Recumbent - Renta bent........does anything like this exist

In talking to people who don't have bents I've come across numerous reasons why people don't have one, but behind most of the reasons is the fact that most haven't tried one. I mean really tried.......like a day, an afternoon, or even several afternoons. Here's the reasons I'm hearing.......I don't know anyone who has one that will loan it to me. It's a major cash outlay and I want to be sure this is something that I'll use. I'm intimidated riding for a few clumsy minutes in front of someone who just wants me to buy something and being told that I'll catch on in week or two (after I buy it). I don't want to try a new bike in the fear that I will fall and damage the bike, and then have the nerve to tell the salesman" Let me go home and think about it."

It seems like a lot of these situations could be circumvented with something along these lines....A recumbent rental bike store near some public trail or path (not near traffic), who rents used bents of all styles and sizes. The rental fee of 20 to 40 bucks could then be refunded on a new purchase within a reasonable time (ie 60-90 days). If the individual doesn't like the bike they're out a few bucks, while the store was just payed to demonstrate their product. The riders aren't intimidated because they're paying for a service (it works for ski areas) and the bikes pay their own way and could later be reconditioned and sold as demos. For another fee, lessons could be purchased if desired.

I don't know if there is such a place but if there is would someone let me know. We just might plan our next vaction around it.

Where do you live? There are several places near here that rent bents. Speeds bike shop in Sparta, Wis. rents bents and is on the Elroy Sparta trail. In Lanesboro, Min. there are a couple of places that rent bents and they're on the Root River trail.
Then there are the bent rallies. They usually have test tracks to test bents on. Even for newbies. The Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point, Wis. Has one of these in August. Last year they quite a few different bents to try out. I understand that there's a place in Pennsylvania that has a bent rally too. RBR bikes or something like that. Their rally is in the spring. There's also the Bentrider rally in New York.

[QUOTE=megaman]Where do you live?

Just what I was looking for. I'm a little southwest of you(middle plains) but certainly within striking distance. Thanks a bunch.....I might even talk my wife into trying one.

I tried to talk a major distributer into considering this type of thing on a permenant basis but was informed that liability was too high. Bond expenses on this type of thing were sky high. Glad to hear that it is being done. I suppose liability can be circumvented by not charging for the rides.

How 'bout down south? I farm,so winter would be a good time to try something like this out......if I can find a place warm enough.

Calhoun in Minneapolis will rent you bents by the day or week, I hear. Several places in Wisconsin.

Ride South in Jackson/Flowood Mississippi will I think especially if you are thinking about buying one. here is there website. (http://www.ridesouth.com) we have the natchez trace and the long leaf trace in the area as to fairly relaxing good places to ride.

Aaaah, I'm waxing nostalgic. What a great post!

I was struck with Opedalers epiphany about 10 years ago and ended up opening the first and largest recumbent only rental shop, called A Bent 4 Rent. And it closed up about 8 years ago, unfortunately.
I had every brand of bent I could find, and every current model. That way a customer could try the exact bent they were interested in, and if they decided that they wanted one, I would order a new one for them. Then every year, the "old" models would get sold, to be replaced by the current model.
And rental fees were deducted from the purchase of a new bent.

But alas, errant high school driver Matt Begbie (R.I.P.) changed all that with a couple of bad driving decisions.

So now I look up to see the recumbent that made all that happen and think.."WOW, that Challenge Hurricane cost me a mere $125,000. Probably the most expensive bent on the planet!"
(but it still inspires me when I ride it!!)

I'm glad to see, by the above posts, that the idea is finally catching on! As are recumbents in general.
Thanks for letting me reminisce!

Viva Recumbency!!:D

IMO its the total freeking out of this world cost for a bent that keeps folks from renting or buying a bent. these things are not all that complex and the costs are what i would expect to pay for an orbital weapons system.

IMO its the total freeking out of this world cost for a bent that keeps folks from renting or buying a bent. these things are not all that complex and the costs are what i would expect to pay for an orbital weapons system.

The places I can rent bents around here are only about 30% more than renting a DF. I don't think that's out of this world.
You are right, bents aren't that complex, but since so few are out on the road they simply are going to be more expensive. I'm sure they could make really cheap bents, but then they would only be as good as the really cheap DFs.

