can someone enlighten me on the Houston area or suburbs as it relates to training and lifestyle? I know that this is a broad question but I’m looking for honest feedback.
Factors like:
Housing cost
Good roads for cycling
Races venues within 4 hours
school system
Traffic etc.
Thanks for your input.
Factors like: Housing cost - about the same as Dallas/Ft. Worth but less than Austin, Boulder, Durango, Miami, Portland, San Diego, etc. Good roads for cycling - although many of the roads in the city are suitable, many would say traffic is not but I ride on the surface streets inside the loop a couple afternoons/evenings each week with few problems. There is also the ‘Picnic Loop’ at Memorial park which is a ~1.2 asphalt loop closed to traffic after 3:00 pm each weekday with a ~3-mile running path within 100 yards of the parking lot for the loop. Most would say the best riding is over the weekend on the country/county roads found to the North, Northwest, and West of the city but siutable country roads are also only minutes away for those who live South of Houston in Clear Lake, Friendswood, etc. Races venues within 4 hours - check http://www.trifind.net/nf/tx.html and http://www.active.com for events school system - wife and I are kids so can’t offer any comment Traffic etc. - You have heard that saying about death and taxes? Well in Houston there are two things that are constant - humidity and traffic jams on the freeways and roadways (frown). As I type this, traffic on the highway that passes in front of our office building is backed up for miles due to road construction and blinking traffic lights at the major higway/freeway intersection 1/2 mile!
Have lived in Houston area for 30 years.
Housing has been relatively inexpensive. However influx of Katrina evaucees may be a factor in the future.
Go to this web site http://recenter.tamu.edu/mreports/ and click on houston. Will get a good run down on housing etc.
If willing to drive out of the city numerous roads everywhere.
You can race every weekend within 5 hours drive time during the season which runs February to October.
Schools in Houston proper cannot comment. Daughter went to Kingwood which is a suburb.
Traffic and humidity- we have lots- tolerance for both depends on where you currently reside and choice of living location versus work site etc.
Check out Houstonracing.com for insight into tri scene.
Also runnertriathletenews.com for calendar and screen for triathlon.
If you are coming here welcome to Texas!!
fal7 in Houston
This is more focused on the Clear Lake area so sorry if it’s too limited…
Housing: Parents just sold a 3 bdr 2 bath rancher on 1/2 acre (w/ 2 car garage) for 125K.
Roads are very good overall. If you head out towards Seabrook and beyond, you’ll find wide shoulders and less traffic.
Clear Creek Independent School District is outstanding. Houston ISD is less than that. Kingwood is also an oustanding school district. I went to CCISD and my sister teaches at Kingwood. (they are selling their house, so let me know 
Traffic to and from downtown Houston is horrible. Expect 1.5 to 2 hours to commute 35-40 miles. Mass transit is pretty much none.
I have visited Houston many times, never lived there. Went once in July, got up and out the door at 7 for a run before my 9 am meeting. back at 8, completely fried by the sun and humidity (99 degrees and 99 percent) , lay on the bed sweating and gasping for 15 minutes then took a cool shower. still sweating after shower, lay on bed 10 more minutes. still sweating (not like a pig though- i’ve raised pigs and never saw them sweat) finally got dressed and went downstairs to my meeting. shirt soaked through, big sweatstains on my suit jacket even tho in air conditioned hotel office. sweat pouring off my face for the next hour. wow.
came back to arizona. it’s a cool comfortable 107 with 11% humidity today. I can run when it’s 105 and cool off in 15 minutes. not going back to houston anytime soon.
I’ve lived my entire life within 2 hours drive of Houston. Right now I live in Hempstead, about 45 miles northwest of the city and in prime cycling/running country.
Housing cost: you will not find a cheaper metropolitan area to live in, period.
Good roads for cycling: As long as you aren’t looking for continuous hills, there are plenty of roads to ride just outside of the city.
Race venues: Plenty, both locally and within an easy day’s drive.
School system: you want a suburb, not the city proper.
Traffic: Traffic sucks. This is a commuter city and there is basically no infrastructure for public transportation.
Honestly, its a great city. The weather during the summer is awful. Heat and humidity combined to make for stifling days. But the city offers worldclass arts and entertainment, the suburbs have some of the finest schools in the state, and there are many folks living active lifestyles on all sides of the city.
Mark
Goddammit Chuck, if you go to texas and don’t bring your giant ass to Austin, Wes and I are gonna hunt you down and paint all of your bikes pink…
and put tassles on them…
and a basket…
so Wes is alive!!! No way you’re painting my bikes!!! My entire collection has changed since I’ve seen you guys
Chuck
I live “inside the loop” in Houston. I have a 5 minute drive to work, but housing prices can be unreal in this area. If you live outside the loop housing is much more reasonable, but you would probably have to deal with a lot of traffic.
My place of choice to ride is the Picnic loop at Memorial park, previously described in another post. Yes, it is boring, but at least it is safe. Houston drivers hate cyclists and I always get at least a few obscenities yelled my way when I ride on the streets. Memorial park is also a great place to run, though, as is the Buffalo Bayou trail.
I love Houston. The heat and humidity don’t bother me, and we never really have a cold winter. The restaurants here are fabulous, as are the arts scene and shopping.
Hope this helps!