BajaNomad

Should we bring bikes to Baja

BajaBuckeye - 10-28-2016 at 07:33 PM

My wife and I are planning a month long beach camping trip to Baja in the spring. We will be towing a small trailer with 2 fishing kayaks and have the capability to transport 2 bikes as well. The plan is to drive the entire peninsula with stops at Gonzaga Bay, Bahia De Concepcion, Loreto, La Paz, Cabo, ect. I guess my question is will the bikes be worth having along on this trip or should we just leave them at home. My thought was they might be nice to ride on the malecons in La Paz and Loreto or maybe other places but I don't want to drag them all the way down and then not use them. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated!

BigBearRider - 10-28-2016 at 07:35 PM

I'd vote "no."

The Loreto malecon isn't very long. The La Paz one might be a little longer, but I can't recall exactly.

[Edited on 10-29-2016 by BigBearRider]

fixtrauma - 10-28-2016 at 07:52 PM

Probably not. Yes the Malecon in La Paz is a great ride, but you can rent some bikes there..

mtgoat666 - 10-28-2016 at 08:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBuckeye  
My wife and I are planning a month long beach camping trip to Baja in the spring. We will be towing a small trailer with 2 fishing kayaks and have the capability to transport 2 bikes as well. The plan is to drive the entire peninsula with stops at Gonzaga Bay, Bahia De Concepcion, Loreto, La Paz, Cabo, ect. I guess my question is will the bikes be worth having along on this trip or should we just leave them at home. My thought was they might be nice to ride on the malecons in La Paz and Loreto or maybe other places but I don't want to drag them all the way down and then not use them. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated!


I like biking at home, and when away on vacation. So I take bikes. If you're not a biker at home, then skip taking bikes on vacation. If you don't use bikes at home, I doubt you will on vacation.
Mt bikes are great way to explore small towns and remote Baja. You miss a lot when traveling in a cage.
Re malecons, skip biking and enjoy the walk.

Howard - 10-28-2016 at 08:08 PM

I saw some tourists on bikes from the Oasis Hotel in Loreto. Don't know if they rented them there or they were staying there and they gave them to use at no charge.

If I am in town when you get here I can always lend you mine.

BigBearRider - 10-28-2016 at 08:20 PM

Loreto Sea and Land Tours rents bikes, btw. They're centrally located, a short block from the central plaza, and two blocks from the malecon.

[Edited on 10-29-2016 by BigBearRider]

motoged - 10-28-2016 at 08:41 PM

Bicycling in towns with paved roads would be a lot more fun than trying to enjoy the sandy roads unless you are fat tire types. As said, unless you are avid cyclists, you would have one or two less things to worry about. The kayaks will let you see more interesting shoreline.

In town....sure; in the desert....nope.

MMc - 10-28-2016 at 08:54 PM

What kind of bikes? I love a Mt. bike in baja. they are great to go to town or cruise around camp. I ride one at home too. Most of my camping is at surf or kayak spots and I try not to drive much after I set up camp.
If they are beach cruisers or road bikes leave them at home.


[Edited on 10-29-2016 by MMc]

micah202 - 10-28-2016 at 08:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Mountain bikes are great way to explore small towns and remote Baja.



...this.



.

honda tom - 10-28-2016 at 10:18 PM

leave them at home.

BajaBuckeye - 10-29-2016 at 01:53 AM

Actually, we ride bikes a lot. In fact we just bought mountain bikes since moving from Ohio to Utah and thought the MB's would be the bikes we'd bring to baja. I visualized riding them on short jaunts around camp and then in towns along the way.

windgrrl - 10-29-2016 at 06:18 AM

Biking is a major deal in BCS for tourists and locals alike. From the Cabo Ironman to local mountain bike races from La Paz south to every day use, you'll find every kind of bike, but use a good locking system, and bring basic spare parts and tools. For riding near cactus, we all use Stan's. There is a fine single track trail system north of Buena Vista that sees riders from around the world.

