The morning air on the Strand tastes like salt and sunblock. A slow swell hisses against the sand as fishermen untangle lines on the pier and joggers find their rhythm along the boardwalk. You clip into the saddle of a heavy, confident electric cruiser, thumb the throttle and feel the city relax into motion. This is not a race; it's a lateral journey through a string of beaches — Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo, El Porto, Venice, and Santa Monica — all stitched together by the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail. For anyone who wants the coastal arc of Los Angeles without the exhaust, the electric beach cruiser rental from Beachside Bikes is the most civilized way to do it. The machine is built for the job: a 500W rear-hub motor, 3-inch tires that shrug off broken pavement, Tektro mechanical disc brakes, and a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain to help if the wind turns mean. With pedal-assist and a thumb throttle, the bike gives you an easy, steady push up to 20 mph; it’s an equalizer between local cyclists powering for the commute and casual visitors who want the view without the sweat. The trail itself is a modest marvel. It follows the coastline with generous privileges for people on two wheels: beachfront promenades, dedicated bike paths, and long, unbroken sightlines that turn the Pacific into your constant companion. The route is as much civic infrastructure as it is landscape, a recent-century attempt to make the shoreline public and walkable. The Marvin Braude Trail—often called simply “the Strand”—was completed in stages beginning in the 1970s and now connects beaches across Los Angeles County. The result is a layered, humanized coast where volleyball courts, lifeguard towers, seafood shacks, and surf shops press up against the ocean. Riding it on an e-bike changes the math: distance and headwinds matter less. Coupled with Beachside Bikes’ clear rental system and helpful staff, you can plan a short loop from Manhattan Beach to Hermosa and back for a compact morning, or string a longer 20-mile, single-direction trip that ends at Santa Monica Pier. Practical realities matter: batteries have range variance, and Beachside Bikes notes that advertised ranges depend on assist level, rider weight, and headwind. Their Chatham Step Over cruiser advertises up to 52 miles with conservative pedal assist or 22 miles on throttle alone—good numbers, but treat them as best-case. Ride smart: choose moderate assist, roll in higher gears on flats, and stop for a quick recharge of your phone or yourself at one of the cafes along the way. For families, the shop offers trailers and kid seats; under-18 riders must wear helmets, and the shop requires a check-in ID and minor-age supervision. Parking is straightforward if you start from Beachside’s meeting point at 3616 Highland Ave—there’s public parking at Highland and Rosecrans for a small fee—so it's easy to leave your car and let the coast be your vehicle for the day. The townships along the Strand each have their own flavor. Manhattan Beach feels tidy and surf-culture refined; Hermosa is livelier and compact, with bars and classic burger spots clustered near the path. Santa Monica is bigger, with a crowdier pier but more options for coffee and dinner. Where the trail threads through Venice, expect a busier, bohemian crowd and plenty of photo ops. To get the most out of a rental, plan a set route and reserve time in the afternoon if you want golden light for pictures; alternatively, early-morning rides reward you with calmer winds and empty promenades. Bring sunscreen and a reliable water bottle; the shop sells bottled water but personal hydration bladders or insulated bottles are worth the space. Wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable layers—coastal mornings can be cool, midday brings heat, and the wind can make it feel colder than it looks. If you're planning a longer, all-day trip, factor in battery management: choose a conservative pedal-assist level, avoid starting with the throttle on full, and test the battery readout before you leave. Beachside's staff will demonstrate these details as part of the check-out process. There’s a civic etiquette to riding the Strand: yield to pedestrians, announce passes, ride single file in narrow sections, and lock your bike if you stop in town. The beach and boardwalk are public commons; respecting other users and the shoreline keeps the path open for everyone. For photographers, the best frames come at low angles with the ocean as negative space—try the Santa Monica pier at sunrise or head to Hermosa for candid surf scenes. Long lenses compress ocean and pier, while a wide-angle on the Strand gives you a feeling of speed and scale. When you return the bike, there’s a satisfaction in having covered miles without the soreness you expect from a coastal ride—thanks to that electric assist. The rental is less about raw athleticism and more about access: it converts coastlines into contiguous experiences you can taste, stop, and savor. Link up the itinerary with Beachside Bikes through their booking page for an easy start to your day, and treat the e-bike as an invitation to reframe LA's coastline not as a drive-by postcard but as a series of short stories—each beach a chapter you can pedal through with time left to grab a meal and a beer when you're done.