How to optimise your rental bike experience

So, you have decided to rent a bike for your cycling vacation, rather than bring your own. Here are some great tips to give you more comfort, performance and enjoyment. 

• Bring your riding position data 

It’s important to get your position right for a big week of riding in the mountains. If you have had a bike fit, bring the data so you can replicate your ideal position. If you haven’t, you might think about getting one ahead of your trip (it’s always money well spent), otherwise we strongly recommend measuring the set-up of your own bike. You need to know your saddle height, saddle to bar drop, saddle to bar reach, and saddle setback. We can help you adjust your rental bike, if you need it.

• Bring your saddle 

If you have a favourite saddle, it's a great idea to bring it on your cycling holiday. Long rides in the mountains are no time to be uncomfortable on a different saddle. Rental bikes come with various saddles and it’s pure luck if you happen to like it. A saddle is easy to pack and takes two minutes to swap. We have some spare saddles, too, in case you only realise what a good idea this is during your first ride! 

• Bring your stem 

If you know that you prefer a longer or shorter stem than comes fitted as standard to your size bike, you may want to bring your own. For instance, I ride a 56cm frame with a 130mm stem, but standard is 110mm, which feels uncomfortably short. Note, swapping stems is only possible when the rental bike has a conventional stem with external brake hoses and cables. A one-piece cockpit cannot be swapped on a rental. We keep spare stems in several lengths. 

• Bring your computer mount 

This is easy on bikes with conventional bars, but tricky if the rental bike has a one-piece cockpit. As a back-up, we suggest bringing the type that attaches with stretchy bands. We have a few of those spare, if you need one. 

• Bring your pedals (even if the shop offers) 

All of the rental shops in our area can provide pedals for you, but they will be entry-level and may not have the feel you’re used to in terms of entry, exit, float and lateral support. This use case is also a great argument in favour of power meter pedals, which will allow you to have power data on a rental bike.

• Maybe even bring tyres 

Rental bikes tend to have long-lasting tyres for obvious reasons and they’re slower and heavier than the high-end tyres you may have on your own bike. If you’re visiting to ride the GFNY Lourdes or La Pyrénéenne grand fondo, and you care about your finish time, then swapping the tyres is a great way to boost a rental bike’s performance and it’s easy to pack a pair of tyres in your luggage. With our workstands, track pumps and tools (and our help if needed), you can get in done in just a few minutes.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help.