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IT’S TIME TO TAKE A SANTA BARBARA ELECTRIC BIKE TOUR

September 9, 2022

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Electric bike tours have become extremely popular around the globe, including right here in Santa Barbara. And for a good reason. Besides being an environmentally friendly way to explore, e-bikes are the perfect way to see the sights in beautiful Santa Barbara County.

Group of bicyclists in front of a Santa Ynez Valley vineyard
Image Courtesy of ibikesantabarabra


Santa Barbara communities are among the most bike-friendly in the country. So much so, that the town of Santa Barbara has received a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award from the League of American Bicyclists. The award is the culmination of years of work by the city and its citizen advocates in the movement toward making our community healthier, more sustainable, and connected. As such, E-bike tours here run the gamut. You can stick to Santa Barbara central or head out to wine country. Your choice. Here are some of the Santa Barbara electric bike tour companies to choose from:

Cal Coast Adventures invites you to travel through our fine city with private and group tours. Called the City Electric Bike Tours, you will be entranced at the ease of riding an e-bike while peddling along the best bike routes, passing historical landmarks and epic viewpoints. Whet your appetite for this adventure by watching this video.

I Bike Santa Barbara Wine Tours offers a full day of fun featuring a 6-mile guided loop through the vineyards, farms, and towns of the Santa Ynez Valley. Tours include transportation to and from wine country in brand new high-top shuttle vans, a bike and helmet, a knowledgeable guide, olive oil tasting, two wine tastings, and a farmer’s market picnic lunch. Check out this video for a sneak peek.

Or, explore our bike-friendly town on your own by renting an E-bike through Santa Barbara Bikes to Go. All bikes come with locks, helmets, maps, and baskets. Besides e-bikes, Wheels of Fun Rentals, located a block from the iconic beach-front Cabrillo Boulevard, Stearns Wharf, and West Beach, has E-Trikes to rent.

    E-trikes in front of boats in the Santa Barbara Harbor.
    Image courtesy of Wheels of Fun Rentals


    Here are 5-reasons behind the current e-bike craze:

    • Open to Everyone
      E-bikes are easy, accommodating riders of all abilities and leveling the field on a group tour. Everyone in the group can match the pace of skilled riders, resulting in a much more enjoyable experience. When you tire of pedaling, just kick back and allow the bike's lithium-ion or lead-acid battery to kick in and keep you going.
    • Still an Excellent Workout
      Although e-bikes do some of the hard work for you, it is still possible to get a great workout on one. While riders have the option to pedal physically, they also have the power to turn on the electric motor which will pick up the slack whenever they need it. As a result, you won't tire as easily or quickly.
    • The Miles Just Fly By
      You won't be exhausted riding an e-bike. No need to skip those epic views or bypass any nature trails. Instead, riding an e-bike will give you the energy to keep going and seeing more than ever. Plus, ascending mountains or hills is a breeze with a bit of batter power behind you.
    • E-bikes are Green
      The combination of electric and human power makes e-bikes better for the environment than traditional travel methods. Unlike cars, buses, and trains, e-bikes don’t produce carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—all of which can wreak havoc on the pristine land and marine ecosystems we love in Santa Barbara. E-bikes do require battery charging but they only use a minimal amount of electricity. Plus, charging one using solar power means your ride will be 100% environmentally friendly.
    • E-bikes Equal Fun
      The most important thing about riding an e-bike is all the fun experiences you'll enjoy. They allow anyone to discover natural wonders and historic landscapes easily and can take you to places that vehicles can't—including a growing number of national parks that allow electric bicycles. In addition, through e-bike touring, you'll connect with nature and your community, all while helping to reduce your travel environmental footprint.

    A Santa Barbara electric bike tour is just one way to open up a world of possibilities when exploring Santa Barbara County. If you want to explore the real estate market here and move to any upscale Santa Barbara communities, please call me at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. With more than $277,000,000 in sales already in 2022, I put my contacts and knowledge to work on your behalf, beginning with a complimentary consultation for your property.


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    “It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

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    - M.F.

    “Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

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    “We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

    - T.C.

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    “I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

    - M.A.

    “Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

    - D.K.

    “Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

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    “Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

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    - John and Lacey Williams

    “After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

    - Michael & Nancy Lee

    “Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

    - Richard and Catherine Frinier

    “Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

    - Laurie Siegel

    “We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

    - Ken Saffir

    “Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

    - Michael & Susan Marquart

    “A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

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