Pedal From Carmel to the Lone Cypress by E-Bike
A guided e-bike ride from downtown Carmel into Pebble Beach, with stops at Bird Rock, Crocker Grove and the Lone Cypress.
The ride leaves Mad Dogs & Englishmen, a bike shop on Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and heads into Pebble Beach along 17-Mile Drive. A guide leads it, and the whole thing runs about two and a half hours.
The listing names stops at Spanish Bay, Point Joe, China Rock, Bird Rock, Fanshell Overlook, Cypress Point Lookout, Crocker Grove, the Ghost Tree and the Lone Cypress, with a longer break at Stillwater Cove. The ride finishes back at the shop where it started. The e-bike and a helmet are included.
Booking runs through Viator, and the card below opens the listing. Starts are listed at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM on most days. Seats are sold to riders five and older.
17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided TourGuided e-bike tour from the Mad Dogs & Englishmen shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea through 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. About 2.5 hours. E-bike and helmet included.www.viator.comThe Motor Takes the Hills, and Cars Share the Road
The listing ticks the box for all fitness levels, and many riders say the motor does the work on the hills. Not everyone agrees. One rider this September found the climbs harder than expected and noted that the bikes on that tour had no throttle to lean on. On the shop's own booking page, a throttle is a special request: anyone who can't pedal and needs one is asked to call ahead.
Steering and braking stay with you. Several riders describe riding alongside car traffic on 17-Mile Drive, and a few say the tour suits people who are already comfortable on a bike. Another rider found the downhill stretches a little too fast.
The shop's posted rental and tour policy puts it plainly. It assumes anyone booking a guided tour can already ride and balance a bike, and it does not recommend the experience for anyone who has not ridden in a long time or has trouble balancing. The same policy says the shop can cancel for a rider it does not think can ride safely, and the shop's current booking terms say a full refund is offered whenever the shop cancels.
Short Stops, Then Half an Hour at Stillwater Cove
Most stops on the listing run five to ten minutes, long enough for a photo and a few facts from the guide. Bird Rock doubles as the restroom break, and the listing says the guide helps you pick out the sea lions there. Riders also report sea otters and deer along the way.
The trees get their own stops. The listing calls Crocker Grove home to the oldest and largest Monterey cypresses, and says the Lone Cypress became the logo of Pebble Beach Golf Links in 1919. From Cypress Point Lookout, it adds, a clear day shows the Point Sur Lighthouse down in Big Sur.
The longest stop is about 30 minutes at Stillwater Cove in Pebble Beach, free time to wander, shop or buy a snack and a warm drink. Those purchases are on you. One rider in May said a hot chocolate there was what the cold morning called for.
In spring the Fanshell Overlook stop is closed, according to the listing, to protect harbor seals pupping on the beach below.
How Many Riders, and Who Should Call
The listing sets the group minimum at four riders. The shop's own booking system says four in its tour description and three in both its booking notes and its cancellation terms. Either way, if too few book, the listing names four ways it can go: the shop cancels with a full refund, turns the ride into a private tour at an extra charge, moves you to another time or day, or switches you to a regular rental with no guide. The shop reviews those options with you 24 hours before the ride, and the listing says it asks for your approval.
One booking takes up to ten riders. The listing asks solo riders, groups larger than ten, and anyone bringing children or a dog to call the shop to ask and book.
The shop's booking notes also offer optional e-bike insurance at USD 15 per rider, available until the tour starts, to cover parts damaged by rider mishandling. Tips for the guide are welcome, the notes add.
Dress for Fog, Park Near the Sunset Center
Dress in layers, including a wind or waterproof jacket. The shop's booking notes also ask for closed-toe shoes and pants that are not baggy at the ankles. Riders describe a chilly ride in June and a misty layer over Pebble Beach in September, and one says the guide texted ahead to bring layers and gloves. Bring a water bottle, which the shop fills for free.
The listing recommends the Sunset Center or the surrounding neighborhood for free all-day parking. The shop's own booking notes are more specific. The free lot sits at the north end of the Sunset Center, at Eighth Avenue and Mission Street, and street parking near the shop has a two-hour limit, shorter than the ride. To stay clear of it, the notes say to park south of Eighth Avenue or north of Fourth, or use the paid lot under Carmel Plaza across Mission Street. Downtown Carmel gets busy. One rider advises allowing at least 30 extra minutes to find a spot and expecting a walk in.
📍 The ride starts at Mad Dogs & Englishmen, on the southwest corner of Ocean Avenue and Mission Street in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The shop's booking notes put the guide meeting spot outside the downstairs back of the shop, on the Mission Street and Red Eagle Lane side, and ask riders to arrive 15 minutes before the tour time. Each rider can fill out the shop's liability waiver online ahead of time.
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund. The shop can also call off a ride for bad weather, and its posted policy gives a full refund when it does.
Then clip on the helmet and roll out toward Pebble Beach, with the Lone Cypress somewhere up the coast.