Biking on vacation

[MayDay]

Other than owning folding bikes that can fit on airplanes, how do you bicycle on vacation if you fly?  Basically is there some tip or trick I'm missing, besides going to a city with a public bike share program?

To further complicate it, I need kids bikes (20" and 16").

The only thing I've come up with is to call bike shops that sell used bikes and ask about renting for a week.  We are visiting relatives who live in a retirement complex so they are no help. Are there bike-borrowing websites? Are there any mustacians living around Pompano Beach FL with specific ideas?

[Luke Warm]

sometimes bike shops have rentals or demos. or if you plan on visiting this place frequently, you could just buy some bikes and leave them there. depending on if you are a bike snob or not, you could just get some cheap/crappy bikes from wal-mart and give them to goodwill when you're done.

[GuitarStv]

You could check around for bike touring companies.  Many will have a set daily rate to rent bikes.

[lakemom]

Many locations rent bikes you just have to google or call around to find one close to your destination.  Especially if you are going to a year round warm climate that attracts a lot of vacationers.  We live in a little Midwestern town right by an even tinier town and the tiny town has a very nice bike shop that does rentals too.  So, asking around locally owned shops in your destination town would most likely yield you a place to rent.

[MayDay]

Thanks guys. 

I don't expect we will ever go again, the only reason we are going this year is because my grandfather is covering the cost (plane tickets for 4 = $$$$).  I had thought about buying super cheap Walmart bikes and donating, and we may end up doing that.  My grandparents' retirement village has some clubhouse type facilities and it actually might be nice to have a kid's bike or 2 kept there for other visiting grand kids. 

I will search local bike shops and bike touring companies.

We will have room to pack bike helmets, I think, so eye will be bringing those. I don't trust used helmets. 

[FarmerPete]

Craigslist?

[MayDay]

I thought about CL.  We fly down the day after Christmas and will only be there a week.  I feel like in order to make the timing work, I'd have to get my grandpa to help, and I honestly don't think he is capable.  But maybe I could post a wanted ad to borrow bikes, rather than trying to buy and resell with such a short turn-around. 

[frugaliknowit]

That's a tough one.  Airlines will have you for lunch and dinner and bike rentals can be $40 dollars per day.  I would concentrate your bike riding on one day of the trip if you need to rent as opposed for say biking for one hour each day.

[Spudd]

Try this:
https://www.spinlister.com/

[gt7152b]

Shipping the bikes there and back will usually be cheaper. If you can't find a Mustachian that will lend out maybe you can find a generous cyclist through a bike forum that will let you borrow bikes or rent for cheap.

[MayDay]

Shipping the bikes there and back will usually be cheaper. If you can't find a Mustachian that will lend out maybe you can find a generous cyclist through a bike forum that will let you borrow bikes or rent for cheap.

Near Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Spinlister had 2 adult bikes in the general area, go would be about 100$ a week to rent. 

It's crazy to think about buying 2 kids bikes from Walmart for the week, when that would cost more than their actual gifts.  But I also know that the kids would get way more pleasure from a week of bike riding, than a week of putt putt golf or movies at the theater, or really anything else I can think of.  Even if we only buy kids bikes, the adults can walk.  That way we can get 3-4 miles.  With the kids walking, they make it about 2 miles at a slow pace, whining.  Looks like the cheapest choices from Walmart are 49$ for a 20" and 35$ for a 16".   That's assuming we can find those models in store, they are sold out online. 

If there is anyone local who has kids bikes, I would rather pay you than pay walmart!  I'll call local bike shops too, but I'm going to wait until closer to the trip.

[MayDay]

Hark!  There is a bike share program in the area:  https://broward.bcycle.com/pricing.aspx

Sadly the pricing is pretty high for slow with-kids trips. 

I also emailed a business hat looks like some dude who does it out of his/her home, as there isn't a store, he/she just delivers them to you.