MD.
Good surf oceanside, god swimming in Assawoman Bay (love that name), great running and biking along the Rte 1 strip from Lewes / Rehoboth (prononuced Ro-Ho-Beth??) / Dewey and Bethany beaches. Close enough to Chesapeake / Columbia for big time racing.
I live in New Jersey, but my wife is from the Cleveland area, so I have raced there two times, and I would have agree that the races I have done have been great. I don’t think I would call it triathlon mecca, but the races I have done were great. I did the Cleveland Sky Bank Triathlon two years ago. The age-group race was fantastic on a unique course, and after the age-group race I got to watch Chris McCormack run in Tony Deboom’s shadow for 6-miles until he sprinted past him in the last few hundred yards. Last year I did the HFP-Racing American Tri Akron Race, and it was also fantastic. My wife did a women’s-only race that was great for first timers the day before my race.
Cleveland is not exactly St. Croix as a desitination, but I am very thankful that the tri-scene there is so good, because it helps make visiting the in-laws something I look forward to. There are also great parks to swim, bike, and run in near Akron.
I think I am going to do the Akron race again this year, because I got one of my few ever age-group awards at that race, and I want to see if I can do it again. But are there any other good races you would recommend?
I’m going to have to disagree with ^^^ post regarding Austin not being a place to train year round outdoors.
We never have a ‘month’ of straight freezing weather. Occasionally two weeks straight. But that’s nothing compared to the people in the northeast.
Our marathon is in Feb, so our downtown running trail on Town Lake is packed all winter. There is no trouble finding people to run with in the winter.
You can always ride here, although we get spoiled. I don’t ride when it’s 50F and overcast, but I bet that anyone in the NE who heard it was going to be 50 and overcast in Jan/Feb would be thrilled to death to have such great riding weather that time of year.
Of course your backyard puddle won’t be comfortable to swim in year round. That’s what Stacey pool is for. It’s heated, it’s free, and it’s open year round. Barton Springs opened last weekend and if you don’t know, it a natural spring about 250m long and about 10 feet deep. It’s like a little dammed up stream (no chlorine or anything added), but it’s the same temp all year long no matter how damn hot it gets in Texas, and it’s great open water training. How many cities have crystal clear open water swimming holes within a mile of downtown?
There is nothing better than meeting at Barton for a 6am swim, followed by a dam loop ride of ~55 miles or so with ~3000 feet of climbing and a scenic brick run around town lake. Cool off in barton springs when you’re through… Man this town is great…
Best tri Scene? Auckland New Zealand. No question!
A few weeks ago, we had a “Special K” Womens only tri. In a city of only 1 million souls, they managed to get 5600 women to enter and compete! I heard that was a new world record for the largest tri ever. That might not be true however. They sent them off in waves (thank god, or there would have been deaths for sure) and I bet half the field was home and showered before the last wave went off. Parking? whats that?
Given the small size of Auckland, I think 5600 women doing the race is pretty conclusive that we have an amazing tri scene here!
If you guys think Cleveland is great for the tri-scene head 2 hours south on 71 and get to Columbus. I grew up in Cleveland so I can compare. Columbus is alot better for race selection and competition. I could race every weekend here starting in April, I have 3 race directors to choose from (HFP, FatRabbit, and Ultra Fit). Lots of inland lakes for open water swimming, and you can always find someone to swim with. COTT is a strong tri club with over 200 members, and we have 4-5 solid bike shops with 1 being tri-specific. We also have 3 dedicated running stores, and even a dedicated swim store.
We are getting a Powerman this year, and Ultra Fit has revived some long time favorites (Ohio Du).
It is always about 5 degrees warmer down here also 
All in all Ohio is VERY solid for triathlon. Recently I was looking at a job in the Pittsburgh area and besides Trizilla I was very dissapointed in the potential there. Really weak compared to OH-IO
“Wife was laughing at my bike short tan line on Sunday.”
That’s just mean man. Don’t you know half the guys here need snowshoes to walk their mailbox this time of year??
But I hear you, I get tired of wearing shorts year round.
Ocean City, Maryland. That still has me laughing… (Before anyone gets offended, I grew up in D.C. and am quite familiar with The O.C…M.D. Not a hill for miles and miles and miles.)
I thought we were going to keep quiet about how good things are things here, so we don’t get too many people spoiling it! Auckland has got to be the place: A local (3 hrs away), prestigious (the 2nd Ironman to be established after Hawaii) Ironman that you can actually enter three months before hand. 3 half IM events within 3 hrs distance, nicely timed so you can use them as build up for the main event Lots of build up events: century rides, open water swims, tons of running. Training all year round: not too hot, not too cold, but with lots of different weather conditions. if you don’t like the weather here, don’t worry, it will change again in an hour or so. Fantastic terrain: you want a flat run, run along the waterfront: 15km of flat seaside running. You want hills, lots of volcanic cones for short efforts, or take yourself over the Waitakeres, as Arthur Lydiard made his athletes do. You want in-between: just step outside my door. You want countryside: 25 mins riding away, and I live in the middle Swimming pools where you can actually get in a practice, with people who know how to share lanes. An outdoor 60m salt water pool where you can practice in your wetsuit without looking weird Lots of company: the second most physically active country in the world (after Finland!). Lots of triathletes. Lots of Sunday rides. Big enough that you can get a decent job, small enough that the job doesn’t consume all your time. You want heroes: how about lining up with the current Olympic gold medalist in the local sprint series. Too far away? Not when you live here. Not in the USA? Exactly.
