What do you think about hiring bikes?

[Cycle Sense]

If a parent is out of practice in riding bikes and doesn't have their own, but their kids enjoy riding their bikes regularly - is bike hire a good option?

 

[jimboalee]

Are you the children's Mother?

 

[medication25]

Its pretty costly to hire a bike, but i would suggest you hire one for the fist outing.. if you feel like its something you would do more often,,, buy a bike

 

[Davidc]

Useful when abroad or a long way from home.

 

[HJ]

Nothing wrong with doing it, but it is relatively expensive if you are intending to be a regular activity...

 

[belairman]

A basic bike is so cheap I would not bother. If all you are doing is riding about with your kids you don't need anything fancy.

Most bike hire outfits I know of are geared to short term hire to tourists etc so to hire one for any length of time would soon cost more than buying.

And sadly a lot of hire bikes are a bit tatty as well, at least IME.

Cheers Tim

 

[Shaun]

The only time I hire a bike is at Centre Parcs with the family. And that's only because I'm too lazy to strap my own bike to the back of the car.

 

[ianrauk]

Strap the kids to the back of the car and put your bike on the back seat..

The only time I hire a bike is at Centre Parcs with the family. And that's only because I'm too lazy to strap my own bike to the back of the car.

 

[tandemman]

We hired a tandem at Clumber park before buying one as we didn't want to make an expensive mistake.

 

[Arch]

I'd have thought it was worth it for the odd day out, like at Rutland Water, or Clumber Park etc. If you enjoyed that, you might be more willing to buy one for yourself.

But long term, hiring might work out pretty expensive.

 

[jig-sore]

try your local tip, or recycling centre as they like to call them these days.

they often sell off bikes at real bargain prices, got this one for my daughter... £12...

 

[Cycle Sense]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[ufkacbln]

Depends very much on the source....

I have seen hire bikes that I would quite happily ride and others that are death traps and will put people off.

 

[just4fun]

it would save you in the long run just to buy a cheap bike, whilst also providing you the opportunity to encourage your child to engage in fun outdoors non-aggressive exercise without the excuse that you dont have a bike so cant.