Reviews

John helped solve a forgotten kit problem and kindly allowed us to park up for the day while we rode from the site. Cracking starting place for a ride and even though we had our own bikes he had some very cool looking options in his hire fleet.
The typical autumn weather—cold and rainy- made a memorable experience.
John was incredibly friendly and welcoming. After returning completely soaked, John kindly allowed us to use his kitchen to warm up, which made a significant difference. His hospitality went above and beyond, adding a personal touch to an already great experience.
This was an amazing cycling adventure, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Date of experience: October 2024
Mal & Lin
I really enjoyed the experience and will look forward to hiring a similar e-bike again in the future.
As you will see from the photo, the location where the bikes are hired from is epic; this picture is taken around 15 miles from the hire point and the bike had a range of in excess of 50 miles, depending on the power output setting.
Thank you again.
The tour was perfectly tailored for us and we rode a bunch of trails that we probably never would have attempted (or even found) without John's expert guidance. The perfect blend of thrills, scenery and local history.
The bikes were great and, for me, it was a great way to experience what and eMTB can do. The only problem is I now want one for myself.
Highly recommended.
Things to note: it's not cheap - there are less expensive bike hires in Windermere (but no day long tours that I could find). It's also not an easy location to reach without your own car, so it's either an expensive taxi or a very long bus ride.
I would high recommend this as a great family days activity.
Katie
Thank you John for making our experience a comfortable and enjoyable one, I will definitely be recommending your service's and will more than likely be back myself in the future.
John is incredibly knowledgable, not only about bikes, but also the local area and was able to recommend specific places of note for us to stop and take in, as well as pretty, scenic pubs and coffee shops. He was a lovely, friendly chap and he seemed to pair my husband and I with our bikes perfectly, and kindly provided us with helmets for our cycle.
We will definitely hire bikes from John next time we're in the Lake District, and have already recommended him to friends so we hope to see him again next time we're up that way. We also got to meet Pumpkin the kitten, who was a wonderful treat!
Thanks again John, we had a fantastic time and thank you for being so helpful and accommodating.
John and the staff were very friendly and the bikes were in ideal condition and looked like new.
It was a great day out over the hills to Windemere and back and we enjoyed it so much that we're booked again in July.
We had a great morning ride and a fantastic guide in John.
I would highly recommend this trip for anyone looking for some outdoor fun.
would recommend and use again
Thanks so much John and Charlie for a great morning out.
John - the owner - was incredibly helpful and clear with his pre-collection communications and when I turned up to take the steed he was very informative about how the Crafty functioned and wanted to share his local knowledge of trails and routes to ride. He even offered me a cup of tea or coffee when I returned the bike (how kind).
In summary, there's tons of really good mountainbiking in the South Lakes and if you can't take your own bike I'd really recommend Lake District Bikes as they are very conveniently located, the price is reasonable and the bike was the perfect weapon for slaying the South Lakes trails.
A great day out -- thanks John...
Our route took us up the Eastern shore of Coniston, a quick coffee stop at the cafe at Brantwood (highly recommend) then up to Hawkshead Hill to enter Grizedale Forest, where we had so much fun exploring the bike trails.
We finished the day by heading back to the centre via Ickenthwaite for beautiful views and to end the day on a high
Thank you so much to John for helping us create a memorable day, we will be back!
Bikes themselves were in perfect nick and the ride on them was brilliant. Hose and everything available at the end to clean off.
We also organised a guide through John who whose knowledge of the area was amazing. Overall an amazing day.
I hired an ebike, good quality, plenty of power and comfortable to ride.
Thanks John for helping to make it a great 3 days in the area.
When my own bikes gear shift broke he let me use his space and tools to try to mend it. I couldn’t so he got it fixed for me. Can’t recommend him enough, nice genuine man.
Thanks again, be back next year.
From the moment we walked into the shop, John greeted us with a warm smile and genuine enthusiasm for helping us make the most of our bike adventure. He took the time to ensure that each bike was comfortable and safe for them to ride.
The bikes themselves were in impeccable condition – well-maintained and ready for the trails. It's clear that John takes great pride in his equipment and goes the extra mile to ensure everything is in top shape. As safety-conscious parents, this was extremely reassuring.
