The glacier that carved Yosemite Valley must have had cruiser bikes in mind. Bring your own two-wheeler or rent a cruiser by the hour from Yosemite Lodge at the Falls or Curry Village, then hop on the 10-mile, car-free, paved trail that loops around the valley. From all compass points the views are high (Half Dome), mighty (El Capitan), and spectacular (waterfalls galore). With all this natural grandeur, staying focused on the trail can be tough! A side trip to Mirror Lake is prime in spring: this wide section of Tenaya Creek, literally in the shadow of Half Dome, fills only during the spring run-off and offers a crystal-clear mirror effect—especially in the morning. Back on the valley floor, keep wheeling to Lower Yosemite Falls, where there's an easy walk to the viewpoint.

TIP: Due to road construction, part of the valley's Northside Dr. is closed, so El Capitan Meadow is more quiet and serene than it's been in recent memory. With no cars and few tourists, this meadow makes a perfect picnic spot. Bring a blanket and binoculars—often you can spot rock climbers on El Capitan, the world's largest granite monolith.

For a map to the 10-mile Valley Loop Trail, click here. To get to El Capitan Meadow by bike, pedal a couple of miles on Northside Dr., even though it's closed to cars. Once you reach the "No Bikes" sign, dismount and walk .75 mile west to El Capitan Meadow. By car and shuttle, park at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and catch the special "El Cap Meadow Shuttle" at shuttle stop 7.

Mike's Bikes, the Bay Area's premier bike retailer, wants to help you find the answer to this summertime question: what's your bike personality?
This week's bike personality: "The Lollygagger."

The weekend comes and you're all about letting loose, throwing on a T-shirt and flip-flops, and finding some good times. Late brunch, barbecues, and beach blankets are your idea of a great weekend, and the word "agenda" is off limits until Monday. Your idea of a bike ride is cruising Golden Gate Park or Crissy Field and maybe heading across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.

Sound like you? You're the Lollygagger. And the Mike's Bike for you: the Raleigh Coasting. This Cadillac of cruising bikes has it all: a three-speed automatic shifter, mustache handlebars, a classy spring-loaded seat, and even a bottle opener on the six-pack front rack. Head to one of Mike's Bikes six retail stores to test the Raleigh Cruiser. You'll be ready for anything that rolls your way.

Mike's Bikes has six stores in Northern California: Sacramento (916-446-BIKE), San Rafael (415-454-3747), Sausalito (415-332-3200), Berkeley (510-549-8350), San Francisco (415-241-BIKE), and Palo Alto (650-858-7700).