I need a road bike in LA for two days. Ship from Chicago vs rent in LA

Riding
1

I live in Chicago and will be doing two days of road rides in LA late May. The options for shipping are generally pretty pricy when you include insurance [$350+ round trip], and the options to rent in LA are difficult to and just as pricy for a decent bike. Flying with my bike won’t be an option due to agenda/logists.

Anyone crack the code on economical shipping? Have a lead on the best place to rent a road bike in LA? Any luck with https://www.livelo.cc/ or https://www.2peaksbikes.com/?

I’m staying in the Valley Village area if that matters.

Thanks!

2

I know Specialized Santa Monica rents bikes but I don’t know their rates.

An RCC membership plus two rental days from the clubhouse would be $245. Full disclosure, that’s a plug. I work there.

2 Likes
3

I was pondering an RCC membership for this. I appreciate the push, and the transparency.

1 Like
4

The rental rates are taxable everywhere as far as I know so add about 10%

1 Like
5

I rented a Factor Ostro Vam at Bike Rentals - 2 Peaks Bikes | Los Angeles, CA a few months ago. Booked online, brought my pedals, gave my seat height. Ready to go when I got there. They did not provide patch kit, spare tube or tools. Other places from which I rented did. Trek stores have an online booking tool. Good luck,

6

Great to know. Thank for sharing firsthand experience.

1 Like
7

I’ve rented RCC bikes when visiting NYC (can’t imagine it’s any different from the LA shop) and it’s about the same as what @Lucas_Schenck described with his experience at 2 Peaks – bring your pedals, send over your seat height, let them know what head unit you use so they can throw in the correct insert. They also have a saddle bag with a spare tube + a mini pump.

Pretty straightforward experience, but they also request that if anything needs adjusting (saddle height / position, etc.) that you bring it back so they can do it—Factors sound like they can be a bit finicky, so they ask that you leave the wrenching to them (which I can appreciate).

1 Like
8

What size bike are you looking for?

9

I’m 5’9” - ride a small Giant TCR with a 110mm stem. In general, I fit on small and medium frames.

Do you have and idea???

10

I feel like this one depends on how much riding you’re planning on doing. One or two short rides without much extended times in the mountains? Rent. Multiple rides of multiple hours with heaps of ascending and descending? Bring. The riding is really that good out there that you’re going to want your own bike if you are really getting after it.

11

I travel to LA at least once a year. I’ve both rented and brought my own bike. Either is a great option depending on your appetite for lugging a bike around and building it up / tearing it down. The riding is fantastic.

If you decide to rent, it sounds like race bike geometry fits you. Shouldn’t be hard to find a Tarmac or Madone to rent.

12

Unfortunately not. I’m a fair bit taller than you so my bike is gonna do you no good.

1 Like
13

There’s a good chance someone out there has a backup bike they will let you borrow assuming you make the logistics easy for them. I’m in San Diego but I know I’d be willing to help out a fellow escapee for free (and maybe a burrito and a high five?). Maybe try posting in some Facebook cycling groups local to the area, might worth a shot

1 Like
14

The community around this website is epic.

1 Like