Big Sur Adventures, 17 Mile Drive

Great quality e-bikes with good pre-ride instructions. Rented all day via Groupon for a great deal. The 17 mile drive had good bike lanes and car drivers were courteous so we felt relatively safe. Then proceeded past Asilomar and caught the Monterey bay coastal recreation trail, pedestrian/bikes only path, to loop past cannery row, old Monterey wharf and sand dunes near Monterey Beach Hotel. Loved the bike throttle for boost and hill power! Windbreaker jackets were needed for the coastal breeze even though it was a sunny day. A perfect activity to see the Monterey coastline on a lovely day!

This was a fantastic e-bike tour with amazing views truly the highlight of our trip to Carmel! Our guide Suzi made sure we understood how to operate the the e-bike and warned us of where we may encounter traffic along the way.  Suzy was very knowledgeable about the marine life, the cypress trees, sea otters, birds and kelp. It’s  a beautiful ride and great way to see 17-mile drive. Suzy was very personable and helped us have a positive and memorable experience. She took great photos of us along the way! Wear layers of clothing in case it gets chilly!

10/10 adamantly recommend!!! Where to start…. This is the best way to experience 17 Mile Drive…biking allowed for fresh air and ease in stopping and starting for the sights, and there were ample bike lanes and considerate drivers. Big Sur Adventures provided a range of electric bike options to accommodate the varying preferences of our 13 person group (from inexperienced and little desire to pedal to those wanting zero assist and to pedal hard). Flo, our wonderful tour leader was knowledgeable about Carmel and 17 Mile Drive (ocean life, wildlife, foliage, golf, the history of the area, etc.), the bikes we were using, and how to give a great tour. He was clear and kind with his directions and assistance, upbeat, energetic, and really made the ride special from start to finish! We saw tons of sea life (otters, sea lions, seals), gorgeous architecture, and beautiful views of the coast and iconic golf courses. It’s nearly an impossible task, but 13 very different people (all ages, abilities, and attitudes) walked away thinking this experience was a highlight of the entire trip to Carmel.

We were RV camping in the Carmel Valley, and we brought along our own ebikes. But when it came time for us to do the 17 mile drive on bikes, we decided we wanted a guided tour. So we found Big Sur Adventures and booked online. Simple enough.... On arrival - come early to get set up, we met our guide for the day - Flo... don't ya know. Flo got us outfitted with helmets, gloves, water, and snacks...all included. There were a row of nice white step-thru Aventon ebikes ready at the curb, but Flo offered to let us have the choice of any ebikes in the shop...don't ya know. My wife grabbed a AIMA Santa Monica because of the cushy seat, and I picked an Aventon fat tire model, because I hadn't ridden a fat tire ebike before. We received an orientation with the ebikes of our choice, some pointers and training, and we were ready to roll. We had a couple of newbies in the group, but they caught on quickly - after all you're still riding a bicycle, you're just not pedaling hard. Flo - don't ya know, was very knowledgeable, and answered our questions about the otters, winged oystercatchers, deer and natural vegetation, and gave us an explanation of why Monterey has such cool weather. You'll have to take the ride with Flo, to get that information...don't ya know. We had time for rest breaks, photos, and a walk to the 18th green at Pebble Beach GC. I believe the entire group had a good day. All you gotta do is go online to reserve a time, and then go, with the Flo....

This is a great place to rent an electronic bike. We came legit as soon as they opened (without reservations) BUT I will say if you come any time after like 10am or later I recommend you getting a reservation because they get booked! At first we weren’t using the electronic part of the bike but man coming back you will need it! It’s a beautiful route and if you come early (like 9am) there is no to few traffic and when you return then traffic is on the other side of you. It took us about 3 hours and we stopped along the way! The workers are so friendly and helpful!

We did the 17-mile drive tour and it was an awesome experience. Flo with Big Sur Adventures was a fantastic guide. Bikes and other equipment were in great condition. The ride itself is amazing - so gorgeous. We saw sea lions and sea otters and learned about the natural area. The e-bikes are super fun to ride, and make the rolling landscape a piece of cake. Our family of 4 (including two teenagers) loved the whole experience. Just make sure you listen when they say bring layers!!!

Fun tour on the e-bike! Guide was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and engaging. Beautiful scenery — up close view of striking homes in Pebble Beach and a few stops along the coast. Highly recommend.