It’s not definite yet, but the wife and I may move to Dallas next year. I’ve only been to the airport, so I’m not sure what to expect. I know it’s hotter than hell, but how is it living there? Is it Tri-friendly??? Thanks.
The good thing is you are only 2 hours away from Austin.
I lived there for 10 years and my husband was born and raised there. I would describe Dallas as a city of commerce. People are very energetic, hard-working and competitive. Lots of money around and the women there are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen in my entire life (and some of that beauty is actually natural – but not much). The airport is great because you can get almost anywhere in the world direct. The summers are brutal and last until October. I’m not sure about the tri scene because I started after we left, but I imagine it’s very active.
Thx. How about the downtown scene? Is there much to do other than going to rodeos and visiting J.R. Ewing?
You need to be very careful riding here – it is not a bike friendly place depending on where you live. I have spent hours putting together my routes to make them as safe as possible. And, beware the pick-up truck and the fat guy in the Lexis. They like to dust people.
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There is a very active club scene (from what I’ve heard:) and lots of folks live just north of downtown. The rodeo is actually in Fort Worth, which although close, is a completely different town. If you are young and single, Dallas can be a fun place to live.
It’s not really hotter than hell…that would be Witchita Falls. 
I moved to DFW in Sept '05 after a lifetime in AZ…that may make me qualified to answer.
The metroplex is about commerce and money and cosmetic surgery. Dallas is a very cosmopolitan city…that surprised me.
There is a huge running community and a very active tri community. That’s pretty much a good thing. Dallas Athletes, Fit 2 Train and Play Tri, as well as Jack Weiss’s Ironhead and the newby, Run-Bi-Tri, are all battling it out for their share of the tri pool, so to speak. This means lots of races (mostly shorter course, although longer ones are starting to pop up) and programs to choose from.
There are tons of pools, most with lap swim times, as well as a couple of solid Master’s programs. DAM is the big cheese, with multiple locations, many members and the crowded lanes and high fees to match. I love my lowly Irving Masters. 
You can run a 5K…or 2 or 3…on almost any given weekend. And there are a host of marathons/1/2’s to pick from. No excuse for not running…well, except for that summer heat. Most of your running will be on that darned concrete TX is so fond of…best stock up on high-end running shoes and Aleve.
The biking is less than stellar. It has been my biggest ass-ache. Too much traffic, inconsiderate drivers, no bike lanes, no hills, chip seal surfaces…shall I continue? There are loads of bike rallies and that is, IMHO, the best way to get long rides in with some semblence of safety. Unless you live way out in the far flung burbs or are willing to drive to ride, you will be dodging cars, potholes and stoplights and generally fearing for your life. It has been frustrating and my riding has suffered. 
All-in-all, it’s not a bad place to live. The people are as friendly as can be and there is lots to do.
Do your best to avoid the chicken-fried-everything…limit your trips to the barbecue joints and you should be fine.
G
Sounds like Michigan!!! You have to wear a bubble-boy protection suit so you don’t get killed riding here.
Unless there has been revitalization since I lived there 2 years ago, Downtown scene = The Dallas Alley, a collection of bars in the West End. Dallas Alley is more for the tourist crowd. There are four main areas people go out near downtown:
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Dallas Alley - as I said, more of a touristy area.
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Deep Ellum - great music, funky crowd. Lots of tats and black clothes and piercings when I used to go out there. Some great places, though.
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Lower Greenville Avenue - college crowd, mostly, but there are some fun places.
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McKinney Avenue (Uptown) - the “pretty crowd.” Lots of yuppies and fake boobs. Can be very costly, and if you aren’t driving a mercedes, BMW or Lexus you may as well be driving an old Ford Ranchero.
There are lots of restaurants and bars in the “burbs,” too. Addison (North Dallas) has a LOT of restaurants and bars, and Las Colinas seemed to have good “after work” crowd.
“no hills”
That’s a fact in the usual meaning of the word but there are “Dallas Hills” - wind. And might I suggest DFW outer roads on Sunday morning. Little traffic and what there is consists of pro drivers who go all the way to the other lane. Just don’t take the road to the control tower. Did that once and when the officer pulled the gun I turned around really quick…
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If we move, my wife and I will be working downtown Dallas. Any advice on where to live within 30minutes of downtown and close to a good gym?
Lake Highlands, Lakewood or the M Streets come to mind first. I used to live in Lake Highlands.
If you can afford it, Highland Park would be ideal. Great schools, close to downtown.
Another helpful link (race promoter who does the majority of local Dallas multisport events):
The roads around Grand Prairie, around Joe Pool Lake, are often used for bike, duathlon, and triathlon events. There seems to be a slightly higher “share the road” awareness in this area…including local cops. I found that out when a drunk in an SUV tried to run me down one early Sunday morning. Someone saw it happen, called the cops and the cops spent 30 minutes trying (successfully) to find the guy.
There is a significant number of people involved in multisport in the Dallas area. I would advise looking into the groups mentioned previously. However, the previous comments about the area not being particularly bike friendly are largely correct, IMHO. Several tri’s have had to move because some church-goers complained that a triathlon prevented their access to church. When you do the math, that would be about 1 Sunday out of the year…so you begin to get the picture.
