Southern California - Palm Springs

We'll be visiting Palm Springs the 2nd week of March. Could anyone recommend a place to rent bikes, and any good local recreational rides? The rides would have to be midweek. If not an organized ride than a good source of local routes.

http://cycleclub.com/rides.html

You might contact them for info on rentals.

The only location that I know rents bikes is this one (http://www.4funseekers.com/). There may be other rental sources, but I've never had the need to research it.

Depending on the type of rides you desire, I'd be happy to offer some suggestions.

Palm Springs Cyclery (http://pscyclery.com/)-Don't know if they rent, but they have contacts for rides. Also have a shop in Palm Desert

Tri-a-Bike (http://www.triabike.com/) in Palm Desert does rent bikes. Don't know how convenient this will be for you.

And the above link for the Desert Bike Club will hook you up with local rides.

Be sure to check out Pinyon Flats Loop trail (http://www.whereweride.com/mountain-bike/California/Palm-Springs/pinyon-flats-loop-palm-canyon/Default.aspx). A very fun ride south of Palm Springs up in the mountains.

Depending on how far you want to ride there are a few options. Most of them fairly flat miles.
Check out the tour de palm springs website and you can see the route sheet for the 55 and 100 mile rides.
Also you can ride from downtown PS out HWY 111 back towards the 10 FWY to whitewater. It's about 12 miles of 1-2% climb sometimes with nasty headwinds. The ride back is gloriously fast.
If you want a real challenge, climb up to the aerial tramway carpark from PS. It's about 2,000' of climb in 4 or 5 miles. The last 1/2 mile is about 18% or so.

Thanks all.

We wound up renting a couple of road bikes from Tri-A-Bike. We drove out to Joshua Tree and rode around there one day. It was really beautifull and the wild flowers were starting to bloom. The next day we rode from our hotel to Tahquitz Canyon. We had planned on riding to the other Indian Canyons as well, but after hiking to the falls in my bike shoes I was shot.

I am in Palm Springs. Does anyone know a shop that carries the Strida or the CarryMe?
I think I want one of these bikes, but need to see it in person first. I have no problem traveling anywhere to see them.

Has anyone had any personal knowledge of either of these folders?

Hoping to hear from someone.
Meg

I am in Palm Springs. Does anyone know a shop that carries the Strida or the CarryMe?
I think I want one of these bikes, but need to see it in person first. I have no problem traveling anywhere to see them.

Has anyone had any personal knowledge of either of these folders?

Hoping to hear from someone.
Meg

Welcome, Meg. I'd check out the above links for the bike shops and call them. I don't know if they carry folders or not. You might also check out the Folding Bikes sub-forum (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=221) if you haven't already. They may have some ideas as to where you can buy/see a bike. Good luck! :)

Welcome, Meg. I'd check out the above links for the bike shops and call them. I don't know if they carry folders or not. You might also check out the Folding Bikes sub-forum (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=221) if you haven't already. They may have some ideas as to where you can buy/see a bike. Good luck! :)

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Thank you Shnuddy for your response. I hadn't previously checked the folding bike category; actually don't remember seeing one before you directed me to it. It shows some promise and I'll post there.

I have called the shops and only one shop had previously carried what I am looking for, said they discontinued it as customers didn't like the price. I am going to try to contact a rep. who might have some specific knowledge of shops up near San Francisco. Maybe a store in a more congested area would carry folding bikes. Here in the desert, with wide open spaces, I can see why there is probably no demand.

Much appreciate your info.
Meg