Reviews
My dad and I recently had the pleasure of cycling around Coniston Water, and it was an unforgettable experience! The bikes were in excellent condition, making the ride smooth and barely lost battery life on the time we were out.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.
Had an awesome ride on an awesome road bike on a beautiful sunny day - fantastic views of the lake, the mou n tains, and countryside. I was on a TREK Madone 4.7 Carbon. Great bike - fun. Great map and directions. Did a 26 mile ride up Coniston lake and down through the Forrest. John was immensely helpful. Here are some pics
Snapped a gear cable out on a ride. Luckily Lake District Bikes was nearby and John was super helpful helping me fix my bike and getting me back on the road. Without his help it would’ve been a very tough ride back.
Asked John if he would restore a kids Trek bike I had borrowed from a friend 10 years ago for my boys to use. It had been hanging up in my garage ever since causing me parental guilt every time I saw it. When I gave it back to my friend today he couldn't believe it was the same bike. Can't thank John et Al for the job they did. A stunning sympathetic restoration of a much loved first bike. I was proud to hand it back and the original owner was beyond chuffed. Many thanks to all involved.
Superb Bikes, superb company. John explained everything very clearly and sent us on an amazing route No hesitation recommendingDate of experience: October 2024Mal & Lin
We rent 2 bicycles for a one week trip in the lake district. We had a wonderful experience (quiet roads, good bikes, John is very reactive and ensure everything run smoothly). Highly recommanded!
Hired 3 full suspension electric mountain bikes for a day exploring Grizedale Forest. When we arrived the bikes were prepared and ready for us. We were given a good explanation on how to operate the bikes and instructions on how to get to the forest. The bikes were incredibly fun to ride, the different modes made getting up hills easy. If you are looking for a fun day in the Lake District then consider hiring some e-bikes from Lake District Bikes.
John was very helpful and knowledgeable about various routes within this beautiful part of the southern Lakes. The bikes were great quality and we enjoyed the many geeen lanes, fire roads and cycle tracks which offer everything from gentle pathways to challenging mountain trails
I hired a Mondraker e-bike from Lake District Bikes. It was very easy to coordinate with the proprietor and their communication was excellent, with a great level of detail given for arrangements and timings on the day of hire.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.
When we arrived John very welcoming, had much knowledge about the bikes and the routes. With our wants and needs John gave us a route that he thought would best suite us, and he was not wrong, we experienced a good mix of easy forest riding and more difficult, technical mountain bike trails, including a long path with gorgeous views over Coniston water. We hired full suss mountain bikes that were of good spec and we'll maintained. Would 100% hire from them again.
John was very helpful. We hired 5 bikes including an e-bike, all were in very good condition. A bit of rain but had a lovely ride around Coniston lake. Thank you John
Once again a great day out with my grandson and his friend. Good trails from the farm and into Grizedale forest and over to Parkamoor , fantastic views over Conniston. Definitely use John’s maps as opposed to using the signposts in Grizedale forest as this takes you off the beaten track. Thanks again Norm from Wigan
Very easy to book. Bikes were in great condition. John was very helpful; providing very good local knowledge about routes that helped make bike trail we did a really enjoyable day.
Slightly unrelated post as didn't hire a bike, but John was extremely helpful with myself and my partner when we was bike touring through the lakes and needed a small service on the bikes so that we could continue our journey, he was very knowledgeable, friendly and very accommodating and welcomed us in and straight away resolved the problems we where having with both the bikes due to the extremly hot and dusty conditions on our 5 days of touring and can't thank or recommend this place enough for John's friendly helpful manner , thank you so much for you help 👍
Fantastic experience hiring bikes with Lake District Bikes. Every email and instruction prior to booking the bikes and collecting them was excellent. As a family of 4 we opted for hybrid E-bikes and they proved a perfect choice for the quiet country lanes around Coniston. John who met us on arrival was a friendly and helpful guy giving a variety of info, from how to use the bikes, to which cafes to visit for the all important cake stops! We picked the bikes up at 10am and had them back by 4.30pm. This gave us all day to do a lap of Lake Coniston stopping several times to skim some stones and also a little detour to the quirky village of Hawkshead. John provided us with a route map which was really helpful too. If u fancy a day touring this part for the Lakes on bikes I can’t recommend John and Lake District bikes enough.
My son and I spent a great morning with John who took us our on two of his Electric Mountain Bikes.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.
We loved our 1/2 day guided tour with John. We are a family of three from Australia. Great bikes with a very knowledgeable guide that took us to places we would never have found. We finished off exhausted with a lovely lunch overlooking a beautiful lake.
Had an amazing experience recently whilst hiring bikes for both myself and my little boy whilst on holiday! We also had our little dog with us! John was very helpful and friendly and nothing was too much trouble 👍 He also took some lovely photos of us and sent them to us which was much appreciated 😃 Would highly recommend and will definitely visit again if we are in the area.Thank you John 👍
We hired 2 e-bikes and cycled the route around Coniston Lake. I would highly recommend Lake District Bikes, John was very helpful with the bike setup, advised how we use the e-settings, added a very useful bike pannier for our clothing layers and spare water bottle, gave us a great map to follow which took us off the main busy roads. If you are looking for a great day out on bikes, book with this company.
