Best Bike Rentals In Baltimore

Bicycle shops are a mixed bag. Some are less than professional, too pricey or snobbish about their bike knowledge. If you are looking for a place that will let you get outdoors with a good-looking, smooth-riding, well-priced bike, without hassling from a less-than-helpful staff, these are the places you'll want to visit for a rental.

Twenty 20 Cycling Co.
725 W. 36th St.
Baltimore, Md. 21211
(443) 759-5620
www.twenty20cycling.com

Twenty 20 Cycling Co. is many things. It is a bicycle retailer, a bicycle repair shop and place for a bicycle rental. Conveniently located next to Wyman Park, Twenty 20 will happily rent you a well-maintained bike for as little as $35 a day, and also a helmet, bike lock and wheel set if you need them. The shop's units, all meticulously specialized, range from the Vienna – a basic but reliable 10-speed; the tough-looking and powerful Camber Comp – perfect for trails with its Roval wheel set; or the beautiful and lightning-fast Allez – tuned to be a racing machine. Come in and talk to the hip and knowledgeable staff about your rental needs, and get fitted for the perfect bike for you.

Race Pace Bicycles
1410 Key Highway
Baltimore, Md. 21230
(410) 986-0001
www.racepacebicycles.com

Race Pace is aptly named. Its consummate professionalism and busy Key Highway location keeps this shop hopping from open to close. Fortunately, the staff knows how to handle the pace, and won't keep you waiting long. Race Pace has a diverse variety of bikes for your personal needs, including several kinds of road, hybrid and mountain bikes. Of special interest are the electric assist bikes, which add the power of the quiet electric motor to your own pedaling for an easy, relaxing, long-distance ride. In addition to bicycles, this shop also rents out wheel sets and bicycle accessories.

Baltimore Bicycle Works
1813 Falls Road
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(410) 605-0705
www.baltimorebicycleworks.com

Unlike many bike shops, Bicycle Works will not condescend to the bicycle uninformed. The staff knows what it's doing and is happy to educate you as well. Bicycle Works will fit you with the bike that is right for you, and let you take it out for a spin before you decide to rent it. The shop's prices are low, the quality of the rentals is high and the shop also rents out all of the appropriate accessories.

Related: Best Bike Repair In Baltimore

Light Street Cycles
1124 Light St.
Baltimore, Md. 21230
(410) 685-2234
www.lightstcycles.com

The town of Baltimore needs a place like Light Street Cycles. In addition to stocking the regular range of mountain bikes, road bikes and hybrids, Light Street Cycles is family friendly, offering a range of children's bicycles as well as child/cargo or pet trailers/baby joggers. Light Street accommodates your rental needs, offering lower daily rates for rentals greater than one day.

The Hub/C'Ville Bikes
821 Frederick Road
Catonsville, Md. 21228
(410) 747-7433
www.cvillebikes.com

The blossoming community in Catonsville is enthusiastic about its bike trails. But if you're not a bike owner, The HUB is the place to go. Happily demoing and renting practically any model on its floor at a flat price of $60/day, The HUB will not only equip you for your street or trail-riding needs, but it will also allow you to put your rental money toward purchasing that bike if you just can't let go after taking it out for a day or two. The HUB may be a fairly new bike shop, but don't let that fool you. It has a friendly staff made up of consummate professionals in the field, and will fit you to the exact model for your needs.

Related: Best Cycle Shops In Baltimore

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.