You can't always take your bike with you. For sure, it is easy to take a bike on Scotrail trains, but it is not so easy when flying and there may not be enough room in the car once you have packed the family and all their holiday gear. So, hiring a bike for a morning, a day or longer is worth considering.

Bike hire is easy, relatively cheap, and offers you the chance to try out a different bike. Roadies get a chance to try mountain biking, mountain bikers get a chance to try road biking, and everyone gets a chance to try an e-bike.
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Below we have put together a few things to consider when renting a push bike, and a list of the cycle hire providers we know about in north east Scotland. Let us know if we have missed anyone.

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Bike

We recommend giving any bike rental company you are considering using a quick telephone call and asking a few questions, for example:
- What spec, size and age are your bikes. Bike brands measure bikes from different points so check the bike will fit you. Do you need a woman's specific frame, or saddle? Will the gearing be low enough for your proposed routes and level of fitness.
- What accessories are included in the hire? Spare tube, pump & levers, and bike lock are fairly common.
- Does the hire include a cycle helmet?
- Can I use my own pedals, saddle, GPS mount? You may want to take these things with you.
- How much will it cost? Look out for discounts for longer hire periods.
- What proof of identity and deposit will be required. For high end MTBs and ebikes a deposit of a couple of hundred pound may be required.
 

Picking up your Rented Bike

When you pick up your bike, make sure it is set up for you - saddle height is OK, and if using your own pedals and saddle get the hire company to fit them so you don't need to take tools with you.

Give the brakes a test. They will be set up ‘UK style’ i.e. left brake will control the back and right brake the front. This is the opposite to Europe and the US so may be a surprise to some foreign visitors. If it is then be gentle on your first rides until you’re used to the set up.

Lastly, before cycling away from the hire shop give the rental bike a quick safety check to ensure everything functions correctly and is firmly attached to the frame.
 

Bike Hire Shops

Aberdeen Bike Hire

Aberdeen City Ebike Hire Scheme

Electric bikes are available to hire, on a pay as you go basis, in Aberdeen City. The bikes are available at various spots (expected to be around 40 spots) and all you need to hire them is the Big Issue e-bike app. The bikes will cost 60p to unlock with a free minute before a charge of 20p per minute there after, making a 10 minute hire cost £2.40. The rent per bike is capped at £12 for up to 12 hours. A £3 deposit is also in place which is returned after the ebike rental period has ended.
You can download the free Big Issue eBike App from The App Store and from The Google Store.

beCyCle

21-22 High Street, Aberdeen.
beCyCle Web Site
beCyCle is a community project (not a charity) that lends out bikes for free (yes, for free!). If they have a bike you can borrow it - though it may need a wee bit of fixing up before you get it.

Skyline Cycles

Station Building, Cults.
Phone: 01224 861891        Web Site
Skyline cycles have a full hire fleet of adult hardtail mountain bikes for daily hire, with discounts available for longer periods.
They also offer a very handy drop off and pickup service.

Ballater Bike & E-bike Hire

Bike Station

Station Square, Ballater.
Phone: 01339 754004        Web Site
Bike Station Ballater has a large fleet of continually replaced mountain, gravel and E-bikes available for hire throughout the year. Also offer junior bikes, tag a longs, and trailers for hire.

Banchory MTB Hire

Banchory Cycles

1 Staion Rd, Banchory
Phone: 01330 820011        Web Site
Banchory Cycles have a small fleet of mountain bikes for hire. Not shown on their web page, just give them a call.

Braemar MTB Hire

Braemar Mountain Sports

5 Invercauld Rd, Braemar
Phone: 01339 741242        Web Site
Braemar Mountain Sports have hardtail MTBs, and electric mountain bikes for hire.

Dufftown Bike Hire

Dufftown and District Community Association

The Clock Tower, Dufftown
Phone: ---         Web Site
The DDCA operate a bike hire scheme where we have bikes of all types available to hire, including kids balance bikes, young childrens bikes, mountain bikes for adults and ebikes too. They even have trikes, recumbents and trailers.

