" alt="Baja Life Realty" />The La Paz cycling community is friendly and welcoming. Here’s how I got started.
By Fern Corraini
I have a bossy friend who decided that I should take up cycling at age 64. I firmly told her no. That’s completely out of the question, I said, because I don’t like cycling. Or biking. Or spinning. Or team sports. Or sports. Or getting run over.
Despite my protests, she was firmly persuasive, and the next day I was over at her house getting outfitted with real cycle gear: padded bum shorts, a top with lots of pockets, and a bike that might possibly have been worth more than my car. It certainly looked high-tech compared to my last bike, which had nothing to squeeze, push or otherwise manipulate. The only accessory that bike had was a basket.
Apparently, with this bike there would be decisions to be made while peddling. At the same time. Hmm…I’d been having a little trouble multi-tasking recently. Bossy Friend gave me a 2-minute tutorial in gear-changing out on the street, adjusted my seat and declared me road worthy. I was ready for my first day of cycling. You will love it, she said.
And I did. My ass was on fire, my hands were numb and my thighs were having a temper tantrum. Even as I was doing it, half of my mind was still saying that I couldn’t do it. But boy, did I love it. It was like meditation and exercise in one. And in this spectacular location!
Bossy Friend and Mr. Bond were challenging riding partners…patient but pushy. (Whaddaya mean I can’t use the wind as an excuse to sleep in? The palm trees are horizontal!) I kept at it, and it got easier. It’s been over a year now, and I can now drink (water, not tequila) and pedal at the same time. We ride, 25-30 kilometers, three times a week. And I can’t imagine my life without cycling. Traveling down that desert highway takes me back to grade 5…flying like the wind down the only paved street in our small town, alone and powerful and free.
Maybe you already cycle for recreation, or to stay fit, or for competition. Maybe you’ve been thinking of trying it out, but don’t know where to start. Take it from me, La Paz is a great place to cycle; the sport is really hitting its stride here. The city boasts over 15 kms of new highway with extra-wide shoulders, a multitude of bike races and daily training pelotons (a fancy word for a group of cyclers that ride together). In fact, La Paz will host the Mexico stage of the Tour de France in 2019.
If road cycling isn’t your thing, there are lots of great desert trails to ride. Three new cycle shops have opened recently, and bike repair shops are abundant. And one of the best things about cycling in La Paz is that you can do it almost 365 days a year. Come join us! Like me, you may just find cycling makes you feel like a kid again.
La Paz Cycling Routes:
https://www.mapmyride.com/mx/la-paz-baja-california-sur/
https://www.bikemap.net/en/l/3911925/
La Paz Bike Shops:
Thunders Bikes: http://www.thundersbikes.com/Thunders_Bikes.html
Pedal Works: https://www.facebook.com/pedalworksmx
Taller Bicicletas: Tony Luna, a well-known, professional cycler with numerous awards to his credit, owns a bike shop in Chemetla, just outside of La Paz. https://goo.gl/maps/qTt6QN9ZesG2.
La Paz Bike Rentals
In town for a visit? Rent a bicycle and pedal your way around La Paz at these rental shops:
TIM Rent a Bike: http://timrentabike.com
Adso and Nara: https://goo.gl/maps/jiAt4BsPtDr
Fern Corraini is a veteran traveler and explorer who moved to La Paz from Canada eleven years ago and is happy to call Mexico home. In addition to her international travels, Fern has been an English teacher in Canada and Guadalajara, a customs officer, a beekeeper, a sandblaster, a travel agent in the Dominican Republic and a motel owner. When she’s not busy keeping Vista Properties organized as our administrator, Fern loves to cycle, visit the beach and spend time with her two rescue kitties. She loves La Paz for its year-round great weather and adamantly believes that the taco is the perfect food.
Hello Fern,
we are coming to La Paz Dec 9-12 and would like to cycle around the coast. Is the road from downtown La Paz to La Ventana on a road bike a realistic ride? we are seasoned road cyclists from Vancouver BC. I am just concerned about the quality of the road and finding a path that is safe for cyclists. Any tips would be great.
Thank you,
Sophie
Hola Sophie, I have a biking friend that knows the road well. I’ll get back to you soon with accurate info.
Fern
Hola Sophie, here’s some info about the road from a friend of mine who introduced me to cycling. Happy trails! Fern
Hummm… it certainly is a ride-able road, I rode a good part of it 2 years ago to LV… the big downhill was magic! Recommend you ride early morning when traffic is very low… before 9 – 10 am, specifically Sat & Sun is best. No road allowance worth discussing, some pot holes & pavement erosion at edges, may not be marked. Keep your eyes open… totally fun hills, especially the last one which is a 12 km straight downhill… reverse it’s a 12 km up hill, but do able for experienced cyclists. No services to speak of, bike shop in La Ventana. Hey, I am almost 69 & think it’s a hoot! Let them know there are numerous good riding like LP out to Balandra or San Juan del Costa.
Hi Fern,
My name is Hilary, I stumbled across your website/blog as I was researching a potential vacation in La Paz in February 2022. I know, rather spontaneous. not much planning time. I have heard that La Paz has become a good training ground for road cyclists. I am one of those and would like to bring my road bike and hook up with other road cyclists or group rides while I am in La Paz. If you have any information on who I can contact in advance to meet up with a group, that would be very helpful and much appreciated. I am in the process of booking a flight and am also looking for an airbnb, so if you know of a good affordable one, Thanks much! Hilary
Hi Hilary! Thanks for your comment, and happy to hear you will be visiting La Paz this month! The weather had been fabulous this winter, warmer than normal for this time of year. La Paz has a wonderful and large cycling community. Feel free to email us at info@bajaliferealty.com, and we’ll put you in touch with some of the local cyclists here. AirBnBs depends on where you want to stay, downtown or in El Centenario (about 20 minutes from downtown La Paz). This one is halfway in between and gets great reviews: https://www.casakootenay.com/. Hope that helps, enjoy your visit to La Paz and let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help!
Thank you Fern for this great post. Are you aware of any bike rental shops that rent e-bikes?
We are seniors, living in Vancouver.
Kindly
Bea
HI;
I am coming to La Paz 2/1 – 2/8 and need to rent a basic bike with upright handle bars for mobility reasons. I have reached out to all of your suggestions and I am not having any luck. Tim’s rent a bike – impossible to get a hold of and when I phoned on Whats App he hung up; the others have not content on their website.
Do you have any other suggestions? I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you.