Rent or Buy a Bike Locations
Bonita • Carlsbad • Chula Vista • Coronado • El Cajon • Encinitas • Escondido • Julian • La Jolla • La Mesa • Leucadia • Lemon Grove • Mira Mesa • National City • Ocean Beach • Oceanside • Pacific Beach • Poway • Ramona • Rancho Bernardo • San Diego • San Marcos • Solana Beach • Sorrento Valley • Vista
Bike Types for Commuters
Hybrid/Commuter Bikes: This is the ideal commute bike for most people. The easy-rolling narrower tires, relatively light weight, and upright riding position make it easy to use and comfortable to ride. These bikes easily accept accessories to make your commute easier and more comfortable, such as fenders for wet-weather riding or racks for carrying extra items.
Mountain Bikes: This style of bike found a large following in the 1980’s and continues to be popular today. They are strong bikes but typically a bit heavier than some other options. The straight handle bars are positioned at a low but comfortable level and the standard tires are low pressure and knobby for off-road performance. A mountain bike can be converted to a quality commuter bike by switching to narrower, smoother tires made for the road.
Road Bikes: These are the high-performance models designed for speed and agility. Although the gearing on these bikes will get you to work fast, the hunched riding position and stiff ride on the high pressure tires may prove too much for a regular commute. For a more relaxed ride, try raising the handles slightly to allow for a more upright riding position.
Bike Shops
Bicycle Warehouse
680 L St.. Chula Vista, CA91911 (619) 498-4900. Also Pacific Beach and Vista.Bikes & Beyond
1201 1st Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 435-7180Inky's Bicycles
1018 Broadway El Cajon, CA 92021 (619) 442-0564 mapDan's Cyclery
553 1st St. Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 753-5867El Camino Bike Shop
121 N. El Camino Real #A Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 436-2340Nytro Multi-Sport
766 1st St. Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 632-0006Hidden Valley Bicycle Store
1040 E. Valley Pkwy. Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 746-1509Retro Bike
Here's a 6-minute video of the Westfield (Mass.) Manufacturing Company, makers of the Columbia bicycle, "bringing health and pleasure to millions of Americans." It has the soaring music at the front, the all-too-serious (if not urgent-sounding) narrator and the tacky soundtrack that never stops. It's very kitschy, very retro, and very fun.
California Bicycles, Inc.
7462 La Jolla Blvd. La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-0316UCSD Bicycles
Student Center, B-023 La Jolla, CA 92093 (858) 534-4279Bicycle Works
3655 Avacodo Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91941 (619) 461-6007Leucadia Cyclery
823 N. Vulcan Leucadia, CA 92024 (760) 436-2786Lemon Grove Bicycle Company
7388 Broadway Lemon Grove, CA 91945 (619) 469-9831Cycle Center
13173 #2 Black Mtn. Rd. San Diego, CA 92129 (619) 538-6966Bicycle Discovery
742 Felspar San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 272-1274 map |
Rusty Spokes Vintage Bicycles
1344 Garnet Ave. San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 581-1931Pedal Pushing
4966 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115 (619) 583-2043 mapQuality Bicycles
3952 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92117 (619) 270-2412Thomas Bike Shop
1635 Fern St. San Diego, CA 92102 (619) 232-0674 mapUC Cyclery
8715 Via La Jolla Dr., Suite B, San Diego, CA 92122 (858) 452-8842North of the Border Bicycles
5955 Mira Mesa Blvd., #G San Diego, CA 92121 (858) 452-1230Alpha Bicycles
1215 S. Santa Fe Dr. Vista, CA 92083 (760) 724-9822
Fixed Gear "fixie" bike - no brakes!
