Angel Island Tour on Electric Bikes – Self Guided

I don’t usually write reviews. But I have to to for this experience. The Essential SF Bike Tour was simply fantastic. Nick was a superb host who went out of his way to make sure that everyone had a wonderful time. It was a great way to see San Francisco and Nick’s knowledge of the city was first rate and presented in an interesting way. The bikes were comfortable and really well maintained. Thanks so much Nick – I would do another tour in a heartbeat!

We took Nick’s tour as part of a girls weekend in SF and it was 100% the highlight! We had so much fun riding throughout the city on our custom bikes. Not being avid cyclists we were a little nervous about biking in hilly SF but the electric bikes made it so fun and easy. They were so easy to ride and as comfortable as a bike seat can be.  We loved riding the Golden Gate Bridge  and Nick’s maps planned out the whole route and he explained each part to us. We had the most gorgeous weather for our ride and perfect views of the bridge!

This truly was so much fun, book it!

This was my favorite thing we did on our brief visit to San Francisco. I’ve been on 5 bike tours before this in other cities and can say that Nick is the best tour guide I’ve ever had. His enthusiasm and knowledge of SF’s history was impactful and enlightening. It’s a great way to get your bearings in this sprawling city if you are staying a while OR if your trip is short (like ours) it’s a great way to see all the famed neighborhoods and get a sense for their unique flavors. The biking is not arduous even though SF is very hilly and the bike lanes are all new; overall very safe experience. The length of time is appropriate for sure as there is so much to see. Also, after the tour was over, Nick spent time with each of his guests offering recommendations on where to go next–he even hand wrote out places on his already chalk-full preprinted recommendation list of where to go in various neighborhoods. Great guy, great tour! Keep it up Nick!

Loved this cycle tour – our guide Nick was great, all the bikes were really high quality and he customized them to suit each person – he even fitted a saddle for me that i had brought with me! The cycle has very little traffic on the route so easy to complete even if you’re not that experienced on a bike. His workshop is easy to find and its nice to relax there and get to know other people on the tour.

Nick is a very affable guy and I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this company, he really created a good group dynamic.He provided us with a good historical overview of the city and also insights to what it’s like to live there now, so we got to really experience the place on a deeper level. Nick also took photos of the group which he forwarded by email later on – so lovely to have those as a keepsake. He also gave us a great printout of suggestions for bars, restaurants, shops etc. in all the various districts, which proved invaluable!

Definitely take this tour and support the smaller guys like Dandyhorse- who are ultimately better and more passionate about their offerings than the bigger tour operators!

Nick’s preparation (and enthusiasm) for the group tour is immediately noticeable upon arrival at his bike shop. Every details planned from the iPad check in, chairs fo sitting, great music (groovy analog equipment), custom made bikes with our names on it…all a good sign of what’s to come. I’m not alone in my praise for these bikes he builds, just awesome, light, comfortable, very smooth gears and brakes. Truthfully I now covet one to own for myself. But of course I am here for the sights and narrative of the city and that’s where Nick continues to exceed expectations as a guide, really excels. He has an excellent speaking voice it’s clear diction for us all to hear, easy to follow hand signals and balances the biking, rests and adventures along the way. I’m impressed with Nick’s knowledge of the city, enjoyed his unique stops for sandwiches, treats, shops and sights. I highly recommend this tour for both first time visitors and those who have not fully experienced the SF neighborhoods on bicycle. Bravo Nick for your Dandyhorse Tour business and thank you for the good energy along the way!

Probably our favorite thing we did in San Francisco- going at our own pace, with everything perfectly mapped made for a delightful ride. We saw many of the classic sights, including the completely beautiful path to the Golden Gate Bridge.  what we loved too were the little neighborhood finds we probably wouldn’t have learned about otherwise- not only on the tour but Nick, the owner of Dandyhorse, gave us dozens of other recs, taking time to draw on a map and describe why he loves those spots. We took several of them and doing so made our trip SO MUCH BETTER. . Thank you Nick!

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

Nick is an amazing tour guide of the local scene & how proud he is of the history & heritage of his beloved city shows through beautifully in his tour. The second you arrive at his shop he has all kinds of books and literature in a short presentation about the history of the city and where you will be going on your tour. Each bike has a unique adorable name especially picked my neck for you. Mine was “Purple Reign” which this adorable play on words thrilled me because I am a huge Prince fan and a girl of the eighties!! The bikes are great quality, again Nick is a fantastic tour guide & he will stop in many great little spots off the beaten track of the tourist traps & grab some great bites along the way. Time flies so quickly you don’t even realize it. Also he has so much knowledge & advice. He shares his email & number with everyone in case they have any questions on their stay which was so super sweet!! We ran into him the next day when we were touring the Castro and he was super eager to say hi and chat with us on where we were going and what we were doing. Great guy & a superb experience!! Don’t miss this one!!!

I had so much fun on this tour–Nick’s animated personality and enthusiasm for the city/biking made this experience very enjoyable. He was extremely knowledgeable and taught me way more than I expected to learn– I probably know more about San Francisco now than I do my own home town! Being able to stop, walk around, and sample food allowed me to really immerse myself in the neighborhoods’ different cultures. A perfect blend of exercising and education. Great photo opportunities as well! Thank you, Nick.

We saw more of San Francisco then I ever imagined. We just booked the day tour to start but had such a great experience with Nick we booked the night tour the next day and it was even better. Got to see a completely different side of town. Nick was a great guide, very knowledgeable about the history and architecture of town. A must do tour!

As a new resident, this bike tour is a super orientation of the city and some of its unique neighborhoods. Nick did an exceptional job making us feel welcome and providing lots of incredible sights and yummy surprises along the way. I would do this again in heartbeat and recommend it to anyone new to the city!

We had a great time on Nick’s Night Cycle Food Tour – he’s a great guide! There were a range of bikes to choose from, all of great quality which he adjusted to ensure a comfy ride for everyone. Nick brought us to parts of the city we would never have explored on our own, and his personality really gelled the group – it was great fun, a highlight of our trip.  He also gave us a print out of recommended places to explore in all the districts which was an invaluable resource in the days after the cycle – so do this activity early in your trip! Also Nick is a small-time operator who really cares about the experience you have – so support him rather than the bigger generic tour companies!