So I've got is weekend free while working in San Jose for a couple weeks. I've brought riding gear and need to get out there. I need to hire a bike and sample what Northern California has to offer. Any recommendations? Anybody know anything about Big Swingin Cycles in San Francisco? They've got guided rides and demo bikes for hire. Could drop into their Niner demo day on Saturday?
Head to Camp Tamarancho in Fairfax. Loads of bike shops in Fairfax to tell you where to go. Easy, signed trail system. Fun trails.
Unless you can get to Demo trails in Aptos I think it's your best bet.
Pop down to Trailhead Cyclery in SJ and see if they can help you out. I used to go riding with the shop guys in the Demo Forest pretty regularly.
I can't suggest anywhere to hire a bike, but trail wise, there are a few options up on Skyline, which is in the hills to the south west -- down towards Santa-Cruz.
One trail I've ridden there is the Saratoga Gail Trail, [url= http://goo.gl/maps/R02I7 ]here[/url]. You can park on the junction between the 35 and the 9. Follow the trail north from there for a few miles of single track containing a mix of fast swooping stuff, and wide open fire road with great views, and some tight and steep switchback downhill. There's plenty of other trails in that area, but I haven't done any of them myself.
Enjoy!
Soquel Demo Forest / Sawpit up in the Santa Cruz mountains. It's a cracker.
http://www.strava.com/activities/12664687