Happy trails,
W

rhintransit - 10-29-2016 at 06:55 AM

one more thing to worry about. doubt you'll ride them much, and you'll always, always have to keep them locked. lock them in camp, near your tent (and be sure you have GOOD neighbors when you go out kayaking) and do take them into the room if you stay in a hotel. there are lots of bolt cutters around. on carrier, anywhere you ride and stop for a few minutes (run into a bakery without locking, big big no no if you want to see the bike again)
you can easily walk both malecons mentioned, and rent bikes to do so in both cities.
if this is your first trip, you'll be busy enough. keep it simple.

mtgoat666 - 10-29-2016 at 07:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by rhintransit  
one more thing to worry about. doubt you'll ride them much, and you'll always, always have to keep them locked. lock them in camp, near your tent (and be sure you have GOOD neighbors when you go out kayaking) and do take them into the room if you stay in a hotel. there are lots of bolt cutters around. on carrier, anywhere you ride and stop for a few minutes (run into a bakery without locking, big big no no if you want to see the bike again)
you can easily walk both malecons mentioned, and rent bikes to do so in both cities.
if this is your first trip, you'll be busy enough. keep it simple.


Same as in USA.
You non-bikers should quit giving bike advice. You don't know diddly squat.

BajaBuckeye - 10-29-2016 at 07:16 AM

Thanks for all the replies. We might just leave them at home this trip. I've worried about the theft issue and the associated hassles and since my wife and I like to walk for exercise we will just do that instead of bike.

David K - 10-29-2016 at 07:31 AM

Have a great time!
There is a ton to see and do (without bikes, if you don't take them).
Here is a photo web page of our 2012 15 day trip to La Paz, Cabo, Asuncion, Concepcion, and more: http://vivabaja.com/712/

rts551 - 10-29-2016 at 07:58 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by rhintransit  
one more thing to worry about. doubt you'll ride them much, and you'll always, always have to keep them locked. lock them in camp, near your tent (and be sure you have GOOD neighbors when you go out kayaking) and do take them into the room if you stay in a hotel. there are lots of bolt cutters around. on carrier, anywhere you ride and stop for a few minutes (run into a bakery without locking, big big no no if you want to see the bike again)
you can easily walk both malecons mentioned, and rent bikes to do so in both cities.
if this is your first trip, you'll be busy enough. keep it simple.


Same as in USA.
You non-bikers should quit giving bike advice. You don't know diddly squat.


How do you know they/we are "non-bikers"?

rts551 - 10-29-2016 at 07:59 AM

good idea to leave them home your first trip. They are easily stolen and you would be frustrated trying to deal with the authorities.

BajaBuckeye - 10-29-2016 at 08:23 AM

It might as well be my first trip. Spent 2 weeks at Bahia De Concepcion in April of 1974. Have waited 43 years to return! I'm sure it has changed a lot but I remember it as a truly epic trip. I hope we're not disappointed !

David K - 10-29-2016 at 08:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBuckeye  
It might as well be my first trip. Spent 2 weeks at Bahia De Concepcion in April of 1974. Have waited 43 years to return! I'm sure it has changed a lot but I remember it as a truly epic trip. I hope we're not disappointed !


Hasn't changed too much... from last month:





brucedog - 10-29-2016 at 08:52 AM

Sounds like your not bringing them but here is one more thing I experienced: Last year it rained a lot between Tijuana and Guerrero Negro on my trip down and the bikes were covered in a fine clay/water/ mud coating. My bikes are nothing special but still a bumer

rhintransit - 10-29-2016 at 09:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by rhintransit  
one more thing to worry about. doubt you'll ride them much, and you'll always, always have to keep them locked. lock them in camp, near your tent (and be sure you have GOOD neighbors when you go out kayaking) and do take them into the room if you stay in a hotel. there are lots of bolt cutters around. on carrier, anywhere you ride and stop for a few minutes (run into a bakery without locking, big big no no if you want to see the bike again)
you can easily walk both malecons mentioned, and rent bikes to do so in both cities.
if this is your first trip, you'll be busy enough. keep it simple.


Same as in USA.
You non-bikers should quit giving bike advice. You don't know diddly squat.


As the first Warm Showers Host(ess) in BCS, with years of experience with bikers-riding Hwy 1...I beg to differ with you.
Oops, just noted who posted this. Those in the know will ignore him. The others, take your pick of who knows diddly squat.
Have a great time, Buckeye!

[Edited on 10-29-2016 by rhintransit]

Coincidence? I think not!

Howard - 10-29-2016 at 09:23 AM

http://www.billygoattavern.com/legend/curse/

Hey goat, did you have anything to do with this?
(Sorry for the hijack)

Alm - 10-29-2016 at 01:20 PM

Kayaks and bikes don't mix well, on a short vacation.

