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Charlotte, NC - Living and riding??

MTB_Rob_NC

MTB_Rob_NC

What do I have to do to get you in this car TODAY?
Nov 15, 2002
3,428
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Charlotte, NC
Ok, so lets "say" you'd be working at the area below


Where would be the ideal place to live?

Where are the local trail systems? (places I would be able to ride after work on a weekday)
 
DRB

DRB

unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
15,242
0
Watchin' you. Writing it all down.
www.tarheeltrailblazers.com has most of the local trail systems listed. The ones in Meck county are going to be 30 to 45 mintues from there around commute time. Catawba, which isn't open because of construction of the US Whitewater Center, is the main system in town. That will reopen summer of 2006. All total within an 1 hour of there is about 50 miles of trails. Mostly singletrack, not lots of obstacles. Not much in the way of extended climbs but lots of short ups and downs. It for the most part is well maintained.

It sort of depends on what you are looking to spend and what kinda of commute you can stand. Traffic going the wrong way at the wrong time can be a diaster an absolute disaster. As for where to live working there, look west and south of there. Specific areas would be off Rama rd (which Idlewild turns into going West)., Matthews/Mint Hill, Sardis Road and Monroe Rd southeast of East Mecklenburg HS. North isn't all that good until you get almost uptown nor is east unless you go out Idlewild beyond Harris blvd. Even from there it wouldn't be too bad a commute. I live in Raintree which is just at the bottom of your map.

I'm sure the gaston/union/lincoln county contingent will pipe up that living in Mecklenburg county is too expensive and the taxes are too high. They love being in the car for days apparently.
 
Mr Tiles

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
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L-town ya'll
DRB said:
I'm sure the gaston/union/lincoln county contingent will pipe up that living in Mecklenburg county is too expensive and the taxes are too high. They love being in the car for days apparently.
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I'm not sure I know how to take that - do you mean we live in cars in Gaston County??? That may be true but actually we have our own trails (SGL, PZ, a little further away: Wilson's, etc.) and don't frequent the Charlotte trails that much. With the new George Poston Park trail project going on, you'll see a large influx of riders living in the Charlotte area hitting up some of the premier singletrack in the area - it should be a destination type trail. Work is slated to begin in early 06.

IMO, the BEST trail in Charlotte is Poplar Tent. You should be able to find a wealth of info on it.
 
zod

zod

Turbo Monkey
Jul 17, 2003
1,376
0
G-County, NC
DRB said:
I'm sure the gaston/union/lincoln county contingent will pipe up that living in Mecklenburg county is too expensive and the taxes are too high. They love being in the car for days apparently.
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Yes, I am in my car for days on end :rolleyes:
I drive 28 miles into Charlotte from Gaston County to work.....it takes me only 35 minutes. However people who live in Mint Hill and Matthews who drive less than 10 miles to work spend the same amount of time or more in traffic and get butt raped by Char/Meck taxes.

Enjoy them taxes, suburban life, and traffic DRB, while I enjoy the quiet country side and safe living. :) I do have to fill my gas tank alot more than DRB though ;)
 
Mr Tiles

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
Mtb_Rob_FL said:
Where are these areas in comparison to that map and major highways?
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Poplar Tent is off the poplar tent road exit from 85 north of charlotte past 77 and the speedway.

Trail's in good shape motomike!
 
MTB_Rob_NC

MTB_Rob_NC

What do I have to do to get you in this car TODAY?
Nov 15, 2002
3,428
0
Charlotte, NC
ok this is the stuff I need to hear, now if you guys could just ADD SOME DETAILS.

Like your addresses and social security #'s while you are at it. Ok seriously though maybe you could PM me with your address, or a major intersection that you live close by so I can do some research. Or if you wanted to liven up the thread post some pictures of maps or somethin :D
 
DRB

DRB

unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
15,242
0
Watchin' you. Writing it all down.
Mtb_Rob_FL said:
Where are these areas in comparison to that map and major highways?
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Most of the trails in town are fairly close to a major highway. Catawba (west of town) and Poplar Tent (north of town)are right off I85, as will be the new trails at Mt. Holly (just beyond Catawba). Renissance (middle of town off Tyvola), Huntersville and Fisher Farms (north of town) and Lake Norman (even farther north) are off I77. Francis Beatty is off of 485. Springs from there would be trip thru the backroads but traffic wouldn't be bad heading that direction. Lake Norman would be the only stretch from that address.

