Test Rides

Interested in a bike but not sure whether to pull the trigger?  No problem.  We offer free test rides at both our Pittsfield and Great Barrington locations.  We have several styles and sizes available!  Feel free to stop in during our business hours and request a ride!  

What To Wear And Bring
You're welcome to test ride in street clothes, but we recommend wearing athletic or rubber-soled shoes so that you'll be able to pedal and ride comfortably.  For test riding road/off-road models for training, racing or long-distance riding, feel free to wear your shorts, jersey, and shoes (you can suit up in our dressing room).  Similarly, if you use a certain pedal/shoe system, you can also bring your pedals.  We'll install them on the bike so you'll be able to ride what you're used to.  If you have a helmet, please bring that as well. We have test-ride loaner lids, but yours would fit best.  If you're considering a new bike to replace Old Faithful, bring it in and ride it first so you can feel the difference between the old and new bikes. This back-to-back test is a great way to judge the improvement new technology makes.

Our Requirements
In order to test ride a bicycle, you must be at least 18 years of age or come into the store with your legal parent or guardian.  We require a valid driver's license (with photo) and a major credit card in order to test ride. We'll put these in a safe place and return them when you finish riding.  We do not accept holding other valuables in leu of a valid form of ID/major credit cards. For your safety, test rides aren't possible when the weather's bad or it's dark.

How We Prep The Bike
Once you've selected a model to test ride, we'll give it a quick once-over to ensure it's ride ready when applicable. This includes topping off the tire pressure and checking the brakes and gears. We may also need to adjust the seat to fine-tune the fit. If you're using a special pedal/shoe system and you brought your pedals, we'll install them as well.  Please tell us if you're unfamiliar with shifting and braking so we can demonstrate.  It'll only take a few minutes for us to show you how the test-ride bicycle's shifters and brakes work. This little lesson guarantees you'll enjoy the test ride, while also helping you fully appreciate the bike should you decide to buy it.

The Test Ride
There are several ideal places near our store for putting a new bike through its paces, which we'll explain before sending you on the ride. Feel free to ride far enough to brake, shift, stand and climb a hill, carve some corners and really feel how the bike handles.  We expect you to return in 15 to 30 minutes just in case someone else wishes to try the bike you're on. If you're gone much longer we'll start to worry about ya!  We don't allow testing new bicycles off road.  This dirties them and wears the tires which can effect the "like new" feel. Please be nice to our bicycles to keep them in new condition.   If you'd like to try a model off road, ask us about bike rentals. When available, our rentals are current models and will give you a great feel for the way a particular bike rides or feels. This gives you a chance to really try out the full-suspension designs you're interested in.

Thanks for reviewing our test-ride procedures and rules. If you have any questions at all about this or anything cycling, just ask. We look forward to showing you a great new bike!