flipflops

Did a little research and found that Quad Cycles in Arlington, MA rents road bikes. I'm thinking about renting from them during an upcoming visit to Boston. I spoke briefly with someone in the shop and the person didn't seem very friendly or helpful so I'm wondering if anyone else has had a good experience renting from them. I'd be looking to rent a smallish road bike for myself (50) and my husband would need a 58.

If anyone has had a great experience with another local shop, feel free to share!

Thx!

beat.tk

Quad Cycles gets a thumbs down all around from me, partly because one of their vehicles cut me off in traffic the other day, and partly because there are so many bike shops around town that are not mediocre.
I guess it depends where your home base is and where you want to ride, but if you're near Arlington, maybe
https://www.bikewaysource.com/rentals.php
or
https://wheelworks.com/page.cfm?PageID=139

flipflops

Thanks for the suggestions beat.tk ! I love Belmont Wheelworks. I actually bought my first bike as an adult from those guys. They're the first shop I called about rentals. Shame they don't rent. If I had more faith in airlines, I'd just bring my bike from home, but alas, airlines stink at making sure your stuff gets to where it should be in one fully functional piece.

Jim from Boston

As I think I posted to your previous inquiry. my LBS, Back Bay Bikes on Mass and Comm Ave rents bikes and they do a brisk business. BBB is about 5 miles or so from Arlington, just across the Charles River from Cambridge. If you didn't want to ride back to Arlington, you could ride the Esplanade to the Charles St Red line subway stop an take a train to Alewife near Arlington (during certain hours of the day).

I hope you'll let us know how your ridng experience in the area is, though it appears you have been here before.

Jim

beat.tk

Oh no! Belmont Wheelworks used to rent, specialized.
Farina's in Watertown rents Giants... they were my first adult bike purchase. Nice place from my impression.
Other than that, I think you have to cross the Charles.

rumrunn6

they stink on the phone don't they? like elitist or stuck up and very judgmental, huh? I called to order Schrader tubes with extra long valve stems.

if you rent from them don't get your hopes up. but i've never heard of anyone renting road bikes - so if they do then go got it! just bring plenty of $$ money

flipflops

Just wanted to report that we did end up just renting from Quad Cycles in Arlington.

I would not recommend renting from Quad Cycles and will probably rent from Bikeway Source in Belmont next time. The rental operation over at Quad Cycles is very informal-- we had to ask for helmets and they weren't psyched about lending us a pack with a spare tube and a pump. On top of that, the bike they rented to me had a bald spot on the back wheel so bad that that section was worn practically flat. I had to ask them to change it out. The bikes were also horribly dirty. I don't mind a little dirt but the whole experience just kinda made me think they didn't maintain the bikes they rent out or inspect the bikes they rent out. I'd recommend going someplace that's a little more careful with their equipment.

The guy we dealt with was friendly and gave us a lot of advice on good local rides but again, I'd suggest renting from another outfit.

rumrunn6

the long stem Schrader tubes they say they ordered for me never came in and they never called me. I asked them to cancel the order and he said oh yeah - we didn't ask for the order to be reinstated anyway ... great so why was your shop recommended to me ... ?

flipflops

That's a shame. I'm kinda not surprised, though. You should take your biz elsewhere. Like many other posters have said, there are tons of great shops in Boston. No need to suffer.