It’s no surprise that vacation spots are often too crowded to find a good parking spot, or that distance may make it impossible to get to your destinations on foot. Aside from being a healthy choice, your travel experience in Florida may come easier thanks to shops with bicycle rental services near you.
Bike rental shops offer customer-friendly service, affordable pricing, along with assistance and repairs. Thus, renting a bike should be a hassle-free experience if you want to explore several hiking and biking trails or simple beach cruises around Florida without dealing with traffic.
It shouldn’t be a worrisome trip. The best bicycle rental experience will always come from preparing some essentials ahead of time.
Here are a few tips and tricks that may help you get the most out of your bike rental experience.
Check the Weather
When it comes to safety, one of the key points to look for before renting a bike is the weather for that specific day. In Florida, the weather is mostly warm and pleasant, making it one of the top tourist destinations in North America. Although the weather here may not be too much of a problem, it’s always good to check to ensure it will be a beautiful day for a good stroll with your beach cruiser.
Book Ahead of Time
Since most bike rental shops possess only a limited quantity of bikes on hand (with only some of those bikes fit for your size), call ahead for reservations to guarantee that you have one waiting for you once you arrive in the area, especially on a weekend. Some shops may consider reserving your bike with a credit card, while others may hold one for you with your name and phone number.
Visit Rental Shops
Although browsing bikes online may seem more accessible and more convenient, there are advantages of bike rentals from a credible local rental shop. Owners or attendants can suggest specific tours and answer any inquiries that you have on the spot. Plus, renting a bike can give you more insight and suggestions on important details like landmark tours, beach tours, and other sightseeing tours.
Choose Your Bike
As you may already know, there are a variety of bikes that you can rent based on your destination, preferences, and needs. Most of the time, the main types of bikes available for bicycle rental services are the following:
- Road bikes: Road bikes are the best fit for fast rides along the smooth pavement.
- City bikes: Also known as “urban” bikes or “commuter” bikes, perfect for riding around the city without needing cycling-specific clothing and for riding after dark.
- Cruiser bikes: Cruisers are designed for casual riding around the city; comfortable rides on relatively flat routes rather than hikes/bike trails.
- Hybrid bikes: These bikes offer both road bikes and mountain bikes, best for rides around town (either for paved or unpaved roads).
Ensure Comfort and Sizing
If you’re renting a bike from a local shop, it’s essential to make sure you are comfortable with the length of your planned ride. The trick here is simple: make sure you have the right size for your bike – including your saddle and pedals. Using a bike size chart can be helpful, but some bike rental attendants at a local rental shop can help you with measurements for a bicycle with the proper size.
Some important things to take note of include:
- Size: The bike size is usually measured from the crank to the seat post. If you rent a bike, the bike shop attendants can usually explain what size you should ride.
- Pedals: Clipless pedals can be better for you if you own a bike. For trips, you can remove them and store them with you in a zip lock bag. Once you arrive at a bike rental shop, you can have your own pedals installed. Familiarity can go a long way to boosting your comfortability; it would feel more like you’re at home.
- Position: This will depend on your saddle height – measured by rotating your pedals until the crank arm is aligned with the seat tube of your bicycle. You can then use a tape measure to measure from the top of the saddle to the middle of the pedal, followed by the distance from your saddle’s tip to the handlebars and the height of your handlebars. You can bring this information for preference for a close measurement when renting a bike.
- Saddle: Like the pedals, you can remove your saddle from your own bike and bring it with you on your trip. Some rental companies can install your saddle, which will optimize familiarity and comfort for your bicycle.
These are just some key points when it comes to bicycle rental services. To ensure that you have the best bicycle rental experience at an affordable price, check out our local shop for boat rentals in Clearwater Beach, FL. For as low as 10 dollars, you can have the most relaxing long rides and sightseeing adventures when cruising on the islands with our beautiful beach cruisers and city bikes. What are you waiting for? Call us now!
