House somewhere nice!

meanredspider

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Yeah - I've "learned" to embrace the weather. I find the ice frustrating early in the days in the winter months but even that can be solved with the right tyres. I was late to discovering the pleasure of riding the fire roads on a gravel bike - just you, the bike and the forest: amazingly relaxing. You can keep your Mallorca. And there are some great climbs up to some wind farms that are as close in effort and duration as anything comes to an Alpine climb in the UK.

Have you actually ever ridden in Majorca?

Yup.

meanredspider

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I think to keep taking about Scotland is off topic, personally

Agreed, another thread derailed

I know you're frightened of the cold from your daily moans about the weather but not all of us are. I've ridden in much of Europe, in Canada, California, East Coast US, some of E Asia. I've not done Oz or NZ yet nor South America or sub-Saharan Africa but I'd still choose the Scottish Highlands. Others are entirely free to post different places and have.

Why don't you post something vaguely constructive just once in your life and take us all by surprise?

kawaspresso

I live in the french alps, near Grenoble. Most of high altitudes cols are closed, but there are plenty of underrated cols that are not covered by snow during winter. And I can go skiing with just 30min driving.
If you want the best weather all year round, then the Nice area is great with a lot of hills and the sea.

pblakeney

meanredspider wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I think to keep taking about Scotland is off topic, personally

Agreed, another thread derailed

I know you're frightened of the cold from your daily moans about the weather but not all of us are. I've ridden in much of Europe, in Canada, California, East Coast US, some of E Asia. I've not done Oz or NZ yet nor South America or sub-Saharan Africa but I'd still choose the Scottish Highlands. Others are entirely free to post different places and have.

Why don't you post something vaguely constructive just once in your life and take us all by surprise?

I'd go to NZ in a heartbeat. It has everything. Not in the remit for this thread though. Not long back from Villefranche. That has huge potential.

ayjaycee

A few years ago, I had occasion to drive to the UAE (Dubai) via France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Syria (it was just before the current civil war!), Jordan and Saudi Arabia. One of the things that had really stuck in my mind by the end of the trip was Slovenia, a country that I had obviously heard of but had never given much thought to. I can remember thinking at the time that it would be a very good destination for a road cycling holiday - most of the roads that I saw, including less well populated areas, were in good condition, it has mountains worthy of the name and even a [short] stretch on coastline on the Adriatic plus the people were nice and the cost of living reasonable. I've also heard that it's pretty good MTB country but that's not really something that I'm interested in!

ayjaycee

PS. The wine, beer and food were pretty good as well!

meanredspider

ayjaycee wrote:

PS. The wine, beer and food were pretty good as well!

Yup - as much as I love Scotland, I'd take the food from Italy

ugo.santalucia

I am plotting to spend summers in Italy starting from next year... I can do my job from abroad over summer... if they don't like it, they can suck it up, I guess :-)

robbo2011

Careful, after Brexit, they may not let you back in!

ugo.santalucia

robbo2011 wrote:

Careful, after Brexit, they may not let you back in!

That might not be the worst outcome to be honest...

twist83

meanredspider wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I think to keep taking about Scotland is off topic, personally

Don't see why. The OP only suggested a temp range with a question mark.

Cheap housing. Less (homicidal) drivers. Easy access to airport. Not too hot. Not much rain (on the East Coast). Stunning scenery. Low crime. Clean air. Good schools. Most importantly fantastic all-year cycling of all sorts.

Not too hot. That is an understatement You really should work for the tourist board in Scotland

I love the heat. I would like to live somewhere hot all year round. As for not living in an area where winter training camps are. Why not? Generally most people acclimate. Leave early in the morning and you miss the bulk of the heat.

Locals don't just stop cycling because it gets hot...