Great day out following an easy rental with John. We hired two e-bikes with attached trailers for the day, which were all well maintained, set up and ready for us when we arrived. John was happy to make adjustments to fit our requests (2 children and 2 dogs to tow) and gave us a an well thought out route around Coniston, which was beautiful. Would highly recommend.
Would highly recommend. Bikes were perfect, brilliant location with access to trails and John was super helpful. Would use again.
We had an enjoyable afternoon riding around Coniston Lake on E-bikes. The service was fine and John was friendly. However, he initially charged £60 per bike, when we pointed our that our friends had been charged £45 the previous day, he checked the price list and dropped it to £49. After about 15 mins of setting off, my rear brake began rubbing, I tried using the brakes to stop the rubbing but it only got worse. We stopped after about 20 mins and examined the brake and brake pads but there was no way to adjust them. The sound coming from the brakes and the drag on the wheel was becoming a real problem so we were left with no other option but to turn back. We called John and he said that a replacement bike was in one of the outbuildings but that he was out. We had to search for some time to find the replacement bike, this reduced our afternoon ride by about an hour in total. On returning from our ride, we mentioned the issue with the brake again in the hope that as a goodwill gesture a discount might be offered but the problem wasn't really acknowledged. Overall, an enjoyable ride but felt it was important to mention the issue with the brake.
I definitely recommend Lake District Bikes. I hired a super titanium road bike.I discussed the size and my requirements over the phone and the bike was spot on when I arrived. I had a super couple of days, pick up and return was very easy and John was very knowledgeable. The bike was immaculately maintained. Thank you.
Great location for a trip round Coniston. Good range of bikes. We rented two e-bikes. John seems a nice bloke. The trip round Coniston was lovely. The only thing I would say is that one of the bikes we hired had a problem about 20 minutes into the ride and the wheel was sticking. So we had to cycle it back and replace it, which took about 40 minutes off our already shortened day – we only had a half day to begin with. I would also say that £49 for less than four hours is really steep. He also charged us for the helmets, which I am not used to in my experience at other places. I’ve been to a lot of places. In fact, he initially wanted to charge us £60 each for the half day, until I asked them why my friends the day before had only paid 45. Whereupon he sheepishly reduced the price to 49 — but then charged us a fiver each for the helmets. Then, when we got back, we felt he’d probably offer us a little discount for hiring us a faulty bike as he seems a good chap, but not a word. Stuck in our mind a bit. (I now see that some of the other reviews have detailed similar problems regarding money. For instance, this charge to go over the passes in the Lake District. For freaks sakes, don’t hire bikes in the Lake District if you don’t want people to go up the bloody hills. That is a ridiculous charge.) Still. Great location and bikes were fun. We had a bit of bad luck but you probably won’t. Pity about the price-gouging that’s all.
I highly recommend Lake District Bikes! We hired 2 e-MTBs from John last week. The bikes were brilliant and in really good condition and John made the process extremely easy from booking through to hiring then returning. He also kindly lent us a repair kit and pump as we'd forgotten ours (no extra charge!). We downloaded one of his routes from Komoot (Walna Scar) which was epic so make sure to have a look at those if you're up for a challenge. Great to hire from a small local company - we will be returning!
The Lake District is superb for road riding. A mini Pytenees in fact. John was terrific to work with prior to our arrival in the planning process and of course when we arrived. His bikes are of the highest quality as is knowledge of the area. Cannot wait to return
We had another great day out on e-bikes riding through Grizedale and then down to the shore of Windermere. The 5 bikes we hired were all in great condition and performed faultlessly. It's great to be able to park at Lake District Bikes and only have a short ride up to Nibthwaite to get into Grizedale. Thanks for a great day John!
Really enjoyed trying out an E-bike for the first time. Good instructions from John and helpful maps with pub and cafe stops. We were able to avoid any heavy traffic by taking a scenic route along to Brantwood and then up into Grizedale forest. Would book again.
John very knowledgeable about bikes and area.Had a brilliant 2 day bike hire.Would definitely recommend booking bikes from Lake District Bikes.Loads to choose from.
We did a pre booking in advance and John prepared our bikes to our best. We also received a special support on the available trips... with many inside Info... which was very useful. On our second day we had a flat tyre and John came by car and exhanged the complete tyre. He therefore needed to drive half an hour one way... what an effort we really apreciated! This was an excellent support by John and we only lost 30 minutes at the end.
I absolutely recommend John and this amazing rental place. Bikes are in great condition, the selection is wide, John is very helpful, clear with instructions and knowledgeable about both technicalities and the area. Would love to come again.
I organized a day-long guided tour on e-bikes for my husband and I. We were staying in Windermere, and while there are plenty of bike shops there, I couldn't find one that offered a guided one-day tour. Then I found Lake District Bikes. I hired two e-bikes and John took us on a 40 mile tour - some of the ride was on small country roads and some was on dirt paths along two lakes. All of it was stunningly gorgeous. We made a stop for morning tea, and then another brief stop for lunch. John was totally ok if one of us stopped for a photo. He was also happy to provide commentary on anything we looked at - likewise he was equally happy if we weren't particularly interested. The bikes were in good condition - he outfitted us with helmets and paniers and water. The bikes I originally hired were too small, so he readily got us different bikes. He was safe on the bikes and clearly knew his way all over. We were incredibly lucky that the weather cooperated.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.
