Bike hire - Cork

RoHar

Hi all,

Long time browser, first time poster. Based in Sydney, Australia since 1993 but West Cork born & bred

Visiting Cork city between July 1 and August 6 (last time to visit Cork was April 2000). Keen to rent/hire/borrow a reasonable quality road bike for most of that time period.

Any and all suggestions/recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Ride a small (51cm compact frame - sloping top tube) Felt Z65 Al/carbon with Ultegra & Fulcrum Racing 5 wheelset here in Oz. Only 5'6'' (168cm) tall so small frame size preferred....but might be OK with a medium.

Ideally would prefer similarly specced bike but willing to consider any options.

Realise I'm leaving it a bit late but hoping for the best...

Ricky91t

Hey Rohar,

It's quite funny that's your name as Rothar cycles are based in Cork( Carrigaline ), And they definetly used to do bike hire, I'm not 100% sure if they still do though.

Have a look here http://www.rotharcycletours.ie/

RoHar

Thx Ricky,

They appear to only hire mountain and hybrid bikes - no road bikes unfortunately

Some additional details for others to consider prior to posting replies:

• Will be based in Glounthaune and/or Carrigtwohill and/or Upper Farran (have siblings living there)
• Willing to partake in Cork-based rides and keen to tackle some landmark climbs such as Killahora, Temple Hill, Patrick's Hill, etc. (however might be dependent on getting my hands on a compact (50/34) equipped bike) :D:D
• More than happy to accompany any forum members on these or any other of their 'regular' Cork-based rides
• Have a couple of ageing steel-framed (Reynolds 531) Dawes bike available to me as a Plan B (bikes purchased by me in Clonmel & London in 1984 and 1988 respectively) but frame sizes are larger than optimal for me and bikes have down-tube gear shifters
• Have a distinct preference for a 'modern' bike with compact chainset and minimum Shimano 105 componentry or equivalent
• Suspect the chances of bike shops renting/hiring bikes is remote so am hoping some Cork-based forum members just might happen to have a suitable 'second' bike they might be willing to lend me (am willing to remunerate appropriately)

Hope this additional info helps clarify things a bit further

on_the_nickel

RoHar wrote: »

• Suspect the chances of bike shops renting/hiring bikes is remote so am hoping some Cork-based forum members just might happen to have a suitable 'second' bike they might be willing to lend me (am willing to remunerate appropriately)

You're more than welcome to have my Orbea Enol for as long as you need it, but I'm pretty sure it's a 54cm frame.

RoHar

on_the_nickel wrote: »

You're more than welcome to have my Orbea Enol for as long as you need it, but I'm pretty sure it's a 54cm frame.

Appreciate the offer, OTN - have sent a PM

capnsantini

Hi RoHar-

My company (www.onyourbike.ie) uses Felt F75's (with full Shimano 105) as rental bikes on our tours. If you are passing through Dublin we can have a 51 frame with compact gearing ready for you. The cost is 150€ / week, though we should be able to work something out longer term.

Lemag

Copied these details from an email which I'd received about a year ago when I made a similar enquiry. I'm not sure if they're still relevant -

Rothar Cycle Tours, 55 Barrack Street, Cork, Ireland
Phone : 021 - 4313133 Mobile - Aodán: 087 - 2171752
Fax : 021 - 4274143 International 00-353 21 (or 87 - mobile)
E mail: info@rotharcycletours.ie
WEB SITE: www.rotharcycletours.ie

They offered me a 56cm road bike for my 6'4'' friend :rolleyes: and the
rates which they quoted were

Rate for road bike hire is € 40 per day or € 150.00 per week – so
2 day’s would be €80.00

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RoHar

Thanks Lemag,

They appear to have 3 stores: Cobh, Carrigaline & Barrack St.

Their website is showing hire rates of 25 Euro per day or 80 Euro per week but not sure if they rent road bikes (suspect they may specialise in mountain & hybrid bikes only).