Locals use commuter bikes to commute on cheap. For a "stationary" gringo expat it serves a double purpose of commuting and exercising. You are on the move. This long drive will consume a lot of your time, kayaks and walking will be enough exercise.

Mounting bikes for inland off-roading is a different creature, I'm not familiar with this, but you won't need them for malecon.

fishbuck - 10-29-2016 at 02:24 PM

I had a bike in La Paz once. I loved it.
I was staying there for a few months. I drove down without a bike. I flew back to LAX and home to Newport Beach Ca to take care of some business and see my son who was about 10 at the time. I went to Target and bought a $100 5 speed beach cruiser and brought it to LAX with me.
They wouldn't let me take it on the plane for some silly reason so I left it at the airport telling them I would have someone come get it within 48 hours.
I flew back to La Paz and talked to the agent there. I explained, he called LAX, and they put it on the next plane. I picked it up at LAP the next day.
I rode that bike everywhere in La Paz.
But mostly I rode up and down the Malecon end to end almost daily for over a month. Sunshine and total relaxation. Fish taco here... cold beer there... ahh La Paz...
I threw it in the back of my Ford Ranger when it was finally time to go home. At a check point on the way home somewhere around Mulege I sold it to one of the soldiers manning the post there for $75.
As I already had a nice Newport Beach cool beach cruiser at home I didn't really need it.
It's only purpose was the Malecon in La Paz...


[Edited on 10-29-2016 by fishbuck]

BajaBreak - 10-29-2016 at 04:14 PM

I always like to have a mtn bike with me for many of the same reasons others posted. It is something else to worry about, but I like being able to explore new places and it allows one to cover more distance in less time. It is also nice knowing I can hop on the bike to get parts or help if I were to have car trouble in a remote area.

sancho - 10-29-2016 at 05:11 PM

I go SOB for a week at a time, stay in town, RV campground for the
week, always take a Mtn bike, would never go without it. Might
do 10 mi. a day, dinking around the streets, some dirt most paved. One slight issue is dogs, in a street pack or residents.
Seeing a pack lounging in the sun, if I can get by them, if
not, get off walk by, not getting any eye contact. I am going
to start carrying some sort of spray and a bamboo stick
if the need arises

BajaDanD - 10-30-2016 at 06:15 PM

Not a lot of bycles around in most of the small towns in Baja Lots of dogs running loose that will chase bycles. if you decide to bring your bikes be prepared to defend yourself from crazy dogs that love to chase everything on 2 wheels

mtgoat666 - 10-30-2016 at 06:34 PM

I have found that most town dogs are well experienced at being targets of rocks. Often just reaching down to pick up a rock makes them back down. Anywho, riding in rural USA and rural Mexico are same re dogs that like to chase bikes. You learn to deal with it, and ienjoy the ride.

If you have any further questions about biking anywhere in the 1000-mile-long peninsula, ask the expert, rhintransit.

Alm - 10-31-2016 at 10:22 AM

I'm curious. Where did they attack you in Bahia de LA - probably not on the main road or in daytime?

David K - 10-31-2016 at 10:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
I'm curious. Where did they attack you in Bahia de LA - probably not on the main road or in daytime?


???

What attack?

mtgoat666 - 10-31-2016 at 11:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
I'm curious. Where did they attack you in Bahia de LA - probably not on the main road or in daytime?


???

What attack?


I think the subject was dogs chasing bicyclists.

As you are not a bicyclist, you might not be familiar with such (I suspect dogs find Toyota tacomas quite boring, not worth of chasing)

Alm - 10-31-2016 at 01:00 PM

Yes, dogs. They don't chase cars as they don't see any flesh to grab. In the night they would bark at anything driving, riding or walking by. Stupid animals - most of them, anyway.

mtgoat666 - 10-31-2016 at 07:50 PM

Most Dogs are easily deflected with a squirt to the face from your water bottle. 99% of dogs are pretty stunned by it, they don't expect it. For the other 1%, be quick!

gnukid - 10-31-2016 at 08:31 PM

If the bikes can fit inside bring them but if they are going to be left outside they will be stolen eventually. Maybe you can bring cheap bikes instead of nice bikes.