Good place for a bike rental?

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on July 1, 2013 at 3:54am

There is a place on the lakefront trail I pass called (I think) Lakeshore Bikes. They rent bikes and seem to have road bikes of various kinds in their fleet. Disclaimer: I have never used them before, so can't vouch for their products or prices. ISTR that their mechanic has a long beard. Can't be all bad. :-)

What size frame are you looking for? Perhaps some chainlinker has a spare bike you could borrow.

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on July 1, 2013 at 12:28pm

that spot is located right around Irving Park and the lakefront path. I think they are just south of the tennis courts ?

 

DHB

 

same disclaimer for me : I have never used them or have no affiliation with them. maybe check Yelp for other places with feedback ?

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on July 4, 2013 at 4:52pm

Good suggestions, Skip & Dan.  Here's the Yelp link:

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=bike+rentals&find_loc=Chic...

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 4, 2013 at 6:26pm

I'd start with Bobby's Bike Hike:

http://www.bobbysbikehike.com/Rentals.aspx

Second choice Trek Store on S. Michigan Ave.

I like the Yelp review of Bobby's where they complain that too much emphasis was put on how to properly use the "heavy" U-lock :-)

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Permalink Reply by Damara Ross on July 7, 2013 at 3:49pm

Thanks to everyone. I ended up going to Bobby's Bike Hike and got great customer service and a pretty decent road bike. I loved loved LOVED riding in Chicago! I hope to e coming back every year.

I appreciate all the suggestions! :)

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Permalink Reply by Damara Ross on July 7, 2013 at 3:52pm

P.S. I didn't take the u-lock, by the way. When I ride,the bike never leaves my sight! Once I explained emphatically my plan to to not leave the bike out of my line of sight for a second,they were cool. I got oysters about bike locks from them. That's my experience. Thought I'd share. :)

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 7, 2013 at 4:55pm

Excellent.  Now if we could get every bike shop to follow suit.

Speaking personally.... even if the person renting the bike is willing to assume complete liability for the bike if they refuse the lock... and even if a few hundred bucks is nothing to them... the thought of gifting a bike to a thief turns my stomach.

Damara Ross said:

 I got oysters about bike locks from them.

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Permalink Reply by Damara Ross on July 9, 2013 at 7:07am

Well h, I suppose if the bike was leaving my sight, I'd be upset about gifting my bike to a thief as well. But as I explained to the guy, I don't EVER leave a bike aLone. I live in a luxury high rise in the Gold Coast, so I went straight from the bike shop to home. The bike stayed with me to my condo. Then early morning, I did my ride. Nonstop. Because I'm not some weenie that feels the need to stop for groceries or breakfast or to take yoga in the park. It's my TRAINING RIDE. When I finished,iwent right back to my condo. I don't stop for anything. Because it's my TRAINING RIDE. I took the bike up to my condo, and it sat there until I rode it back. So, it makes no sense to drag some useless lock around with me for no reason, as I explained to them. Sme of us have the luxury of being able to keep our bikes with us when we are out. To me, that's SAFER than putting on some common lock that thieves have undoubtedly learned to break. And if I do ever have to lock my bike up and leave it from my line of sight, I carry TWO DIFFERENT, much more sturdy, very expensive, heavy locks that I've had locksmiths make professionally, because unfortunately, when I used to only have one lock, my very expensive, custom built, imported rear bike wheel was stolen while locked up, using the same crapulous bike locks as the ones they give out. Since that day, nearly 7 years later, and nearly $2000 poorer as a result of the theft,it is my everyday practice to NEVER leave my bike outside. Ever. If a thief steals my bike, it's because they've broken into my house, knocked me out cold, and/or killed me. I simply don't lock bikes because I find the best theft deterrent is to not leave it outside. I have the job and lifestyle that affords me the opportunity to stay true to my decision. If you don't happen to like it, tough! No need to pontificate about a situation where you haven't any knowledge of the events leading to my decisions, ok?

For everyone else, thanks for the help and support. I truly enjoyed coming home to Chicago. I miss the riding! It's sooooooooooo much easier and more fun there! I can't wait to get back and do it again!

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on July 9, 2013 at 7:34am

But how do you really feel?

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Permalink Reply by Damara Ross on July 9, 2013 at 8:04am

Alex Z said:

But how do you really feel?

That's funny. I like that response.

I seriously don't like it when people assume I might be endangering a bike rental, or my own bike. I made a personal decision a long time ago due to my fanatic love of the bike. Man, when my wheel was stolen, I felt like my world had been ripped in two. I felt like someone ripped out my kidney. In fact, I would have offered up my kidney to get that wheel back. I cried for weeks. What I had to go through to get that wheel was legendary. To have someone steal it made me question my ability to ride. So I had to change how I deal with bikes, because I knew I could NEVER go through that again, even if I rented a bike. It took an extraordinary effort to get the first wheel set, and a crapload of cash for the second- a very expensive lesson learned. Since then, wherever I go, the bike goes with. I changed banks because my bank said no bikes in the bank. I sent a security guard outside the bank while I went inside and pulled all my cash out. I don't deal with bike unfriendly banks. I took my bike into Union Station once to buy a train ticket. They told me that I couldn't walk my bike through. So now, I only fly. American Airlines had no problem letting me ride my bike to the terminal and walking it through to the counter. One of my grocery stores said I couldn't walk my bike in once when I needed to buy water I the middle of my training ride on a hot day. I left and went to Walgreen's down the street and got my water there. They were ok with me walking my bike in. I don't shop there anymore.

I simply do not leave my bike outside. Yes, it may be extreme, but it works for me and gives me the greatest peace of mind.

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Permalink Reply by David P. on July 9, 2013 at 9:38am

Damara,

your description of your TRAINING RIDE makes me want to conceive a Monty Python-esque training ride that involves the intervals-and-getting-sweaty type of training interspersed with grueling lounging-about-and-nibbling-on-scones type of training. It will be called the 'TRAINING RIDE', all caps :)

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