Cycling in Redlands

Redlands sits in the citrus belt where the San Bernardino Valley meets the mountains, and it has a deep road-racing pedigree: the Redlands Bicycle Classic, first run in 1985, is the longest continuously run professional stage race in the United States and each spring turns the historic downtown into a criterium circuit. Beyond race week, cyclists come for the mix of terrain — quiet orange-grove lanes and rolling loops through the Redlands and Yucaipa foothills, longer climbs toward Oak Glen and the mountains, and a growing network of Class I paths and bike lanes through town. The riding is best in the cooler months; inland summers here are hot.

The race itself famously relies on a host-family housing program rather than a single race hotel, but a few properties make a practical base. The Residence Inn by Marriott Loma Linda Redlands lists complimentary guest bikes among its amenities and works well for longer stays, while Citrus Suites is an official Redlands Bicycle Classic lodging partner just off I-10. For bikes and support, Redlands is well served by long-established shops: Cyclery USA (a Trek dealer downtown) and Don’s Bicycles, in business since 1959, both handle service and are the local starting points for rentals — call ahead, as rental stock is limited and seasonal.

There is no large guided-tour operator in town; self-guided downtown routes such as the Taste of Redlands loop past the Redlands Bowl and the city’s Victorian landmarks are the easiest way to sightsee by bike.

Redlands is a bike-racing town: each April it hosts the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the longest continuously running professional stage race in the U.S., with several days of road stages and a downtown criterium worth planning around.