Santa Barbara Bike Rental Review: 7-Speed Adventure

Santa Barbara, a place with its own easygoing vibe and unreal coastal beauty, is just ideal to check out on two wheels. I thought renting a 7-speed bike for the whole day, a bike that comes along with a map, would be just a fun idea. So I just went ahead and did it! Here’s the story.

First Impressions of the Bike and the Rental Spot

Stepping into the rental spot, well it was a breeze. I found someone super nice ready to set me up with everything. The bike they gave me, it looked solid, just waiting for a cruise around town. The 7-speed gearing seemed just right, too, that is for a day with a whole lot of up and down streets. They hooked me up with a map, it showed all of the popular routes, and it gave me that bit of confidence to just take off exploring. Getting all set was that simple!

Cruising Along the Coast: The Bike Path Experience

Riding on the coastal bike path, you see? Well, that’s really where Santa Barbara shows off. The bike handled quite smoothly on the flat stretches, really soaking in that sunshine and the ocean breeze. Adjusting gears, I just got it sorted as I moved along, made pushing along a breeze, a breeze when I ran into those little hills that pop up every now and then. Seeing people walking and just soaking up the views was kinda cool, you know, it made me want to stop along the way for some photos, the waterfront, it just had it all. The 7-speed thing? Perfect choice, since I found it just right for those small climbs.

Exploring Downtown and the Funk Zone

Okay, after enjoying the coastline, downtown just sounded fun. Getting around, it was easy. The bike helped, it’s good for slipping past traffic so you get to enjoy spots at your own pace. That Funk Zone? I liked it there. Amazing artwork that you find just down every alleyway, too. Plus, the coffee shops that have these super inviting patios? That was me for about an hour. The gears? Yeah, useful there too since you move away from the flat part of State Street. Honestly, it made peeking into places just that bit more convenient.

Handling the Hills: Gear Usage and Comfort

So Santa Barbara isn’t just flat, that’s real. Those hills around the Mission? Oh boy. This 7-speed setup turned out, so I thought, very useful. Downshifting got easier the longer I went out, so I didn’t run out of steam, not completely, haha. Sure, I needed to stand sometimes, especially the steeper spots. Still, for a regular sort of city bike, well, I was thankful. That said, by the end? I kind of needed a break. Comfort-wise, well, the seat’s OK, maybe consider bringing padded shorts when you just expect doing the same as I did. Just maybe!

The Area Map: Was It Helpful?

The map they gave, well that turned out handy. Rather than rely on my phone all of the time, having something I unfold that gives you the overview, you see, that helped just so much. The bike routes that are marked? Correct. I mean it. Hidden street gems? A good find, like those shortcuts, they gave a really cool, more close up feel. Though I just figured you could update a few things, I figure some little streets keep changing? Not anything that ruins it, just little fixes would be just that bit more of an advantage, is all. The map is useful for a smooth route, honestly.

Pros and Cons of the 7-Speed Bike Rental

Okay, some things were better than others when you rent this 7 speed for yourself. It did really well getting around, especially getting those gears to work out uphill. I figured the seat should be just a little comfier when I plan to ride it all day.