Bike tours and daily rentals in different areas

a couple biking on a trail near the Quabbin Reservoir
a couple biking on a trail near the Quabbin Reservoir

Bicycling through the fall foliage is something that I wish I took more time to do. This page will list half-day, full day, as well as multi-day tours. I looked for locations that have Bikes for rent with support on routes and advice to get to scenic locations. (but not all do) Please read their pages and let me know if anyone is not making your trip wonderful. I will remove them from this page.

This page will be evolving so check back from time to time. Also if you have a great experience please send me a note via the contact page and put me in contact with the tour or the bike shop and I’ll try to get them listed so others can enjoy two wheeling through the fall colors!

NOTE* I’m not listing everything that I find on Google, just a selection. Also I’m not endorsing these businesses outside of finding them and putting them here for you to start your search with. Please call ahead and ensure they have bikes for your entire party. Not all have kids bikes! Or room on their tours!

If you have a question for a specific area I would check with the local towns, Chamber of commerce. A safe sign of a good business is being a member of their local Chamber.

 Maine biking opportunities

Backroads, an active travel company, offered more than 2,800 scheduled departures in 2016, including Biking, Multi-sport, and Walking and hiking trips. 80% of Backroads guests have traveled with Backroads before or were referred by a friend. Founded by Tom Hale in 1979, Check their itinerary here.

New England Bike Tours: From awe-inspiring views of the rugged coastline during idyllic spring and summer days to the vibrant display of brilliant foliage each autumn, Maine offers abundant natural beauty to captivate your senses.Whether you join us for our half-day 5 Lighthouse Bike Tour, one of our Weekend Bike Tours, or a Weeklong Tour in Coastal New England,. Read more here.

Explore Maine by Maine DOT: With its beautiful scenery, bike-friendly roads, and shared-use paths, Maine is a great place to cycle. In the mountains, along the coast, through the woods, and over the beautiful byways in between, cyclists of all ages and skill levels find that cycling in Maine is a great experience. Read more here.

Acadia National Park. You can check out Bike New England’s website for Maine tours and maps. Gordon suggests contacting a Bar Harbor bike shop (which I did) There are several to pick from and this is just a selection.

Bar Harbor bike: who tells me that they rent 7 days/week through Columbus Day and then it’s Tuesday – Saturday till Christmas. Hours are 9-5 but call ahead to ensure availability.

Acadia Bike: They like to emphasize that at the end of each season, they sell off all the bikes and each spring they start with all new bikes.  Reservations are needed…

Here is a webpage put out by the National Park Service on the biking available in Acadia.

Here is a listing of trails in Maine by the Rail Trail Conservancy. These trails vary by length but should be fairly easy to travel on. If you don’t know what a rail trail is? then follow this link to explore the outdoors

Vermont biking opportunities

AJ’s Sporting Goods is just outside Stowe Vermont. They pointed out that they are on a 5-mile paved biking path and you can rent a bike there and immediately hit the trail for a ten-mile round trip ride. There are several bridges and a covered walking bridge along this route. This area should be good from later Sept-mid Oct. Hours are 9-6

Kingdom Trails in Burke Vermont. The Kingdom Trail Association is a nonprofit organization with the mission to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our local community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. 

Backroads, an active travel company, offered more than 2,800 scheduled departures in 2016, including Biking, Multi-sport, and Walking & Hiking trips. Eighty percent of Backroads guests have traveled with Backroads before or were referred by a friend. Founded by Tom Hale in 1979, Check their itinerary here.

In Manchester VT you have the Battenkill sports bicycle shop that rents bikes by the day. See their page for details. They provide free maps of routes and route suggestions.

Here is a listing of trails in Vermont by the Rail Trail Conservancy. These trails vary by length but should be fairly easy to travel on. If you don’t know what a rail trail is? then follow this link to explore the outdoors

New Hampshire biking opportunities

North Conway has many bike shops and one is the Red Jersey cycling shop. They have full and half-day rates and multi-day rates as well.

Up Lincoln New Hampshire the Sport Thoma store rents bikes and will guide you on where to go. They also may shuttle you to nearby areas. The shop is at
371 Route 3
Exit 33, I-93 
North Lincoln, NH 03251
(603) 745-8151
thoma@sportthoma.com

Here is a listing of trails in New Hampshire by the Rail Trail Conservancy. These trails vary by length but should be fairly easy to travel on. If you don’t know what a rail trail is? then follow this link to explore the outdoors

 Massachusetts biking opportunities

Bike New England has this six-day bike tour for you to consider. Here is an expedition in northern Berkshires that even goes into southern Vt.

For a more sedate pace try the Berkshire Outfitters in North Adams and they say “The paved Ashwillticook Rail Trail is only 300 yards from our shop! Off-road trails are nearby at the base of Mt. Greylock or ask our knowledgeable staff for more options that fit your level of expertise!” (They rent kayaks also with shuttle service available)

Here is a listing of trails in Massachusetts by the Rail Trail Conservancy. These trails vary by length but should be fairly easy to travel on.

Connecticut biking opportunities

Here is a listing of trails in Connecticut by the Rail Trail Conservancy. These trails vary by length but should be fairly easy to travel on. If you don’t know what a rail trail is? then follow this link to explore the outdoors

Rhode Island biking opportunities

I found a few bike shops that offer rentals in Rhode Island. First up is  Narragansett Bikes or NBX. They offer different levels of bikes and accessories to make your rental complete. They also have a delivery and pickup service (see their website for limitations).

If you find a great bike rental/tour company, please let me know and I check it out and maybe list it here!

Here is a listing of trails in Rhode Island by the Rail Trail Conservancy. These trails vary by length but should be fairly easy to travel on. If you don’t know what a rail trail is? then follow this link to explore the outdoors