Moving to Raleigh, NC

Triathlon Forum
1

Hey everyone,

I’m moving to Raleigh this coming January and am looking for a good one bedroom apartment complex/ any place to live in the area, preferably north Raleigh near Gresham’s Lake. I’ve noticed a lot of places getting poor reviews and don’t want to live in a place where my bike and other goodies might get stolen! I am hoping to be able to ride from my home to some slightly less populated roads, and not have to drive to ride/run. If anyone has any advice at all I would seriously appreciate it, never had this much difficulty finding a decent place to live.

Cheers

2

brier creek has rentals, nice neighborhood with good areas to ride close by that you can ride out of the garage, Umstead State park is AWESOME for running and a short drive from Brier creek, I beleive there are some rental apts near there but the roads to ride out of that area are a little more busy…

3

brier creek has rentals, nice neighborhood with good areas to ride close by that you can ride out of the garage, Umstead State park is AWESOME for running and a short drive from Brier creek, I beleive there are some rental apts near there but the roads to ride out of that area are a little more busy…

Wrong side of Raleigh, sir.

OP: I wish I could help, but I don’t venture up into North Raleigh much. When I have, I’m reminded that I really don’t like the area that much. I went to NC State from '08 until May of this year, and I always liked the area around campus and down toward Cary a lot better than I did the area north of the city. I always found north Raleigh a bit boring. Falls Lake is pretty nice though…

4

Thanks anyway, both of you.

I’m hoping I can find something that I can make work. I’ve been searching for a while now, but without much knowledge of the area it makes it difficult to be sure of what exactly I’m looking for! North Raleigh is just where my job is, and commuting by bike to work would be a plus, other than that I suppose I am open to different areas. At any rate, thanks for the input. If you’re still in the area I may have to send you a PM and maybe we could go for a ride. Always nice to have training buddies!

5

I’d say it would depend on where you’re going to be working. Raleigh is very spread out and I’m sure you’d rather use your time training rather than sitting in traffic. I will second the endorsement of Brier Creek though. You can ride from that area with a few minutes of busy roads and then be riding the safer roads around Falls Lake for hours. Also, Cary/Apex area are popular for countless group rides in the Jordan Lake area. N Raleigh/Brier Creek has Umstead Park for trail running (hilly) while Cary/Apex has the American Tobacco Trail (flat). The good thing about the area is that there are plenty of options for riding/running/swimming within a relatively short drive and a huge triathlon community.

As for apartment ratings I’ve always found that most have bad reviews but people who have a bad experience are more apt to leave feedback than someone who didn’t have any problems. Most places are safe enough where you shouldn’t have any problems but as a general rule I just don’t leave anything valuable in my car where its visible. Even the gated communities can have break ins when people are dumb enough to leave it laying in plain sight.

Good luck with your move.

6

If you are looking at apts, look at the apts off Lynn road, and if you want something kinda central/north raleigh, Duraleigh has some decent apartments/town homes that can be good areas. I’ve got a couple of clients that live in both areas and I live in the area as well. I like it, as I can ride out past Falls Lake for hours.

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there’s a handful of apartment complexes off of durant rd. between falls of the neuse rd. and us-1/capital blvd. Also, if you aren’t to partial to apartments, there’s a couple of townhome communities around that area where owners rent their properties. generally, i’d try and stay west of us-1/capital blvd. also, if you’re willing to ride through the city a little to get to some nicer roads, you can find some apartment complexes that are a little further south (i.e., south of 540) that still allow you to get out north to the emptier roads. there’s also some apartments/townhomes that are east of us-70/glenwood ave. near brier creek. it’s probably easier/faster to get out north to nicer roads from there in my opinion. i know the OP was asking because of wanting to be in close proximity to work/biking to work, but commuting (by car) from brier creek to that part of n. raleigh is just a quick jaunt down 540. another plus side is that you’re going AGAINST traffic both ways in that commute (i.e., everyone goes westbound during the morning and eastbound during the evening, whereas you’d be going eastbound/westbound during the am/pm). another thing is that commuting by bike from the brier creek area to gresham lake isn’t that bad and is entirely within the realm of doable.

as far as training buddies, there’s a pretty big group of cyclists that live/ride/train in n. raleigh. raleigh gyros have a lot of members and a lot of rides catered to varying skill levels. they are roadies though, and they frown upon riding your tri bike for safety reasons.

8

Well I guess I live on the boring side of town.