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

ugo.santalucia

twist83 wrote:

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

A bit tacky, but I wouldn't say no if someone put an offer on the table... without the mamils it looks pretty stunning

ugo.santalucia

I don't understand those who don't like warmer climates. As humans we are not meant to live at this latitude... I do believe we were all born in Africa... we struggle to grow meaningful crops, we have to spend humongous amount of resources to keep us warm... it's basically like hitting our balls with a hammer and want more of the same

jimmurray

I was lucky enough to be able to make this type of choice. Get over 10-12 times a year, inland a bit from Alicante, 15 minutes by car from the airport. Got all the variety you will ever need on lovely quiet roads, inexpensive cafes and lovely climate.

twist83

ugo.santalucia wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

A bit tacky, but I wouldn't say no if someone put an offer on the table... without the mamils it looks pretty stunning

Like pretty much every single place that is popular and usually for very good reasons. Sure you could avoid the mamils and they are only there a few months of year.

shortfall

twist83 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

A bit tacky, but I wouldn't say no if someone put an offer on the table... without the mamils it looks pretty stunning

Like pretty much every single place that is popular and usually for very good reasons. Sure you could avoid the mamils and they are only there a few months of year.

Just out of interest, what's wrong with Mamils? Do they somehow prevent you from enjoying your own cycling?
Genuine question.

ugo.santalucia

Shortfall wrote:

twist83 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

A bit tacky, but I wouldn't say no if someone put an offer on the table... without the mamils it looks pretty stunning

Like pretty much every single place that is popular and usually for very good reasons. Sure you could avoid the mamils and they are only there a few months of year.

Just out of interest, what's wrong with Mamils? Do they somehow prevent you from enjoying your own cycling?
Genuine question.

Clog cafes, they are very loud, they are terribly behaved on the road... they pass you on the flat to prove a point just to collapse as the gradient reaches 2%... they keep asking me if that is my winter bike...

shortfall

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Shortfall wrote:

twist83 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

A bit tacky, but I wouldn't say no if someone put an offer on the table... without the mamils it looks pretty stunning

Like pretty much every single place that is popular and usually for very good reasons. Sure you could avoid the mamils and they are only there a few months of year.

Just out of interest, what's wrong with Mamils? Do they somehow prevent you from enjoying your own cycling?
Genuine question.

Clog cafes, they are very loud, they are terribly behaved on the road... they pass you on the flat to prove a point just to collapse as the gradient reaches 2%... they keep asking me if that is my winter bike...

Not a massive and pointless generalisation then Ugo?

ugo.santalucia

Shortfall wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Shortfall wrote:

twist83 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

A bit tacky, but I wouldn't say no if someone put an offer on the table... without the mamils it looks pretty stunning

Like pretty much every single place that is popular and usually for very good reasons. Sure you could avoid the mamils and they are only there a few months of year.

Just out of interest, what's wrong with Mamils? Do they somehow prevent you from enjoying your own cycling?
Genuine question.

Clog cafes, they are very loud, they are terribly behaved on the road... they pass you on the flat to prove a point just to collapse as the gradient reaches 2%... they keep asking me if that is my winter bike...

Not a massive and pointless generalisation then Ugo?

Of course it is... but where you have many mamils, you will have a significant proportion of the above... and that's a fact. Besides, I'd rather cycle on roads that less travelled than the cycle supermotorways of Majorca...

That said, Majorca over Britain every day... the weather, the climate, the sea...

meanredspider

ugo.santalucia wrote:

the weather, the climate,

...the sunshine, the lack of rain, the warmth, the blue skies, the temperature, the precipitation....

There's a massive list of advantages...

shortfall

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Shortfall wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Shortfall wrote:

twist83 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I am a huge fan of Mallorca personally. I would consider living there, or living there for the most part and spending some time in England.

A bit tacky, but I wouldn't say no if someone put an offer on the table... without the mamils it looks pretty stunning

Like pretty much every single place that is popular and usually for very good reasons. Sure you could avoid the mamils and they are only there a few months of year.

Just out of interest, what's wrong with Mamils? Do they somehow prevent you from enjoying your own cycling?
Genuine question.

Clog cafes, they are very loud, they are terribly behaved on the road... they pass you on the flat to prove a point just to collapse as the gradient reaches 2%... they keep asking me if that is my winter bike...