The corner of town is devoid of much close riding (15 minutes or less) BUT there are 2 projects that are in development that should address that over the next year or so. The goal of the trailblazers is to try to get at least one trail system within 15 mintues from anywhere in Charlotte.

Extending beyond Charlotte, obviously you know Pisgah and Dupont. But there are several other places closer in. Uwarrhie to the east, Dark Mountain near Wilksboro, and Wilson's in Morganton which are all within 2 hours.
 
zod

zod

Turbo Monkey
Jul 17, 2003
1,376
0
G-County, NC
- The (potential) reopening and redesign of Catawba http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.273268,-80.997391&spn=0.029523,0.050962&hl=en

- The building of the Mountain Island Lake/Mt. Holly trail system starting this winter http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.339214,-80.989151&spn=0.029499,0.050962&hl=en

- The building of the George Poston Park trail system starting this winter (slated to be the most technical/unsanitized trail in the Charlotte region) http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.291239,-81.111975&spn=0.029517,0.050962&hl=en

- Most of the more technical riding in the area like:
PZ http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.395032,-81.087427&spn=0.029479,0.050962&hl=en
SGL http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.360111,-81.117725&spn=0.029492,0.050962&hl=en
PW http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.423294,-81.272349&spn=0.029469,0.050962&hl=en

- Also the best hiking and rock climbing in the area out at Crowders/Kings Mountain http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.179842,-81.311874&spn=0.118230,0.203848&hl=en


All great trail reasons to live in Gaston County

Now all that being said.....if you are into city night life, swanky restaurants, being near a fancy health club, etc. then you're best off staying in Charlotte. Be prepared to pay more taxes, pay more for less housing, have higher crime, etc.....you know the things that come with living in the glorious metro.

Personally, I like being on several acres, not being under socialistic community association rules, and all that fun stuff. I enjoy going outside my house at night and having it be pitch black, hearing the train in the distance instead of a busy road, seeing someone ride a horse down the street, having deer walk through my back yard, burning a fire in my backyard whenever I want to, etc. etc.. And to think I get all this and twice the land and house compared to what it would cost me to live in Charlotte and all for less taxes. But I'm just a simple person I suppose. :thumb:

hit me up with a PM if you want more info...I am the official spokesperson for the county :p
 
Mr Tiles

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
that was zod's economic development for Gaston Co. statement of the day. actually living in Gaston Co. is very bad, you should stay away at all costs ; )
 
MTB_Rob_NC

MTB_Rob_NC

What do I have to do to get you in this car TODAY?
Nov 15, 2002
3,428
0
Charlotte, NC
zod said:
Now all that being said.....if you are into city night life, swanky restaurants, being near a fancy health club, etc. then you're best off staying in Charlotte. Be prepared to pay more taxes, pay more for less housing, have higher crime, etc.....you know the things that come with living in the glorious metro.

Personally, I like being on several acres, not being under socialistic community association rules, and all that fun stuff. I enjoy going outside my house at night and having it be pitch black, hearing the train in the distance instead of a busy road, seeing someone ride a horse down the street, having deer walk through my back yard, burning a fire in my backyard whenever I want to, etc. etc.. And to think I get all this and twice the land and house compared to what it would cost me to live in Charlotte and all for less taxes. But I'm just a simple person I suppose. :thumb:
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I am probably 1/2 way between you and the person you are describing above. A good social life, night life, a gym (not that i have seen 1 in 8 months), decent housing value, common area maintenance and being able to "access" the big city life is also important to me. I would be coming from South Florida, so I am betting even the most Urban parts of Charlotte wont seem "Big City" to me.

Again, thanks for the input.
 
zod

zod

Turbo Monkey
Jul 17, 2003
1,376
0
G-County, NC
Mtb_Rob_FL said:
I am probably 1/2 way between you and the person you are describing above. A good social life, night life, a gym (not that i have seen 1 in 8 months), decent housing value, common area maintenance and being able to "access" the big city life is also important to me. I would be coming from South Florida, so I am betting even the most Urban parts of Charlotte wont seem "Big City" to me.

Again, thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
Look into Mt. Holly and Belmont. They are the towns in G-County on the east edge of the county, they butt right up to Charlotte.

http://www.ci.mount-holly.nc.us/

http://www.ci.belmont.nc.us/
 
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