Holiday bike hire

[midliferider]

I once had a bad experience. Nearly 20 years ago I rented a bike in Amsterdam for a week of touring to see Tulips. They could not find a correct size and I came home with a backache.

Now I always take my bike wherever I go.

 

[Alex321]

The only time I have hired a bike o holiday was last year in Greece, when the hotel hadd a bike hire place.

Really more what people on here would call a BSO - flat bars, 1x7 gears with twist grip gear changing.
€20 for 3 days (which meant riding on 4 days, as it was 3x24h and I took it out at 11:00am so got to ride on the 4th day before returning it)

But it was mainly flat in the area, and I managed to get in some rides of 30+km. The hire place was quite surprised when I told them where I had reached on it.

 

[Sixmile]

On separate holidays I've hired bikes at the nearest reputable bike shop, registered and used city bike schemes, brought mine on the roof of the car, rode them onto cross channel ferries and have also put them on the plane and built them when I arrived on a number of occasions - including flying to Holland with 2 tandems in the Easyjet hold last summer.

My most recent hire was in Tenerife last year where I hired a road bike to do some of the big climbs in the south of the island. Truly terrifying and not my kind of cycling at all. In fact, I think I've barely ridden a road bike since - I'm so done with that type of riding

I'd agree with @midliferider and recommend just taking your own bike, preferably one you mind an extra ding or scratch as it goes through baggage or onto a ferry. So much simpler and means you don't need transfers as you build and go - especially handy when you're not flying home from the airport that you arrived in.

 

[pjd57]

Rodos cycles.
In Rhodes. On main road between Rodos and Ixia.
Great shop. Nice bikes.
Pity the area around it is not very nice.
I was in a hotel facing it and wandered in.
€25 a day for a decent road bike .

 

[Emanresu]

Have hired in Spain where there is a good supply of hire bikes. One (BikeIberia) will get the bike to you anywhere in Iberia (natch) then arrange collection at wherever you stop. Range of bikes

Have done the FIFO too, flying into Logrono in Spain and then popping into Decathlon for a MTB for €300. Their bikes are fairly pedestrian but last. Met a guy who did the same but purchased the budget level one (€150). Did the job though. Also Decathlon now sell second life/second hand bikes.

The benefit of a Decathlon bike IMHO, is that wherever you take it in Europe there is a Decathlon with spares for it. Managed to pick up bits for that bike in both Italy and Greece when cycling through.

Or take your pride and joy with you and have baggage handlers mash it for you.

 

[matticus]

First in First Out.
(Just FYI :P )

 

[Emanresu]

First in First Out.
(Just FYI :P )

Fly in. Fly out.

 

[MichaelW2]

I hired a heavy 1 speed in Aveiro, Portugal which got me to the beach and back.
I have used the public bike hire system in NY and Vienna.
I hired a Raleigh Pioneer in Bantry, Ireland for my very first bike tour.

 

[matticus]

I hired a heavy 1 speed in Aveiro, Portugal which got me to the beach and back.
I have used the public bike hire system in NY and Vienna.
I hired a Raleigh Pioneer in Bantry, Ireland for my very first bike tour.

A Dutch audaxer has bet me* I can't finish one of their 200km events on a 3-speed hire bike. The project is still in the planning stage [3 years since the bet, IIRC]

*I think the stake was "I'll buy you a beer if ...".

 

[kingrollo]

Lanzarote - playa Blanca - papaygo bike - pretty good. Used them loads of times. They have a call-out number if you hit mechanicals or just get lost. Never had to use it - but for my anxiety levels it's a nice to have .

 

[Emanresu]

I hired a heavy 1 speed in Aveiro, Portugal which got me to the beach and back.
I have used the public bike hire system in NY and Vienna.
I hired a Raleigh Pioneer in Bantry, Ireland for my very first bike tour.

Was in Aveiro this year so the 1 speed would be OK there. Not sure of the 1 speed in Bantry though. Lots of hills close by.