Tips for Renting a Bike - Tuscon

[Aromig]

I'm likely going to Tuscon early next Spring partly related to a work function, partly to visit friends. These friends don't bike, so they can't provide much advice. While I'm there, I'm hoping to rent a road bike and do a little bit of riding. Since the trip isn't specifically for riding, I can't imagine shipping my bike. I'm trying to figure out if anyone had recommendations for renting a bike and an idea of pricing (to figure out whether its even worth doing). I'm guessing I'd take my own saddle (it sure took me long enough to find one I like - Specialized Oura) and most stock saddles are too narrow for me. Any other tips?

I have months before I'm going - I was just thinking about it and thought I'd start gathering information early.

[Owlie]

I can't give specific shops (I haven't lived here all that long), but definitely bring a flat kit in your luggage (minus the CO2 cartridges), and some way to bring extra water.

Where are you going to be? There's these guys, and I've heard decent things about them: http://fairwheelbikes.com/tucson-arizona-location-ezp-1.html near the university. Not much for bikes in the smaller sizes. The nicer ones seem to only go down to 54cm.

[Aromig]

I'm 5'10" and my current bike is a 56 cm, so I'll be OK with just about anything (my current bike is actually a guy's model -- when we looked at the WSD model geometry with my shop it was exactly the same and the only differences between the women's model and men's model was the saddle and color which I new I'd be replacing anyway). My work colleagues are all tall too :-) I hadn't even thought about the flat kit -- I've never rented so I didn't know what they'd send you out with. Thanks!

[azfiddle]

Hi - I live in Tucson and in addition to Fair Wheel Bikes, Broadway Bikes and Miles Ahead (both on Tucson's east side) rent bikes. I don't know about size selection, but Broadway stocks Trek bikes. All three are reputable and you can easily google them for contact info. The main contact at Miles ahead is Geoff- a really nice guy.

We have an older Specialized Allez that might fit you, but would have to talk to my husband about loaning it out. PM me if you have more questions.

Sharon

[Boudicca]

A friend rented successfully last winter -- I can ask her for details if the names you have can't help. It seems to me that a lot of people head out to Arizona for some spring riding, so there are many companies out there that do rentals, and they rent good bikes as well.

Have fun.

Just remember to bring clothes for all sorts of weather. It can be very cold in the mornings, and then it warms up rapidly during the day. It snowed just before I got there last February.

(Snow in Tucson?????)

[azfiddle]

It's not unheard of to have snow in Tucson- but not regular either. Weather in February could be a high of 45 or a high of 80 or anything inbetween.

[Thorn]

We've rented from http://cycletucson.com/ with success a couple of years ago (now we have S&S coupler bikes that travel to Tucson with us each winter).

For locals Feb may be cold, but even though we've seen snow some years, it is [almost] always warmer than home. One year we had a miserable first day -- heavy rain with temps in the high 30s (temp would have still been better than home but with the rain....<shudder />). But we also had some lovely days in the 70s that trip. So we still considered the trip worth it.

Definitely make sure the bike has a flat repair kit. You will need it.

[Dogmama]

+++1 for Fairwheels. I've been to most bike shops in Tucson & they are the best. I'd make sure they rent bikes - I've never had that need.

[Aromig]

Thanks everyone for the tips!