We had a fantastic family day out. John was extremely helpful in setting up the perfect day. With cycle routes and fantastic quality electric bikes.I would high recommend this as a great family days activity.Katie
Amazing bikes. We all had a great day on these e-bikes. They were so helpful and showed us some great routes
I came over from the US with two others and we rented road bikes and then a mountain bikes for a week. The bikes were great and John was very helpful (and funny). He even gave us a guided tour of the area at the end of the week.
I hired an E-Bike, the bike was brilliant and in perfect condition. John seemed to grasp my riding ability very quickly when showing me the basics of the bike. He then suggested a route that was suited to us, with coffee and other stops along the way.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.
The bikes seem OK and John was helpful with instructions and fitting. Obviously not John's fault, but I strongly recommend not booking until you are certain of the weather or be prepared to waste the cost. The terms and conditions say that there are no refunds, and the owner made it clear before we took any bikes that we would have to pay again (£305) if we wanted to move the booking to another day.
I hired a bike from John for the Fred Whitton. Unfortunately he provided a bike that was too small for me, which added an extra challenge to completing the Fred. The bike fit was not professional and was also charged an extra £20 which was not explained for what reason. If looking to rent a road bike I would recommend looking for a more professional service in the Lake District.
My partner and I had a wonderful day's riding on a pair of hardtail mountain ebikes. John provided clear and detailed instruction before we set off as we'd never ridden ebikes before and his advice on routes and provision of maps was invaluable. We headed off straight from the bike hire location and we were soon riding alongside Coniston water and later through the great trails over Grizedale. The ebikes gave us (as pretty unfit!) the ability to be out riding for 5 hours and thoroughly enjoy ourselves. Totally recommended.
Used the experience to help me decide if I want to purchase a mountain ebike - I'm getting one. The hire bike was excellent and the suggested route went through a variety of incredible countryside. Not to be missed.
Really happy with the quality of bikes and service. I hired a carbon FS and my friend got a FS e-bike. Great value for money and we managed to get some great riding in over Helvellyn. There was an unfortunate issue with the brakes and John swapped the bike over with no fuss and even reimbursed me for money I spent getting a bike shop to look at it. Great service, would highly recommend.
Absolutely fantastic bike hire, I would highly recommend John and his selection of bikes for hire. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our day on John's bikes, and we took in some fantastic scenery and coffee shops on the impressive route he supplied us with. Both bikes we hired were brilliant and certainly made light work of some of the steeper hills along the route (we went the wrong way initially and ended up going up Oxen Park - if you know, you know!)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 was very friendly and available. The gravel bikes we rented were very good and the maps John gave us were extremely helpful to find some amazing tracks that we thoroughly enjoyed! I highly recommend renting from Lake District Bikes and will do so again myself if I come back, which I hope I will as I had such a great time. What else is there to say? Great service, great bikes, great time!
We hired a couple of the Mondraker ebikes in March for our first electric outing in the Lakes (been here many times in manual mode).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.
A great day on a nifty and well maintained Mondraker Chaser 750 small full suspension eMTB. It was great to find this bike as a few hire places only seem to do a 750 battery in an XL bike! John gave us clear advice and route maps and a great tip on a lovely pub to visit. The route was as John predicted, and we were treated to some gorgeous easy low level trails nearby and the greater challenge of the climb up to Walmart scar. The bike coped with ease and was soon giving me confidence despite I am not very familiar with ebikes off road. The battery lasted really well. Highly recommend especially if you want a good range of bike and battery sizes.
My wife and I booked John on a recommendation from a friend. We are not experienced e.bikers so we were a little apprehensive. John however quickly put us at ease and gave us a good demonstration of the bikes which were both great quality. John took us at our pace and showed us areas that we could never have done on our own.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.
well maintained bike (an e-bike). John very helpful and provided well thought out routes (with maps). beautiful ride up the side of Coniston Water and beyond.would recommend and use again
Had a lovely bike ride along the shores of Coniston Lake. Really beautiful scenery. Lanes were very quiet to cycle on - we were a family of 8 including a dog and trailer. John was very helpful leading up to and on the day. Great bikes, at a good price.
Hired for the fourth time a EMtb from John, who provides a great service and choice of bikes. As ever the bike was well turned out, ready to go and ran faultlessly. Hope to be back again in a few months.
Highly reccomend this man and his bikes :)) Hired 2 ebikes for the day. John was welcoming and informative on pick up and willing to listen to our 'amazing' tales of our day cycling. Will be back
John was a fantastic host, guiding us three newbies on the ins and outs of revolutionary E-MTB technology. My mate who has had spinal injury in the past was happily on his way enjoying one of his favourite activities again and the beautiful route mapped out with a handy guide by John made it a wholesome experience. Very recommended for anyone looking for cycling activity in Lake District!!
Very helpful and friendly along with plenty of knowledge, I would definitely use again! A*
Hired 2 domaine+ e-bikes for 3 days, was very happy with them and surprised by the excellent battery range. Service and knowledge provided by John was first class.
