Bike Rentals

Why Rent a Great Bike from Southwest Cycle?

Our mechanics maintain a rental fleet of over 85 bikes from Fuji, Bianchi, and Breezer, with e-bikes by Gazelle and Bianchi. We love to ride here and love to share what we know with our visitors.

We are absolutely the shop for you if you’re staying on the “Quietside” – Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, Tremont, Pretty Marsh, Somesville- no matter where on the island you want to ride.

If you’re staying on the east side – Bar Harbor, Hadley Point, Hulls Cove, or Otter Creek and if you only plan to ride the carriage roads – we may not be the best choice for you. We’re about 20 minutes away.

Breaking News! We’re excited to say that were recently praised by Gazelle, our e-bike partner, as one of their top four US bike shops for vacation rentals and rides! Check out the link! https://www.gazellebikes.com/en-us/blog/gazelle-getaways

Whether you just have a day for a bit of the carriage roads (20 minute drive from our shop), or want to experience the relaxed riding on the Quietside and the islands, we have the bikes, racks, and local knowledge to make your visit and riding truly memorable.

Important to Know
Our Rental Bike Types
Cancellations
Picking Up Bikes
Returning Bikes
Car Racks and Rack Rentals
Accessories
Reservation Request Form

SOUTHWEST CYCLE RENTAL INFORMATION – 2024

Bike Style	Rate / Day	Rate / Week
E-Bikes	$99	$499
Hybrid Bikes	$35	$165
Comfort Bikes	$40	$200
Mountain Bikes	$40	$200
Gravel Bikes	$75	$400
Kids Bikes – With Gears (or Coaster Brakes – inquire)	$35	$175
Tag-a-longs	$25	$125
Child Trailers (single or double)	$25	$125
Trunk and Hitch Racks	$10	$50
Tray Racks for E-Bikes	$25	Inquire

*Helmets, locks and basic maps provided at no extra charge.*

Important to Know

- For a full selection and faster service once in the shop, we strongly suggest that you request a bike reservation in advance, using our new Reservation Request Form (link is at bottom of this page.)
- Please reserve at least 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE, so that we’ll have time to confirm back to you. For a Monday reservation, please email by Friday evening- we are closed on Sunday.
- If you want to transport your rental bikes around the island, we have racks to rent that fit most vehicles. We’ll set up the rack for you. Rental bikes may not be put inside of cars, nor have wheels removed.
- Walk-in rentals are always welcome, but parties with advance reservations are attended to first.
- We rent for full calendar days, and we’re unable to offer refunds for returns made prior to your paid rental period.
- We’re unable to deliver rental bikes, being a full-service shop with a busy staff. Please see our Racks section below if you want to transport your bikes.
- E-bike weight capacity is for a rider up to and not exceeding 250 lbs.
- Renting for 2 or more weeks? Further discounts apply – please inquire.

Hybrid Bikes

Our all-purpose, most-rented bike. Ideal for riding on both the carriage roads and pavement. Rigid front forks, straight handlebars, wide-range gears, and mid-width tires for stable handling on all surfaces. Many have disc brakes.

E-Bikes

We feature the exceptional Gazelle e-bikes, engineered and made in Holland. They employ the industry’s-best Bosch drivetrain system for a natural, predictable ride feel. These are Class 1 e-bikes (non-throttle), the only Class permitted on Acadia’s carriage roads. Don’t get fooled into renting a prohibited e-bike from other shops! E-bike riders must be 18+ years of age and under 250 lbs.

Hardtail Mountain Bikes

A rugged bike, but not necessary for MDI riding. Suspension forks and wider handlebars create a forward riding position.

Gravel Bikes and Road Bikes

For the sportier/demanding rider. Lighter than hybrid bikes with a more forward geometry. Drop bars allow multiple hand positions, disc brakes provide finer control. Gravel bikes are slowly replacing roadies in our rental fleet, but we may be able to supply a road bike, check with us. We can install our single-sided SPD pedals- or your pedals- on our Gravel rentals upon request.

Comfort Bikes
For the occasional or cautious rider who prefers a slower, leisurely experience. They provide an upright riding position with higher handlebars, wider padded seats, front suspension forks, slightly wider tires, and step-thru frames for an easier ride.

Kids Bikes

We have models with hand brakes and gears, with a single hand brake and no gears, or single speed with coaster brakes. We’ll do our best to match the bike to the child’s ability. We do not rent balance bikes, training wheels, or child seats.

Tag-a-longs

Maximum child weight: 50 lbs. Use our seat with the necessary receiver, or we can install the receiver on your bicycle seat post for a minimal charge.

Child Trailers (Single and Double)

W.C. Fields had a lot to say about children and animals, so only children may ride in our trailers! No animals, ever. The rental includes a bike seat with hitch for the trailer, or we can install a hitch on your seat post.

VEHICLE RACKS & RENTING A RACK

Unless you are riding from the shop (we’ll tell you some routes) or transporting our bikes in a pickup bed, you will need a vehicle rack, whether it’s yours or ours. Racks give you freedom to explore the whole island, and we can suggest many additional good rides. Southwest Cycle is a 20 minute drive to the classic carriage roads on the “Bar Harbor side” of the island.

Use the Rack Finder to determine whether your car or SUV can take one of our rack styles. Note that long experience tells us we cannot guarantee fitment until your vehicle is here at the shop. With more plastic parts and thinner sheet metal on many vehicles today, our first concern is to be careful with your vehicle.

Trunk Racks mount on the trunk lids of sedans or the top edge of liftbacks on station wagons, minivans and SUVs. They have space for 1 to 4 bicycles, and we’ll rig it for you. Note that the number of bikes carried depends on your vehicle. Sedans can only carry 3 bikes safely since so much weight will be on the trunk lid.

Hitch Racks mount into trailer hitch receivers. A 1 1/4″ receiver can carry a 4 bike rack, and a 2″ receiver can carry a 5 bike rack.

E-bikes require a Tray Rack. These also mount into a trailer hitch receiver. Our rental tray racks can carry 2 e-bikes.

CANCELLATIONS

If you must cancel your reservation, you must call us 2 days before your rental start date to avoid incurring a charge. This allows us to release your bike(s) for another customer. If you do not show up for your reservation, your credit card will be charged.

PICKING UP BIKES

You can pick up your bikes between opening time and 3:30pm, when out-going rentals stop for the day and we shift to taking in returns. (please see website for current times.)

RETURNING BIKES

All our rental bikes are checked and adjusted after every rental, so you will have a safe and smooth-riding bike. To allow us time to do this:

E-bikes, Gravel bikes and Trailers must be returned 30 minutes before shop closing so that we can check and secure them inside for the overnight.

Except for July and August (peak season when next-day demand is high), you may be able to return other rental types up until 8:00 pm by locking them to the racks behind the shop. Ask us about that possibility.

* We may charge a fee for a late or missed drop-off (up to the cost of an additional day’s rental if it prevents us from renting to a new customer the following day.) *

ACCESSORIES

Helmets, locks and basic maps provided at no extra charge. Excellent detailed biking and trail maps – highly recommended- are for sale, too.

Flat repair kits are available upon request at 1 kit per party (not for ebikes). Flats are extremely rare.

SPD Road and MTN pedals can be installed upon request – for other clip-in styles please bring your own.