california rent and ride *help*

YT mill does free demos if you sign up early enough in San Clemente and is right next to dog park trails.

https://us.yt-industries.com/demo-a-yt-bike/yt-mill-showrooms/

Also skypark at Santa's Village is an option if you don't mind also buying a bike park ticket.

Same with Luiseno Bike park but that might be a far drive from LA.

When are you planning to be doing this?  The hot ticket riding areas are Laguna Beach (Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Aliso Woods) although much of the very best and most technical riding there is off the menu.  To that end, thebikeco is the closest to the trails there and would be the most convenient for demo's.  I do not recall if they still have a demo program.  

I am partial to the path bike shop in tustin. They have a great demo program, although there is only one park within riding distance from them, which is santiago oaks.  

For riding quality, one of the best areas to ride with the most progressive trails is in San Clemente.  I believe YT offers demo's and you can ride directly from their facility.  

Depending on what/where/when and the skill level of riders/qty, I could/would be willing to help with logistics and/or ride with you folks and show you around.  I only mention skill level as the riding in laguna is particularly technical and the grip is hard to come by.  It takes an experienced hand to parachute into that area and ride confidently and not get wadded up.  I am generally, very leery to bring people there just because of an equal amount of successes and failures.  

All the above are great ideas, but sadly, 2 hours from LA may be as little as 20 miles on a bad traffic day. Which is to say, "every day."

Hey, I'm actually thinking of doing the same thing between xmas and new years. big family meetup in Disney, blah. I didn't think about the YT mill but their selection of available bikes is already limiting. is Santa's Village worth the price, seems like pretty short runs and will there be snow then?

Santa's Village would be worthwhile on an ebike so you can bang out laps, the climb is pretty mellow.  it's also about 2 hours from Anaheim (disney).  If you're going to be at Disney then Santiago Oaks would be the closest riding spot to you and The Path would be the closest shop to rent bikes.  the people at the path are awesome, I would call them and tell them your plans and I bet you could get somebody to show you around, there's some amazing off the menu trails in santiago canyon.  

Snow unlikely there is not natural snow even at the highest elevations in those mountains.  Last year they were open for riding most the winter.  Maybe a day or two here and there outside the one huge storm that shut everything down for weeks up there.  It may colder but having been at the ski resorts and wearing pretty much a long sleeve tech t I don’t know that it will be too cold either.  It’s fun place and good fun trails you can over and over on a bike or ebike.  
 

oaks is fun and not far from the path (use to be where they ran demos) and is a pretty uncomplicated trail system.