To Rent or Not to Rent

By Jay Bartlett

When going on a riding holiday, there is a lot to consider when it comes to what gear you should bring. One of the biggest considerations is whether to bring your own bike or rent one. Many bike shops have rental fleets, so if you’re traveling by air, you’re taking a huge drive and packing a lot, or you just have a very full itinerary that only includes a little time for riding, renting a bike may be your best bet. Bicycles Unlimited, for instance, has a link on their website that lets you choose what type of bike you’ll be riding (i.e. road, mountain, electric, etc.) and the size that fits you. You can also rent car racks to haul the bikes to the trailhead and/or add helmets, locks, or repair kits to your rental. It’s a simple way to have everything ready to go when your precious riding time becomes available.

However, there are several things to keep in mind when renting a bike. For instance, what pedals do they offer? If your shoes are set up for a certain pedal, make sure the rental shop has them or it’s going to make for a very uncomfortable ride. It’s not a bad idea to bring your own pedals, especially if you ride clipless because knowing when a cleat will release is important for safety and bravery! Having your pedals ensures that one of the most important touch-points on the bike will feel natural to you.

Don’t like the idea of wearing a helmet that’s been shared by god-knows-how-many people? Bring your own helmet as well as your riding kit; you really should do everything you can to make sure you can be comfortable on an unfamiliar bike.

Don’t forget your shoes! We’ve been asked if we rent shoes, and it’s very rare that a bike shop will do this because of the sheer number of sizes and styles available (road or mountain, flats or cleats). So be sure to bring your shoes with you.

Do some research into the bike you’re about to rent. If you’re very particular about your bike as far as components, the rental may not be up to your standards. In fact, if you are very particular, I would strongly suggest you look into bringing your own bike on the trip because even if the rental is using the same parts, it may not be set up just the way you like it to be. Few shops are willing to change out parts to accommodate your obsessions. On mountain bikes, figure on getting the suspension and tires aired to your weight and saddle height and maybe adjust the fore and aft saddle. These adjustments are enough for an enjoyable jaunt on some out-of-the-way trails.

If you aren’t super picky about the details, a rental can be a good way to test out a different make or model of bike if, say, you’re in the market for a new ride or just curious about how other bikes feel and handle. In fact, even if travel isn’t in your plans, rentals can be used as “demos.” Take a bike out and shake it down for the day. Maybe that ride could lead to your next new bike!

There are certainly good points and bad points to renting a bike and maybe it’s just not for you. But doing a rental can be a good way to uncomplicate a trip and still let you do what vacations were invented for: riding bikes!