About
About SF Bike Tours
At SF Bike Tours, we share true insider bike adventures packed with local charm, fresh air, and inspiration. We believe in providing true FOMO*-free explorations of San Francisco’s fascinating history, distinctive neighborhoods, quirky architecture, glorious nature, and irresistible food. Embrace curiosity, celebrate wonder, and get ready to experience more than you thought was possible. YOLO**!
*fear of missing out **you only live once
- Who we are
Nick
Tour Guide, Bike Builder, and Local Historian
Hi I’m, Nick, the owner at Dandyhorse. I lead all of the bike adventures, lovingly custom build the bikes, and nerd out on all the details to make the experience special for you. I am a lifelong San Francisco enthusiast and longtime resident who loves exploring the city, it’s best food, fascinating history, gorgeous nature, and epic biking. I’m excited to share my favorite discoveries with you- by bike!
I created Dandyhorse to share something that didn’t exist in SF: authentic, expansive bike adventures that felt like they were led by a good friend. In short, the kind of cool experience we dream of when traveling. Through years of development I am proud to welcome you on a one-of-a-kind San Francisco adventure you won’t soon forget.
- Our Mission
What we share with every guest
THE SF MAGIC
Discover the best of this magical city…
from longtime local guides who give an inside perspective on SF’s best history, food, subcultures, natural beauties, must-see landmarks and hidden gems.
Designed for locals & curious travelers
All of our adventures are crafted by locals. If you’re a lifetime local, the goal is for you to learn about and experience the City in a fresh, exciting way. They’re also ideal for travelers who want an authentic showcase of local culture. No touristy BS here.
A celebration of SF history & culture
Our roots are in the arts and teaching, so we know the value of lifetime learning. You’ll hear stories about SF landmarks, Victorian architecture, central heroes and villains, destruction, rebirth, and evolution. It all comes to life with our iPad collection of cool historical photos and videos.
RADICAL HOSPITALITY
You now have a good friend in SF …
who loves to nerd out on every aspect of the city, knows all the coolest spots to explore, and can’t wait to share their San Francisco favorites with you.
Quality over quantity
From our workshop space that celebrates SF, to the custom bikes we build , to our expertly-crafted routes, all that we do centers around quality and the little details that make for an extra-special and memorable experience.
‘Best of SF’ food and drinks
We’re equal parts bike nerds, history buffs, and foodies. That’s why we highlight our all time favorite SF restaurants, food trucks, coffee shops, chocolatiers, breweries, and bakeries so you get a full taste of the city on every ride. Download our guide for a list of favorites by neighborhood.
SUSTAINABLE STYLE
Live your best life on a bike in SF…
not only it’s a sustainable, healthy choice, but we believe it’s hands-down the coolest, most fun way to see, experience, and discover San Francisco like a local.
An epic and accessible ride
Our tours are about fun, freedom, and feeling like a kid again. Our electric bikes make worrying about the SF hills or being able to keep up, history. Our tours share the SF’s finest views, neighborhoods, nature, and landmarks without compromise.
The Finest Bikes
For us, nothing compares to the experience of riding a truly great bike – it’s the closest thing to flying. That’s why we build the best electric tour bikes ever: easy to pedal, extra comfortable, extra safe, and extra capable, our adventure bikes will take you where other bike tours can only dream.
- Company History
How we got our start, way way back in ’14
Dandyhorse was born in 2014 out of a love for food, bikes, and adventure. The company originally started as a passion project by Nick Hormuth and Lindy Patterson under the name Pedal Inn, which was a bike camping cookbook funded on Kickstarter.
Soon after the cookbook was published, Nick had the wild idea of bringing the Pedal Inn experience to life by starting the world’s first bike-camping specific tour business. Our first epic overnight adventures to the magical Angel Island in the SF Bay featured incredible food, boundless creativity, and some of the coolest scenery ever offered in an SF tour experience.
