Northern California - Bike rentals and rides in the Carmel area

Hello N. Cal. I'm going to be out in Carmel for a week in early June with the family and would like to get some rides in. Any advice on where to rent and what routes are good? I'm a roadie FWIW, so no big interest in off-road adventures. Just want to pop out my front door and go riding...

Thanks in advance!

Straight out Carmel Valley Road to the summit and back. It's 40 miles round trip from Carmel Valley Village, a bit more from Carmel.

Variation:

Carmel Valley Road to Tassajara, right.
Tassajara to Cachagua, right.
Cachagua to Carmel Valley Road, left.
Carmel Valley Road back to start.

17-Mile Drive, out and back.

That should get you started. If you want longer routes, just ask.

I don't know about bike rentals in Carmel area. When we do a tour there, we bring rental bikes from Palo Alto.

Do bicyclists get charged to ride on 17-Mile Drive?

East Hill

Do bicyclists get charged to ride on 17-Mile Drive?

No charge for bikes, only cars.

Many thanks for the reply. That sounds like a perfect quick route I can pull off early in the morning.

I'll keep looking to see where I can rent some bikes.

Many thanks for the reply. That sounds like a perfect quick route I can pull off early in the morning.

I'll keep looking to see where I can rent some bikes.

Last time I checked, 17 mile drive is closed to bike traffic on the weekend...you might want to call them to double check that though...

Last time I checked, 17 mile drive is closed to bike traffic on the weekend...you might want to call them to double check that though...

I ride 17 mile on weekends, so should be no problem. Unless that's changed in the last 2 weeks.

Since you rent bikes from shops in Palo Alto, perhaps you could give me the name of a good place? We are flying into Oakland and will have to drive through that general vicinity anyway on the way there and back so pick-up and drop-off should not be an issue. The rides suggested so look very nice. Thanks for all the help.

Thanks to Coastal Commission pressure, the 17 mile drive is open to cyclists free of charge every day. It is a great place to ride early in the morning, but tends to get snarled with slow moving (and dangerously erratic) tourist traffic later in the day. Our local "Saturday Morning Ride" leaves from the plaza next to the Convention Center in Monterey at 7:15. The route is along the coast, including the 17 mile drive, with a loop up the hill and back near the Pebble Beach lodge. Slower groups leave at 7:30 & 8:00 but may have different starting points. People also tend to gather for rides at around 8:00 on Sunday mornings in the same general area.

Carmel Valley and the Cachagua loop, described in an earlier post, is an excellent choice from Carmel. Robinson Canyon Rd. (from Carmel Valley Rd. near Mid Valley Center) is an great out and back ride closer to Carmel that in only a handful of miles will give you everything from quiet redwood forests to brutal sun baked climbs.

There are numerous concessions along the Rec Trail in Monterey renting beater bikes. I don't know if any of them have anything decent to offer. I would call Joselyn's Bike Shop in Monterey and ask them about local rental options.

Since you rent bikes from shops in Palo Alto, perhaps you could give me the name of a good place?

There is really only one choice for renting decent road bikes in the Palo Alto area, as the other shops have gotten out of the business:

Bike Connection (http://bikeconnection.net/index.cfm)

The store manager is Manny, I arrange all of our rentals through him. Their main rental road bike is the Felt F75, which is a decent ride.

You guys are fantastic. Thanks for all the information. I will only be able to ride between Monday and Friday..the travel plans leave weekend riding out this time around.

Straight out Carmel Valley Road ...

Variation:

Carmel Valley Road to Tassajara, right.
Tassajara to Cachagua, right.
Cachagua to Carmel Valley Road, left.
Carmel Valley Road back to start.


I don't know about bike rentals in Carmel area.
For pictures of the Cachagua loop, try this link...

http://sports.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/HellBents/photos/browse/3f85

The climb where I got a flat just shy of the summit, it's a "real" climb! 1,400 ft in 3 miles, if I remember correctly. But the scenery is unsurpassed. And very few cars on weekdays.

As for rentals, Bay Bikes on Cannery Row offers road bikes, tandems, and the usual assortment of "rental" type bikes, including the inevitable Surreys.
They will deliver bikes to your hotel.
(831) 655-2453 That's 655-BIKE
or baybikes.com

If you'd like a local to ride with, PM me, I can usually ride weekdays.
Either way, enjoy your visit to my hometown. :D

Thanks, Dr. Deltron. Might just take you up on that. Maybe you can give me some tips on frame painting! :)

Thanks, Dr. Deltron. Might just take you up on that. Maybe you can give me some tips on frame painting! :)
Sure, anytime! :)
If you're HERE, you could even waste some time watching me "operate" on a "patient"! :rolleyes: