Cycling activities in California
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A
Open Air Bikes
Road cyclists should check out Open Air Bikes for rentals, sales and accessories. The helpful staff has loads of information on local rides. Road bikes rent for about around US$75 per day, with costs decreasing the longer the rental. It's about $210 per week.
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Wheel Fun
Rents bicycles (from $8 per hour) for the paved recreational trail that skirts miles of beautiful city beaches.
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Cycling
For an easy spin, take the South Lake Tahoe Bike Path. It heads west from El Dorado Beach, eventually connecting with the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path to Camp Richardson and the Tallac Historic Site.
For expert mountain-bikers, the classic Mr Toads Wild Ride, with its steep downhill sections and banked turns, should prove sufficiently challenging. Intermediate riders should steer towards the mostly single-track Powerline Trail, which traverses ravines and creeks. Anyone with good lungs might try the Angora Lakes Trail, which is steep but technically easy and rewards you with sweeping views of Mt Tallac and Fallen Leaf Lake.
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B
Almaden Quicksilver County Park
There are several parks in the hills around San Jose, each laced with a network of walking and cycling trails. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is south of town at the site of the old New Almaden mercury mine. Don't eat fish from the reservoirs, but do check out the trails, spring wildflower displays and mining museum, open Friday to Sunday. From San Jose, head south via the Almaden Expressway.
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Forebay Aquatic Center
The Forebay Aquatic Center, just off Hwy 70, rents bikes for around US$7 per hour. They also offer sailing classes, youth programs, summer camps, kayaking classes, moonlight paddle excursions and several other courses. They have a number of canoes, a variety of kayaks and handful of sailboats available for rental, too (a certain level of competency must be demonstrated to rent sailboats).
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Pinkham Canyon Rd
A favorite bicycle route in Joshua Tree National Park is the challenging Pinkham Canyon Rd, which begins at the Cottonwood Visitor Center. The Old Dale Rd, which starts 6.5 miles north of there, is another favorite. The Queen Valley road network is a more gentle set of trails and has bike racks along the way so people can lock up their bikes and go hiking.
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Freeman Bicycle Trail
The Freeman Bicycle Trail is a 41-mile off-road loop that takes cyclists to the top of Oroville Dam, then follows the Feather River back to the Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay storage reservoirs, west of Hwy 70. The ride is mostly flat, but the dam ascent is steep. Get a free map of the ride from the chamber of commerce.
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Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
For info on biking in Santa Barbara, contact the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition , which also has online printable self-biking tours. The Cabrillo Blvd beachfront bike path runs for 3 miles along the water, between the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge and Leadbetter Beach. The Goleta Bikeway continues west to UCSB.
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Cycling
Mountain-biking is a no-no within the park, but cycling along the 12 miles of paved trails is a popular and environment-friendly way to explore the valley.
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C
Mike's Bikes
Mike's Bikes, at the north end of Bridgeway Blvd near Hwy 101, rents road and mountain-bikes. Supplies are limited and reservations are not accepted.
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Marin County Bike Coalition
For details on routes, regulations and group rides, contact the Marin County Bike Coalition , publisher of the Marin Bicycle Map.
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Bike Sacramento
Rent bicycles from Bike Sacramento on the waterfront of the American River Parkway, and cycle along the lovely park trails.
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Avenue Cyclery
In one of the more bicycle-friendly parts of the city, Avenue Cyclery has an extensive selection of bicycles for rent (price includes helmet) and for sale.
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Bear Valley Bikes
Bear Valley Bikes, near the Alpine Slide, is a good rental place.
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Bikestation
Bike rentals are available from Bikestation .
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Bay Bikes
Cruiser, tandem, hybrid and mountain-bike rentals near the aquarium.
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