datlas 

We are visiting LA in May and I am looking to rent a road bike for a week.

It need not be too fancy, aluminum frame and 105 or even Tiagra level components are ok with me.

On our last visit we stayed near Santa Monica and I was able to find a rental there. I would consider using the same shop, but this time we are staying near downtown so going all the way to Santa Monica to get the bike and then again to return it would be a bit time consuming (we don’t rent a car, we take public transportation or rarely splurge on an Uber).

Any suggestions on a shop that might be closer to downtown for a one week rental??

base2 

I was in Los Angeles last Autumn for 3 weeks. I called and stopped into every bike shop I could Google. The universal answer was: "No. But, we can sell you a bike." When I said that it'd just be easier to rent a bike from them than buy a bike and return it, the response was cordial but still: "No."

So I looked at the various second hand sports equipment and consignment shops like Play It Again Sports and didn't find anything worth the asking price...even for a temporary beater.

I then sought out the local bike kitchens and Co-Ops. There were very few. The ones I did find were only open for a couple of hours per week and even then never at a time that I had available.

Nothing Los Angeles and bicycle ever lined up the entire 3 weeks I was there. They do have Lime bikes for the beach front if that's your jam, tho.

Caliwild

Around the Cycle is near downtown LA and rents bike. They're great folks too...

https://aroundthecycle.com/pages/rent

Eric F 

A friend of mine rented a pretty nice road bike from Incycle (Pasadena) a couple of years ago. Metro Gold Line will take you from DTLA to Pasadena very close to the shop (Del Mar station).

roadcrankr

If you ride a 52, I can let you borrow my Ultegra-equipped 11sp rainbike for no charge. I live thirty miles east of downtown LA.
The fenders come off quickly. PM me if interested. Let me see if I can find a handy photo.


Found it. Just after building it in '16. Shod with fenders now, which come off easy enough. Probably a good time for me to swap out the 23's for something bigger.

roadcrankr

All very true and a great angle. If mine works for you, it would mean taking that same train to the end-of-the-line at Citrus College and meeting there. Incidentally, Metro altered the train line labels, making the former gold line into the A line.

datlas 

Thanks for the offer. But I ride a 58 or 59.

Eric F 

Thanks for the update. It's been a long time since I used the train, and didn't notice a signage change.

roadcrankr

Other than Incycle's solid reputation, it gives the OP two opportunities, right off the bat, to ride in our excellent San Gabriel Valley area.
On the other hand, one can easily take the bike on the inexpensive train system for a dropoff to superior cycling locales.

Eric F 

IIRC, on a previous trip to CA, datlas stayed in Pasadena, and had a bike available to ride. He's not a total newbie to our 'hood.

datlas 

True. I borrowed a friend of a friend’s bike but that has drawbacks so I want to rent.

My hope is to ride up Mt Baldy, in addition to other adventures. Last time Baldy was icy so I had to settle for Mt Wilson.

datlas 

Since we are staying in downtown I had hoped to source a rental there. It seems that is not likely based on my search so far.

Eric F 

I'm not super familiar with all the options in the DTLA area, but it's my impression that the kind of bike shop and rental situation you're looking for probably doesn't exist, and you will need to venture elsewhere.

datlas 

Seems that way. Looks like best bets are either Santa Monica (easier to downtown) or Pasadena.

Luckily both are reachable by public transit.

jonathanf2

Off the top of my head, your best bet would be to call Spokes near the LA River which isn't that far if you stick to the side streets. You'd probably have to get an Uber or Lyft, but from that location you can ride up and down the LA River which connects to Griffith Park. They have two 8 speed road bikes to rent, but I'm not sure what sizes they have.

https://www.spokebicyclecafe.com/bicycle-rentals

You can also try calling Spokes N Stuff which is the bike rental spot in Griffith Park. I know the owner is a hardcore roadie, because he helps host a morning road ride on Sunday up La Tuna Canyon and back. Also, I'm not sure if he has road bikes to rent, but give him a call.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/spokes-n-stuff-los-angeles-3

datlas 

Thanks. Will consider, but I am looking for a rental for a week abd website says no overnight rentals.

diphthong

yeah, dtla is tuff. pasadena should have options but maybe slightly closer to dtla like glendale, eagle rock. atwater village or frogtown possibilities...or potentially culver city.

haven't used it and would require signing up/$$ and farther away than you want but the rental would likely be better than anything else you come across...

https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/rcc/bike-hire

if you were in san diego for a week, i'd slip you a 58 or 59 carbon-fiber or steel for a week-no charge. a bit far away tho.

datlas 

Thanks for the offer. Aware of Rapha but they limit rental to 3 days and I want a week.

I am sure I will find a rental, but looks like Santa Monica or Pasadena are best, unless there is a secret road bike rental option somewhere near downtown. It’s a first world problem, for sure.

malcala622

datlas

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/trek-bike-rentals/

https://www.helenscycles.com/article...tals-pg271.htm

https://justridela.com/bike-rental/

zacster

That sounds like it could get really expensive really fast, more than a car rental.

zandoval 

If you are going to need the bikes for more then a few days you might want to consider a box store bike. Of course ya might want ta take a few tools to give it a tune up, but it might just work...



Walmart LA... 700c 21 Speed Steel Assembled

zacster

That'll be a lot cheaper than a rental. And the OP already stated it didn't need to be a high-end bike. You could buy that and give it to someone on the way out, or just leave it unlocked. It'll get "stolen" quickly enough.

I've done the Metro from Santa Monica to DTLA, Hollywood and back, and all I can say is YUCK. There were so many druggies and homeless on it. As a New Yorker I ride the subway here all the time and never encounter that many.