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Hi
Heading out to SC next week and I’m taking a bike. I can take one, so I will. I might rent a full suspension when I am out there for a day.
In terms of bike - any deep held views on whether a Stanton Sherpa with a 130mm fork is going to get me out and enjoying myself or whether I take a hardtail with a bit more travel, weight and bigger tyres? I only have hard tails!
Also - tips on trail, bike shops, anything else gladly received.
When I was there in the 90's the trails around the university were the place to go, 120mm HT would be fine.
It's home to the bridge used in the film Lost Boys.
Chowder down at the sea front watching the sea birds with huge beaks and watching the world go by seemed popular back then.
I think I also found a great stack of pancakes and coffee there too, enjoy.
I do love my cheeky little Sherpa. It may well be 120mm I genuinely am not sure.
I took my 120mm sherpa to demo forest, it was fine. Just take it steady. Trails behind the University are a bit more techy and can get quite a handful but still HT would be OK.
There is a pier in Capitola, has great food.
Or take a road bike.
Hard tail will be awesome out at Wilder Ranch - you can ride there from The centre of Santa Cruz on a dedicated bike path. Incredible views, and old school biking (mix of fire roads and non-technical single track).
Not ridden in demo forest for a while, but hard tail should be OK there - most of it is flow trails but there are a few super steep tech sections
You will stand out as pretty much every other bike I saw out there in May was a full sus ebike
Love Cali.
Well jell
Santa Cruz you're not that far
You will be fine on the HT
Though recommend to rent a full sus from the brand new Specialized Store here https://specializedsantacruz.com/ with their well maintained high end bikes of every model and size
or the obvious one of Santa Cruz Bikes head office and their demo store 2841 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
You will have way more fun at with a full sus at UCSC, Highway 9 or Demo (remember Demonstration Forest is a 25min drive from Santa Cruz)
Both shops will send you on the way to the trails or message me and I can send Strava links or even meet you if you want a slightly middle aged dude to show you around
Thanks - all really helpful.
Choosing between a Honzo ESD and my Sherpa. Sherpa, frankly, a more balanced and and enjoyable bike for 90% of my riding so I’ll take that and rent full suss if I fancy it.
Thanks for all the other tips and offers !
+1 for renting from Santa Cruz direct. It's not far from the UCSC trails over there.
My buddy lives right by there and studied at UCSC. So jealous of you. (Must cook up a work trip to see him again)
The demo bikes at Santa Cruz and other rental options get booked up pretty early, if you are going to get one then do it as early as possible.