Needing to rest an inflamed foot, I had to seek out other exercise besides long distance walking or hiking during a recent vacation in Park Rapids. I had the good fortune of discovering Northern Cycle , and had a great experience there!
I stopped in, wanting to rent a bike for about 1-2 hours ($5 is the hourly rate), so I could enjoy the Heartland Trail. I worked with Kenny, who was friendly and very knowledgeable about the bikes they had. He was able to fit me with the perfect bike, and adjust the seat, as well as the helmet that comes with the rental. He made sure I knew how the bike worked, shifting gears, etc. No crazy or complicated paperwork or security deposits, just filling out a form with my name, address and phone number. That was it - and I was out the door on the trail in no time.
When returning the bike, I told he and owner Todd that I would be back the next day to ride again. When I returned, I was able to get the same bike and helmet, and a small backpack to carry stuff in.
They have a great selection of new bikes for sale, and I was able to overhear staff work with customers to really get a feel for what their needs were and how they would be using a bike. They have plenty of accessories, and I got to pick Kenny's brain about a bike computer for my bike back home. He was able to steer me to a bike computer that was simple and easy to use, for about $35. Perfect! Lastly, they sell their rental bikes at the end of the season for a good amount off the regular price, so it is a great place to try out a few bikes before you buy them.
Northern Cycle is a really great place not only to get your own bike worked on by knowledgeable staff, but to purchase great bike gear as well as rent a bike for an hour, a day, or longer! What a great local business, and I look forward to my next visit to Park Rapids and another bike ride. read more