We did a tour just me and my boyfriend with John and Charlie. They made a tour that was individual to our levels of fitness. My boyfriend has much more biking experience so at times we split up so that he got to do more exciting terrain whilst I was able to remain in my comfort zone on less complex areas. We had a thoroughly enjoyable morning and covered around 20 miles and got to see some sights of the area and learn some of the history.Thanks so much John and Charlie for a great morning out.
Great experience hiring a bike from John - whole process went very smoothly - hired an Enigma Excel titanium road bike - fabulous to ride and really allows you to make the most of the stunning Lakes area either local to the hire centre or further afield if you've got the legs. Would highly recommend hiring a bike from John and will certainly return when I'm next in these parts.
Possibly good for a ride round the lake but for proper mountain biking not that great. £60 for a 20 year old bike, where the suspension, brakes and gears don’t work too well is very steep. Especially when you can now buy the bike online for about £150 it seems. Far better off renting elsewhere. When I spoke to the guy about this he claimed he didn’t know how old the bike was, which is worrying, and that it ‘has all the parts a bike needs so should be okay for a good day out’.
Not owning an EMTB (yet), I hired a Mondraker Crafty EMTB and it was superb. The bike was in great condition and was well maintained. Overall, I thought 80pounds was a very reasonable price for a full-day.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...
The bikes we hired were great and the route recommendation was beautiful! Great that they were open on Boxing Day! Thanks!
I hired the Trek Domane+ road/gravel bike for the weekend of the Cumbria Cracker. A resounding success. The route takes entrants up Red Bank in the first 2 miles which in previous years has been a real killer. This time: I sailed up it (in turbo mode) with such a big smile on my face. The whole day (though really wet) went well; the battery lasted for 60 miles with 4500 feet of climbing and meant that I finished the day feeling great. I would definetly recommend Lake District Bikes, John's service, advice and guidance was great.
We hired two hardtail e-bikes for the day via Lake District Bikes, and the whole experience from start to finish was incredible. On arriving, John had the bikes ready for us and spent time to ensure the bikes were just right for us (in fact, he kindly offered a larger bike for me with my long legs!) We went for the e-bikes as we figured that we could probably ride for longer and like the idea of a bit of oomph when tackling the hills. (we are so glad we went for the e-bikes!)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 highThank you so much to John for helping us create a memorable day, we will be back!
Friendly, helpful service from John. Picking up the bikes was straightforward, with easy to follow instructions on operating the bikes. We really enjoyed the bikes over the 2 days, riding up stuff that we would have never got up on normal bikes!
Can't fault it! Very organised. Bikes were ready and prepped before arriving. John had a changing room and toilet available to get changed in before and after the ride. Then had a good chat before the rest of the gang turned up. After which, John gave us a very comprehensive overview of the bike and how to use it, which although you think its self explanatory, it isn't.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.
My wife and I hired two electric bikes last week. Mine was a Cube Kathmandu and Anne’s a Scott. Both were definitely the best quality bikes we have hired - and we have been hiring bikes while on holiday for many years. John was extremely helpful, advising on a route round Coniston Water with a small diversion to Tarn Hows. We had a great and easy 4 hour cycle, mostly on tarmac, gravel paths on the west side of the lake. There were places to stop either to take in the views or enjoy the lakeside, plus food and drink breaks. The cafe at Brantwood (Ruskin’s home) was excellent. I would thoroughly recommend John’s excellent service. Hope to be back!
I had a great time riding around the Lake District for 3 days. Booking in was easy on line and the bike was selected there. I also requested a soft seat and helmet and John included a saddle bag and padlock for me. Also included were several maps with routes planned and pubs and cafes marked!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.
John lent us a hybrid bike that was just right for my wife, and helped us fix a tyre blowout with charm and skill. Well worth the trip!
An outstanding experience. I traveled to Ulverston, arriving by train to the international Buddhist Festival at Conishead Priory. John picked me up at the train with my luggage, drove me to his shop and then spent a good amount of time trying different bikes and helmets, accessories until we found the best fit. He then drove me to where I was staying. The bike was perfect, very smooth and easy to use and I had a great time riding it. At the end of my visit, John came and picked me and the bike up, and drove me to the train station. Yes, I spent more money than I originally would have liked, but in the end it was all worth it and I will definitely rent from John in future. Highly recommend!
Absolutely brilliant experience, John is very knowledgeable about his bikes, loads of knowledge about local trails and further afield, I hired an e-bike for my son.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.
John is a superb guide for the Lake District, and it was a great intro to e-bikes. The tour and views were amazing. It’s the perfect way to get an inside view to a special place.
Great place to rent, for both adults and kids. Useful help on tracks and paths in the are, also when time is limited.
My family and I had an incredible adventure exploring the stunning Lake District thanks to Lake District Bikes and its owner, John! We rented 3 kids' bikes from them, and I can't express how satisfied we were with the entire experience.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!
Great day had by the group. John is super helpful and provided us with a great route which provided us some amazing views. Able to cover greater distance on the e-bikes which were really easy to use. Really fun day!
Had an amazing time hiring road bikes for two days, cycling down by the coast and up over Wrynose pass. Massive thanks to John for reacting with good humour when we crashed mid ride damaging one of the bikes. He even drove out to find us and helped fix the bike! Thanks for a great time!!!
