Even if you don’t own a bike, or you’re visiting and didn’t bring it, road bike rentals in Santa Barbara will enable you to do take these extraordinary rides through town.
One great source of road biking rides comes from the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition. They have crafted a number of rides that will inspire as many road bike rentals in Santa Barbara as there are unequipped riders. Some locals already own a bike. But if you live here and you’d like to try a fantastic road bike or if you’re from out of town, renting may be the perfect answer. Here are some fabulous rides the SBBC has put together.
Santa Barbara Bicycle Ride. This ride is 10.8 miles long, passing through the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. It passes the County Courthouse, city parks, and the old Santa Barbara Mission. You’ll ride in bike lanes most of the way, and cross Highway 101 on a bike bridge. The ride ends with a three-mile down hill ride with sweeping views of the mountains, ocean and harbor.
Mountain Drive Bicycle Ride. If you like vertical, this 15.9 mile-ride will take you up 800 feet above Santa Barbara. Your efforts going up will afford spectacular views from winding Mountain Drive. When you descend, you’ll pass through Montecito gated estates, historic hotels, and plentiful dining opportunities. You return to the start past Santa Barbara Cemetery, the Bird Refuge and East Beach.
Goleta Bicycle Ride. Starting from Goleta Beach, this flattish 21.2 mile ride heads west from the beach, through the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). You’ll pass from the beach through the University, quiet residential areas, lemon and avocado orchards, La Cumbre shopping center, and return to your starting point.
Sideways Film Location Rides I&II. These rides each begin and end in Solvang. They are 50.0 and 52.3 miles long, respectively.
The first ride starts west along Highway 246 to Lompoc, returning along Santa Rosa Road. The 18 miles on Santa Rosa Road offer you what many consider the best bike ride in Santa Barbara County. You will pass three restaurants, a bar, golf course, motel, winery and of course Ostrich Land—all film locations.
The second Sideways film location is tougher–you’ll get a good bit of vertical climbing heading north through quiet Los Olivos, then through the Foxen Canyon Wine Country. There are four wineries along the way, plus the Los Olivos Cafe, all film locations. Firestone Winery even supplies a bike rack for visitors!
So if you need a road bike rental in Santa Barbara before taking one of these rides, stop in and see us.