If you are planning on riding in Santa Barbara’s front country, you will find that you are either climbing or descending. There are no long, leveled-out sections, so you will want a bike that climbs well. Typically 29’’ wheels have a reputation for better climbing efficiency. A lightweight, carbon mountain bike will also be more favorable for conquering the climbs. Because of its trail geometry we recommend the Specialized Stumpjumper for a bike that balances uphill efficiency with downhill fun.

The Santa Cruz Bronson is our shop's favorite bike. The "mullet" wheel-sizing allows for playfulness on berms and jumps that make this a must try ride. The idea is to combine the speed, traction, and rollover ability of a 29er with the agility and light weight feel of a 27.5-inch wheel. It uses DW-Link suspension, a twin-link system that provides excellent pedaling efficiency.

A few of Santa Barbara’s trail options like Eling’s Park and Tucker’s Grove have a good amount of sharp turns and switchbacks. To conquer these with maneuverability and playful handling, a 27.5 wheel is recommended. A lower bottom bracket lowers the center of gravity, and gives the chassis a more stable feel while cornering. To carve with ease be sure to reserve the Giant Trance X 2 27.5.

If you are hoping to use a bike for multiple purposes, exploring both dirt and city streets, we recommend renting one of our Specialized Rockhoppers. These are hardtails, great for packed dirt and some of our blue/green trail options. They don’t carry the excess weight of a large travel, full-suspension bike, which is unnecessary for the paved roads and bike paths. You also have the option of using one of our complimentary bike locks with these rentals so that you can ride around town and secure the bike while trying a new restaurant or popping into a shop.

Santa Barbara has a variety of trail options from easy, green beachside bluffs to techy, black diamond singletrack. Check out some of our favorite mountain bike routes by clicking the link on our maps and routes page. You will see a short description of the difficulty of each of these trails. Our team is always here for you if you have follow up questions or want recommendations for your group. The only trail we do not allow our rental bikes on is Tunnel Trail- a double black diamond trail that can result in injury or damage to our valuable rental bikes, which we want to avoid. One of our favorite apps for detailed trail descriptions and directions is MTB Project; download maps ahead of time so you can access them offline while on the trail.

Although we do not offer a shuttle service or transportation to the trailhead, we do have a variety of mountain bike tour options. Included in the tour price is not only transportation of you and the bikes, but a guided experience led by one of our top-notch, experienced guides. You will find these options outlined on our Mountain Bike Tours Page.

If you are looking for a solution to transport our mountain bike rentals to a trailhead, we have a limited number of car racks to rent (both trunk racks and hitch racks). Call or email us to inquire about availability. Bike Racks for Rent to get you to the trails: $15/ day or $45 for the week.

Distance from Shop to trails

Elings:   3 miles

Jesusita: 5 miles

Tuckers: 8 miles

Romero: 8 miles

We do! They are an awesome way to cover more ground, climb steeper sections that might otherwise be walked, and keep up with friends who are acclimated to a faster pace or more elevation gain. Check out the bottom of our E Bikes Page for more information on our Electric Mountain Bike options.