GUIDED
TOURS
Santa
Cruz is home to some of the best mountain biking in the world. In
fact, Mountain Bike magazine rated Santa Cruz one of the Top Five
mountain bike riding destinations in the country. So...jump right
into the finest riding around - no guesswork. Take a look at our tour
selection below and give us a call!
Don't see what you need? Drop us a line and we'll gladly customize
your outdoor experience in Santa Cruz.
The Cruz--
Not looking to grind your way up big hills and sweat 'till you can't
stand it? Looking to see some of the most spectacular natural beauty
that California has to offer? Then, you've found the right tour. Enjoy
the splendor and scenery of the coastline with this gently rolling
tour along the coastal bluffs of the Pacific. The ride follows the
coast, with visits to several historic landmarks along the way. We'll
also introduce you to the natives - human and animals!
Everything will be provided for you, including your bicycle rental
and safety equipment. We'll finish off the tour with a great lunch
overlooking the Pacific Ocean and some local wine tasting! So, bring
your camera and your appetite … and we'll do the rest.
Tour Difficulty: Easy
Travel Time: 2 1/2 to 3 hours
Dress: Dress in layers: bike shorts preferable, windbreaker needed
for morning tours.
Equipment: All equipment, lunch, and drinks provided! We'll gladly
fax or email our menu for your selection.
The Rookie Mark--
New to mountain biking? Tired of trying to keep up with your "experienced"
compadres? Then, this is the tour for you. At SCA we promote responsible
mountain biking by teaching you the basic mechanics and safety steps
needed for a successful mountain bike experience. This is truly Mountain
Biking 101! The off-road adventure introduces core mountain biking
skills, including safety, positioning, braking, shifting, vision,
and trail conservation. Learn skills specific to mountain biking:
Athletic Position, Brake Modulation, Center Line Control, and Gearing
Pulling Focus.
Learning the technical riding skills is easy because it's all taught
in a safe environment by our qualified instructors. We'll lead you
through the basic drills first, then head off for a comfortable yet
challenging ride. We guarantee you'll be raring to ride again after
this tour. Bring your own bike or use one of ours; either way you'll
have a great time!
Tour Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Travel Time: 2 1/2 to 3 hours
Dress: Dress in layers: bike shorts preferable, windbreaker needed
for morning tours.
Equipment: All equipment (if necessary), lunch, and drinks provided!
We'll gladly fax or email our menu for your selection.
Surf and Turf--
Can't decide what you like most about Santa Cruz? The ocean or the
mountains? Don't compromise! Enjoy a full day of activity with a surf
lesson and an invigorating mountain bike adventure…of course, you
can have lunch in between, too! We start you off in the morning with
an introduction to surfing: you'll learn balance, surfing etiquette,
and the proper way to catch a wave. Then we'll enjoy a great lunch
and head off for a moderate ride in the mountains of Santa Cruz.
Sounds fun but a little too much for one day? Choose our weekend package
and do one event per day over the weekend… and still have time to
visit the world-famous Boardwalk!
Tour Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Travel Time: Surf: 3 hours, Bike: 2 1/2 to 3 hours
Dress: Dress in layers: bike shorts preferable, windbreaker needed
for morning tours.
Equipment: Surf equipment provided. Bicycle equipment provided, if
needed. Lunch and drinks provided. We'll gladly fax or email our menu
for your selection.
Anchors Away--
In mountain-biking terms "Anchors" are an affectionate moniker for
your children - tying you down and keepin' you from the trails! We
say, if you can't beat them, join' em! Get your family off the road,
so to speak, and on into a shared adventure experience. The kids will
actually thank you for it!
This tour will combine the excitement of biking and while sneaking
in some educational stuff along the way. We won't tell your kids it's
educational if you don't. :)
Let us make your visit to Santa Cruz a memorable with one of these
great family rides. We have several variations to choose from: visits
to historic and not-so-historic landmarks in Santa Cruz, train rides,
exciting mystery destinations, and, of course, an excursion to the
Santa Cruz Boardwalk! We also offer special packages that bring this
area's top young skateboarders and bike riders with us to teach your
kids some new skills.
Tour Difficulty: Easy
Travel Time: Depends on package chosen
Dress: Dress in layers: bike shorts preferable, windbreaker needed
for morning tours.
Equipment: Equipment provided as needed. Lunch and beverages provided
on certain tours. We'll gladly fax or email our menu for your selection.
The Fair Grunt--
Think you've got what it takes? This is the ride for you. We'll be
showcasing some of the top names in the dirt world as they lead our
expert rides. These rides are long and grueling and test your mettle
on every aspect of your technical mountain bike skills. Killer climbs
with treacherous descents await you, as you explore the best single
tracks that Santa Cruz has to offer. We offer these exclusive rides
on a reserved basis only. Call today to see when the next ride is
scheduled and who the leader will be.
Tour Difficulty: Difficult
Travel Time: Long
Dress: You know what to wear!
Equipment: We expect you to bring your own, but we'll gladly provide
you with any gear you may be missing if you need it. If you are traveling
without your bike, a high-end rental can be arranged.
Food will be provided if you can stomach it.
Santa Cruz Downhill--
Come on! We all know it's true. The only reason we stand those *&#@#in
uphill climbs is so we can go downhill! Now don't bother with the
grunting, sweating and general unpleasantness of trudging uphill.
We'll take you up to the top and you can enjoy a leisurely ride downhill.
It may be leisurely but there are some bumps and hazards along the
way so you'll have a great time.
Tour Difficulty: Easy to Moderate depending on your speed downhill!
Travel Time: Bike: 2 ½ - 3 hours
Dress: Bike gear preferable
Equipment: We'll provide the bikes, the transportation and the water
to get the bugs out of your teeth.!