The highlight of our experience, however, was John's extensive knowledge of the Lake District area. He is fully knowledgable and can suggest a range of kid-friendly trails and routes that perfectly suited any family's needs. His recommendations are spot-on, leading to picturesque spots and breathtaking viewpoints. It was evident that he had a deep passion for the outdoors and a genuine desire to share the beauty of the Lake District with others.
Throughout our rental period, John was always just a phone call away, ready to assist with any questions or concerns we had. His dedication to customer service and his willingness to go above and beyond truly set Lake District Bikes apart.
Thanks to John and his team, our family had an unforgettable experience in the Lake District. Exploring the area on those well-maintained kids' bikes was an absolute joy, and we owe it all to Lake District Bikes. If you're looking for a top-notch bike rental experience with personalized service, I wholeheartedly recommend Lake District Bikes and the wonderful owner, John. We'll definitely be returning for more biking adventures in the future!
A big thank you to John & Lake District Bikes for making our family vacation truly exceptional!
Unlike most other bike rentals which supply a limited range and quite often lower quality bikes, John has a wide range of quality bikes, so you are sure to find one to suit your plans, including those to do big climbs. We rented road bikes for 2 days in September. Both our bikes were well maintained and had a good gear ratio allowing us to make it up (just) some tough climbs. They were also really comfortable along the Coniston lake road.
John was helpful, very easy to communicate with and always prompt in his responses. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to sample some of the great riding in the Lake District. We hope to return and will certainly use your services again.
Certainly no need to transport my bike across the pond. Upon arriving in Manchester our luggage was lost so without proper shoes and shorts riding would not be very comfortable. John happened to have a pair of shoes and shorts he loaned me. He saved the day. The ride was all over the beautiful Lake District. I plan to return again next year, with my kit in my carry on . John will have to find me another bike next year, I bought the one i hired, it was a perfect fit. John I look forward to seeing you again next year. Harry and Margaret Fitzgerald -Virginia
We were very happy with the opening
hours and two day hire. Good facilities
and advice offered. Will definitely use
again
Allowed me to get a few loops in whilst on family holiday. Was really easy transaction and bike was in good condition.
Riding up in Lakes is so beautiful. I'll be back.
Our group of 6 were guided by Shelly and Alex for a day of awesome entertainment that I can highly recommend to anyone looking to experience mountain biking! Whether you’re new, or have done it before, there’s options for everyone and having someone to show you the local routes makes for a very exciting day out!
The guides are super friendly and chatty, know the routes really well and tailor the day to suit your level, it’s a pleasure to be guided by people who love to be out on a bike come rain or shine!
The bikes themselves are great, it really makes mountain biking accessible to more people as the ‘hard’ uphill climbs are super easy with a motor to help you out. And they’re well maintained so you know your brakes are good for the downhills!
The routes they take you have amazing views and you really feel like you’re exploring the lakes in true style!
All in all there’s not a single thing I’d change about my experience with John, Shelly and Alex. We had cold and rain all day and yet barely thought about it because it was so much fun!
Thanks again team for an awesome day of biking!
John was responsive and incredibly helpful wrt the booking process.
Upon arrival the following day, we received full instructions on how to use the bikes (neither of us had used electric bikes before). John also assisted with a recommended route and various options should we wish to change the route along the way.
The bikes were perfect and gave us no issues, instructions on how to use the assisted power was spot on.
It was a pity some of the forested section was closed off due to the recent storms, but with the rain, the day was fun and we will certainly look to booking again with John when in the Lake District.
Thanks
Ben
The homemade cakes on sale were delicious and a lovely tray on return from your cycle.
Getting a full suspension E mountain bike from John was an absolutely brilliant experience.
Such a wonderful guy that took the time to help us find the perfect route. Would come back for sure
He gave us a map of a lovey 25mile route along with plenty of advice on where to stop off for snacks and cake.
Thank you John and team for a memorable day and the chance for us to see parts of the Lake District we would of never seen.
Due to the prospect of heavy rain, John was very open to tracking the weather in the preceding days and proved to be very flexible on timings - this resulted in our tour taking place in really good cycling weather.
Alex, our guide, was really good company and gave us a great tour of some of the best areas in The Lakes.
