Relocating to SE Michigan for wife’s job. Her office is in Auburn Hills.
Any suggestions on where/where not to live? If we look a little north (Brandon Township area) and get some property, how do they maintain the roads?
Good training areas? Masters groups? Bike/tri shops? Can’t miss races?
We are both roadies/trackies/triathletes, I mix in some mtb and cx, and it looks like we’ll be getting into fat biking.
Thanks!
stay in Tejas?? 
I would recommend the other side of the state or up north, but since you’re stuck in the SE the only piece of advice I can give is to see Tom and Scott and The Bike and Tri Ship in Livonia… they have forgotten more than most of us will ever know about bikes. I drove a little over two hours to get a bike and fitting from them even though it cost me more (not including gas).
Once you get settled, spend as much time up north as possible
West Michigan rider here. Sorry to hear about your move to michigan. Great mountain bike trails. Not sure on road biking though.
Welcome to Michigan!
There are a lot of good trails for running and biking in northern Oakland County (near Auburn Hills). The Clinton River Trail (http://www.clintonrivertrail.org/maps.html) and Paint Creek Trail (http://paintcreektrail.org/wordpress/maps/trail-maps) are in that general area. Stoney Creek Metropark in Rochester Hills has good biking/running/swimming. There are good mountain bike trails through there, and fat tire riding has gotten popular too.
I’m a big fan of racing on Belle Isle in Detroit – races in June and September (http://3disciplines.com/event/?x=11&y=1 and http://3disciplines.com/event/?x=27&y=1). That same race company does a race in Ortonville (essentially Brandon Township): http://3disciplines.com/event/?x=9&y=1
I second the Bike and Tri Shop in Livonia. It’s a bit of a hike from where you’ll be, but totally worth it.
I second the Bike and Tri Shop in Livonia. It’s a bit of a hike from where you’ll be, but totally worth it.
I’m from the other side of the state… anything east of Lansing is all Detroit!
I’m originally from that area.
If I were working in Auburn Hills, I’d live as close to Stoney Creek as possible.
I think “hike” might be different coming from Dallas!
I’m still confused about the whole left turn thing, but Big Beaver Rd has me intrigued.
Check out Metamora ( that’s where I grew up, or just south in Oxford ( pretty much neighbors Brandon). Straight shot to Auburn Hills. You’ll have less traffic, hilly and scenic. If you check out the area near lake lapper you’ll be able to get great rides in with minimal traffic and be able to run on dirt roads in you prefer. Rochester has great things going on but it’s also busy.
I can speak for the roads. I don’t get home too often from Nashville. As some petiole mentioned, the west side and northern Michigan are wonderful. Check out traverse city, Potoskey and Harbor Springs during the summer!
My parents live in South lyon…everytime I visit I think how I would spend all of my time riding the gravel (dirt) roads in the area.
Unfortunately, the roads are typically horrible with very few exceptions.
That’s probably why I like Stoney Creek so much. Although you may get sick of a 6 mile loop. Good trails for running & MTB, though.
It’s actually in Shelby Township, northeast of Rochester Hills. So maybe there’s a small decrease in the amount of traffic. Near Stoney you also have the Macomb Orchard Trail which can take you up through Romeo, Armada, and into Richmond. There and back adds an extra 45-50 miles or so.
Metamora area has some great gravel roads.
Unfortunately, the roads are typically horrible with very few exceptions.
That’s probably why I like Stoney Creek so much. Although you may get sick of a 6 mile loop. Good trails for running & MTB, though.
It’s actually in Shelby Township, northeast of Rochester Hills. So maybe there’s a small decrease in the amount of traffic. Near Stoney you also have the Macomb Orchard Trail which can take you up through Romeo, Armada, and into Richmond. There and back adds an extra 45-50 miles or so.
Metamora area has some great gravel roads.
I’ll second this. Stony Creek is 2 miles from my front door and a great place to train. The Macomb Orchard Trail, Clinton River Trail, and Paint Creek Trail are all right there and connect to each other. I’d love to live someplace warmer, but I’d miss on the places I have to train right in my backyard.
You’ll like it here.
For road and mountain bike related activities check out the Wolverine Sports Club, Cadieux Café/Team O2 and the Flying Rhinos on the web and on FaceBook. All three have rides around Auburn Hills and all three have big road, cross and mountain bike race teams. There is a velodrome with a very active race scene in Rochester Hills just a couple miles from Auburn Hills and rumor has it there may be a new indoor velodrome going up in Detroit soon.
The mountain bike scene is pretty big and fat bikes are very popular. There is mountain biking trails within riding distance of Auburn Hills. As for roads as a general rule the roads around here get pretty beat up in the winter. One thing to look for if you go north of Auburn Hills is there are a lot of gravel roads. Great for keeping the rural flavor (people go nuts when the county threatens to pave them). that is OK-great if you have a mountain bike or like gravel grinding but you can end up in a house you can not ride a road bike from if you don’t pay attention.
