Would you rent out your bike?

[Trek420]

Are there many of us/some who have "extra" bikes. If so would you rent them out?

http://tumblr.innovationforendurance.com/post/20821007895/spinlister-the-first-peer-to-peer-bike-sharing-program

[limewave]

I read the topic and thought no-way. But they seem to cover all the reasons I would have said no--like the insurance and covering damage. I think this sounds like a great idea. I'm going to check it out.

DH and I are thinking about a 10-year anniversary trip next year and will probably fly someplace. We were already talking about trying to rent bikes at our destination, this may be perfect for us :)

[PamNY]

That certainly is tempting. The part of Manhattan where I live is tourist central. And I have an extra bike. Hmmmm.

[Catrin]

No, not my current bikes, but should I wind up eventually with an "extra" then I would likely consider it.

[7rider]

I've lent out my spare bike (the Axiom) to a friend (for as long as several months at a time). In fact, this friend will be borrowing my bike this weekend perhaps as she prepares for a multi-day tour through Oregon in September. She'll be riding a drop-bar bike during that tour and she has only a flat-bar bike. She'd like to get her long training rides in on a drop bar bike.

If someone comes to the area (friend/family) that wants to go for a bike ride (and fits on this bike), they are welcome to use it. However, I don't think I'd rent it out to a stranger. If the bike walked, insurance money just wouldn't cover the true loss I'd feel. And I trust my friend with the bike.

[indysteel]

I've lent out my spare bike (the Axiom) to a friend (for as long as several months at a time). In fact, this friend will be borrowing my bike this weekend perhaps as she prepares for a multi-day tour through Oregon in September. She'll be riding a drop-bar bike during that tour and she has only a flat-bar bike. She'd like to get her long training rides in on a drop bar bike.

If someone comes to the area (friend/family) that wants to go for a bike ride (and fits on this bike), they are welcome to use it. However, I don't think I'd rent it out to a stranger. If the bike walked, insurance money just wouldn't cover the true loss I'd feel. And I trust my friend with the bike.

This. I'd be happy to lend any of my bikes to a friend or a TEer who was in my area for whatever reason, but I doubt I'd let a stranger rent one of them. None of my bikes are just "off the rack." They've all been customized in some fashion. Even if I got insurance proceeds for a stolen or damaged bike, I wouldn't want to go to the trouble of buying a new bike to replace it(assuming that I could even buy one) and then customizing it to my specs.

[Koronin]

This. I'd be happy to lend any of my bikes to a friend or a TEer who was in my area for whatever reason, but I doubt I'd let a stranger rent one of them. None of my bikes are just "off the rack." They've all been customized in some fashion. Even if I got insurance proceeds for a stolen or damaged bike, I wouldn't want to go to the trouble of buying a new bike to replace it(assuming that I could even buy one) and then customizing it to my specs.
I also agree.

[Trek420]

I also agree. ^ what they said :D.

A manager at work once asked if I'd sell him "one of your extra bikes".

1) Dude, I don't have extra bikes. I love them all.
2) Dude. I'm 4'11. You are 6 sumthin'? You could use my bike as a roller skate.

[silversurfer]

^ what they said :D.

A manager at work once asked if I'd sell him "one of your extra bikes".

1) Dude, I don't have extra bikes. I love them all.
2) Dude. I'm 4'11. You are 6 sumthin'? You could use my bike as a roller skate.

Couldn't agree more. And the last bit cracked me up!

[Dogmama]

I wonder if renting a bike would imply some sort of contract - and if they biff it on the bike who pays? Would you be liable? Everybody is so litigious these days.

No, I'd never rent my bikes. I would lend one to a friend but never to a complete stranger. What would you have for collateral? I don't want their children!

[Trek420]

What would you have for collateral? I don't want their children!

Cracking me up. Pink slip to the car? No, wait, our bikes are worth more. ;)

[Crankin]

Never.

I might have rented out my Jamis (seems more like the type of bike a renter would want), but not my Kuota or my Guru.

[Trek420]

Never.

I might have rented out my Jamis (seems more like the type of bike a renter would want), but not my Kuota or my Guru.

Never the Kuota! :eek: what's a Kuata?

[Catrin]

Never the Kuota! :eek: what's a Kuata?

I looked them up, pretty bikes!

[Trek420]

oooh, shiny! :)

[SallyRides]

I've loaned bikes to friends........ never rented them out. My bikes are special to me. I don't know I could let just anyone use them........ even for good money. Would have to really think about this idea.

SR

[Bike Chick]

I would loan my TT or commuter bike to friends or family to ride. As a matter of fact, my Surly is on loan to my daughter-in-law right now. (I'm hoping she gets the bike bug). However, no one, and I mean no one, gets to ride my Luna. I'm too afraid something will happen to it and it can't be replaced.

I wouldn't rent any of my bikes to a stranger.

[PamNY]

I would gladly rent my perfectly ordinary bike which I am planning to sell. But I wonder about liability, and having to be home when people pick up/return the bike.

I checked rental prices -- respectable bike rental outfit charges $44 a day for same type of bike; the less organized and probably illegal operation on the Brooklyn Bridge charges $30-35.

[Crankin]

I am very protective of my bikes.
When I commuted to my teaching job, I kept my bike (a Trek 5200 at the time) in the classroom. One time, one of the boys (7th grade) got a bit too close and I sort of went nuts! I mean, I never yelled as a teacher, but I think I raised my voice and said, "Don't get that close to my bike." Of course, later I gave him a "guided tour," as he was very interested in how the pedals worked with the shoes.
Hardly anyone knows about Kuota as a brand, even though at least one of the teams in the Tour rides them. Mostly, at least around here, they are known as a tri bike manufacturer.

[Catrin]

I am the same way. I volunteered last year at a local state park for an outdoor activity festival where the Hoosier MTB Association had a station and I rode my mtb from the satellite parking lot. This one kid just couldn't understand that my bike wasn't available for riding so I had to keep my eye on him, but it was also kind of cool to see someone his age so interested.

I checked out the Kuota website, and their bikes are pretty! While they don't make FS mountain bikes I noted they do make hard-tails.

I just can't see my "renting" my bike, any of them. They are customized for me, cost a small fortune (in one case took months to get) and who is to say the insurance even COULD replace them? Nope...though the concept is nice. I might consider loaning one to a good friend but it would require some thought. I would obsess over it the entire time it was gone...

[OakLeaf]

I checked rental prices -- respectable bike rental outfit charges $44 a day for same type of bike; the less organized and probably illegal operation on the Brooklyn Bridge charges $30-35.

:eek: :eek: I guess location is everything. You can rent a car for that in my neck of the woods! Bike are more like $15.

I'd be happy to rent out my commuter when I'm not home to use it. But I'd want the rental agency to take care of maintenance. I'm not sure that lending to friends vs. renting to strangers is really different in that regard - I hate to stereotype, but I think it's more a male/female thing. We let a friend stay in our house for a couple of weeks while we were out of town and offered him the use of our bikes, and when we got back the house was fine but as far as DH's commuter bike, one rim was dented, all kinds of fasteners were loose ...

My roadie, nope, nobody rides that when I'm not there to supervise. ;) And since I don't ride with anyone my size who uses Look pedals so we could swap bikes for a few miles, no one has ridden it but me.

[silversurfer]

My favourite isn't particularly smart or expensive but nobody rides my baby except me. She has history and can't be replaced, apart from being a joy to ride. If I owned some of the bikes that have been mentioned here I wouldn't let anyone go near them either based on their cost alone. Nice bikes ladies.