There are a ton of areas to ride - mostly to the north - from the Greshman lake area. Closer apartment areas would include North Ridge and Falls River, but you can live in areas like Knightdale, Brier Creek, North Hills, or the Creedmore/Lynn (a.k.a Lynnwood) areas and drive less than 10-15 minutes. Anywhere inside of I-440 is “Inside the Beltline” and usually suffers from worse roads and much more traffic. As mentioned, there is a lot of open road north of 540, and there are plenty of lake swim areas during the summer.

9

Wakefield and Bedford are also 2 nice developments that are more true North Raleigh if that is a key location factor, just like Brier Creek both have rental condos and or apartments along with really nice homes so good areas and you can ride out the door and get to country roads in a few minutes.

10

My wife and I lived in the Camden Manor Park apartments near Crabtree Valley Mall when we moved to Raleigh 4 years ago. Very nice complex with some decent amenities. Plus (and minus) is that you are close to the mall and good restaurants, the Greenway is right behind the complex, and Umstead is VERY bikeable from the complex. We now live in the “North Hills” area of town, so not very far from the original apartment and love it here.

11

i live on the near the corner of fairview and oberlin, smack dab in the middle.

pros- lots of stuff to do on weekends outside of training, bars, cameron vill, 5 points, etc…
pool at the YMCA is 3 min down the road

cons- i commute to RTP…its terrible. (got a gym membership at fitness connection in rtp for 10 bucks a month no contract just for the pool so i can swim while the traffic is heavy 5-7ish)
have to ride a few miles through traffic to get to good biking roads (i usually go out near lake wheeler road area)

I’d say for training purposes and having a newer place go outside ral - brier creek is nice, north north ral wouldnt be bad, but i didnt really care for cary.

I like where I am mainly bc i grew up there and i still hit the town etc… on the weekends and friends live in the area. but FWIW i have a 1 br place for around 650/mo.

PM me if you want to go for a training ride or run.

12

Thanks for the pro tips, I am so used to being able to just hop on the bike out the door and be on my way, I think that’s one of my only real criteria. It seems like the apartments near Gresham’s lake on the south side of 540 aren’t really the most friendly neighborhoods, but they are the best price, obviously this is all from internet browsing. I like the Brier Creek area, a bit expensive for a 1br place I was hoping for 650/mo as well. Like I said training buddies would be great, I will have to get back in contact with you when I get in the area, I’m excited to be there!

Thanks ST community you’ve all been a huge help! I was really bummed for a bit when I had my search confined to a small area, but I’m finding a lot more promising places with all your recommendations.

13

i live on the near the corner of fairview and oberlin, smack dab in the middle.

pros- lots of stuff to do on weekends outside of training, bars, cameron vill, 5 points, etc…
pool at the YMCA is 3 min down the road

cons- i commute to RTP…its terrible. (got a gym membership at fitness connection in rtp for 10 bucks a month no contract just for the pool so i can swim while the traffic is heavy 5-7ish)
have to ride a few miles through traffic to get to good biking roads (i usually go out near lake wheeler road area)

I’d say for training purposes and having a newer place go outside ral - brier creek is nice, north north ral wouldnt be bad, but i didnt really care for cary.

I like where I am mainly bc i grew up there and i still hit the town etc… on the weekends and friends live in the area. but FWIW i have a 1 br place for around 650/mo.

PM me if you want to go for a training ride or run.

Beat me to it.
I just moved to the beach a year ago, but the previous 3 yrs I was in 5 points (Carroll off of Fairview). I could ride about 5mi through town onto Lake Wheeler Rd. and then I would be good to go. As for running in that area there is the greenway which was sufficient and the area in 5 points is quite nice to run in, even at night. I would drive to Umstead as well to get in some running.
I really like 5 points, but that would be a bit of a drive to your work.

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I live near umstead, great for running but is harder to get out of town for riding. Falls lake in the summer has a great spot north of the dam for open water swimming; no boats.

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Forgot, one of my favorite things about Raleigh, the city pools are amazing. I swim at optimist pool (Google it) and its less than 2 bucks a visit, pay as you go, no membership, plenty of lanes

16

brier creek has rentals, nice neighborhood with good areas to ride close by that you can ride out of the garage, Umstead State park is AWESOME for running and a short drive from Brier creek, I beleive there are some rental apts near there but the roads to ride out of that area are a little more busy…

True. I am in said apartments but drive out of town with my bike to get in rides

17

I live right by umstead and feel like it’s perfect to get to rides.

