I was fortunate to be living and working in Mazatlan when the destination hosted the 2000 Mountain Biking World Cup. That event put Mazatlan on the mountain biking map, since it was the first time the World Cup had ever been held in Latin America. I had promoted other major bike events in the US, but I never saw anything like the ubiquitous spokesmodels, food stands and droves of spectators (over 12,000, some climbing trees to cheer on the racers) all gathered around a tough and challenging course in Mazatlan’s spectacular Sierra Madre Mountains.
Are you a mountain biker looking to take on some challenging single-track trails? Do you just want to chill out like me, taking in the ocean views while riding on a cruiser bike along the Malecon’s new bike lane? Are you looking to participate in races or an all-day, long-distance tour? For every level of rider, Mazatlan is an awesome bike destination!
Mazatlan also hosts bike races, tours and events throughout the year. The city even has a non-profit, Perros Sin Dueno, whose mission is the advancement of cycling in Mazatlan. They organize rides you can join every Sunday to meet new people and enjoy the great outdoors in Mazatlan.
Here are some places to start your biking adventure in Mazatlan:
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- Kelly’s Bicycle Shop and Tours I remember first meeting Fernando Kelly, owner of Kelly’s Bike Shop, through his involvement with the Mountain Biking World Cup. Aside from being a great guy, he can do everything from guiding you on an on-road or off-road tour to tuning and repairing your bike. His experience with working on bikes and biking in Mazatlan is vast! In addition to leading tours, Kelly’s rents, sells and repairs bikes.
Facebook - Bluefoot Tours & Expeditions. My favorite local tour guide is entrepreneur Danny Romero. His company, Bluefoot Tours & Expeditions, offers Tropical Bike Tours and City Bike Tours, which I strongly recommend. An awesome fun guy, Danny provides the bikes, helmets and transportation as well as insider local knowledge. Whenever I host travelwriters to turn them on to the virtues of Mazatlan, I send them on tours with Danny and his company, and they always come back happy. You can also rent bikes from Bluefoot.
Facebook - Mazatlan Bike Tours Another valuable resource is Mazatlan Bike Tours. Owner Rudy Valdez and his expert bilingual tour guides lead excellent on-road and off-road bike tours. You’ll need to make reservations for the tours because Rudy and his guides will personalize a tour based on your ability level.You can always count on a great ride and experience!
Facebook - Baikas Bike Rental and Segway Tours. Baikas Bike Rental rents men’s and women’s bikes with helmets and free locks at its two locations. You can rent bikes for an hour, half day, full day or longer. Baikas also offers segway and bike tours.
- Sea Breeze Bike Rental. If you’re staying in the Golden Zone and just want to keep it simple and take a relaxing ride along the Malecon, then Sea Breeze Bike Rental is a great option. Cruiser bikes are the focus here. Owners Brenda and Kipp McEwan also provide helmets and locks.