Action Cyclery
9910-C Mira Mesa Blvd. in Mira Mesa.Adams Avenue Bike Shop
2606 Adams Avenue in San Diego, (619) 295-8500Alan's Family Bike Shop
1220 S. Coast Highway in Oceanside, (760) -722-3377Bike 101
243 N. Highway 101 in Solana Beach, (858) 793-5431Bike Empire
12624 Poway Road in Poway, (858) 679-0306
Bike Tours San Diego
A bike rental and tour company in Downtown San Diego, (619) 238-2444.Black Mountain Bicycles
9138 Mira Mesa Blvd. in Mira Mesa. (858) 566-0712Cal Coast Bicycles
3020 Adams Ave., San Diego (619) 281-7433Carrizo Bikes
648 Palm Canyon Dr. in Borrego Springs, (760) 767-3872.Cheap Rentals
Beach, bike and surfboard rentals in Mission Beach. (800) 941-7761Custom Bike Pros
12090 Scripps Summit Dr., Suite B, San Diego, (858) 689-1077Hi-Tech Bikes
7638 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, Ca. 92111, (858) 715-1517.Hike Bike Kayak San Diego
Company which offers bike tours, biking clinics, and bike rentals at 2246 Ave. de la Playa in La Jolla.Holland's Bicycles
977 Orange Ave, Coronado, 92118, (619) 435-3153Kirk's Bike Shop
619 Main St. in Ramona.Lemon Grove Bicycle Company
7388 Broadway in Lemon Grove, (619) 469-9831.
Let It Ride Bike Shop
1730 Alpine Blvd. #103 in Alpine, (619) 445-3182.Mission Hills Bikes
141 W. Washington St., San Diego (619) 296-0618. mapPacific Coast Cycles
2003 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside (760) 967-4900.Pennyfarthing's Bicycle Store
314 G Street in Downtown San Diego, (619) 865-7818, (619) 233-7696.Performance Bikes
Six stores in San Diego County.San Diego Bike Shop
619 C Street in Downtown San Diego, (619) 237-1245South Bay Bicycles
1201 Highland Ave. in National City, (619) 477-1445.Trek Bicycle Superstore
Bike shops at 8495 Fletcher Pkwy. in La Mesa, (619) 668-8787 and 4240 Kearny Mesa Rd. in Kearny Mesa, (858) 974-8735.A.M. Vidmar Rentals
Rents bikes, x-bikes, trikkes, rowbikes and kickbikes at 706 Pismo Court on the Boardwalk in Mission Beach. (858) 488-BIKEBikes, Surfboards and Skateboards
1906 Oceanside Blvd. Suite D, Oceanside, (760) 433-7800Ellsworth Handcrafted Bikes, Inc.
16225 Highland Trails Drive, Ramona, (760) 788-7500Beyond Bikes
12310 World trade Dr. Suite 107, San Diego, (858) 673-8800Zumwalt's Bicycle Center
6425 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego, (619) 582-6440. mapSan Diego Bicycle Clubs
- East County Christian Cycling Alpine, Cuyamaca, Laguna, Live Oak Springs and surrounding areas.
- San Diego Cyclo-Vets Amateur bicycle racing at the masters-age.
- Knickerbikers A bicycle touring club without formal organization.
- San Diego Bicycle ClubThe oldest bicycle club in San Diego, for men and women of all ages.
- San Diego Tandem Club Rides and other events for tandem bicyclists.
- Sierra Club Bicycle Section The bicycle section of the Sierra Club.
- North County Cycle Club Recreational cyclists to mountain bikers to performance enthusiasts.
- San Diego Wheelmen Recreational rides most weekends, both on-road and off-road.
San Diego Bicycle Events
- Raceplace Bicycling Calendar
- Bicycling Events Guide
- Bicycling San Diego Events Calendar
- Police Auctions Dozens and dozens of bikes for auction.
San Diego Mountain Biking Trails
Power Grips
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Power Grips give most of the benefits of toeclips or clipless/cleat systems on bicycle pedals, without most of the downsides. Power Grips offer benefits which fit well with all but the higher-end performance cyclists. They can be used with regular shoes or sandals with almost no lock-in to a particular type of clip/cleat system. If you have a fair amount of stop-go traffic at intersections, you feel less likely to get a foot stuck and fall over sideways when you have to stop. Highly recommended for all mountain bikers.
Protectective Gear
Always wear a bike helmet
Where to Buy a Bike in LA
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