Well maintained selection E-MTBs to hire. John the owner provided us will maps for the area and spent time to help us plan our days. We have hired bikes from other locations in the UK but this was the best experience so far and the guidance offered was exceptional. The bridalways have opened our eyes to a new type of mountain biking beyond trail centres.
Easy to book the bikes, hired helmets on the day. Helpful host as we needed a shorter route being newbies. Found it tough but parts were amazing.
2nd time renting an eMTB from here, and as before both the bike and the service were great. John has plenty of advice and local knowledge, and the flexibility of being able to keep the bike for a few days and ride wherever I wanted was brilliant. The weather was too, though I don't think John can claim credit for that.
We enjoyed a wonderful day of E-bike hire. John was super-helpful providing us with a route, map, and lots of local knowledge. There was a great choice of bikes and we were able to hire ones that fitted our tall frames and were easy to use and comfortable to ride. Such a great start to our holiday in the Lake District. Thanks John!
My three children and I had a wonderful day's mountain biking, mainly on the western side of Coniston Water, following one of the routes John suggested as well as doing some more 'off-piste' exploring. There were tremendous views of the lake in one direction and of the Old Man of Coniston in the other. The old mine workings and quarry at Banishead above Torver were an unusual but also picturesque sight. Some of the paths were quite challenging but well worth the effort. We will be back to explore Grizedale Forest next year. The bikes were excellent quality and in great condition—just what we needed. John was very helpful with advice. As I say, we'll be back nest year.
We hired two bikes from Lake District Bikes for a two week period and couldn't have been happier. John was great to deal with. He responded quickly to our inquiries and made sure that everything was just right before we hit the road. Bikes were perfect and trouble free for two weeks. We would most certainly hire bikes from Lake District Bikes in the future. Great bikes and service.
Had a lovely time on a gravel bike hired from Lake District Bikes. The proprietor, John, was very responsive on email and answered all of my pre-booking questions. The bike was set up and ready to go when I arrived at opening time. John gave me great suggestions for where to ride as well as multiple printed maps of the area.
We hired bikes from John for a four day cycle of the Bay Cycle Way. He was absolutely amazing. Our hired bikes were dropped at the start of the journey in Barrow and collected from Lancaster at the finish. He even collected me from the station and dropped me at the hotel! The bikes themselves were excellent no problems. He was super friendly and supportive. An absolute professional - knows his stuff - well equipped bikes - friendly advice... what more can you ask for? I will definitely hire from him again to cycle in the Lake District. Cannot wait! it is a pleasure in todays world to encounter businesses like this and people like John who are passionate about what they do and provide such a high standard of service.
Had a fantastic time riding around Coniston lake and up into the hills. John was great in advising us on routes and kitting us out with top end E-bikes nice balance of performance and fun. Looking forward to returning!
3rd time we have been out with John and his team, fantastic experience and great introduction to e-bikes if you have not tried them. Thanks John and Graham our superb guide for the day 👍. We will be back again soon.
We had an amazing time biking through the gorgeous Lake Distric, John provided us with the best gear for the trip, all high-quality carbon road bikes and service was perfect!
Top quality service all round. Lake District Bikes saved my Fred Whitton Challenge attempt 2023. 10 days before the race, I wrote off my road bike. At last minute, John was helpful and accommodating. Had bikes fit for purpose. And a wealth of help and advice for cycling in the Lake District and beyond. Thank you.
Lake District Bikes is located in a beautiful part of the Lake District with good access to a variety of rides. You can choose easy or hard routes as you wish - quiet fell roads, easy lakeside biking or some of the major climbs in the area. John supplies maps and route suggestions based on your ability and requests.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.
We visited Lake District Bikes in September and has a fabulous time. The weather was glorious, there was secure free parking on site and John provided us with maps depending on how far we wanted to go for the day. We hired the bikes with the bigger battery and had a great time cycling around Coniston Lake and the surrounding areas. Going up the hills was a breeze in turbo mode! We also had plenty of battery left at the end of the day too which was a bonus! We will definitely be returning and will try a different route next time.
We hired two ebikes from John and he couldn’t have been more helpful, he explained how to use bikes very well. John had a great personality and sense of humour he went out of his way to give my wife a matching helmet to her top ! He supplied map and plenty of useful advice. It was our first experience of ebikes, they were of excellent quality and well maintained. We recommend you use them as you won’t get better service. Thanks for a great experience
My daughters and I rented bikes from John for a day. The bikes were great and John made sure they were well adjusted to our needs. He provided good maps of suggested routes suitable for our level of experience and with great additional local details so we had a great day despite the rainy weather! Would definitely recommend. And the area is really beautiful, with plenty of good biking to be had.
We were cycling with our 7 year old son who has little cycling experience. John took extra time to ensure he felt comfortable and confident on his bike before we left - it really made the difference to us being able to go out. Our bikes were great too. The route John gave us was not only a beautiful ride, it was perfect for getting our son’s confidence up. End result - a more confident cyclist eager to go out again. Thanks so much John!
