Author Topic: Hire of touring bike in Seattle  (Read 9052 times)

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Offline sarah browne

Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« on: January 23, 2017, 12:23:19 pm »
Hi after cycling the transam in 2013, I am planing to cycle part of the northern tier this year.  My husband< however, is only coming for 2 weeks so we have a sort of holiday cycle planned for that period. We live in Scotland, and for 2 weeks it is not worth him transporting his bike so he needs to hire one. Frame size 21 inches with rack for panniers(bags), any suggestions please. .

Offline great_egret

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2017, 07:06:47 am »
Give REI in Seattle a call. They rent kayaks, bikes, and camping equipment. They may even rent panniers. If you're heading out of Anacortes, give local bike shops a call. Skagit Cycle Center offers weekly rates for bicycle rentals:

http://skagitcyclecenter.com/about/bicycle-rental-information-pg524.htm

If you're starting elsewhere, give local bike shops a call. If they don't offer rentals (most do), they'll know who does.

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Offline DaveB

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2017, 09:30:51 am »
Most rental shops expect you to pick up and drop off the bike at the same location.  If you are riding part of the Northern Tier route together, how are you going to get the rental bike back to the shop where you got it?   

Offline BikeFreak

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2017, 10:46:02 am »
and for 2 weeks it is not worth him transporting his bike
Why? Out of financial reasons? I think it will cost you 2x50 dollars to bring the bike on a plane.

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2017, 11:32:12 am »
and for 2 weeks it is not worth him transporting his bike
Why? Out of financial reasons? I think it will cost you 2x50 dollars to bring the bike on a plane.

Does British Airways fly into Seattle, and do they have a really good bike policy?  Most U.S. airlines will double to triple the prices BikeFreak cites, unless you have a folding or S&S coupled bike.  Even then, a second checked bag flying domestic within the U.S. is $35 each way.

Offline great_egret

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2017, 07:45:07 pm »
Most rental shops expect you to pick up and drop off the bike at the same location.  If you are riding part of the Northern Tier route together, how are you going to get the rental bike back to the shop where you got it?
I wonder if a renter could work it out to pick up the bike at REI in Seattle and drop it off at REI in Sandpoint. Two weeks is plenty of time to do that mileage. (I'm thinking out loud here, I haven't actually called REI).

Edit: never mind I see Sandpoint doesn't have an REI, but Spokane does and they could dip down there from Colville instead of riding hwy 20.


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« Last Edit: March 26, 2017, 07:54:12 pm by great_egret »

Offline DaveB

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2017, 09:12:54 am »
I wonder if a renter could work it out to pick up the bike at REI in Seattle and drop it off at REI in........  (I'm thinking out loud here, I haven't actually called REI).
I'd definitely call REI about that possibility but I seriously doubt they'd do it or they very likely would want a significant drop-off charge.  One way rentals of automobiles are difficult to find and usually expensive and I expect for bikes it will be even harder to arrange.   

Offline John Nelson

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2017, 12:25:17 pm »
Honestly, you rarely hear of people successfully renting (hiring in British-speak) a touring bike. First of all, most bike shops don't even stock them, or, if they do stock them, they have one or two. Second, many bike shops don't rent any bikes at all. Third, even if they do rent touring bikes, it may be a lot of time and fuss to fit your gear to them.

I know it's trouble and expense to bring a bike from Europe for only two weeks, but that may be your best bet anyway.

Offline hon_cho

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2017, 11:39:08 am »
Might try posting an advertisement on the Seattle Craigslist for a touring bike rental.  A friend of mine who ran a bike shop that sold mostly used bikes offered a repurchase plan to people who only needed bikes for a short time.  He would sell the bike and agree to repurchase for some agreed upon amount if returned in good condition.  If I remember correctly,  it was typically $50-100, depending upon the time the bike was needed. 

Of course,  if you have no conscious whatsoever,  you could buy a new bike from REI and use their return policy to return it at the end of your tour.  It's wrong but given the bikes I've seen returned to REI,  it probably happens more than one might image (and indirectly costs everyone in the form of higher prices). 

Offline PeteJack

Re: Hire of touring bike in Seattle
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2017, 07:20:55 pm »
I've done Leeds to Seattle with British Airways and back a couple of times and taken a bike. Your bike in a box  counts as your one free checked bag  (years ago they allowed two free checked bags). Check the BA website it may be bearable to take another checked bag. What I've done before today is bought a suitcase from a charity shop,I got one in Settle (sic) for £4 once, and stuff your panniers in that so you only have one extra bag.