Doc.....very sad story...... I only hope that the complete ending hasn't been written yet.

TMT.......Definitely a valid point but I might take just a little issue with the reason that price is such a factor. I agree that price is a factor ( at least with me and most of the people that I know) but I know many people with moderate incomes who spend much more than the price of a average priced bent on items that have less productive value. So I've asked myself why. I keep coming back to the reasons why I have not as of yet plunked down the money. I haven't spent two or three grand (my wifes gonna want one too) because.......

we need to know that we are going to use them and that means enjoyment, comfort and fun above and beyond what we currently have.

we need to KNOW that we won't find something better the next time that we turn around. Turning over for new or different bikes isn't all that easy or inexpensive in our neck of the woods.

And the sad truth is that we like so many others haven't been "sold" the desire to own one by commercial interests. I mean, I have good friends who drive one ton, four wheel drive pickups in the middle of the city. And how many people really wanted Hummers until Arnold began tooling around in one. We have been told that these products will make us happy and somehow better. No problem, that is what commercialism is all about. But until the vested powers decide to make us like(read:need) this product.......then the product has to sell itself. It has to be user friendly, comfortable and most of all fun. And the best way that I can think of is to get people on them to make up their own minds with minimum investment initially.

I've spent more on skiing trips than I plan to spend on a bent and had nothing but memories to show for it. But doesn't it really look like fun on TV or in pictures gliding down a mountain on skiis. And it is, but I don't know if I would have tried it, had the idea not been planted in my mind by commercial interests.

Budget Bicycle in Madison, Wisconsin rents bents. And I've seen them for rent in Morgantown, West Virginia, at the bike shop down on the rail trail, I think it is Wamsleys, but not certain.

The dealer I bought my RANS Stratus Le from brought it to my house for a test ride. He had me riding around on a Tailwind, also. If I was off Saturdays, I could go out to his shop and test ride anything he's got. If he has a bike in stock, he'll bring it to your house and let you test ride it for a week(credit card # required, as a backup). I think being able to rent a recumbent would end up with a lot more bents out there on the road.

IMHO Dr. D was right on, if maybe just a tad premature. Too bad ingenuity and risk taking are not rewarded rather than attacked.

Take a look at www.spincyclz.com. The owner has a test ride program. I think you pay him $100 and the cost of shipping and you get to try the demo bike for a month.

$100 is certainly a great price to rent a bike for a month. Unfortunately, the shipping might be $75 each way.

$100 is certainly a great price to rent a bike for a month. Unfortunately, the shipping might be $75 each way.
Check first to see. The last bent (EZ-1) I shipped was $175!
And I got a quote to ship a Greenspeed tandem, ready to ride....
$1,200!!! EACH way!:eek:

Yeah, on eBay I've seen all kinds of different prices. Ranging from $200 to ship an EZ-1 to only $65 to ship an EZ-Rider, which is bigger and heavier.

Where do you live? There are several places near here that rent bents. Speeds bike shop in Sparta, Wis. rents bents and is on the Elroy Sparta trail. In Lanesboro, Min. there are a couple of places that rent bents and they're on the Root River trail.
Then there are the bent rallies. They usually have test tracks to test bents on. Even for newbies. The Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point, Wis. Has one of these in August. Last year they quite a few different bents to try out. I understand that there's a place in Pennsylvania that has a bent rally too. RBR bikes or something like that. Their rally is in the spring. There's also the Bentrider rally in New York.

megaman,
I'm heading back to WI for GRABAAWR again thsi year. I hauled by bent from OR last summer, but have a time commitment this year and can only do part of GRABAAWR, which means I've asked a retired buddy to haul mine back there on his drive to the event. Thing is, I don't think he is too thrilled about it. So, I am interested in hearing more about local bike shops that would rent a bent to me for this week. Can you please fwd the exact name of the shop you mention above (include website, phone numbers if you can).

Thanks,
MikeB

megaman,
I'm heading back to WI for GRABAAWR again thsi year. I hauled by bent from OR last summer, but have a time commitment this year and can only do part of GRABAAWR, which means I've asked a retired buddy to haul mine back there on his drive to the event. Thing is, I don't think he is too thrilled about it. So, I am interested in hearing more about local bike shops that would rent a bent to me for this week. Can you please fwd the exact name of the shop you mention above (include website, phone numbers if you can).