Your choices of where to live if your wife is working in Auburn Hills are pretty diverse. Go north of there and you very quickly get into rural suburban areas with big lots and even acreage if that is what you want. An easy commute to the south or east can put you in some old villages that are now thriving extremely nice suburban areas with walkable old downtowns. Personally, I live south of there because I like being closer to real city life but to each their own. You’ll have a ton of choices.
The road riding up in that area is good with lots of options. Just by way of example in terms of decent road routes, a combination of 2 regular group rides I do each week gives me a great route from Auburn Hills all the way downtown to Belle Isle. That is about a 75 mile round trip with easy options to add on. There are lots of other routes but that is one I actually ride every inch of in the course of most weeks. Biking here, at least outside of the depths of winter, is actually pretty great.
If your wife is working in AH try and find a place in/near Shelby Twp., Rochester, or Rochester Hills.
Also, get a track bike.
I think “hike” might be different coming from Dallas!
I’m still confused about the whole left turn thing, but Big Beaver Rd has me intrigued.
I get off on 69 Big Beaver all the time…lol
I live in rochester and have my entire life. Great area to live and train in. Like other said you can bike at Stoney Creek which is located in both oakland and macomb county and is a 11mi paved riding loop there. The running here is some of the best in the country you have both the paint creek and clinton river trails you use along with 100’s of miles of dirt roads that are hilly. For pools you have many options along with the great 50m indoor pool at Oakland University. For road riding you can ride north of here and get great rides of 100+ miles with no traffic problem. Then you also have the option of going to northern michigan on the weekend where there are amazing crystal clear lakes and hilly paved roads to use. You also have the ability with Hanson’s running shop in the area 4 stores to do group runs with them. For bike shops I would recommend Fraser Bike shop in fraser, they sell specialized, felt and cervelo, along with locations in ann arbor and canton. I would highly recommend the rochester, rochester hills, oakland township area you cant go wrong. Great small town feel with everything you need. Just my 2 cents
Relocating to SE Michigan for wife’s job. Her office is in Auburn Hills.
Any suggestions on where/where not to live? If we look a little north (Brandon Township area) and get some property, how do they maintain the roads?
Good training areas? Masters groups? Bike/tri shops? Can’t miss races?
We are both roadies/trackies/triathletes, I mix in some mtb and cx, and it looks like we’ll be getting into fat biking.
Thanks!
I used to live in Auburn Hills - If neither of you have to go downtown Detroit often, I’d definitely recommend looking north or over in Rochester/Rochester Hills. Otherwise, traffic on 75 can be a mess. Birmingham/Bloomfield areas are also good places to live in relation to AH, but you’ll be less likely to get a large property.
For places to ride - Stoney Creek is great, but it is a short loop. If you want to drive a little, in Milford MI there is Kensington Metropark and Island Lake State Park. Both are great places to ride. They’re right next to each other so you can easily go from one to the other. There are several popular cycling routes out on the roads out that way too.
Bald Mountain in Lake Orion also has some mountain bike trails - it’s VERY close to Auburn Hills. Bloomer Park in Rochester Hills also has a velodrome.
As for bike shops, check out Fraser Bicycle - they are truly the best in MI, you won’t be disappointed. They also have a triathlon/cycling club with a great group of people.
Simple… live in rochester hills. Great community and just the town over from auburn hills. You will not regret it.
Hi there,
Michigan native here. I’m from more mid Michigan, but lived in Ann Arbor for three years. I know the area fairly well. I can definitely help you out. Shoot me a message if you’re interested.
I moved to SE Michigan a year ago from Boston. I chose Royal Oak, but my motivation as a mid 20s young professional is likely somewhat different from yours. Unfortunately, SE Michigan is terrible for hopping on the bike from your house. Potholes, congestion, marginally terrifying Michigan driving habits, and stop lights every half mile. Also its extremely flat here so no hill training.
That being said, I’ve heard destination rides in other parts of Michigan (north and west) are magical. And within 30 min of AH you can hit many of the well paved and maintained ‘Metroparks’, Stoney Creek is one of them that has been referenced a lot, I tend to prefer Kensington and Island Lake (the latter is technically a State Park, but they are adjacent to one another) because its a bit hillier and great 3 discipline training. Belle Isle on the Detroit river is an awesome 6 mile continuous loop that is flat and fast, not many cars, and also perfect for 3 discipline training. As mentioned, they have a couple races there too, only one this summer I think though (Motor City Tri, June 12th).
As for Tri resources:
Tri and Bike Shop - Livonia: good size and nice selection
Level Multisport - Birmingham: quaint tri specific shop close by in Birmingham with very friendly staff
Fraser Bike - Fraser Mi: good size, great cycling recourse has a team and the shop’s basement offers 10-15 computrainers and treadmills for winter training
Detroit Endurance Labs - winter computrainer classes in Downtown Detroit
I’ve found the Tri community in MI is much larger than the one I was leaving in MA…Good luck!