Lake District bikes is fantastic. John Sutcliffe is the owner and he worked hard to ensure we had a great experience. We needed bikes for four or five days of biking in the southern part of the Lake District. We would be arriving from London after flying in from California. Since we would not be renting a car we needed to be some what centrally located. He was quick to respond to our emails. He recommended lodging, told us how to get o the Lake District. (Train from Euston to Oxenholme) and even picked us up at the Train Station when we arrived. He helped us choose bikes, he must have over a hundred, and offered us detailed cycling maps, routes and different places to eat and tour along the way. Some of his advice on areas to avoid during the Bank Holiday weekend were invaluable. Also he was open and available everyday throughout the Bank holiday weekend. We can’t thank John enough he helped make our trip a real pleasure.
I arranged a couple of e-bikes for myself and a friend to go up one of the decent hills in the lakes. John was very helpful, the bikes were set up well and it was fuss free. He could see we were experienced mountain bikers so just gave us a quick run through and safety talk and we were off. He's not nearly as cantankerous and old as you think!
Have hired bikes from John a few times now - always really responsive on comms, flexible on timing, and with a great range of bikes in good nick. Note 1: hiring e-bikes for the kids was WAY TOO MUCH FUN... am now being nagged re birthdays! Note 2: photo actually shows my bike, but on a ride with the kids and shows the kind of views you can expect in the local area.
John was really helpful and spent lots of time making sure my young kids felt happy with their bikes and they were confident in riding them. Once we were sorted he has incredibly kind and drove us to a nearby track which was safer than the roads for my kids who are still learning to ride. Thank you so much John.
John goes above and beyond, with excellent bikes, service, selection, and guides to the Lake District. Our first day, Shelley took us on an amazing guided tour with our mountain e-bikes. After that, the detailed maps and instructions made it easy to find our way around and see the breathtaking sights in the area. He has all levels of bikes for every kind of rider and takes extra care to make sure you are comfortable and confidant. What a find!
We came from the US to participate in the AnordMardix Big Cycle event and needed a top quality cycle to ride. John assured us that he did have several bicycles worthy of the task. I checked out the premier listing and was impressed with what I found.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
Excellent in every way. My family have hired bikes from John on 3 occasions and enjoyed every minute with them. With John you are dealing with a vastly experienced, knowledgeable and passionate cyclist who knows the wonderful Lake District like the back of his hand and wants you to enjoy it as much as he does.He has a wide choice of bikes; we have used electric mountain, hybrid, flagship road and titanium bikes and each one was in excellent condition. He is attentive and helpful to ensure your bike is right for you and immediately you leave his premises you are in some of the most beautiful cycling countryside imaginable - complete with a route planned by him if you want one. I cannot recommend him too highly.
This bike rental place is amazing, thanks to John who is very knowledgeable about what routes to take, he made mine and my partners experience really memorable. Also helped out if you was nervous (first time riding an E bike) made you feel comfortable and at ease. Opening times and bike hire are reasonable, and very easy to drive to and find.
Recommend highly. My husband and I rented 2 e-bikes from John on our recent holiday. The bikes were in great shape and we were well outfitted with accessories. John went above and beyond with a wealth of local tips, and with the drop-off and pickup so that we could extend our range. A great experience all around!
Very good bikes and friendly service.We were very happy with the openinghours and two day hire. Good facilitiesand advice offered. Will definitely useagain
Absolutely fantastic! What a great experience!! John took very good care of us and the E bikes were lots of fun for our boys! Would highly recommend getting the E bikes as they made the trip very pleasant... Thanks for such a memorable time!
My wife and I hired bikes from John in late March. His place is easy to find, and he couldn't have been more helpful. John showed us an easy route up the east side of Coniston Water, with a lunch stop, which was perfect for us. A major added bonus was seeing tiny lambs in lots of the fields on the route. When we returned the bikes, John gave us some tips for what to see on the rest of our trip, and they turned out to be the most memorable things we did.
I booked online the day before our ride. John was great about getting back to me and helping us out. He got my friend and I suited up with road bikes the first day and mountain bikes the second day. The road route he suggested was without question, one of the best rides I've ever had. Breath taking, hard, scenic. The whole package! I believe he called it Britain's Best? You'll have to ask him. He was great about showing us where to go on the map. Our mtnbike route was just as good, only a lot more soggy! But that's the way it goes. You don't get all that green because it's a desert! Overall, I'm very happy with John, his choice of bikes, his facility, and how we were treated. I would not hesitate to rent from him again if I make it back to the Lake District!
Hired a Titanium Road Bike.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.
Great fun, great experience, great bikes and great guides!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!
Really easy to book and clear instructions on how to find it. Loads of great quiet roads around and good local info of routes to take. Bikes were clean, fully charged and in great condition. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you
My partner and I searched for a place to hire some eMTB's last minute while on holiday.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.
Highly recommend John and Lake District Bikes. Hired 3 e-bikes and we were given great bikes and very thorough brief on how to use them and on the best local routes for our abilities. All in all John was excellent to deal with both in planning our day beforehand and on the actual day of hire.ThanksBen
Great experience … went with my teenage son and got the electric bikes. Had a fabulous time… electric bikes are recommended if you want to go into the forest and hills!
