[Closed] California - road or MTB?

I’d just rent when I wanted it rather than lugging a bike around for a couple of weeks.

Can you take both?

FWIW, you can rent a bike from the Santa Cruz factory for (IIRC) about $30 for 4 hours. As you might imagine, the biking around there is pretty good - up there with the woods behind the Nationwide in Swindon.

I've also rented from regular bike shops - both road and mountain. I think the cheapest I've paid is about $150/week from the bike shop in Stanford for a carbon Fuji, other times I've paid quite a bit more.

There isn't anything like a UK trail centre (at least not in the Bay Area). There are lots of trails in the state parks but they're not marked - either you know where they are, or you don't. But if you ask nicely people will show you around, they're very helpful.

But if limited to one bike, I'd take the road bike (so you can go for a cheeky early morning ride up a nearby mountain) and then rent an MTB when you need to.

Oh, and the Santa Cruz forests. Yes. I think you need to make sure you go there. Definitely.

Where in Ca ?

I'm not aware of any "trail centres" in the bits of california that I've been to (S of LA mostly, or Big Bear area)

There's some decent riding around there but not good stuff straight out from anything like you describe (and I'm not sure that area would be on many itineraries).  Nearest thing I can think of might go from a campground somewhere (blue jay?), or else ride something like laguna hills and leave the family at the beach/art festival/shopping.

(Jam bo, rental's pretty expensive over there IME (for a capable mtb anyway).  If you have a big enough vehicle I'd take a bike)

United's free bike terms are somewhat challenging, especially the 158cm linear measurement for the case/box...

If the bicycle(s) are packed in a container that is less than 50 pounds (23 kg) and 62 (158 cm) total linear inches (L + W + H), there is no bicycle service charge

158cm total dimensions!? That must be a mistake surely?

The rent-a-Santacruz idea sounds perfect. Then I could have the road bike available for morning rides. The itinerary isn’t set yet, but I’ve got an image in my mind of heading inland from a beach, or cruising around wine country.

I did a road loop of Marin County starting from our city centre S.F. hotel.

The jet lag meant I was up early enough to sneakily ride UP Lombard Street (it's a one way street down hill normally) before crossing the bridge, riding to Fairfax then up and over to Stinson and back to Sausalito to grab the ferry back to the city.

Brilliant ride, one of my top 5 probably, stunning twisting roads, beautiful scenery, great coffee stops in every town, etc. etc.

158cm total dimensions!? That must be a mistake surely?

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/sports.aspx

Nah, it's just bloody money grabbing United. Used to fly a lot with them with work out to the States, but it was never worthwhile paying the extra to take my bike, especially since I always had a connecting flight as well.

+1 for taking road bike and renting a MTB. Most places with good riding (Downieville, Tahoe, Soquel etc) have rental options.

And lots of road bike rental options too, so you don’t have stress of worrying whether United will squash your frame or the hassle of lugging it around.

So sorry to hear that you are flying united. You have my sympathy.

I’ve just booked flights in July for a family road trip in California. Not made any plans other than booking the flights so far

We are off in July but are splitting the time in Oregan/Calfornia.

Our main mtb location with be Bend and then Tahoe.

Don't want to hijack the thread but if anyone's got anything to add here then I'm all ears.

Flying with thomas cook for £600, premiere economy and before anyone says anything ive enjoyed previous flights with them to the states. We rent our bikes out there.

So sorry to hear that you are flying united. You have my sympathy.

Someone had to say it.

I'd definitely double-check that they take bikes for free. BA and Virgin certainly do if flying premium or above, but I always thought United didn't. But I could be wrong.

I guess this thread is as good an excuse as any to post up pictures of former cold war military installations situated in California:

Mt Umunhum.

Someone had to say it.

I know sorry, its just having flow with them a lot for work.

^What the hell is that building?

Stayed at a friend's rental cabin at Tahoe Donner quite a few times, some great riding (both road and MTB) in the area, although it'll take a day or two to acclimitise to the altitude. For views, I can recommend the Flume trail on the east side of Lake Tahoe. Genuinely stunning, bugger of a climb at the start though, but worth it. There's a shuttle available too if you don't want to do an out and back. I can recommend the Hole in the Ground trail up near Truckee, nice mix of flowy singletrack and granite slab/rock garden stuff - again, a bit climby at the start/end (depending on where you park your car - no shuttle for this one).

Always fancied Mr Toad's Wild Ride, but never got around to it. Looks a bit more technical though. There's some sections of the Rim Trail that are bikeable too, although be aware there's even/odd day scheduling on some of it.

Also North Star bike park if that's your thing.

If you're road biking, the Donner pass climb then descent should be on the list, finish it off with a beer in downtown Truckee.

If you are down in the Bay Area, I can recommend Soquel Demo Forest in the Santa Cruz mountains.

If you are in the SF area go see Chris at Roaring Mouse on the Presidio he will be able to help you out.

I know sorry, its just having flow with them a lot for work

+1

^What the hell is that building?

Former radar installation at Mt Umunhum. It was built in the sixties to track incoming Soviet bombers. But by the time it was ready for operation, those pesky reds had switched to ICBMs, rendering it, and its vastly expensive computer system (on display at the computer museum in Mountain View) useless.

Apparently it was abandoned for years, but has now been turned into a state park. There's a lush tarmac road up to the top (patrolled by park rangers - wear a helmet!) and a new dirt track for bikes and walkers as an alternative route. I don't know what the mountain biking is like - I saw a few around. Steep I would imagine.

Marin County, Golden Gate National Park and surrounding areas have some lovely roads - the one down / or up from Muirwoods NP to PCH is stunning. Lots of offroad trails in the area are severely limited and you can get a hefty fine if caught by the rangers. Get in touch with local shops / join a shop ride as locals know the best rides.

As above, entirely depends where you are going to be.  There's no trail network in the US like there is here, you have to find places where there's public land - usually state parks or national forest (most national parks don't like bikers I've found but not sure if that's a general rule or not).

And also as above there are loads of restrictions, so some places might just ban bikes anyway or restrict you to some lame cyclepath.

Former radar installation at Mt Umunhum.

Interesting thanks.

Youll need two boxes to get a bike anywhere within the 158cm rule.

I brought my old roadie to Angola on air France for free within the 158 rule.

You'd have to hate your bike though, it was very tight. Had everything off the frame.

As for no trail centres. -- mammoth mountain sure looked like one when I was there .Was awesome

Northstar has trail centre set up too according to the group from truckee ii rod at Tahoe with but was pishing with rain when I was there and the Americans don't like you riding their trails in the rain so didn't get to northstar

Wouldn't bother dragging a bike around for 2 weeks .

My wife and I had two week s or s or in and around Tahoe. We rode on the Rim Trail, Flume etc but there is loads to do there. There are some uplifted and guided options. There are good maps to self guide. We took our own bikes.

i have also stayed in San Diego and as above I understand it is easier to have a guide in much of California. I would check on where you are heading before choosing which bike to take.

Thanks for the input so far. So the 158cm rule scuppers my idea of bringing a bike. And having flown with United on dozens of occasions I fully agree with the those above that I'm in for some poor service and lack of comfort. But.... it was cheap 😉

I'm going to look into what everyone has said above and see if it ties in with the current plan Mrs fanatic278 has devised. So far it's looking like 3 days in Palm Springs, 3 days in Yosemite, 3 days in San Fran, 3 days in LA (all very roughly).