In 2016, Nick decided to transition from a longtime career as a teacher to offering tours full time by expanding the business into day tours, and Dandyhorse was born. Committed to delivering the same no-limits adventure as those early Pedal Inn days, Dandyhorse continues the tradition of offering one-of-a-kind biking experiences that celebrate good food and creativity.
Since we started, we have welcomed nearly 4,000 guests between the ages of 8-80 from over 60 countries, all 50 states, and every background. We love meeting people and sharing our love for curiosity, culture, good food, good stories, and adventure with our guests and friends.
- Dandyhorse?! What’s the deal with the name?
A curious name with a fascinating history…
Dandy Horse was the derogatory name given to the precursor of what was later developed into the modern bicycle. Think of the Dandy Horse as basically a goofy and ornate balance bike, like the kind kids learn on today.
The Dandy Horse was developed in response to the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history in 1815 of Mt. Tambora in Indonesia, which prevented summer from arriving in the northern hemisphere and led to global famines. Because horses were used as a food source, a German blacksmith created a strider bike to get around town.
This invention soon made its way to the UK where it became popular among the Dandies, at the time a term synonymous with mischief and masculinity. The “Dandy Horse” quickly captured the popular imagination. Those stylish and forward-thinking trendsetters started riding clubs, and their notorious exploits were greeted by much derision from respectable society who soon attempted to enact laws to curtail their adventures. The rest, as they say, is history, but the spirit, tradition, and adventure continue to this day on our dreamy bike tours.
Check out this ace 1819 Children’s book chronicling the misadventures of a Dandy Horse rider.
- What our guests are saying
We’ve done many bike tours both domestically and internationally, and Nick was far and away the best bike tour guide we’ve ever had!!! His passion for San Francisco as well as his knowledge of history and interesting tidbits of information kept us thoroughly entertained throughout the trip. His service is top notch from the expert bike fitting and his careful attention to detail making sure we were all comfortable safe and enjoying ourselves. We had a spectacular dry sunny day so every stop was a wonderful photo opportunity. He was generous with his time his recommendations and willingness to help now and in the future. Highly recommend!!!
Nick from Dandyhorse just took us on our best experience in San Francisco! My husband and I got a real taste of the varied and dynamic cultures and history of all the very best, unique SF neighbourhoods, local haunts and incredible eateries. Whether you are an art enthusiast, foodie, architecture lover or just a culture vulture you will leave with a deep sense of satisfaction, knowledge and at least one new friend! Thank you Nick for a wonderful day, you are the real SF legend.
Dandyhorse offered such an authentic and epic experience on so many levels… our guide, Nick, possessed so much detail about architecture, history, neighborhoods etc even locals (not on the tour) were commenting on how they learned stuff. In roughly 5 hours we covered all best neighborhoods and got the ins and outs, you could never get without an experienced guide.We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and such a grand overview in such a condensed amount of time. We fell in love with the city because of Nick. His tour was world class!!
Nick is an amazing bike tour guide. First, you will be on one of his custom-made bikes that feels like something you would have bought for yourself. No cheap mass produced bikes here. Nick has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep the tour route accessible and on designated bike infrastructure (think safety). It probably took months for him to pick such an amazing route. And then there is the route itself – through SOMA, the Mission, Castro, Lower Haight, Haight-Ashbury, and the east side of the Golden Gate Park. We had lunch in Alamo Square Park, rode by the Conservatory of Flowers, and went up the de Young Museum Tower for a panoramic view. I can’t say enough good things about this tour. It was truly a highlight of my time in SF. Thank you Nick.
Our bike tour with Nick was by far and away the most fun, informative and unique experience we’ve had in San Francisco. His engaging style and fantastic historical and current day context made this ride one we will not soon forget. Thank you Nick for your passion and energy… we will be back
- Grab your copy of our SF local neighborhood guide
A curated insider’s guide to our favorite places to eat, drink, and explore in the city