Special thanks for the hospitality shown to us at the end of the ride when the weather had changed. We also deferred another day's cycling to be arranged at short notice to ensure better weather, a really helpful suggestion as we're very keen to return, such a fabulous area.
We will get back! 🙂
The journey to Grizedale forest, up the road by the lake is fab, lovely views! Next time we come up, we’ll definitely be hiring again, and fully converted to the E bike, hybrid. Once again thank you for excellent service.
Very professional, thoughtful. Great advise on the bikes and the routes.
We loved it! Would highly recommend thank you! 🙂
Why not leave us a review:
Grizedale Forest… so close
“Grizedale Forest looked a long way from Lowick on the map. But the ride along the shores of Coniston Water revealed spectacular views. Without much effort we were ready to enter Grizedale Forest at the peak of Hawkshead Hill, as the E-bikes,in turbo mode, took us almost effortless up to the top of the hill. Immediately we were on the forest trails meandering along through Grizedale Forest heading South towards Satterthwaite. What a quiet tranquil place this vast Grizedale Forest is. It’s full of surprises with sculptures popping up here and there, single track trails are well signed and birds singing to the tune of the season. Eventually we returned to the road to return via Oxen Park back to Lowick after an epic days cycling on and off road. All in all we were out on the e-bikes for about four and a half hours , we could not have done it without the e-bikes which made it a really fun day. Also I must add how helpfull John was with suggesting this route and suppling maps for directions as without them we would still be lost in Grizedale Forest.”
M Evans
Great cycling experience
“Mountain Biking in Grizedale Forest . My partner and I hired two hardtail mountain bikes to venture into Grizedale Forest. The trails from Lowick are quickly accessible by road as we went off road in Nibthwaite onto Parker Moor . The track is very narrly immediately but on the moor the views looking down onto Coniston Water are amazing. Soon we entered Grizedale Forest for a couple of hours exploring the multitude of forest tracks and single tracks of varying difficulty. Getting tired we decided it was time to head back to Lowick but still managed the last section of off road from Ickenthwaite to Nibthwaite before arriving back to Lowick. The mountain Bikes hired proved very “up to everything” we rode and are very well maintained but were returned caked in the debris of the day.I guess the cycling was 70% off road and 30% on road which proved to be a perfect day on the bikes.”
A Crawford
Road bike hire
“Just popping you a quick note to thank you for your help with our cycle hire the other week. As you might have remembered my bike was taken from the roof of my car during a brief stop with relatives in Brum on the way up to the lakes. We found your website by Googling cycle hire near our hotel and a simple booking form later we’d placed an order to cover 2 bikes for the following day. Our bikes were great, you kindly swapped the peddles on my one to fit the cleats on the cycle show. We did cut our route short, but this was down to weather. However the time we had was enjoyable and riding around the local area is a great way to see the lakes. Thanks again for your help.”
Andrew
E-Bike guided ride with John
“My wife and I along with two close friends spent a week in May of 2018 in the Lake District where we rented high quality e-bikes from John. We rode seven days in a row and were very fortunate to have quite good weather. There were many, many wonderful places to ride following routes that I planned. We also asked John to guide us one day through a section of the Lake District outside where we planned to ride. All four of us loved the tour with John. On our own the countryside was lovely. With John we learned so much more about what we were seeing as well as the various types of trails, routes and roads available for riding. All four of us peppered John with questions throughout the adventure and were delighted to have shared the day with someone who so obviously loves the countryside in which he lives.”
John & Linda
Great cycling experience
“A great experience, John very helpful with tips for our proposed route and in setting up. Bikes were well prepared and the reputations of the route and cafe stop were well justified. Hope to use again later in the year to do the extended lake loop to include Hardknott pass.” – Stephen “Thanks John. I had an excellent ride and ended up going over Wrynose and then south to Broughton in Furness before heading back to Coniston.”
Bret
Thanks John… Modern bikes to hire
“I have found John Sutcliffe very professional, someone who will go the extra mile to see you get the best from your experience of cycling in the Lake District. His bikes are modern, powerful and in good condition, he is knowledgable and helpful, I can recommend him confidently.”
