How to fit a rental bike in two minutes
We set every bike up before you leave, but a rental is never quite your own bike. Three checks are worth doing yourself, and all three take less time than locking up.
Saddle height first
Sit on the saddle and put one heel on the pedal at its lowest point. Your leg should be straight, with no tilt in your hips. When you move your foot back to the normal position there will be a slight bend in the knee, which is what you want. Too low is the most common mistake and the fastest way to sore knees.
Then brake reach
Cover both levers with two fingers without stretching. If you have to reach, ask us to bring the levers closer — it is one screw and takes seconds. Squeeze both hard while standing still: the wheel should lock before the lever touches the grip.
Then tyres
Press a thumb into the tyre. It should feel firm, with barely any give. A soft tyre makes the bike feel slow, punctures more easily and steers vaguely. Pumps hang by the door, and every bike takes a standard valve.
If something still feels off after the first few hundred metres, come back. A two-minute adjustment beats six hours of discomfort.
Worth a glance too
- Spin each wheel and listen for rubbing.
- Check the lights switch on.
- Point the mirror, if the bike has one, before you join traffic.
Ready to ride? Reserve a bike or pick a route from five easy rides you can finish before dinner.