Thanks,
MikeB

I've sent you a PM.

Hey Doc,

I remember your Monterey Bay business fondly. My wife and I rented a couple from you, and had a blast! Whatever happened to that Haluzak Traverse with the really trick paint job?

Hey Doc,

I remember your Monterey Bay business fondly. My wife and I rented a couple from you, and had a blast! Whatever happened to that Haluzak Traverse with the really trick paint job?
How wonderful! Indeed, many fond stories from those days!

The Traverse...one of the funnest off-pavement recumbents ever!, was sold to a gentleman down south in Cambria, Calif. From there I have lost track of it. It did live on as the Haluzak factory logo for many years. The silohuet (sp?) of the traverse with the 3 spoke Spin composite wheels.
Some where I have a picture set that shows the bike as blue, as green, as purple and as pink.
I remember watching that bike being ridden in cirlcles, and how the colors all changed as it went around.

OK, you had to see this bike. Short wheelbase, underseat steering, 20" front wheel/26" rear wheel.
Full suspension, 3 spoke Spin wheels painted with PPG's Harlequinne Purple/Blue combo.
So the rear swingarm was this big box aluminum number and the rest was frame/boom & wheels. So riding in circles the color shifts from pink to purple to blue to green to whatever.

Thanks for the nod, it was a pretty "trick" paint job. :D

And if you're ever in town, I still have some fun bents in the stables! ;)

In Sparta, Wisconsin you can rent a bent from:
http://www.speedsbike.com/rates.html

In Morgantown, WV you can rent a bent from:
http://www.whitetailbikes.com/rentals.htm

In Madison, WI you can rent a bent from Budget Bicycle on Regent Street. No direct web page.

In Fort Collins, CO, either a bent or trike from:
http://www.springcreekrecumbents.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=rentals

In Sanibel, FL:
http://www.billysrentals.com/rentequip/?a=pi-bike-special

In Minneapolis, MN:
http://www.calhounrental.com/

In Northern Idaho:
http://www.bikenorthidaho.com/recumbants_tandem.htm

Vancouver, BC, Canada:
http://www.cambiecycles.com/rent.html

New Orleans, LA:
http://www.laidbacktours.com/bikes.shtml

Vienna, Virginia:
http://www.bikesatvienna.com/rentals

North Tampa, FL & three places in Minnesota & Door County, Wisconsin:
http://www.justtwobikes.com/ride_rentals.html

Boulder, Colorado:
http://www.getboulder.com/sports/sports_bicycle.html

Seminole, FL:
http://bicycleoutfitters.net/page.cfm?PageID=73

St Charles, IL (just outside of Chicago) Nothing shown on their web page, but I know they've rented in the past:
http://thebikerack.com/index.cfm

Greater Atlanta, Georgia area:
http://www.silvercometdepot.com/bikerentals.php3

I'm sure there are many more.

Thanks Tom and to all who gave suggestions. These recommendations are going into a folder. I've already contacted several and future trips/vacations will be planned around several of these locales.

It does seem as though it would be handy to have a directory of such places both US and wordwide. I'm sure many, including families, would find it useful.And while a whole vacation doesn't need to be planned around such facilities, it might make a fun, cost-effective, and healthy way to spend a few days. Susidized in part by bent manufactures it could also be profitable.

Thanks Dr. Deltron!!! AH! The memories! From struggling in a chicken coop on Freedom Boulevard, Freedom, CA., in the mid 1970s without a clue what a recumbent is, to the fading days of Bent 4 Rent, I have many many happy memories! About the time you shut your door in Pacific Grove (I think) the National Bicycle Greenway folded its tent and left this area. One by one- in about 2003, businesses cut out recumbents around here.

I am so glad I have a chance on-line to thank you for adding to my learning experiencs. Your rentals gave me the drive- thinking recumbents were a growing interest. Had I known they would add lanes and crowd our rods with 'behemoth' gas hogs- I probably would have moved.

Glad I saw this thread!

countersTrike