Calistoga Bikeshop — Local services in Calistoga

My guide was a congenial chap named Trace Denna, a special education therapist who works with autistic children and who, on the side, does endurance cycling events (the kind that are way above my pay grade).

We proceeded southeast from Calistoga along the valley floor, riding a well-built bike path all the way to Oakville. The day was pleasant, with minimal wind and temperatures in the low 70’s. After stopping at the Oakville Grocery for a water bottle refill and a pastry, I soon found out how we were going to grab the desired elevation in an otherwise flat area. Turning off of the highway, we ascended the Oakville Grade, a popular hill training route with a gain of 700 feet and an average grade exceeding 10 percent. Trace repeatedly reminded me that it was ok to turn around at any time, but I was too stubborn to give in. Reaching the top proved to be hugely satisfying while the subsequent descent was somewhere between exhilarating and terrifying.

By the time we returned to the valley floor, the temperature was well into the high 80’s. We continued to Yountville before crossing to the Silverado Trail, then turned back toward Calistoga. Silverado Trail skirts the hills that define the east side of the valley, resulting in a pleasant succession of rollers that provided variety and pleasant views of the seemingly endless vineyards laden with grapes nearly ready for harvest and the distant tan hills dotted with dark green oak trees.

We arrived at the bike shop not quite four hours after we departed, just as the temperature cracked 95 F. Trace was an excellent guide – he could have hammered me into the ground, but you never would have known it. My legs felt good the whole time. It was a...

Brad, Marshall, John, and everyone else at Calistoga Bike Shop are nothing short of amazing. Super helpful for bike newbies and experts alike. My husband has been a mountain biker for 20 years but I'm new to it (I was a road biker for 12 yrs but that's way different than mtn biking) so I had a lot of questions when we were picking out our bikes. Everyone was so patient with me and they were excited I was getting into the sport. I have been to many bike shops in the past and usually find the staff not very helpful to newbies. I get it, most people are probably looking and won't ever buy. However, the team at Calistoga Bike Shop isn't like that at all. They are friendly, helpful, super bike nerds (which I say with so much love because my husband is too) and they will help you with whatever you may need or think you need. They will steer you away from something that isn't going to work for your riding style, and will work with you to find something you'll love. I told Brad that I am cautious going down hill super fast, and he took 20 minutes to discuss the different components that would make me more confident riding downhill. It was informative, and most of all, made me want to buy our new mountain eBikes from them. We just put in our order today and I'm looking forward to many more interactions with them in the coming weeks, months and years as we bring our bikes in for service. You won't be disappointed supporting this locally owned and operated shop....

This was my second experience renting electric bikes from Calistoga Bike Shop and once again they did not disappoint. My three friends and I booked the electric bike package at the hotel we stayed in at Calistoga. The bikes were going to be dropped off at the hotel on the Saturday morning so we thought we should go to the store and check the size of the bikes on the Friday afternoon because my one friend is rather short. Luckily we did because apparently they never received the booking from the hotel. Brad told me he would call the hotel and see if he could find it. He called me back right away and said there was a mixup at the hotel but he was able to quickly find some bikes for us, including a smaller one for my friend. The bikes were delivered super early on Saturday and they looked brand new. Needless to say we had an amazing ride to wineries using the map provided by them. They even were kind enough to pick up the bikes from the last winery we rode to because we did not feel up to riding back in the dark. Really appreciated the quick and efficient responses from the store. Will rent again from them, next time Im in Calistoga without any...