Frequently Asked Questions?
Do you have questions? We have the answers! Discover our FAQ to learn everything about our bike rental service in Bordeaux and its surroundings.
FAQ: Popular Questions
We are open Monday to Saturday. Deliveries/pickups are from 9:30am to 6pm.
Our warehouse is located about fifteen kilometers from the center of Bordeaux. Given the distance and the lack of public transport coverage, we do not usually welcome our customers there. However, if you have a car, delivery can be made to the depot by appointment only.
In all cases, we will deliver the bike(s) to the address of your choice or to our meeting point (see below).
We meet you for free 100m from Bordeaux train station.
The address is
60 Rue Eugene le Roy , Bordeaux.
It is opposite the entrance of the Ibis Budget hotel. The building is quite large and white, the logo is a blue square.
The GPS coordinates are 44°49’33.481″ N 0°33’28.13″ W.
Here are the links to:
–
Google Maps
–
Google Street View
–
OpenStreetMap
You can also
download an image file here that combines all of these elements.
We deliver to Bordeaux train station for free. For any other address (Bordeaux and surroundings, airport, South-West, France, Spain, etc.), we will provide you with a quote.
Although we do everything we can to respect the schedules, we remain dependent on traffic. We ask you to include a 30-minute delay in delivery/collection times to avoid any inconvenience caused by a delay.
Group or loyalty discounts do not apply to transport costs.
We are a small business with 2 employees. We believe that this small number allows us to offer you an optimal quality of service and communication. In addition, our rental fleet is limited due to its value.
For these reasons, we are unable to accept requests for less than 5 days from May to mid-October inclusive and less than 3 days the rest of the year.
A rental day begins at 9am at the earliest and ends at 6pm at the latest.
If you are in an accident or injured, contact emergency services (
112 ).
As for minor mechanical problems, although exceptional, we will do everything possible to provide you with the most appropriate solution. However, we do not repair punctures. You must use the kit supplied with the bike to repair them yourself.
If you wish to extend your rental,
please contact us without delay to check the availability of the equipment.
In case of return before the scheduled date, we will only refund the remaining days for serious reasons.
All reservations require a deposit of at least 50% of the total amount.
If you cancel:
-15 days or less before the departure date, we will keep 100% of the amount paid;
-between 15 days and 30 days, we will keep half of the deposit;
-beyond 30 days, we will refund you in full.
Our other services (itinerary creation, Package Tour, …) have other cancellation conditions which will be explained to you by email.
According to the law (Articles 1383 and 1384 of the Civil Code), the tenant is personally liable for any violation of the Highway Code as well as for bodily injury and material damage caused by the use of the rented equipment in his care.
Consequently, we will deduct from the deposit a fixed amount corresponding to the damage noted on the bicycle(s) and accessories. A scale covering most types of damage is available on request.
In the event of theft, the entire deposit is retained.
You will find more details in our general rental conditions .
Our locks, although solid, have a deterrent role above all. No solution on the market can completely prevent theft. For this reason, we strictly prohibit storing bicycles outdoors at night.
As soon as the bicycles are no longer used, they must be secured, including inside a car park, building, etc. To do this, attach the locks provided to fixed points that are firmly anchored in the ground and large enough.
Similarly, we ask our customers not to leave bicycles unattended, even when attached.
You will find more details in our general rental conditions .
Our insurance policy no longer covers the equipment once it is delivered to you. Only your civil liability, or any other specific personal contract, insures you during the rental.
It is possible that the size of the bike we have selected for you is different from your usual size. Why?
1/ The vocation affects the size
The goal of a racing bike is to be efficient. This means going as fast as possible while consuming as little energy as possible. The geometry and peripherals reflect this goal: lowered handlebars to avoid bad aerodynamics, saddle higher than the handlebars, short wheelbase, large gears, light frame, thin tires, ….
Trekking bikes and e-bikes are also designed to be efficient. But in this case “efficient” means: being comfortable, carrying heavy loads, saving you money, being reliable and versatile, …. The geometry and components are different: the handlebars are higher and possibly curved to allow a panoramic view, the saddle is larger and more padded, the tires are wider, there is a luggage rack, …
Since your position on a racing bike will be different than on a trekking bike (leaned over instead of upright), the tubes that make up the frames have different lengths (for example, the head tube and wheelbase will be longer on a trekking bike). Since the size is related to these lengths, they will also be different.
If you only ride a road bike, any other type of bike will feel too small, even if it isn’t.
For example, a 1.80m tall rider would certainly be fine with a size 56 racing bike, but will need a size 52 for a trekking or electric bike.