In training for IMC, we actually started around 3:00AM at the Texas Motor Speedway near Roanoke (between Dallas and Fort Worth) because there is a 5 mile loop around it that allows for fairly traffic free hammering. After the sun came up we would head into Roanoke, Westlake, Southlake, and Grapevine for additional miles and hills.
Texas is methodically taking roads with improved wide shoulders suitable for safer cycling (Highway 114, for example) and replacing the shoulder with the cheaper, rougher rocks/tar surface. That stuff is a tire killer (cars and bicycles, for that matter). Thank Gov. Perry for that “cost saving” initiative. Texas has not spent the federal money designated for bicycle infrastructure, as far as I know.
It is a good place to live but you probably need to know the social/political attitude towards those who choose not to drive the biggest truck or SUV that can fit in a parking lot. It carries over to cyclists.
Dallas? Lived there from 3rd grade to graduation. Parents still live there. Hate it. Full of pretentious people, which probably won’t offend those who live there since they thumb their noses at the likes of we commoners down here in Houston.
Weatherwise it’s the worst of both worlds - hot and relatively humid in the summer, can be bitterly cold with snow and ice in the winter. Lovely dead grass from around October to March. The DFW area is sprawling so finding nice uninterupted roads to train on will be a challenge.
The good thing is you are only 2 hours away from Austin
How fast do you drive? I’ve never made it in less than 3 hours.
Ha… just move from Dallas. I have lived there several times though.
Close to Downtown areas.
Lakewood - about a 10 minute drive east, near White Rock lake. Can be pricey, but still some streets where you can find things that aren’t crazy expensive. White Rock lake is great for running, and also short bike rides. The loop is ± 10 miles depending on what side street diversions you take. Also, the Baylor Tom Landry center is between Lakewood and downtown. It has one of the best pool facilities in the Metroplex, and it part of the Baylor Hospital system. Great workout facilities as well.
South of Dallas you have Oak Cliff. There are some great old neighborhoods down there, but you are also close to some high crime areas. North Oak Cliff has some amazing houses and rolling hills. You can still find some cool houses that aren’t crazy expensive, mainly due to the prozimity to South Oak Cliff (high crime). Not sure about gyms in that area.,
Uptown/Oaklawn - This area is just north of Downtown. There are several high-rises, and more being built. Also a section of brownstones, and apartments. The convenience can’t be beat. I lived there mainly because I worked downtown, and hate commuting. Lots of gyms in the area, swimming at SMU and/or Baylor through the Dallas Aquatic Masters.
Highland Park/University Park - Just north of Uptown. This area is commonly refered to “The Bubble”. Highland Park and University Park are actually seperate townships surrounded by Dallas. They have their own police departments, fire departments, etc. “The Bubble” truely fits, as you will find very few non-caucasions after 6 p.m. The houses are extremely expensive (i.e. multi-million). I like to refer to is as “PleasantVille”.
“M Streets” - Just east of Highland Park, across from Central Expressway. This area used to be rundown, but in the last 15 years, the houses have been slowly bought and fixed up, and the area is getting much nicer (and more expensive). Close to Lower Greenville avenue, which has great restaurants and clubs.
After that, you get out ot the “30 minute” zone. I am sure i am missing some areas, but those are the major ones. Keep in mind that Dallas has a train that runs along Central all the way past Plano. I know several people who leave up there due to the schools. Great areas, although very “Suburbia”. I think the train from Plano may actually get close to a “30 minute” ride.
There are a ton of big fitness centers all around Dallas.
The Dallas Aquatic Masters is one of the biggest in the country and is run by two great swimmers (Jim Montgomery and Bobby Patton). They have workouts all over the Dallas area, and they have lots of triathletes.
Like a previous poster said, biking anywhere in town (with the exception of the White Rock Loop), is a car smack waiting to happen. Lots of people with Hummers talking on cell phones and looking in the mirror, paying no attention to cyclists. Out north the Richardson Bike Mart, and the Plano BIke shop have great rides on the weekends and evenings.
Anyway… that’s it. feel free to shoot me a pm if you have any more specific questions. I have lived there 6 different times for work.
OK well three may be more accurate but I have done it at 4am pretty close to 2
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don’t get too worked up over the hata’s - like most places you can find good and bad, depends on you most of the time.
There are good places to ride also, you just have to get out a little away from the masses, and early on saturday and sunday. weekday riding is tough, i still haven’t figured too much out there.
as far as where to live, depends on if you have kids or not - schools will drive your decision if with-kids. without, your options are greater.
hills, not really, but you can go to the few around if you need/want to - find a little one and do repeats.
when you get here, welcome, and post again to get specific rides and times
Awhh, c’mon…it’s not that bad. From what I’ve seen on the Weather Channel (and hear from my recently relocated sister) the weather in Houston hasn’t been all that great lately either.
Anyways, I just got back from an easy 20 mile ride (hey, I’m still post-IM) in gorgeous 75 degree temps with fallen leaves blowing across the roads and the smell of autumn in the air. It was actually enjoyable!
Almost made me forgot those dog days of summer…almost.
G