Might call them or send an email for clarification. Thanks again

Ricky91t

Lemag wrote: »

Copied these details from an email which I'd received about a year ago when I made a similar enquiry. I'm not sure if they're still relevant -


They offered me a 56cm road bike for my 6'4'' friend :rolleyes: and the
rates which they quoted were

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[/FONT]

Rohar barrack street is now closed. I've never dealt with the person there but the staff in Carrigaline are brilliant.

Edit: RoHar they do road bikes too, Seen them repairing them and on their facebook page this is a pic of their shop window:

Lemag

RoHar wrote: »

Thanks Lemag,

They appear to have 3 stores: Cobh, Carrigaline & Barrack St.

Their website is showing hire rates of 25 Euro per day or 80 Euro per week but not sure if they rent road bikes (suspect they may specialise in mountain & hybrid bikes only).

Might call them or send an email for clarification. Thanks again

If my memory serves me correctly (it may not) I had to ask for the road bike rates. I think that the rates on their site at the time were for hybrids.

RoHar

Ricky91t wrote: »

Rohar barrack street is now closed. I've never dealt with the person there but the staff in Carrigaline are brilliant.

Edit: RoHar they do road bikes too, Seen them repairing them and on their facebook page this is a pic of their shop window:

Ricky,

Thanks for the additional info - one of my brothers in Cork is also now working on my case....will have him contact the Carrigaline shop

Ricky91t

RoHar wrote: »

Ricky,

Thanks for the additional info - one of my brothers in Cork is also now working on my case....will have him contact the Carrigaline shop

No problem, there's also Victoria Cross cycles and the-edge sports, They might be able to point your brother to someone who can help!

Ricky91t

To be honest, would it not be cheaper to buy one of these and sell it on after? http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_786805_langId_-1_categoryId_212536

375/5 = 75 a week

Even if you sell it for a hundred that means 55 a week ( And your brother could do that :pac:

RoHar

Ricky91t wrote: »

To be honest, would it not be cheaper to buy one of these and sell it on after? http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_786805_langId_-1_categoryId_212536

Ricky,

Didn't realise Halfords had stores in Ireland nowadays.Thought they were still a UK-only setup. How Ireland has changed in the 11 years I've been away . Do you know where in Ireland their stores are located?

Lemag

There's one in Mahon. If your brother has an AXA insurance policy he can get 15% off. However, if you hire a bike for 5 weeks you are likely to be cut a deal.

RoHar

capnsantini wrote: »

Hi RoHar-

My company (www.onyourbike.ie) uses Felt F75's (with full Shimano 105) as rental bikes on our tours. If you are passing through Dublin we can have a 51 frame with compact gearing ready for you. The cost is 150€ / week, though we should be able to work something out longer term.

Appreciate the approach - PM sent.

RoHar

Thanks heaps to all who posted replies - that's what makes forums like this so worthwhile :cool:

Update: The Edge Sports Shop http://www.theedge-sports.com/index.html have come up with goods. Indicated they are slowly getting into the renting game with the final decision to rent or not in individual cases still at the discretion of the manager.

They offered me choice of a Felt Z100 or a Scott S35 at a weekly hire rate of 50 Euro. Opted for the slightly higher specced Scott.

They've been very professional in dealings over the phone from Sydney and via subsequent emails.

Will report again later on how the whole thing panned out but up until now am mightily impressed :D:D

on_the_nickel

RoHar wrote: »

Thanks heaps to all who posted replies - that's what makes forums like this so worthwhile :cool:

Update: The Edge Sports Shop http://www.theedge-sports.com/index.html have come up with goods. Indicated they are slowly getting into the renting game with the final decision to rent or not in individual cases still at the discretion of the manager.

They offered me choice of a Felt Z100 or a Scott S35 at a weekly hire rate of 50 Euro. Opted for the slightly higher specced Scott.

They've been very professional in dealings over the phone from Sydney and via subsequent emails.

Will report again later on how the whole thing panned out but up until now am mightily impressed :D:D

Wow, that is a really good rate.