Renting a recumbent in Los Angeles

[Sean Gandini]

Hi all
a bit of a long shot but wondered if someone might have Cruzbike or indeed another recumbent lying around which they would be happy to rent out to me for two months early next year. I will be in LA working at LA Opera and wanted to do a short commute on it. I commute on a much loved s40 in London, and can return the favour here! Sending joy to you all. Thank you

 

[RojoRacing]

So I'm genuinely curious, how would you guarantee that you don't ride off into the sunset on someone's $5000 bike, never to be seen again? I'm sure a bike shop has insurance against stuff like that, but an individual wouldn't.
I also wonder about the bike safety of LA vs London, central LA is not a place I'd personally venture into on a bike.

 

[cruzKurt]

Hi all
a bit of a long shot but wondered if someone might have Cruzbike or indeed another recumbent lying around which they would be happy to rent out to me for two months early next year. I will be in LA working at LA Opera and wanted to do a short commute on it. I commute on a much loved s40 in London, and can return the favour here! Sending joy to you all. Thank you

Bacchetta bikes is out there somewhere, I would get in touch with Dana and see what he says. Also, Tim at Lightning bikes is nearby. Maybe check out bentrideronline, buy one locally, there are usually quite a few on the bikes for sale forum.

 

[Sean Gandini]

Bacchetta bikes is out there somewhere, I would get in touch with Dana and see what he says. Also, Tim at Lightning bikes is nearby. Maybe check out bentrideronline, buy one locally, there are usually quite a few on the bikes for sale forum.

Thank you so much for your help, good suggestions! Yes if i don't find one for rent, i considered buying one and then reselling when leaving...i looked into shipping mine but not so straight forwards!

 

[Frito Bandito]

Thank you so much for your help, good suggestions! Yes if i don't find one for rent, i considered buying one and then reselling when leaving...i looked into shipping mine but not so straight forwards!

The member here "HeyHealy" has an S40 in Parker Colorado ($2K), as well as another member having a V20 for sale. If you don't have a car you can use Greyhound which takes about 1 day 1 way.

 

[Sean Gandini]

So I'm genuinely curious, how would you guarantee that you don't ride off into the sunset on someone's $5000 bike, never to be seen again? I'm sure a bike shop has insurance against stuff like that, but an individual wouldn't.
I also wonder about the bike safety of LA vs London, central LA is not a place I'd personally venture into on a bike

 

[Sean Gandini]

So I'm genuinely curious, how would you guarantee that you don't ride off into the sunset on someone's $5000 bike, never to be seen again? I'm sure a bike shop has insurance against stuff like that, but an individual wouldn't.
I also wonder about the bike safety of LA vs London, central LA is not a place I'd personally venture into on a bike.

good valid points! i tend to be naive in such matters and assume the best from people but you are probably wise. In the last couple of years i have lent one of my spare Cruzbike to a couple of curious people because wanted to share my joy of them. I cycled in New York quite a lot with a lent Cruz bike which someone kindly lent me. I have heard DTLA has an emmerging system of bike lanes. I think there where plans in the early 1890s to make LA a cycling city...alas...

 

[Sean Gandini]

The member here "HeyHealy" has an S40 in Parker Colorado ($2K), as well as another member having a V20 for sale. If you don't have a car you can use Greyhound which takes about 1 day 1 way.

thank you interesting options, the idea of a Greyhound 1 day journey for a bike is quite charming. Sadly my schedule will not allow. thank you

 

[xtalbike]

So will there’s Ben juggling at the LA Opera? I might have to schedule a trip to visit my daughter during the run….

I’ve travelled overseas with my V20c several times, also for musical activities. Packs up in a regular bike case with moderate disassembly.

 

[Sean Gandini]

So will there’s Ben juggling at the LA Opera? I might have to schedule a trip to visit my daughter during the run….

I’ve travelled overseas with my V20c several times, also for musical activities. Packs up in a regular bike case with moderate disassembly.

Yes to Juggling!!!, we are remouting Philip Glass' Akhnaten which features 10 jugglers on stage for most of the opera it is a joyous affair. It is via this Opera that i fell in love the with the Cruzbikes whilst in New York a decade ago a kind gentleman lent me an early model. Further down the line i purchased a marvelous v20 from him. I thought of bringing it in a box but we are not doing direct trips, so lots of stop overs...otherwise i would. Thank you so much for your reply and to all the helpful messages here.

 

[McWheels]

I was commuting in London until Sep last year on an S40, but other recumbents were sparse. During the last year I had a few trips to San Diego for work and hired a bike there for each fortnight. Sadly I couldn't track down an S40 or even a Sofrider. But I was pretty impressed with how SD was getting into biking, plenty of lanes all over the place, and even a few dedicated paths along the side of the railways. I would counter the assumption that London is more bike friendly - it's got some good infra, but the roads are not getting wider and you need to know your route. At least in SD I wasn't cramped for space and going on the pavement attracts less opprobrium.

 

[Sean Gandini]

I was commuting in London until Sep last year on an S40, but other recumbents were sparse. During the last year I had a few trips to San Diego for work and hired a bike there for each fortnight. Sadly I couldn't track down an S40 or even a Sofrider. But I was pretty impressed with how SD was getting into biking, plenty of lanes all over the place, and even a few dedicated paths along the side of the railways. I would counter the assumption that London is more bike friendly - it's got some good infra, but the roads are not getting wider and you need to know your route. At least in SD I wasn't cramped for space and going on the pavement attracts less opprobrium.

Oh wow shame we never crossed paths in London. I agree there are virtually no recumbents on the road. I see one once a year, crazy. I also agree its not necessarily the most cycling friendly city! I think if one knows the back streets etc its fine. I have cycled here for over 3 decades. I enjoyed cycling in New York but similar. It seems that the global recumbent rental thing is not a living market...Paris is gaining ground too...thanks for reply.