Somerville isn’t the worst choice for bike riding as you can get out to Belmont/Concord, the gateway to most popular riding routes, relatively easily. In general I’m a pretty down on riding outdoors around here, it’s not great. If you live in the city you will drive and/or waste a lot of time to get to free riding. Make sure you have a good indoor setup, consider occasionally driving to VT or NH on the weekend for some better riding options.
Yea… that’s what I’m starting to realize. Not a great cycling scene until you get out past 495. Long ago I lived in Baltimore and would ride out from the city into the country, but soon tired of that and started driving out the country to avoid all the inner city obstacles. Seems like Boston will be similar.
Yes, probably makes sense to drive out a bit to ride. I lived in mid-Cambridge for close to 8 years, when I was late 20s to mid-30s, and still doing tris pretty seriously and regularly. I rode many, many miles leaving right from Cambridge, usually going north up through Arlington/Winchester up toward Andover, or out toward Concord. It can be done, but I wouldn’t do it anymore. The road surfaces in Cambridge and Somerville can be awful, and drivers can be a menace (either intentionally or distractedly). I live in the northwest burbs now, and would say it’s worth driving out of the city a bit to get to some more mellow rides. Don’t know as you have to go out past 495, there’s good stuff to be had between 95 and 495.
I swam at the MIT facility for years. It’s nice. Not sure what their Covid protocols are now though.
Another poster mentioned Pleasure Bay down in Southie for OWS (fun fact - also where Ben Affleck’s robbery crew in The Town ditched their bank hostage at the beginning of the movie). I lived near there for years, and did see OWS swimmers at Pleasure Bay regularly. Not really my cup of tea and you may get heckled by some of the old school Southie folks (a dying breed nowadays) but probably about as good as ocean swimming is going to get in the immediate city area.
The run route along the north side of the Charles from the Museum of Science up to Harvard is one of my favorites. I’ve logged many hundreds of miles on it over the years, never get tired of the skyline view and the rowers on the river.
For running clubs, maybe check in at Marathon Sports and ask them. They have long been considered pretty legit in terms of getting people (including me) into shoes that work for them, and a lot of their employees are plugged into the running scene.
In terms of social scene, I think you’re on the right track thinking Cambridge/Somerville area. I really liked living in Cambridge when I was single and still young-ish.
