With wide streets, flat terrain, and often very little traffic, Palm Springs is an ideal place to ride a bike.  But until recently, if you didn’t own your own, renting one meant driving down valley to get one. Then, in fall of 2009, Blair and Rocky decided to change that. With Blair still running his busy interior design practice in San Francisco and Palm Springs, and Rocky deciding to retire from his contracting business, the couple of six years decided to start a new venture modeled after the successful businesses they saw on vacations to Provincetown: a bike rental company. Thus, BIKE Palm Springs was born.

“We realized that the people of Palm Springs had no easy options to finding bikes in town, and wanted to offer a unique service that visitors of all ages can enjoy,” Rocky told us. Centrally located on North Palm Canyon Drive, right across the street from bustling breakfast-and-lunch spot Cheeky’s, this is an ideal spot to start your personal city tour.

After signing a standard liability waiver, you get to choose your bike. Tandem or single. Adult or child. Standard or premium. Need a kiddy seat? Available. A kiddy cart? Also available. Helmets and lock use are included. All bikes are vintage- or beach cruiser-style. They come equipped with wide comfortable seats, have standard three-speed internal hubs, and sport fun names like Cruisers and Townies! Very chic, and very Palm Springs. With extremely reasonable prices for an adult standard bike starting at just $15.00 for a half day (up to 4 hours) and $25.00 for 24 hours ($30.00/$50.00 for a tandem), your adventure will not break the bank. Rentals are also generously priced for three-day users and those who want bikes for a whole week.

So where do you go with these bikes? Blair and Rocky sell a fun “Map of the Stars’ Homes” for $5.00, and also provide a very good free map with six self-guided city tours. Within just a few blocks, you’ll find Liberace’s former home, Elvis and Priscilla’s honeymoon hideaway, the beautiful Dinah Shore house, Lucy and Desi’s desert getaway, and more mid-century architecture and plush private estates than you can shake a stick at.  If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can cycle through the lushness of Mesquite Golf and Country Club or Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, or just wend your way through the many unique residential neighborhoods of Palm Springs.

Whether you’re looking for exercise, an interesting tour of town, an inexpensive way to get around, or just want to get some fresh air and vitamin D, you can’t go wrong with a nifty bike rental from BIKE Palm Springs.