  1. go north on ebeneezer church rd to leesville
  2. go west towards rtp/chapel hill by going down westgate to lumley
  3. go south towards lake wheeler/penny rd. by going down edwards mill

only problem is i haven’t found a great way to go east and would love to figure out a route of some sort since my in-laws live out there and i could just bike there when the family goes to their house (extra training ride disguised as spending time with her family)

18

I thought of this thread as I was driving by some apartments on Leadmine rd and Harvest Oaks Rd. It is right near 540 and Six Forks Road (so basically between Gresham area and Briar Creek). I don’t know anything about the apartments, but they seemed to be nice and in a safe area. Riding out to Falls Lake is very easy from this point. You could probably commute to work from here, but I don’t know for sure.

I think that if I were in your situation I would live in Briar Creek. I ride through the Briar Creek area frequently on rides and I don’t think that it is bad at all. The major intersections around the shopping center are busy, but you can easily avoid them via secondary roads. Additionally, there is a road within the Briar Creek Country Club that is perfect for running loops. It is about 2.5 miles around and there is much less traffic.

19

Dmags, Brooks & ajminn give a pretty good summary. Growing up in Raleigh & living in the North Hills area too, I can agree to most of the posts as the city has expanded over the years. What’s now “North Hills/Midtown” use to be N Ral & where you’re looking was straight up in the sticks of the country. Now Wakefield is the southern edge of N. Raleigh!! I feel like I have to pack an overnight bag if the wife & I are visiting friends that live there.

Here’s my 2 cents for the area(s) you’re looking at/previously mentioned:

Location:
Brier Creek is great for getting out to RTP & great riding but not as viable for N Ral access w/out jumping on I540 via car.
Shop:
Bicycle Chain - MTB heavy since across the road from the entrance to Umstead State park
Brier Creek- there’s a shop there but not familiar with selection/support…I don’t make that way often.

Location:
For riding out the door in N Ral- look near Strickland & Six Forks (Six Forks is busy during business hours until you get north / west towards Falls Lake) HUGE tri training groups rolling out of the A E Finely YMCA that’s less than a mile away from that area.
Shop:
Inside Out N Ral store ~1-2 miles away depending on where you land. Great staff - tri 'til ya die/ cross riding & run groups

Location:
Litchford Appt.'s at Litchford & Falls is just up from Gresham Lake & I think pricing may fall into to your range. I haven’t had friends live there for a couple of years so I don’t know updated $$ or amenities but worth checking into. -
Shop:
Any money saved will be spent at the TREK store around the corner w/good wrenches & friendly staff, roadie/mtb crew roll out from there.

Location:
North Hills/Midtown/Crabtree is great but congested, it’s better to utilize the vast greenway system in order to group ride starting points from the area if you are stuck on not throwing the bike in the car to go ride. If you have an iPhone/iPod - search Rgreenway in the app store for free download that will provide full greenway map of the Raleigh system.

NH is also close access to Umstead State park via Reedy Creek for Cross/MTB riding or trail running too. Optimist (city) pool enclosed & open year round swimming facility is great and just off the North Hills Dr greenway access. Lifetime Fitness & Fitnees Connection (formerly Gold’s) gym are also close if gym amenities are lacking at the apartment complex.

Shop:
All Star bike shop - Quail Corners is the closest but mainly mainstream roadie support. Jimmy at the Wade ave location is one of the best wrenches around for tri specific bikes if he’s still there. He’s been wrenching 20+ yrs in the area & has been at just about every store in the area at some point along the way.

Misc:
Inside Out Cary- worth the drive for support/selection of a tri specific retailer. They are also a drop off point for Tri Bike Transport if shipping the bike to destination races.

As for training buddies- You pretty much can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a triathlete of some varying level in this area. From newbie to elite/pro we’re all here.

Check out mytrainlocal.com (newly renamed Race Reach) for all types of training/ racing opportunities in the area. A site developed by some local tri guys that’s very well supported/referenced for workout opportunities primarily in the triangle but provides state wide coverage.

local race websites:
fsseries.com
setupevents.com

Good luck on the move!

20

Inside Out N Ral store ~1-2 miles away depending on where you land. Great staff - tri 'til ya die/ cross riding & run groups

Not trying to promote anything, but I am leading a Thursday night spin class at iOS-N. Raleigh location frim 6:30-7:30 each week (free for everyone to attend). Great store and it’s interesting because the 2 iOS stores (N. Raleigh and Cary) are very much different in style/feel. Cary store has the uppity “tri” geek feel to it, the N. Raleigh is a little more laid back feeling to it. Staff is great at both locations, and Cid with iOS is a great ambassador and industry leader in triathlon. I will probaly be leading a weekly ride once the winter gets over and it’s lighter out, where it goes out to Falls Lake (was doing a 30-40 mile Friday ride each week).