If you have decided on a bike tour vacation and have signed up for one of our women-only bike tours, you might be wondering if it’s better to rent one of our bicycles or bring your own. Most guests make that decision based on their travel plans. If they are driving to the bike tour vacation, they tend to bring their own bikes. If they are flying to the bike tour vacation, they rent from us. Here are some other factors to consider.
Benefits of Renting a Bike from WomanTours on Your Bike Tour Vacation
Relying on one of our rental bikes frees you of having to either travel with your bike as checked luggage or eliminates the extra time and effort needed to have your bike shipped to and from the tour.
We have an excellent fleet of hybrid bikes, adventure road bikes and e-bikes that are perfect for the bicycle tours where we offer them. These are equipped with water bottle cages, rear racks and saddlebags, and phone holders. We pride ourselves in taking extra good care of these bikes.
There are a variety of bike sizes to fit you based on your height and inseam. At our rental bike fittings at the start of the tour, our guides make adjustments to the bike to ensure it’s as comfortable as possible before you start cycling. Let them know if you have any discomfort or problems with the bike during the tour so they can address those as well.
If you are particular about your bike saddle or pedals, you are welcome to bring your own and our bike tour guides will install them for you. (For safety reasons, we do not allow clipless pedals or cages on our e-bikes.)
Benefits of Bringing your Own Bicycle on Your Bike Tour Vacation
If you love your bike and know that nothing makes you feel more comfortable, by all means, bring it! We recommend a bike with tires up to 38c in width. It can be either a hybrid with upright handlebars or a road bike with drop handlebars. E-bikes without throttles are also fine. We generally don’t recommend mountain bikes.
If you are bringing your own e-bike, we strongly recommend bringing a spare battery, which you can store in our support vehicle while cycling so you can have access to it at the rest stops.
If you are buying a new bike, be sure to allow plenty of time before the tour to break it in and make any adjustments that might be needed.
If you do bring your own bike, be sure it’s in excellent working condition. Having it tuned up before the tour by a professional bicycle mechanic who can repair or replace worn or broken components goes a long way in assuring you will enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Bringing a Non-Traditional Bike on Your Bike Tour Vacation
If you would like to bring another style of bike such as a trike, recumbent or tandem, let us know as soon as possible, and include the bike’s make, model, weight and measurements. We want to make sure our support vehicles can accommodate it.
Cross-Country Bike Tours
Bike rentals are not available for our cross-country bike tours such as the Cross-Country Southern Tier Bike Tour and the Cross-Country Atlantic Coast Bike Tour, so guests who sign up for these tours need to bring their own. We want you to be able to train on your bike so you know you will be comfortable with it. After you register, we will give you tips for getting your bike ready for the tour. We'll also give you all the information you need to arrange for shipping your bike to the start of the tour and shipping it back home at the end. Our guides offer fix-a-flat clinics during the tour and are always happy to share their bike repair knowledge along the way.
International Bike Tours
For our international bike tours, a rental bike is included in the cost of the tour, though there is an extra charge if you want an e-bike. We strongly recommend relying on the rental bikes, as flying with a bike or shipping it overseas is expensive and runs the risk of the bike getting lost or delayed in transport.
Mechanical Issues with Your Bike
No matter if you rent a WomanTours bike or bring your own, our bike tour guides are always able to assist you with mechanical issues such as flat tires. If they are unable to handle the repair, they will take your bike to a bike shop for professional attention. Their goal is to get you back in the saddle as soon as possible.