Rentals in Cambridge

MountainMonster

Mornin everyone,

I live in Austria, but my parents live in Cambridge, i'm going to be going to visit them again in August, but unfortunately no way to bring the bike with me this time.

Does anyone know a shop that does rentals in Cambridge for decent bikes? I know Station Cycles does alot of rentals, but arn't they only just city bikes or the really cheap MTB's?

T-Rekster

These are probably worth a ring round, they all advertise bike hire, although as you have already found I suspect most will be city bikes/MTB

Bike Hire in Cambridge

The Bikeman
Cambridge Market Square
07747 591 744
the.bikeman@live.com

Bike Hire Online (located on Chesterton Rd, near Jesus Green Lock)
PO Box 401
Cambridge, CB4 3WE
07964 427 151

thecambridgebicycledoctor@hotmail.co.uk
Cambridge Station Cycles
Station Building, Station Road, CB1 2JW
(01223) 307125

manager@stationcycles.co.uk
Grand Arcade, Corn Exchange Street, CB2 3QF
(01223) 307655

grandarcade@stationcycles.co.uk
9 High Street, Histon, CB24 9JD
(01223) 232182

City Cycle Hire Ltd
61 Newnham Road, CB3 9EY
(01223) 365629
info@citycyclehire.com

Mike's Bikes
28 Mill Road
(01223) 312591

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jamm13dodger

There's flippin loads of them - every single one I have seen is a city bike tho'

meanredspider

jamm13dodger wrote:

There's flippin loads of them - every single one I have seen is a city bike tho'

Yup - with mudguards and baskets - for the thousands of foreign language students. TBH you'd be better looking out of town or try ringing some of the bike shops that don't advertise bike hire (is Ben Haywards still in business?).

Or, more the Cambridge way, go to Ridgeons and buy a pair of bolt croppers when you get there...

jamm13dodger

Ben Haywards is still in business. Station cycles actually sell proper road bikes. Maybe if you give them a call they'll rent you a road bike?

MountainMonster

Thanks for the tip guys!

I may try station cycles and see if they do any rentals on any show bikes. When I was last back, I remember haywards being open, but never any idea if they had any rentals. Didn't seem so though.
Oh well, see what I can come across

meanredspider

I was thinking that Haywards might be able to point you in the right direction - always found them very helpful and bought nearly all my gear there and had them service my bike. IMO at least, they were the best bike shop in Cambridge (a city served by more than most)

Lillywhite

meanredspider wrote:

I was thinking that Haywards might be able to point you in the right direction - always found them very helpful and bought nearly all my gear there and had them service my bike. IMO at least, they were the best bike shop in Cambridge (a city served by more than most)

They've also have another store based at the Notcutts Garden Centre in the village of Horningsea which is about half a mile from the Fen Ditton junction on the A14. It would be worth your while contacting them to see if they hire out road bikes or know of a place that does.
As another poster has pointed out most bike hire companies in Cambridge provide hybrid bikes for tourists/language students. Particularly in summer months the City is full of them. :evil:

MountainMonster

Lillywhite wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

I was thinking that Haywards might be able to point you in the right direction - always found them very helpful and bought nearly all my gear there and had them service my bike. IMO at least, they were the best bike shop in Cambridge (a city served by more than most)

They've also have another store based at the Notcutts Garden Centre in the village of Horningsea which is about half a mile from the Fen Ditton junction on the A14. It would be worth your while contacting them to see if they hire out road bikes or know of a place that does.
As another poster has pointed out most bike hire companies in Cambridge provide hybrid bikes for tourists/language students. Particularly in summer months the City is full of them. :evil:

Yeah i'm all too accustomed to the little city bikes they have, and if all else fails i'll just have to accept one. Will be ringing some places on Monday to see what is available.

Thanks for all the tips people!

rick_chasey

meanredspider wrote:

I was thinking that Haywards might be able to point you in the right direction - always found them very helpful and bought nearly all my gear there and had them service my bike. IMO at least, they were the best bike shop in Cambridge (a city served by more than most)

:?

I'm quite surprised....

I've only got bad things to say about them - especially their repair shop which is boarderline robbery.

meanredspider

Rick Chasey wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

I was thinking that Haywards might be able to point you in the right direction - always found them very helpful and bought nearly all my gear there and had them service my bike. IMO at least, they were the best bike shop in Cambridge (a city served by more than most)

:?

I'm quite surprised....

I've only got bad things to say about them - especially their repair shop which is boarderline robbery.

TBH it's been a while (I've been in Scotland for 6 years) but they were always very helpful when I used to commute into Cambridge. Just sold my Cinder Cone I bought from Haywards about 11 years ago to a guy who now commutes in Cambridge.

MaxwellBygraves

Ben Haywards are awful - naff shop, unfriendly staff and always way too expensive.

The only proper road shop in Cambs - Primo Cycles. Only people in town who actually know what they're talking about.

meanredspider

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

Ben Haywards are awful - naff shop, unfriendly staff and always way too expensive.

.

Times have changed then...

Lillywhite

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

The only proper road shop in Cambs - Primo Cycles. Only people in town who actually know what they're talking about.

I noticed that they had recently re-located to Jesus Lane from Burleigh Street. Unfortunately, I havn't been in since they're never open when I go to Cambridge on a Sunday but looking through the window they don't appear to have much stock.

What about Howes Cycles nowadays? I know they been in business for a long time and I used to visit many years ago but I've never brought anything there because of their prices.

MaxwellBygraves

Lillywhite wrote:

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

The only proper road shop in Cambs - Primo Cycles. Only people in town who actually know what they're talking about.

I noticed that they had recently re-located to Jesus Lane from Burleigh Street. Unfortunately, I havn't been in since they're never open when I go to Cambridge on a Sunday but looking through the window they don't appear to have much stock.

What about Howes Cycles nowadays? I know they been in business for a long time and I used to visit many years ago but I've never brought anything there because of their prices.

You're right, they did relocate to a bigger store.

Howes are a bit meh. Just another commuter bike shop really. Whereas Primo specialise in selling decent road bikes as well as catering for the commuter market.

MountainMonster

Is Primo the shop that just opened up recently next to the pattieserie near Jesus Green? I live around the corner from there, and they had quite a few very tasty bikes in there!

MaxwellBygraves

MountainMonster wrote:

Is Primo the shop that just opened up recently next to the pattieserie near Jesus Green? I live around the corner from there, and they had quite a few very tasty bikes in there!

Yep, that's Primo!