2/Your body and habits affect size
Your culture, gender and age should also be taken into account:
-The world of cycling has evolved a lot in the last few decades and it continues to do so. Look at pictures of Miguel Indurain’s Pinarello Banesto. Now compare them to a Dogma F10. They don’t look much alike, to say the least. Imagine for a moment what your position will be on each of these bikes. Very different, isn’t it?
If you’re used to the old geometries, you’ll probably be surprised when we mention the size we’ve chosen for you. Because it’s a fact, the old bikes were bigger.
However, we’re not encouraging you to throw away your old companion.
-Your culture also impacts size. You may come from a place where cyclists ride bigger or smaller bikes than in Europe. For example, American citizens generally like bigger bikes. To the point that it would be considered a mistake in France. It’s a bit like cars: muscle cars versus European sports cars. Which ones are better? You tell us.
-Finally, bike size can also vary by gender because of the leg-to-chest ratio. Women generally have longer legs than men.
3/ Manufacturer and range affect size
Finally, you have to take into account the manufacturer’s choices. At a given price, each brand tends towards the best possible bike.
The shape of a bike is determined by a unique combination of design and technologies that belong only to that brand. This means that a “Bikedale” is de facto different from a “Cyclized”, regardless of whether the size and range are the same.
If you don’t ride a Cube Atteindre GTC SL 2018 at home, it is likely that the size chosen by us is different.
Be aware that our racing bikes are designed to be comfortable and versatile. They are quite compact. We invite you to check their geometry
here and compare it to that of your bike. This way, we will ensure that you have the best possible position.
Touring bikes and e-bikes are less sophisticated (or would that be their users? ). Their sizes are fairly similar regardless of the brand.
Conclusion
We have been renting bikes for many years. We are true enthusiasts and not venal renters. We select our bikes with the greatest care. They must meet all our expectations to serve our sole purpose: to offer you the best possible services and make your stay with us a success. And we believe that riding the bike that suits you is the only way to achieve this. You can count on our experience.
However, if you have a physical characteristic that could influence our choice, do not hesitate to let us know!
Transporting rented equipment on a bus is strictly prohibited.
In France, we have only one railway company: SNCF. Its fleet is composed of 3 types of trains:
1/ The “TER” , which are local trains:
– average speed
– affordable prices
– frequent stops
– basic comfort
– no need to book a ticket, you can buy it at the ticket office just before taking the train
– bicycles accepted free of charge (no need to disassemble and pack the bicycles)
2/The “Intercité” , which are long-distance trains:
-higher speed
-more expensive
-fewer stops
-greater comfort
-ticket reservation required
-bicycles allowed free of charge or for an additional cost of €10, depending on the train
3/The “TGV” which are high-speed trains running over long distances:
-very high speed
-highest prices
-almost no stops
-standard comfort
-ticket reservation required
-Bicycles are accepted for an additional cost of €10
PLEASE NOTE: There is only enough space for two bicycles per TGV! Beyond this number, you can transport your bicycles but as luggage, which means that you must dismantle them and store them in an individual bag.
We strongly advise against taking bikes on a TGV. They are very narrow, which makes any luggage bulky, especially a bike. We recommend that you travel by Intercité or TER. Moreover, these two types of trains will allow you to appreciate the landscape thanks to their reduced speeds.
Each rental includes:
-1 mini-pump
-1 speedometer per group (except road bikes)
-1 heavy-duty anti-theft device (chain)
-1 repair kit (inner tube, patches, multi-tools, tire levers)
Touring and electric bikes are equipped with lights, a luggage rack and pedals as standard.
Racing bikes are delivered without pedals. They can be fitted with an optional luggage rack. If you would like lights, please let us know.
Please note that we do not repair punctures. You must use the kit described above to repair them yourself.
The wide variety of vehicles and the increase in plastic spoilers make it almost impossible to offer this accessory.
If you wish to transport the bike(s) in your vehicle (rental or not), please make sure you have the necessary space to do so in good conditions. We will ask you to provide us with the make and model of the car to ensure that this is the case.
The transport of rented equipment in a vehicle other than a train systematically requires our written agreement.
For reasons of hygiene and stock, we do not rent shoes.
As for pedals, the large number of references on the market forces us to focus on the most common models: SPD, SPD-SL and Keo.
We will be happy to provide you with an A3 paper map. This service is free of charge.
However, any request for a custom route is part of the custom route design. A quote will be provided.
In France, motorists are quite patient and careful with cyclists. That said, do not forget the basic rules of safety and decency in order to share the road.