Used bicyles?

[killing_rose]

Got a question: I'm in the middle of writing a proposal that includes cycling around Wales for eight weeks, and while I know that it has got to be more cost efficient to buy a used bicycle from craigslist or something analogous, I've been told that at least in the proposal, I need to have the price for renting it.

Where could I go about finding the price for renting a bike and where would I go to look for picking up a used bike?

Comments

[sara]

For renting, I would google around and find a bike shop in your destination city and e-mail to ask if they rent or can recommend somewhere that does. I know that locally a lot of bike shops may not advertise that they do rentals, but will often have something they'd be willing to put you up on for the right price.

And are you sure it doesn't make sense to write a proposal that includes the purchase price of a folding/shippable bike? My Bike Friday tandem is airplane-shippable, and they make a lot of single-rider models that pack up and fit in a suitcase. If I were writing a proposal to spend two months living off a bike, I would want something that's built for touring with, not luck of the draw off Craigslist.

[alien8]

Depending on where you go in Wales you may need good gear ratios (unless you're a good climber on singlespeed/fixed already)

Sadly, unless supplied with an original receipt gumtree/craigslist bikes seem to be stolen. :(

http://www.tredz.co.uk/ are a good dealer in Wales, you could ping them and see what they say about renting a bike.

One thing you could do - buy a 2nd hand bike when you start, sell it when you finish. A new bike for doing hilly stuff.. hmmm, bought new is likely to be > £600.