Mountain Bike Rentals: Everything You Need to Know

Rider overlooking mountain vista while riding a mountain bike

There’s a similar problem among many mountain bikers: your bike is in the shop and you want to ride. Or, your buddy came to visit and either doesn’t have a bike or can’t take it on the road. Or maybe you are interested in the sport but before you make a big investment, you’d like to try it out. It’s always a smart idea to test your ride before making a commitment.  Mountain bike rentals provide a great opportunity to ride a brand-spanking-new bike on the terrain you’re heading to.

Whatever the “it” is, it leads to the same question: is there a mountain bike rental near you?

The short answer to that is yes. But finding a high-quality bike to break down Buffalo Creek or via Apex Park is the challenging part. Where are you able to rent? Are you going to get a decent deal? What kind of bike are you going to rent?

We’re here to help you answer those questions.

Retail Rentals

Many local bike shops provide rentals, so you can be sure that the bike you borrow has been maintained properly. Plus, you’re supporting your local bike shop! Base Camp Cyclery offers mountain bike rentals and demos in Denver.

Base Camp Cyclery offers mountain bike rentals starting at $65/day. Whether you are looking to shred some dirt or fly down canyon roads, we’ve got the bike for you.

How Often Are the Bikes Maintained?

Some shops do a terrific job of maintaining their bikes; they clean, lube, and repair broken parts after each rental. Other shops may not be as diligent, and nothing can ruin your ride more than a bike that keeps breaking down. Make sure you ask the shop about their maintenance policies.

What Year Are the Bikes?

How old are the bikes? Are the bikes new or are they a couple of years old? Most bike shops renew their rental fleets every year, but some don’t. It’s important to renew mountain bike rentals since they get beat up pretty badly.  The rental mountain bike shelf life is usually no more than 1 year, depending on how much they’re rented and used.

Damage or Normal Wear and Tear?

Rental bikes get a lot of wear and tear, particularly if you use them in a lift-accessed bike park. A lot of damage is normal ‘wear-and-tear’ but some can cross the region of real damage. Ask the rental shop in advance what their policy is on harm vs. wear and tear. On that note, you should also do a complete bike test with the shop before you take the bike out of the shop and take note of any potential damage.

Is There a Discount for Multi-Day Rentals?

A lot of shops offer multi-day discounts for mountain bike rentals. If they don’t advertise a multi-day rate, you can try to negotiate one.

Is There a Security Deposit?

Shops will also take some kind of deposit or pre-authorization on your credit card when you rent a mountain bike. We’ve heard of some shops charging as much as $2000! You should find out how much a deposit/pre-authorization is in advance, to prevent any last-minute surprises and/or no bikes.

We hope this helps you find the right ride on your next adventure! Check out some of our favorite trails in Denver. For more tips, tricks, and travel info, be sure to check out our blog or give us a call at 720-612-4962 for more information!

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