Bicycle Rental

Rental Hours

Rental bicycles MUST be returned before the store closing time. Rentals returned after the store closing time will be charged a late fee.

We are open year-round, but bike rentals may not be available at certain times due to weather and trail conditions. Please feel free to call us at 330-657-2209 to check before stopping in.

Before You Visit

We recommend that you dress in comfortable clothing suitable for moderate athletic activity. You should dress accordingly for the temperature and other weather conditions. Athletic-style shoes work best, e.g. running/tennis shoes, hiking shoes, or athletic sandals. Parts of the Towpath Trail are shaded, but sunscreen is recommended. You are welcome to bring water and snacks. We also have water and other beverages available in a machine next to the rental area, and snacks for sale in the store.

Directions

We are located at 1621 Main Street (State Route 303) in Peninsula, Ohio, 44264. From most locales, you can take Interstate 271 to Exit 12 for Richfield/Peninsula; turn right onto Rt 303 towards Peninsula. We are on the left in the middle of town, right next to the railroad tracks and the Winking Lizard Tavern.

Parking

We have a limited number of parking spaces available. If space is available, you are welcome to leave your vehicle in our lot while riding our rental bicycles. There is parking available on the public streets in the village of Peninsula, plus at the Lock 29 Trailhead (follow the signs from the main street).

You can ride our bikes to the Towpath Trail directly from the store.

Rental Procedures

The bike rentals are done through the large red barn doors near the back of the store. On busier days, a staff member will be present there all the time, so you can proceed directly to the rental barn when you arrive. On slower days, if a staff member is not present in the rental barn, stop in at the front of the store to let us know you're here!

On weekends, especially during the summer, you can arrive early to be sure you are able to get bikes right away. Line up outside the rental barn doors near the back to stake your place! If we are already out of bikes when you arrive, you are welcome to wait until some are returned.

1. Bring a photo ID and a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover). Your credit card will NOT be charged; we just note the information to act as a security deposit.
   
2. Bring along water and any snacks, spare clothing, and other items you want to take with you. Show up ready to ride!
3. All members of your family or group need to be present, so that we can select the right style and size of bicycle for each person.
4. You will be required to fill out and sign a release form. One release form per family or group is sufficient, as long as the person signing is willing and able to accept responsibility for the whole group.
5. We will fit each person with a helmet (included with each bicycle, although you can bring your own if you wish). Helmets must be worn at all times while riding.
6. Please let a staff member know if you have any questions about the brakes, shifting, or any other aspect of operating the bicycles.
7. The staff member will make a note of your start time, which begins when we have completed selecting and adjusting your bicycles and helmets, and answered any questions you may have.

When you return from your ride:

1. BRING YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT WITH YOU. We do not charge the credit card using the information you left at the beginning of the rental period. You may pay when you are done using a credit card, cash, or Century Cycles Gift Card. Sorry, we do not take personal checks.
   
2. If a staff member is present at the rental barn, we will take your payment there.
3. If a staff member is not present at the rental barn, you may leave the bicycles and helmets outside the barn doors, then come to the front of the store to pay.
4. We will calculate the time of your rental based on your start time, rounded up to the next 15-minute interval.

Our Bicycles

Most of our rental bicycles are Raleigh Venture 4.0 comfort hybrid bikes. These bicycles are suitable for most adults and teenagers. They feature:

• Comfortable gel seats
• Upright handlebars
• 26-inch wheels
• 24 speeds
• Hand brakes
• Shock absorbers on the front wheel and seat
• Water bottle holder
• Various sizes in unisex and ladies' (step-through) frames
• Platform pedals (no special shoes required)
• Some with bells
• Some with the ability to attach a handlebar basket (no extra charge; availability not guaranteed)

We also have a few Electra Townie 3 cruiser bicycles for rent. These bikes have a very relaxed design that allows you to put your feet flat on the ground when you are seated on the bike. They also feature:

• Large, comfortable seats
• Upright handlebars
• 26-inch wheels
• 3 speeds
• Coaster brakes
• Water bottle holder
• 1 with unisex frame and 3 with ladies' (step-through) frames
• Platform pedals (no special shoes required)

For children, we have 4 Raleigh Mountain Scout bicycles that feature:

• 24-inch wheels
• 21 speeds
• Hand brakes
• Shock absorber on the front wheel
• Water bottle holder
• Platform pedals (no special shoes required)
• Suitable for boys and girls approximately 7 years of age and older

NOTE: The water bottle holders on our rental bicycles are design to fit a standard bicycle water bottle. Most commercially-available bottled water and sports drink bottles are too large to fit in a standard bicycle water bottle holder, or are too small to be held securely in a standard bicycle water bottle holder. We have standard bicycle water bottles for sale in our store.

Trailers

We have 6 Avenir Dual Sport child trailers for rent. These attach to a bicycle and let you carry small children.

• Can hold 1 or 2 children, up to 88 pounds total.
• 2-wheel design is very stable and easy to pull.
• Child is held in place with a safety harness, similar to a car seat harness.
• Roll-up cover keeps out dust, wind, bugs, and sun.
• Can be attached to one of our rental bikes or to your own bicycle.
• Room for storage of backpacks, purses, water, snacks, etc.
• Much safer than child seats attached to a bicycle!
• Sorry; dogs or other pets are not permitted in trailers.

Tag-a-bikes

A trail-a-bike (also sometimes called a tag-along), is a one-wheeled device that attaches to a regular bicycle to create a two-seater bicycle for an adult and a child. We have 6 Adams Original Folder 1 trail-a-bikes for rent. Our trail-a-bikes MUST be used with one of our rental bicycles, in most cases. If your bicycle has a seat post diameter that matches ours (27.2mm), then we can swap out your seat post with ours to let you attach our trail-a-bike to your own bicycle.

• Maximum Weight (for child on tag-along): 85 pounds
  

Featured in Cleveland Magazine and on the Ohio News Network!

Cleveland Magazine mentioned our bike rental service in their July 2010 issue, in an article about the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Read it here. We were also mentioned as a "Kid-Friendly Spot" in the April 2012 issue; see it here, and in a May 2012 article in the Huffington Post.

Jennifer Dugan of Ohio News Network stopped by our store to talk about our bicycle rentals for their Discover Ohio travel series. The segment aired on August 18, 2009. Click here or on the image below to watch the video online.