Now, did anyone have anything nice to say about Sydney? I can’t hear you…
umm…did we forget victoria? national training center, smaller city, always warm, mountains, ocean, no rednecks running you off the road.
also…apparently manitoba has some smoking facilities, friend was there last weekend and loved it…but definitly a summer-only city…-50 isn’t exactly condusive to training.
that said…penticton is also a pretty smoking hotspot. over 100 locals in the area registered in IMC last year, mountains, warm weather, nice people, and every 2nd person is a triathlete.
Auckland has got to be the place<<
Well, for running and swimming, OK, but I’d still go with ChCh for the NZ spot. Biking is AKL is TERRIBLE! Few bike lanes and way too much silly traffic.
Now, I hear Brisbane, AUS is God’s country.
clm
There is nothing better than meeting at Barton for a 6am swim, followed by a dam loop ride of ~55 miles or so with ~3000 feet of climbing and a scenic brick run around town lake. Cool off in barton springs when you’re through… Man this town is great…
That is pretty much what I am doing tomorrow minus the ride. 6:15am swim at Barton Springs followed by a run around Town Lake. Also, the “scenery” at Town Lake can be pretty awesome especially when the weather is nice.
Thanks.
Fleck, I can imagine what the Vancouverites will say themselves (once they get up, over there on PST). I lived there years ago. The gridlock and cost of living position it relatively poorly. That being said, if you can’t deal with the cold, it is a pretty darn good place (in Canada). I guess Victoria would take it, but what do you do for work out there (aside from being retired) :-).
Yes, many of my friends who moved out there have come back, but it seems mainly to be closer to family/aging parents. Those from out there, typically stay out there (myself excluded)
Intersting thread here guys and ladies !
I am from Vancouver but reside in Singapore for the past 12 years. I would like to reside back in Vancouver or Victoria for that matter , but find the beurocratic red tape (not to mention income tax rates) ridiculous.
Love to visit and miss my fellow Canucks , but as stated previously, employement wise , would be difficult. Eventually when I leave treasury banking , will return and hopefully start a biz and train happily there( except the rain!).
Singapore ,on the other hand, is an island nation of 3.9 million people (60km by 45km roughly). Very clean, modern and organized. Steep car prices (to minimise traffic congestion) and great roads. On the equator, so temps are 28-36C daily with high humidity. Enables year round training (although intense sessions may want to treadmill or trainer for maximal effect). Miss the long country and open rides of Canada though.
Strong triathlon following here as well.
Canuck8:
Hello fellow Canuck. I did my first tri in Singapore in 1986. I was back for a year in 2002-2003. Perhaps we raced against each other, maybe in the green golf course pond at the A’Famosa race. Are you a tri-bob team member? I was not because I lived on the NTU campus and had all the facilities I needed across the street from me.
Andrew Inkpen
Canuck8:
Hello fellow Canuck. I did my first tri in Singapore in 1986. I was back for a year in 2002-2003. Perhaps we raced against each other, maybe in the green golf course pond at the A’Famosa race. Are you a tri-bob team member? I was not because I lived on the NTU campus and had all the facilities I needed across the street from me.
Andrew Inkpen
There are only three correct answers to the best triathlon city in North America (and possibly the world)
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Austin, Texas
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Austin, Texas
and
- Austin, Texas
.
There is now way my little town can get into a pissing match with the larger cities. But I have to say my little town of Valparaiso Indiana has it going on when it comes to the Tri and Running Scene. Valpo is only about 25-30,000 people but for such a small community we have the following.
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Local group rides that bring 10-30 people every time.
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3 of the 4 known hills in Northern Indiana are in the Valpo Area.
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We host a Top notch Tri every year. In which the City shuts down the streets and gives police escort.
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We host two 5Ks, one 10K, and now a half Marathon every year and again the city just shuts down all of the streets the race is on and has at it. And for one of the 5Ks, the Popcorn Panic (think Orville Redenbacher), the ENTIRE town shuts down for the Race and the Popcorn Fest all day long.
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No one in the town bitches or complains about the streets/town being shut down. I have yet to see a letter to the editor (and we are a vocal bunch) in complaint of the various races. Most everyone along the race route is either in the race or sits in their front yard cheering the athletes along.
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Local Master Swim program run at Valpo U by the swim coach. usually 10-25 every night.
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Several local running groups which meet and run nearly every night during the week. Pick your group or groups and you have training buddies every time you run.
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About a 1 hour drive to about 15 different Tris (Chicago and all of NW IN ans SW MI). And 2 for about two hours of driving more races than is humanly possible to do.
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Two LBs in town, one of which is pretty good, and one Lbs the next small town Over that is great -The Bike Pros in Merrillville, IN. Plus I can shoot into Chicago and be at Mission bay in about an hour.
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The most important- I live just inside the downtown area of Valpo. I can hop on my bike, leave my house and be on country roads with little traffic inside of 5 minutes. No need to drive to “get away”. Same goes for running as well.
Lets hear it for the small town!!!
Bumpin an old thread…
Lee forgot to mention one important thing about Brooklyn.
We could definately kick your cities ass.
Jonathan
interim president and founder of the Brooklyn Tri Club.
Fuhgeddaboudit!
Many are just going to say that their city of residence or near it, is the place. Take for example the dude in Brooklyn. Brooklyn!
I’ll 2nd the easy bay area. Running at Tilden Park, Layayette Reservoir, and that long bike trail that runs from Concord to Walnut Creek. Logged many a bike mile up Mt. Diablo and Clayton Valley Road. Nice climate.
I’m in central CA now. Sucks.