My husband and I rented mountain bikes in July. We've been to Grizedale before so were keen to explore some of the local trails instead and John gave us some fantastic route recommendations. Additionally when one of the bikes developed a minor mechanical issue towards the end of the first day, John and his team repaired it promptly overnight so it was ready to go again on day 2. We would happily use again.
We hired 2 gravel bikes for the week while in the lakes. Very competitive price. Really helpful and fitted SPD pedals for us. Maps and local knowledge from the bike fitter as well. Would use again and highly recommend.
We had a great experience with John at Lake District Bikes. We rented two road bikes (one carbon, one titanium) with compact cassettes and plenty big rear cogs (one was 28, the other 32). Bikes were excellent, John gave us really good routing details which I plugged into my Garmin at his shop. Don’t miss his daughter’s cakes at the end of the ride!
Highly recommend. Easy to book online. Subject to availability we booked same day. Arrived at : collection point which is well located to explore the surrounding areas by bike. First time on an ebike. Great for exploring the lakes and takes a lot of the hard work away as well as being great fun. John showed us how to get the best out the bikes and recommended a route and provided maps. Great mixture of road and fun coming back via the forest route. Overall out for approx 5 hours and very impressed and have recommended several others to do this and will definitely do again in the coming months.
Great value, quality bike and great service. John set up the bike and provided advice of the best routes throughout the Lakes. So much easier than strapping my bike to my car, will definitely hire from John again when we return next year.
Hired 4 Trek E-Mountain bikes from John. Had a great time. The bikes were well maintained. John was very knowledgeable and suggested some very fun and scenic routes. I will definitely go back to him if I'm up in the Lake District again.
We hired a Cube Reaction Pro e-MTB and had an amazing four days. John is very knowledgeable and helpful in his bike equipment and safety review. We used his maps as a guide and went off for 4 days and 120km of amazing cycling. The bike was brilliant and made up for the lack of skill and experience in the rider! We're definitely coming back.
I hired the Enigma Esprit Titanium for 4 days to explore some of the area around Pennington. The bike was great, John fitted pedals to match my cleats which saved having to bring my own pedals. Bike was lovely and had enough gears to get up all hills encountered! John has a wealth of bike knowledge and has a great bike hire service, friendly and great value. Would highly recommend
Intended as an easy family fun day between climbing mountains, we opted to hire 4 electric bikes and we had great fun without expending too much energy despite riding 50km. The bikes were well maintained, lived up to their expectations and were easy to handle. We combined the trip with some water sports at Lake Coniston again which was great fun. John provided clear instruction on the bikes and recommended routes. Lovely cakes at the end which helped us up the mountain the next day.
Would highly recommend. A huge range of bikes and free secure parking. A fabulous base from which to explore a stunning area of the Lakes. John provided detailed maps for our wo days of riding,. Just a brilliant day, and a lovely area to explore for all levels of biker. Loved it
What a lovely day! Really enjoyed it, the bike was absolutely fantastic and the routes provided by John were clear, fantastic fun and lovely views. The bike gave me great confidence despite me not riding for a very long time, and as such I enjoyed the day, in fact I would say i haven't got to the end of a day feeling as happy for a very very long time. Thanks for accommodating, and hopefully I'll be back soon!
We hired great bikes for all the family during our stay in the Lake District. John was really helpful when we collected the bikes, swapping my bike out for one which was a better fit for me. The bikes were in great condition and the route that John suggested was perfect. We would definitely hire from John again on our next visit.
Had a fabulous days cycling. The bikes were top quality and the routes provided detailed and varied. Everything had been thought about to make sure we enjoyed our day including adding all the cafes and pubs to our map.The homemade cakes on sale were delicious and a lovely tray on return from your cycle.
This was my first time riding a Electric bike and I will definitely be doing it again. If you are looking for something exciting to fill your day this is one of the things you should try. If you want something subtle you can ride along the roads or if you want more thrill then you can go deep into the mountains and ride up the hills. This was a amazing experience 100% recommend using this service.
Would highly recommend. A huge range of bikes and free secure parking. A fabulous base from which to explore a stunning area of the Lakes. John provided detailed maps for two days of riding, and he also took me on a guided ride over the fells with stunning scenery, so quiet it was like we had the Lakes to ourselves. John’s guiding knowledge was great, describing each section of the ride so I knew what to expect. Just a brilliant day, and a lovely area to explore for all levels of mountain biker. Loved it
We had the best day on the hybrid mountain bikes. There was 7 of us in are group and john made sure we had the correct size bikes also giving us a map as a guide. The bikes were fantastic helping us up hill with ease and covering a range of 35 miles over 7 hours. A great day had by all apart from a sore bum🤣
We had a wonderful experience with Lake District Bikes. John was accommodating from the beginning and really went above and beyond. Him and his team did everything they could for us -- from selecting a route based on our available time and interests, to helping us with our dog, to recommending local restaurants. Would definitely visit again. Thanks for everything John and team!
10/10 experience - Best £70 I’ve spent in my life!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
The service provided by John was simply excellent. We hired bikes at a few days notice but were able to book bikes which individually suited our 8 and 10 year olds and each of us, In fact when we checked the bikes we decided my son's was too big for him and John was able to find a more suitable bike for him. John also helped by giving us directions for a route which was suited to the ages and abilities of our children. And then to crown it all, he really helped by driving some of the bikes up the hill to the start of our trail in order to save the kids legs for the off-road route we'd planned (my fault - I'd forgotten the keys to our bike racks!) When we returned from our ride, our daughter was delighted to be able to feed the ponies on the farm. Thanks John - a fantastic day. We will definitely return some day.
What can we say, from the moment the electric gate opened and we met John we knew the service was going to be great, he explained all about the bikes thoroughly and how best to use them, all the bike are top of the range and of a high standard and very easy to use, and trust me if you take his advice those big hills are so easy to tackle.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.
Superb bike hire. Really reasonably priced and top end bikes. We hired the e-mtbs and were pleasantly surprised that they were very high quality, clean and well maintained. Lad who greeted us showed us how to use them and some ideal routes nearby. Great location and great staff, would highly recommend and we’ll be back for sure.
Amazing experience renting e-bikes from John during our stay in the lake district. The bikes were absolutely fantastic, and John could not have been more helpful providing us with cycling routes which we really enjoyed. Thanks so much, highly recommend.
My wife and I had a great day's cycling, despite some awful weather in May, thanks to John and his attention to detail.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.
Absolutely outstanding service from John. Had a great time for our first time on ebikes. Covered just under 50km on an amazing route he recommended. Came back covered in mud with massive smiles on our faces. John offered us a lovely warm shower before our trip back to London. 10/10 would visit again and recommend to all.
Had three fabulous days on a superb Electric bike. Covered 14 miles on day one, then 29 miles on day two, climbing the 1:4 Wry Nose pass and still had plenty of battery left! Final day took it easy, just 20 miles of fairly easy terrain. The whole hiring experience was very easy and would definitely use John again. Sorry no photos to post, not a vey enthusiastic photographer!
Fantastic! Easy as it could be to book. Friendly welcoming experience throughout. Great route for bluebells and cafe stops provided by John. Clear instruction on use of our hire bike. Although it didn’t arise I did wonder what we’d have done if the bike had developed a fault eg puncture? I could sort but not everyone would. Solid 10/10 for John
John was incredibly helpful when we hired our bikes, giving us an overview of the different options and telling us the best routes to take. We were lucky with some sun on the day and had an amazing 40km cycle through some of the most stunning routes I've been on. There's lots of big hills around so best to hire an e-bike if you're not super fit. We hired 2 e-bikes and then a couple of us used our own road bikes. Thoroughly enjoyable and we'll definitely be back to hire some more next time we visit!
Great experience. We've hired 3 top spec ebikes and really enjoyed the ride. The views were spectacular and we can definitely recommend.
Highly recommended to anyone who would like to rent awesome e-bikes! John is a really kind and funny person, who will help you to find the best paths.We will get back! 🙂
Great service and very easy to book using the website. John called me the day before to check my requirements to ensure that collection went as smoothly as possible. He also ensured the bike was a perfect fit before I left and was more than happy to suggest a local route for me. It was a very efficient and relaxed experience and I would have no hesitation in using Lake District Bikes again or recommending them to anyone looking to hire bikes in the area.
We hired two bikes and a trailer for our 2 kids and had a really fantastic time. The service was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. We were advised to go on a lovely quiet lakeside road along Coniston. There were plenty of lakeside beaches to have a break and allow the kids to run wild. Will definitely book again. Thank you John.
Great business! Locations, staff and bikes were all fantastic. Super easy process and an amazing day out on two wheels in the lakes.
Me and my husband decided to hire E-bikes for the first time (usually happy with the pedal power of mountain bikes) thought we’d try them out! Full day hire, very well priced. Allocated time of pick up 09:30am, and could return before 5. John was great, explained how they worked, fitted us with helmets. Provided some maps, and a great recommendation to stop off at Brantwood House, cafe for a cup of coffee (their cakes are amazing) for John, nothing was too much trouble at all. We had a lovely time, the bikes were brilliant. Highly recommend the hire!!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.
John was professional, punctual, and friendly. He runs a tight ship and has an extensive inventory of bikes to suit every type of riders desire and experience level. The process to hire and pick up/drop off was smooth and simple. Additionally, he has the ground truth knowledge of all the different trails and is keen to getting you set up for an exhilarating day. Lake District Bikes will be our go to bike hire when we travel to Lake District. Cheers John
Amazing service!Very professional, thoughtful. Great advise on the bikes and the routes.We loved it! Would highly recommend thank you! 🙂
Great experience with John and his rental company. Everything was operated in a very safe manner (considering the pandemic) with high quality bikes at a reasonable price. Much cheaper than me lugging my bike to the lakes. Any issues with hills is because I am not used to them at all. When I come back to the South Lakes I'll be renting from John for sure.
Great service. Nice bike. Good price and fantastic cycling. And very helpful walking directions to the nearest pub while I waited to get picked up. Would definitely use again.
Fantastic experience with this company. We were staying up in the lakes and decided to take a spontaneous ride out and found this company on google with good reviews. A couple of calls later and John had organised us two bikes with a trailer for two children. Good quality bikes and great customer service. The location was even better and made for a great morning out with the family cycling round the lake. Thank you
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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