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Hiring road bikes abroad

manic_essomanic_esso Posts: 92
edited July 2016 in Road general
I've never done this before having always taken my own bike, but I'm off to France to watch the Morzine stage of the Tour and for convenience I was going to hire one whilst I'm out there to get a few km in.

What's the situation regarding pedals - do they come with flatties / do you take you own / some third option ?

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  • First.AspectFirst.Aspect Posts: 2,815
    manic_esso wrote:
    I've never done this before having always taken my own bike, but I'm off to France to watch the Morzine stage of the Tour and for convenience I was going to hire one whilst I'm out there to get a few km in.

    What's the situation regarding pedals - do they come with flatties / do you take you own / some third option ?
    All of the above, so take your own. You are going to want to make the contact points as close as possible to what you used to, because you are likely going to be riding further on more challenging roads than normal, and you will want to avoid injuryor discomfort. So measure your own bike accurately, take shoes/pedals and tools to adjust the bike you rent. You might even consider taking your own saddle, if you are fussy about that.

    I've only done this twice - In Canada I didn't get so much as a water bottle, so I was glad I took my own saddle pack with spare tubes, mini pump etc. In Gran Canaria, the rental place provided absolutely everything. So either check ahead or prepare for the worst.

    Oh, and take a Garmin mount!
  • bernithebikerbernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Given that it's the Tour, you may struggle to find a decent hire bike.
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 82,097 Lives Here
    also consider the brakes. they tend to be the opposite way around.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • tourdrivingtourdriving Posts: 220
    If you will hire see those links http://www.alpsbikehire.com/our-road-bikes/ And more from the area Haute-Savoie Dist.(74) https://tourdriving.wordpress.com/france/
    https://tourdriving.wordpress.com bike hire and travel links, in 46 countries http://ukbikerentals.com UK Bike & Motorcycle hire in Counties after ABC
  • markhewitt1978markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    manic_esso wrote:
    I've never done this before having always taken my own bike, but I'm off to France to watch the Morzine stage of the Tour and for convenience I was going to hire one whilst I'm out there to get a few km in.

    What's the situation regarding pedals - do they come with flatties / do you take you own / some third option ?

    Whenever I've hired in Mallorca I've just been given a choice of SPD, SPD-SL or my own. Although the ones they fit tend to be bottom of the range clunkers. Most places will also hire you a helmet and bottles, and it'll likely come with a small saddle bag with tool kit.

    Take your own Garmin/computer.
  • dodgydodgy Posts: 2,883
    There are decent road bike rental shops in Samoens, but I imagine demand will be high.
  • whoofwhoof Posts: 756
    These are in Morzine. At 50 euro a day price are expensive (compared to Majorca: 2 days hire France = 1 week in Majorca)

    http://www.toricomorzine.com/bikehire/road/

    They come with flat pedals or bring your own and brakes set up the UK way.

    http://www.toricomorzine.com/our-services/bike-hire/
  • roger_merrimanroger_merriman Posts: 6,113
    I've hired bikes in Tenerife and Australia.

    In all cases they could provide the bike with flats or some clip less pedals.

    Condition varied some where not set up terribly well others where lovely.

    I also had a MTB where the brakes failed on me! Hence my interest in bike boxes on another thread!
  • motogullmotogull Posts: 307
    I was shocked that the hire shop in SW France I used had no SPD-SLs.
  • GozzyGozzy Posts: 640
    Slight thread diversion, if you're hiring a bike abroad and taking your helmet on the plane, do they care if you take it as carry on? I'm not sure I want to risk it in the hold.
  • fenixfenix Posts: 4,726
    Why would they ? You'd need it in a bag I'd think. I took my aero helmet in my carry on across the other side of the world. And it had a pointy end. No problems.
  • AK_jnrAK_jnr Posts: 717
    Ive taken it in hand luggage but there is nothing stopping you wearing it on your head during the flight if you want hahaha
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