Palos Verdes Bike Paths for Beginners

The Palos Verdes Peninsula has many paths for beginners through a region with panoramic ocean views and plentiful coastal wildlife. Find out about several of the best bike paths for hybrid bikes with tips to minimize tough climbs and traffic.

Cruise Five Miles Around Lunada Bay

Lunada Bay Beach is a picturesque cove located in Palos Verdes Estates. This easy route comes in at about 4.93 miles and has unbeatable scenery. It is more risky to navigate the access trails down to the beach or brave the surf than ride this scenic bike path.

This path has several worthwhile attractions, including a rocky beach with tide pools, the wreck of the Dominator and views of the bay that extend all the way to Catalina Island on clear days. This ride is an ideal introduction to the coastal terrain of this region for new riders of hybrid bikes for women.

Take In Portuguese Bend Nature Reserve

Get the full experience of Palos Verdes wildlife by going for a ride in the Portuguese Bend Nature Reserve. If you plan to take the two-mile beginner path, you may want to visit this outdoor attraction at a time when it is less crowded. The fire road out and back covers a total gain of about 523 feet in elevation.

If you prefer to go further off the beaten path, consider taking trails in the connecting reserves, such as the speedy downhill singletrack Kelvin Canyon Trail or Conquerer to the south. Other popular trails around the Portuguese Bend Reserve include the 2.7-mile Palos Verdes Bluffs Trail, the five-mile Klondike and Portuguese Canyon Trails. You might also want to consider the nearby 2.7-mile long Forrestal Preserve Loop or the less trafficked less-trafficked 2.5-mile Three Sisters, McCarrel Canyon and Barkentine Loop.

Ride Palos Verdes Golf Course Loop

Take in the scenery on a 15.45-mile-long ride north from Golden Cove Plaza to the Palos Verdes Golf Course. This ride is longer than most of the other suggestions in this beginner-oriented list, making it ideal for beginner to intermediate riders. Any of these routes can help new cyclists train for taking longer rides, such as the famed 24.4-mile Palos Verdes Donut Loop or cruising the flat Strand to Marina Del Rey and back.

Most of these paths are paved roads. In terms of mens bikes for sale, a hybrid, cruiser or road bike would be suitable to ride on most of these routes. If you prefer to bike near the beach, you might want to consider a comfortable and stylish cruiser. Cruisers or other bikes with wider tires keep riders comfortable while rolling easily over bumpy or sandy terrain.

Whether you prefer a hybrid, cruiser or comfort bike, you may have options for single-speed, three-speed or seven-speed models all the way up to 21-speed bikes and bikes with electric motors. A hybrid bike in a three-, seven- or 21-speed model is the most versatile ride for covering a mixture of paved and unpaved coastal terrain around Palos Verdes and across Southern California.