Recommendations for rides/rental in California

EvanCantJump

Hi guys,

Will be heading to santa Clara area in CA with work next week and have the weekend off to explore. I'm flying in from across the pond so will need to rent a bike (will take gear with me), and I prefer enduro/dh type riding.

Santa cruz is about an hour from where I'll be staying according to Google maps and I will have a rental car, so I'm open to driving to get somewhere else if it's worth getting to.

Anyone  recommendations as to what rides I  should try get to while I'm there and where to rent from ? 

Thanks guys 

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carlinojoevideo 3/27/2023 10:33pm
3/27/2023 10:33pm
EvanCantJump wrote:
Hi guys, Will be heading to santa Clara area in CA with work next week and have the weekend off to explore. I'm flying in from...

Hi guys,

Will be heading to santa Clara area in CA with work next week and have the weekend off to explore. I'm flying in from across the pond so will need to rent a bike (will take gear with me), and I prefer enduro/dh type riding.

Santa cruz is about an hour from where I'll be staying according to Google maps and I will have a rental car, so I'm open to driving to get somewhere else if it's worth getting to.

Anyone  recommendations as to what rides I  should try get to while I'm there and where to rent from ? 

Thanks guys 

I don’t live up there but this spot might be able to demo bikes and help with trails.

Specialized Santa Cruz Experience Center
(831) 331-4827
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UaYTgrRihfzH2i7VA?g_st=ic

1
TEAMROBOT
Profile picture for user TEAMROBOT
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TEAMROBOT 3/28/2023 10:55am
3/28/2023 10:55am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2023 11:01am

Stoked you're making time to ride on your work trip. Santa Cruz is awesome. Regarding legal riding areas in Santa Cruz, Soquel Demo Forest is closed right now due to heavy damage from recent rain and Wilder Ranch is super boring XC riding that you won't enjoy on an enduro bike.

The third legal option in Santa Cruz is to pedal up the U-Conn climb trail off highway 9. It's just a boring climb trail, but look for someone else on a long travel bike while you're pedaling up. You can tell them you're visiting from Europe, you like Enduro and DH riding, and ask for more directions. You won't have to wait more than 10 minutes at any time of day to find someone who can give you more info. They might be able to show you some trails more to your liking.

Santa Cruz Bikes also does a factory demo program in town for $60 a day. I'm a little biased because I'm a SCB athlete, but they're located super close to the trailheads and close to a solid burrito spot on highway 1 for after your ride: https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/factory-demo

3
EvanCantJump 3/29/2023 11:13am
3/29/2023 11:13am
EvanCantJump wrote:
Hi guys, Will be heading to santa Clara area in CA with work next week and have the weekend off to explore. I'm flying in from...

Hi guys,

Will be heading to santa Clara area in CA with work next week and have the weekend off to explore. I'm flying in from across the pond so will need to rent a bike (will take gear with me), and I prefer enduro/dh type riding.

Santa cruz is about an hour from where I'll be staying according to Google maps and I will have a rental car, so I'm open to driving to get somewhere else if it's worth getting to.

Anyone  recommendations as to what rides I  should try get to while I'm there and where to rent from ? 

Thanks guys 

carlinojoevideo wrote:

I don’t live up there but this spot might be able to demo bikes and help with trails.

Specialized Santa Cruz Experience Center
(831) 331-4827
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UaYTgrRihfzH2i7VA?g_st=ic

Thank you !

EvanCantJump 3/29/2023 11:19am
3/29/2023 11:19am
TEAMROBOT wrote:
Stoked you're making time to ride on your work trip. Santa Cruz is awesome. Regarding legal riding areas in Santa Cruz, Soquel Demo Forest is closed...

Stoked you're making time to ride on your work trip. Santa Cruz is awesome. Regarding legal riding areas in Santa Cruz, Soquel Demo Forest is closed right now due to heavy damage from recent rain and Wilder Ranch is super boring XC riding that you won't enjoy on an enduro bike.

The third legal option in Santa Cruz is to pedal up the U-Conn climb trail off highway 9. It's just a boring climb trail, but look for someone else on a long travel bike while you're pedaling up. You can tell them you're visiting from Europe, you like Enduro and DH riding, and ask for more directions. You won't have to wait more than 10 minutes at any time of day to find someone who can give you more info. They might be able to show you some trails more to your liking.

Santa Cruz Bikes also does a factory demo program in town for $60 a day. I'm a little biased because I'm a SCB athlete, but they're located super close to the trailheads and close to a solid burrito spot on highway 1 for after your ride: https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/factory-demo

That's perfect, thank you for the detail ( and the burrito shout) !!

Trip got pushed out by a week or two but either way will go with the santa cruz demo day and get up to the U-Conn climb trail and go from there

Thanks again !

1
Big Bird
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Location
Oceano, CA, USA
Big Bird 3/29/2023 1:01pm
3/29/2023 1:01pm

It's worth getting to Santa Cruz just for the Burrito culture. They roll 'em tight like nowhere else on earth. Taqueria Vallarta gets the first shout out because they came first. But the Taqueria Santa Cruz folks are cousins of the Vallartas and just as good. And for larger, sloppier ones go to Jalapeños. Their mole is amazing!

4
EvanCantJump 3/30/2023 3:18pm
3/30/2023 3:18pm
Big Bird wrote:
It's worth getting to Santa Cruz just for the Burrito culture. They roll 'em tight like nowhere else on earth. Taqueria Vallarta gets the first shout...

It's worth getting to Santa Cruz just for the Burrito culture. They roll 'em tight like nowhere else on earth. Taqueria Vallarta gets the first shout out because they came first. But the Taqueria Santa Cruz folks are cousins of the Vallartas and just as good. And for larger, sloppier ones go to Jalapeños. Their mole is amazing!

Nice, excited to try a proper burrito, and seeing the sun will also be a bonus !

Thank you for the recommendations!

1
Skull Tractor 3/30/2023 4:46pm
3/30/2023 4:46pm

Taqueria Vallarta is average.  Try the BBQ goat at Taqueria Santa Cruz, very good. But the best mexican food is El Chipotle in Soquel, nothing else comes close.  Enjoy your trip.

charlietelesco 3/31/2023 5:07pm
3/31/2023 5:07pm

I live and ride in Santa Cruz, I sent you a private message

1

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