Elgin Bike Hire

Moray Sports Center

Linkwood Road, Elgin
Phone: 01343 610670         Web Site
Moray Sport Centre's inclusive range of bikes ensures everyone can get involved in the fun. They have a range of adapted bikes e.g. trikes, tandems, semi recumbent bikes, hand bikes etc to make cycling accessible to all.

Ellon E-Bike Hire

Ellon Academy Community Campus

Kellie Pearl Way, Cromleybank
Phone: 01467 532929        Web Site
An e-bike bike hire scheme set up by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Ellon Academy Community Campus. Less than seven quid for 2 hours and all arranged on the Moqo App. App available for download from the App Store for iPhone, and from the Google store for Android.

Findhorn Bicycle Hire

Bikespokes

Phone: 07801 365710
Web Site
Cycle repair company, Bikespokes work in partnership with Findhorn Bay Holiday Park to provide Cycle Hire from the Holiday Park for both residents and non-residents.

Fraserburgh Ebike Hire

Fraserburgh Community and Sports Centre

Maconochie Place, Fraserburgh
Phone: 01346 415886        Web Site
An ebike bike hire scheme set up by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Fraserburgh Community and Sports Centre. Less than seven quid for 2 hours and all arranged on the Moqo App. App available for download from the App Store for iPhone, and from the Google store for Android.

Glenlivet MTB Hire

Glenlivet Trail Center

Glenlivet Bike Trails, Ballindalloch, AB37 9AR
Phone: 07963 217793         Web Site
Glenlivet Mountain Bike Centre have hardtail MTBs in adult and child sizes, and adult sized e-MTBs for hire during the summer months.

Huntly Bike & E-bike Hire

Huntly Nordic Center

Hill of Haugh, Huntly, AB54 4SH
Phone: 01466 794428         Web Site
Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre have a range of mountain/ trail bikes suitabke for adults and children for hire. They also have a fleet of balance bikes for children.

Huntly Development Trust

Brander Building, The Square, Huntly
Phone: 01466 799416        Web Site
Huntly Development Trust have e-bikes to suit all - Belgium style postal bike with built in storage, mountain bikes, and mixed bikes. All available on a variety of hire periods.

Kincardine O'Neil E-bike Hire

E Trail Adventures

N Deeside Rd, Kincardine O'Neil.
Phone: ----        Facebook Page
Etrail Adventures offer E-bike rental, either accompanied by their guides or for you to use unaccompanied.

Lossiemouth Bike, E-bike & Trike Hire

Bike Revolution

Shore Street, Lossiemouth.
Phone: 01343 549571        Web Site
Bike Revolution is Outfit Moray's social enterprise project. They have mountain bikes, e-bikes, ice trikes, and urban bikes for hire.

Mintlaw Electric Bike Hire

Aden Country Park

Aden Country Park, Station Road
Phone: 01771 624268         Web Site
An electric bike hire scheme set up by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Aden Country Park. Less than seven quid for 2 hours and all arranged on the Moqo App. App available for download from the App Store for iPhone, and from the Google store for Android.

MACBI

MACBI, Newlands Road
Phone: 01771 624593         Web Site
An electric bike hire scheme set up by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with MACBI Community Hub. Less than seven quid for 2 hours and all arranged on the Moqo App. App available for download from the App Store for iPhone, and from the Google store for Android.

Peterhead E-Bike Hire

Peterhead Leisure and Community Centre

Balmoor Terrace, Peterhead
Phone: 01467 532929         Web Site
An electric bike hire scheme set up by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Peterhead Leisure and Community Centre. Less than seven quid for 2 hours and all arranged on the Moqo App. App available for download from the App Store for iPhone, and from the Google store for Android.

Where to Cycle

If you are looking for some inspiration of where to cycle, or just want to avoid getting lost, then the maps from Sustrans, and books from Amazon may be of interest to you.