A Saturday morning in July. A pale blue sky stretches above Santa Monica Boulevard with its rows of gay bars. It is far too early for a drink at Micky’s, a joint that is packed on weekends where half-naked gogoboys are waiting for dollar bills to be slipped into their underpants. Shortly before 9 am only Starbucks is busy. Twe grab a quick Caffé Latte to carry us through a long day. When you think of Los Angeles, you think of chaotic traffic  broad boulevards where you can easily drive around in a convertible.

From the corner of Hollywood and Highland along the Walk of Fame, past Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where stars and starlets have left their hand- and footprints in the concrete in front of the entrance, and past Dolby Theatre, where the world’s most sought-after movie award is remitted at the end of February. Thanks to the academy: There is Sunset Boulevard with its luxurious hotels and world-famous clubs, not to mention Rodeo Drive – the shopping mile for all the rich and famous.

Who would think of L.A. as a city to be explored by bicycle? Danny Roman sees it differently. He and his business partner Bill had an idea that quickly developed into a successful business model. The gay entrepreneurs have been offering bicycle tours and hikes through Los Angeles for over a year now. Their headquarters are located in the heart of West Hollywood’s gay scene, next to one of their branches on Walk of Fame. The state-of-of-the-art trekking bikes pile up next to Gym, a gay sports bar. The “LA-in-a-Day” bike tour starts from here each morning, each participant equipped with a helmet and water bottle. It is the most important tour Bikes & Hikes have on offer. You can also choose shorter tours through Hollywood or Beverly Hills.

The tour takes about five to six hours through the most interesting dparts of Los Angeles. “You will experience the city very close up and very individually on our tour, says Danny. The son of Croatian immigrants is also a film producer who wanted to create a second main pillar for himself with the new company. “It was an attempt that has developed into a real success. We are the first to offer guided bicycle tours through L.A. and the advantages are obvious. On the one hand, a bicycle tour is the best thing you can do on the day after a long distance flight against jetlag, sun and movement help to get back into a proper biorhythm.”

During the 50 km long tour the body burns about 2500 calories – a good argument to have a juicy burger without second thoughts and still show your naked torso on the beach. It is 10 o’clock by now and the sun burns down relentlessly. The tour that starts now is something special. About 50 gay men from the SoCal Social Club, a gay lesbian business network, have booked the “LA-in-a-Day” package. The convoy sets off from Bikes & Hikes branch – past a zebra crossing painted in rainbow colours and several gay bars on Santa Monica Boulevard – and heads for Beverly Hills.

The tour comprises a visit to Greystone Mansion, a Tudor-style residence built on a hill, which has often served as a backdrop for movies such as X-Men, Spiderman, the Witches of Eastwick, Falcon Crest and the Muppets film. What follows is a varied ascent and descent through Beverly Hills and Bel Air, passing various celebrity residences. Whether Marilyn Monroe’s former home, the villas of Elvis Presley, Tom Cruise, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton, Cher, Elton John and the house where Michael Jackson died – all these can be seen. Knowledgeable guides give useful information on them at numerous stopovers.

Florian, originally from Germany, also belongs to the team of Bikes & Hikes. The trained and good-looking actor is one of many who seek their fortune in Hollywood and make ends meet somehow with part-time jobs. In addition to his job as a bicycle guide Florian works as gogo dancer and does not have to worry about keeping in shape. The now flat route takes us along the campus of University of California, UCLA and via Westwood and Veterans Hospital to Santa Monica to its famous pier, which also marks the end of legendary Route 66. We carry on to the north to Muscle Beach in Venice along the promenade.

There is another opportunity during lunch break to admire well-trained boys who know exactly why they flaunt it on Venice Beach. Even if it is not easy for the gay bike group we are back in the saddles after a half hour. The way back to West Hollywood takes us via Venice Canals, Marina Del Ray, Culver Studios, along a canal and Robertson Boulevard. The first bars are open in the afternoon it is definitely time for a drink.

INFO

www.discoverlosangeles.com
Official homepage of Los Angeles, providing a lot information on its neighbourhoods, sights and a dedicated page for gays and lesbians.

www.gogaywesthollywood.com
Official homepage of West Hollywood made especially for gays and lesbians.

www.bikesandhikesla.com
‘La-in-a-Day’ bike tour. An unsusual but even more exciting way to discover Berverly Hills, Bel Air, Santa Monica and Venice. There are also bikes available for rent for individual use.

HOW TO GET THERE

Air France offers daily flights from Germany to Los Angeles with a stop in Paris, some Paris-LA flights operated by A380s. Return flights are available from 619 Euros in Economy Class. Look out for special offers on the airline’s homepage.
www.airfrance.com

HOTELS

Petit Ermitage (8822 Cynthia Street) Very beautiful boutique hotel next door to the gay scene on Santa Monica Boulevard. Cosy pool terrace, www.petitermitage.com

Le Montrose Suite (900 Hammond Street) Apartment hotel, centrally located in West Hollywood offering large rooms and a cosy pool terrace, www.lemontrose.com

More tips on hotels

Please follow and like us: