Reviews

Lake District Bikes

4.9

Based on 335 reviews

review us on

David Alderson

10:07 20 Sep 23

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!

Peter Warren

11:21 11 Sep 23

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.

Nick Hands

19:26 31 Aug 23

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!

Directing Actors with Adrienne Weiss

19:29 29 Aug 23

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!

Lee Wood

19:19 29 Aug 23

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.

Dovydas Čipkus

07:40 29 Aug 23

Bill Tiszai

00:07 25 Aug 23

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.

Berber Arbeel-Weening

09:38 20 Aug 23

Great place to rent, for both adults and kids. Useful help on tracks and paths in the are, also when time is limited.

Omar

21:58 19 Aug 23

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!

Kevin Brennan

18:05 15 Aug 23

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!

Ben Anketell

12:31 14 Aug 23

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!!!

Mark Panczak

21:49 13 Aug 23

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.

Dave Lane

13:26 12 Aug 23

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.

Bryan Mawhinney

09:31 12 Aug 23

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.

Julia Grant

18:57 09 Aug 23

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!

Alexander Bird

15:45 30 Jul 23

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.

Fred Bushell

21:57 28 Jun 23

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.

John Bowers

08:11 26 Jun 23

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.

Rebecca Millward-Boyton

10:03 20 Jun 23

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.

Aaron D

10:05 05 Jun 23

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!

SW P

15:14 03 Jun 23

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.

Bas Pullens

08:41 26 May 23

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!

James Pilkington

09:38 19 May 23

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.

Wendy Wood

00:30 10 Nov 22

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.

becca jones

11:59 09 Oct 22

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.

Ian Galvin

23:29 08 Oct 22

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

Dale Robertson

15:57 04 Sep 22

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.

Sally Campbell

07:07 01 Sep 22

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!

Jim Robelen

16:31 31 Aug 22

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.

Daniel Walmsley

11:57 24 Aug 22

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!

Chris Wigley

09:15 24 Aug 22

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.

Sophie Contractor

12:46 25 Jul 22

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.

Eve Pellegrino

16:56 23 Jul 22

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!

Harry Fitzgerald

16:47 23 Jul 22

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

Harry Acres

14:23 18 Jul 22

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.

Sophie Flood

16:26 26 Jun 22

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.

Dannielle Ullrich

16:14 16 Jun 22

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!

Tom

19:36 04 May 22

Very good bikes and friendly service.We were very happy with the openinghours and two day hire. Good facilitiesand advice offered. Will definitely useagain

Michael Semones

23:40 28 Apr 22

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!

Patrick Allies

21:26 20 Apr 22

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.

Gregory Hunter

20:29 18 Apr 22

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!

Kieran Daniel

08:00 15 Apr 22

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.

Arthur

08:28 09 Feb 22

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!

Emily Ellerington

08:52 03 Feb 22

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

Lynn Ramsay

13:58 02 Jan 22

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.

Ben Teague

18:31 29 Oct 21

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

Make it Right

19:02 27 Oct 21

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!

Heather Keenan

14:01 25 Oct 21

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.

Alex Northcott

20:13 28 Sep 21

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.

Michael Schenker

08:40 26 Sep 21

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!

Colin Jones

10:38 11 Sep 21

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.

James Gairdner

20:33 08 Sep 21

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.

G Hobbs

09:56 08 Sep 21

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.

Keith McGibbon

14:10 04 Sep 21

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.

Chris Bristow

17:46 09 Aug 21

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

catherine hinds

15:52 08 Aug 21

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.

caroline lowe

10:48 03 Aug 21

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

Toby Simpson

07:46 02 Aug 21

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!

Kirsteen Cacchioli

14:30 01 Aug 21

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.

Deborah Chalcraft

21:30 26 Jun 21

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.

sophie wright

19:53 21 Jun 21

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.

Leigh Nolan

16:05 21 Jun 21

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

Joanne Philbrick

16:52 20 Jun 21

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🤣

Sabrina and Daniel

13:40 17 Jun 21

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!

Adeyemi Adeyosoye

13:03 17 Jun 21

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

Tim Bowles

10:11 16 Jun 21

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.

Mark Stoakes

07:06 16 Jun 21

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.

Ian

20:53 14 Jun 21

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.

S. P.

19:13 14 Jun 21

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.

Jane Clarke

09:56 09 Jun 21

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.

Mel Wright

18:45 31 May 21

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.

Brian Luty

18:51 19 May 21

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!

Tim Smith

18:59 11 May 21

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

Andy Hopkinson

20:08 10 May 21

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!

Wojciech Smolen

13:21 10 May 21

Great experience. We've hired 3 top spec ebikes and really enjoyed the ride. The views were spectacular and we can definitely recommend.

Péter Tóth

20:56 08 May 21

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! 🙂

David Hughes

10:41 08 May 21

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.

Natalie Doyle

13:16 03 May 21

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.

Ben Walton

10:16 03 May 21

Great business! Locations, staff and bikes were all fantastic. Super easy process and an amazing day out on two wheels in the lakes.

Beccie Kettleborough

15:14 30 Apr 21

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 Conner

11:00 29 Dec 20

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

EsmeAndTheEye Murphy

12:44 23 Dec 20

Amazing service!Very professional, thoughtful. Great advise on the bikes and the routes.We loved it! Would highly recommend thank you! 🙂

Andy Yates

13:15 30 Nov 20

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.

thomas lingham

17:26 08 Nov 20

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.

Kirke Webster-Gray

12:57 08 Nov 20

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

Why not leave us a review:

Review on Google

Review on TripAdvisor

Review by Email

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

Reviews

Contact

Bookings

Other

Opening Hours

Reviews

Website