Not a massive and pointless generalisation then Ugo?

Of course it is... but where you have many mamils, you will have a significant proportion of the above... and that's a fact. Besides, I'd rather cycle on roads that less travelled than the cycle supermotorways of Majorca...

That said, Majorca over Britain every day... the weather, the climate, the sea...

Well you might be right, although I'm sure the Balearics are glad of every Euro that fat, middle aged cyclists on Dogmas pump into their economies. Luckily the world is big enough that we can usually avoid anyone if we really want to.

luv2ride

meanredspider wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

the weather, the climate,

...the sunshine, the lack of rain, the warmth, the blue skies, the temperature, the precipitation....

There's a massive list of advantages...

...add to that, plenty of fresh Calamari and Paella....I'm sold

ugo.santalucia

Shortfall wrote:

Luckily the world is big enough that we can usually avoid anyone if we really want to.

For me is the property talkers... those who inevitably ruin a coffee stop by going on about their upsize/downsize/loft conversion/extension/new kitchen/new bathroom/garden feature/new floors etc

Man Of Lard

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I don't understand those who don't like warmer climates.

If I'm too hot (happens above 20C) there is a finite amount of clothing I can shed to maintain comfort before arrests follow.
If I'm too cold (which rarely happens in the UK) there is an infinite amount of clothing I can add to maintain comfort.

What can I say, I'm a northern European - I'm mostly suited to my climate, apart from the once in a decade heatwave (except for viewers in Scotland who have their own dreich)

londoncommuter

ppppp

ugo.santalucia

Man Of Lard wrote:

What can I say, I'm a northern European - I'm mostly suited to my climate, apart from the once in a decade heatwave (except for viewers in Scotland who have their own dreich)

Apart from the fact that you need to make sure you have enough vitamin D3 in your diet, yeah, you are perfectly acclimatised...

ilm_zero7

the Odenwald in Southern germany has amazing roads, and respectful drivers

spasypaddy

jimmurray wrote:

I was lucky enough to be able to make this type of choice. Get over 10-12 times a year, inland a bit from Alicante, 15 minutes by car from the airport. Got all the variety you will ever need on lovely quiet roads, inexpensive cafes and lovely climate.

this is the correct answer, im not far away (but on the coast) and its stunning in the summer. After a couple of days you get used to how hot it is and you can easily ride 100km+ even in the hottest of summers. I went over in march and rode every day some days for around 6 hours.

theres a reason theres a huge expat cycling community out there and its because of the weather, the roads, the food, just everything.

Alicante/Murcia is the correct answer.

You are also a few hours by car from the climbs near Calpe, or a decent ride distance from sierra de espuna.

meanredspider

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Man Of Lard wrote:

What can I say, I'm a northern European - I'm mostly suited to my climate, apart from the once in a decade heatwave (except for viewers in Scotland who have their own dreich)

Apart from the fact that you need to make sure you have enough vitamin D3 in your diet, yeah, you are perfectly acclimatised...

The 2017 report features the happiness score averaged over the years 2014-2016. For that timespan, Norway is the overall happiest country in the world, even though oil prices have dropped. Close behind are Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland in a tight pack.

Beyond that are Canada, Sweden, NL and NZ amongst others. Clearly climate is everything

ugo.santalucia

meanredspider wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Man Of Lard wrote:

What can I say, I'm a northern European - I'm mostly suited to my climate, apart from the once in a decade heatwave (except for viewers in Scotland who have their own dreich)

Apart from the fact that you need to make sure you have enough vitamin D3 in your diet, yeah, you are perfectly acclimatised...

The 2017 report features the happiness score averaged over the years 2014-2016. For that timespan, Norway is the overall happiest country in the world, even though oil prices have dropped. Close behind are Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland in a tight pack.

Beyond that are Canada, Sweden, NL and NZ amongst others. Clearly climate is everything

It's the economy... social democracies always score well in those games... as well as having high rates of suicide over the long winters.

Everyone I know who went to live in Sweden left within two years... clearly not a place to aspire if you are not a native.