Keith Pimm
Great day off-road on e-bikes
“I am a 67 grandmother, holidaying in the Lake District with my 2 sons and their families, and the “lads” treated me to a day out cycling with them, booking with John. I am an electric bike fan, but the lads booked ordinary bikes for themselves. John took an executive decision and issued the 3 of us with electrics – the lads were soon converted! John has a shed full of bikes of all sorts – ours were fat tyre off roaders – all were in extremely good condition and clean – not always the case when I have rented elsewhere in the world! I had asked for off-road riding, with as little on-road as possible, and John obliged – we had a wonderful day out, challenging for me – thrilling for my sons! John was the best of guides – always watching how we were doing, keeping us challenged but safe, proactively explaining what the stretch ahead might contain, especially when on-road, stopping from time to time along the way to explain local points of interest. I can thoroughly recommend John as a guide for cyclists of any age and ability. You will not only enjoy your day of cycling but come away with a deeper understanding of the history and people of the Lake District. Thank you John.”
Anne
The Enigma Titanium experience
“I really enjoyed riding the Enigma, it seemed to cope with all those bumps on the roads much better than the carbon frames I’m used to. The gears were really great as well and I even liked the red bar tape. I honestly might have to investigate titanium a bit more.I did quite a lot of miles in the end, 75 on Saturday, 70 yesterday and 45 today. I had forgotten how many hills there are here. Sunday I did quite a long walk taking advantage of the good weather.”
Jonathan
Guided road cycling adventure
“We had a great experience with Lake District Bikes. The door to door service was much appreciated since we were staying in another town and were without a car. They provided two guides for us, one for me and one for my wife. John served as my guide for Britain’s Best Ride on a gorgeous day. He was a great cycling partner and a pleasure to be with. He not only kept me on course through the many beautiful country lanes we pedaled, but he shared his knowledge of the history and culture of the area, made sure we stopped at the scenic overlooks (which were spectacular), and even took photos of me so I could share my experience with others. My Enigma Esprit was a joy to ride. The ride was beyond expectations both in terms of the incredible landscape and the leg burning climbs. It was definitely one of my best days ever on a bike. My wife’s guide Margaret was equally delightful and they enjoyed a day cycling through gentler but no less picturesque terrain. Being able to shower on site after our ride was also appreciated. I definitely recommend Lake District Bikes for an unforgettable cycling experience.”
Ed, Texas
E-bikes into Grizedale Forest
“I would highly recommend Lake District Bikes. John was very welcoming, he gave instructions on how to operate the bike which was very easy and was great fun, he also recommended a few routes to try. We had a great time cycling around Coniston, Hawkshead and through Grizdale Forest. I could not have done this without the hire of one of John’s electric bikes, I hired one of his Trek Powerfly bikes and thoroughly enjoyed our day out, Thanks for a great day John”
Trish
Trek road bike hire
“I highly recommend both John and Lake District Bikes. The experience was wonderful, from start to finish.I was coming from the USA to the Lake District, and wanted to get in a few days of riding. John helped with everything, from the bike to routes and more. He was friendly, he was quick to respond, and his equipment is in excellent condition.This is a great service. I will definitely be using John again and recommend it to anyone who is considering hiring a bike.”
Ben, USA
Recommended
“I would definitely recommend using Lake District Bikes. They provided us with great value quality road bikes in fine working order. Pick up and payment were easy and there’s almost immediate and great access to the Lakes and passes on quiet roads from their base. We had a variety of people in our group and there was no problem in sourcing the right kit. We will definitely be using LDB again – fantastic service. Thanks.”
Matt, Dorset
Electric bike convert
“I hired the Trek Powerfly 5 electric bike from John. I had a great time cycling around Coniston waters and that put a big smile on my face. The electric bike was just marvelous in helping me pedal the bike with its four different levels of power – Eco,Tour,Sport and Turbo. I was able to go further than I could have ever achieved by simple mountain bike. I covered up to 35miles in just 2 hours – all uphill roads in Lake district which I would have never have been able to climb in regular bike. I liked the bike so much that I have already placed an order for trek powerfly 7 model.John is friendly and very helpful with the cycling tips and knowledge local cycling area around the Coniston water lake. John and his electric bikes are highly recommended.”
Ken