Long Beach Waterbikes

DETAILS:

• Location: 110 N. Marina Dr., Unit B, Long Beach, CA 90803 (the launching dock is located directly behind Ballast Point Brewery)

• Hours of Operation: Daily - 12PM to 9:30PM (By reservation only)

• Parking: Free 3-hour parking. You can park anywhere in the Ballast Point Brewery parking lot. During popular hours (weekends, etc.) parking may be limited so arrive early to ensure that you find a parking spot.

• Cost:

  • Day Ride: $25/person

  • Glow Ride: $30/person

• Time Commitment: 1 hour (Plus check-in time. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to reservations)

• Miscellaneous:

  • During Covid19 regulations; masks are required on the dock. No walk-ins allowed.

  • Obviously, there’s no shade while you’re on your waterbike for a day ride so make sure to bring appropriate sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc.)

  • 250lbs weight limit.

  • Seat height is not adjustable so there is a leg length requirement of 28 inches to insure that you’ll reach the pedals. This may prohibit some children from riding.

  • While you may find some pictures on the web featuring dogs along for the ride, dogs are not currently allowed.

  • Strict 48 hour reschedule/cancellation policy.

  • Tandem waterbikes currently not available. Single-rider waterbikes only.

  • Barring a freak wave or accident, you won’t make any contact with the water (the waterbikes are actually very stable on the water), so regular “land-attire” and sneakers are fine. Basically, you won’t get wet unless you try to get wet!

  • The waterbikes have a small storage unit under the handle bars to store any valuables from accidentally falling into the bay. Cup holders are also available on the waterbike. I highly recommend bringing water during your ride.

  • Glow Rides available for night rides. Each waterbike is outfitted with LED lights that allow you to “glow” on the water as you pedal along.

  • Bathrooms available within Ballast Point Brewery.

There’s nothing like being out on the water on a summer day, or any day for that matter. Whether it’s on a boat, surfboard, kayak, or paddle board, you can’t go wrong with any of those options. But for a really unique adventure, you should consider a 1-hour ride aboard a waterbike! Based in Alamitos Bay, Long Beach Waterbikes takes this typical landlocked activity out onto the water creating a surreal visual and experience. It’s as fusion as it gets and I promise that you’ll be the hit of the bay as everyone within viewing distance gleefully marvels at the sight of you peddling on top of the water.

It’s a fun activity for sure, but be prepared for a workout! While it’s your choice to take an easy or aggressive pace, you’ll basically be peddling for an hour straight so if you’re missing your favorite spinning class due to the quarantine, this is definitely a worthy alternative. And social distancing is sort of inherent to the experience so you’re covered on that front too. The waterbikes themselves are surprisingly stable on the water so there’s no danger of tipping over and you’ll hardly make any contact with the water, if at all. My sneakers stayed completely dry throughout. So the only way you’re going to get wet is if you intentionally make the effort to get wet. Once you get into the main portion of the bay, the waters are pretty calm making for a smooth peddle. But to get there (and back), you’ll have to cross the channel that accesses the ocean which will make your ride a lot choppier because of all the boats coming in and out, so be prepared for a harder peddle during these stretches. Since you have 1 hour, a good tip is to set a timer for 30 minutes so that you have enough time to return. And remember, however far you go, you’ll need to travel that same distance to get back making the 2nd half of your ride a little more strenuous.

The guys working the waterbike dock were super friendly and helpful so consider a tip if you have the ability to do so. Finally, this activity definitely bears a repeat visit if you enjoyed it the first time around since they also offer nightly “Glow Rides” which finds each bike outfitted with LED lights, providing another completely unique outing on the water. But whether you decide to go at day or night (or both), Long Beach Waterbikes will certainly be an experience you won’t forget!

 

RESOURCES:

• Long Beach Waterbikes website.