Bike shops and outdoor gear

Palo Alto may be the easiest city in the Bay Area to get around by bike. It is flat east of the foothills, the weather is mild most of the year and the city has built a network of bike boulevards and paths. Students ride to class, engineers ride to Stanford Research Park and on weekend mornings the roads toward the hills fill with road cyclists in team kit. That demand supports a set of bike shops with deep roots.

This guide covers the shops we confirmed are open in 2026, how to rent a bike when the city has no bike share and where to buy hiking, running and outdoor gear. For routes and rules of the road, see our biking in Palo Alto guide.

Bike shops at a glance

Which shop fits depends on where you are and what you need. Visitors arriving by train will find Palo Alto Bicycles closest. Anyone who wants to rent, or to ship a bike home after a trip, should start with The Bike Connection. Riders shopping for a high-end road, gravel or mountain bike with a proper fitting tend to head to Mike's Bikes. Students and new residents buying a commuter bike should compare a few shops, ask about included tune-ups and budget for a good lock and lights, since California requires a white front light and a red rear reflector for riding after dark.

Palo Alto Bicycles

Palo Alto Bicycles at 171 University Avenue has been a fixture since 1930. The shop says it is still led by the family that founded it. It sells bikes and e-bikes from established brands plus apparel, accessories and its own Palo Alto branded gear. It also services bikes.

Its location is the big advantage for visitors. The shop is a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station, so you can step off a train with a flat tire and get it fixed. E-bikes have their own space. The E-Bike Annex at 365 Alma Street, around the corner, is set up for test rides on electric bikes. Ask there if you want to rent one. Combine a visit with the rest of downtown using our University Avenue shopping guide.

The Bike Connection

The Bike Connection is at 2011 El Camino Real, south of Stanford and close to the California Avenue district. It sells new bikes, parts, tires, wheels and accessories and offers repairs. Two services make it especially useful for visitors.

• Bike rentals. The shop rents bikes for exploring the city, the parks and the open space preserves. Staff help choose the right style and size and can suggest routes.
• Bike packing and shipping. If you brought your own bike for a trip, the shop can box it and ship it home. It also lists favorite local rides on its website, from Arastradero Preserve to a Palo Alto to San Francisco route.

The company also runs a store in San Francisco's South of Market district. Check its website for hours and rental availability before you go.

Mike's Bikes

Mike's Bikes is a Bay Area chain with a large Palo Alto store on Middlefield Road in south Palo Alto, near the Mountain View line. It carries a wide range of road, gravel, mountain and electric bikes from brands such as Santa Cruz, Cervélo, Cannondale, Gazelle, Pivot and Giant. Services include repairs, suspension work, professional bike fitting and demo bikes. You can book test rides and service online. The store posts hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Mike's also runs a small repair shop called Mike's Bikes at The Hub at 3215 Porter Drive in Stanford Research Park. It serves the more than 1,000 people who ride to the park each day and runs on weekdays, with some offers reserved for employees of Research Park companies.

Renting a bike

Palo Alto has no bike share program. That surprises visitors from cities with docked bikes on every corner. Your options are:

1. Rent from a local shop. The Bike Connection rents bikes. Palo Alto Bicycles' E-Bike Annex is set up for e-bike test rides, so ask about rentals there. Fleets are small, so reserve ahead on weekends.
2. Book online. You can compare bike rentals in the Bay Area if you want more choice or a multi-day rental.
3. Bring your own on Caltrain. Bikes ride free in Caltrain's bike cars. Check the bikes on board rules before you travel.

Ask about helmets when you rent. California law requires riders under 18 to wear one and they are a good idea for everyone.

Outdoor, hiking and running gear

There is no large outdoor co-op inside Palo Alto, but the shopping centers cover a lot of ground.

At Stanford Shopping Center

• Arc'teryx for technical shells, insulation and hiking apparel.
• Backcountry for outdoor clothing and gear from many brands.
• On and New Balance for running shoes.
• lululemon, Vuori, Alo Yoga and Outerknown for athletic and casual wear.

Our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers parking and the rest of the store list.

At Town & Country Village

Athleta sells women's athletic clothing. Tennis Town & Country specializes in racquets, strings, shoes and apparel for tennis and pickleball. See the Town & Country guide.

REI and Sports Basement

For tents, sleeping bags, climbing gear and a wide range of brands under one roof, you need to leave town.

• REI Sunnyvale at 130 East El Camino Real. REI moved its Mountain View store here in October 2021, into a larger building on the former Toys R Us site. It has a bike shop and a ski and snowboard shop with certified mechanics. Check REI's store page for hours and classes.
• Sports Basement Redwood City at 202 Walnut Street, north of Palo Alto.
• Sports Basement Sunnyvale at 1177 Kern Avenue, south of Palo Alto.

The Redwood City and Sunnyvale Sports Basement stores post hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Those two and REI are 15 to 25 minutes away by car, depending on traffic on US 101 and El Camino Real. Sports Basement also lists a store in Campbell, farther south. Our sporting goods guide covers team sports, fitness gear and other stores.

Where to ride once you have a bike

The flat bayside is the easiest place to start. The levee trails at the Baylands connect to the San Francisco Bay Trail, which runs north and south along the water. The Bol Park bike path in Barron Park links neighborhoods with a calm off-street route. Road cyclists head west into the foothills on Page Mill Road and Arastradero Road, or north to the climbs around Woodside. For hiking routes to test new boots, see our best hikes guide.

Frequently asked questions