Home Page > About Us > Bikes and Bike Hire
SpiceRoads has a fleet of TREK 4500 mountain bikes available in sizes ranging from 13 inches to 22 1/2 inches.
On short tours we include bike hire in the tour price, while on longer tours we offer bike hire as a supplement in case you prefer to bring your own bikes.
Our Bikes
We generally use TREK 4500 mountain bikes because they are high quality, durable pieces of equipment. However, we also use hybrid bikes TREK 7200 for our more road orientated tours. Please note that a certain frame model is not guaranteed.
We like the versatility and durability of the mountain bike as it has been designed to cope with different types of terrain and riding. Our trips can be on asphalt and can often be broken or potholed, and there are usually unsurfaced sections included, so mountain bikes are the most suitable. They also have the range of gears to cope with the hills.
Bikes for General Rental
Bikes are not only available for use during our tours but are also available for general rental from our operations office in Bangkok.
In case you want to go it alone or just need a bike for a day, the following are rental prices per day from Bangkok:
| No. of Days Rental | Price per day in THB |
|---|---|
| 1-7 | THB 400 |
| 8-14 | THB 360 |
| 15-21 | THB 320 |
| 22+ | THB 280 |
Please Note: We require a cash or credit card deposit of Baht 20,000 for each bike rented.
We do not stock panniers for rental at this time. You may purchase panniers from SpiceRoads directly with advanced notification, or of course you can always bring your own.
A rear bike rack can be rented and fitted to any of our frames for an additional Baht 30 / per day.
Replacement tubes, pump, tools etc are not included with the rental. Please make sure that you have these necessities. Please note that if you are renting a bike for use on one of our tours, we take care of the replacement parts / maintenance of the bike.
Mechanical disclaimer: Generally, it is the responsibility of the renter to maintain the mechanical suitability of the bike after it leaves our shop. All bikes leave our shop adjusted, greased, lubed, and prepped. Mechanical failures caused by the user are not entitled to a refund (this includes chain, derailleur, shifters). Flat tires, broken spokes, etc are not entitled to a refund. If SpiceRoads determines that a mechanical failure was due to circumstances unrelated to the user, then we will determine an equitable refund solution. Any damage to a frame or its parts will be assessed a fee for replacement (ie. a broken chain). Please be a responsible rider.
Renting for our tours
Renting one of our bikes, not only saves you hassle but means you have more luggage allowance available.
Our bikes are renewed every two season and are always fully serviced before a trip. We always carry spares for every emergency and plenty of extra tubes.
We supply helmets with all our rental bikes (except when just renting a bike) but you may want to consider bringing your own if you are taking a long tour as helmets are a personal item.
On longer tours (5 days or more) our bikes comes with a SpiceRoads water bottle, which you are welcome to keep at the end of your tour. Each bike comes with a single water bottle cage, if you prefer more you are welcome to bring your own. Bikes also have gel seat cover slips if you prefer a softer ride. If you have your own saddle that you are comfortable with seat, you are welcome to bring it and we'll fit it. On long tours women specific seats are recommended and we have some available, but we cannot guarantee we will available for every tour.
We fit strap style toe-clips if requested, but you might like to consider bringing SPD clip pedals if you use them. If you do pick SPD pedals, please make sure to bring your shoes and cleats.
For shorter tours, we provide reusable water containers inline with our responsible tourism policy of reducing waste.
Bringing Your Own Bike
There's no bike like your own, and many people choose to bring their own bike on our tours. We insist that you make sure your bike is well serviced before joining a tour, as there is nothing that infuriates a leader more than a bike in constant need of repair.
Although we recommend mountain bikes, hybrid bikes and tourers are also suitable for any tours NOT listed as mountain bike tours. Rigid front forks are also usually fine on most tours. Road bikes are only suitable on our road tours, as these are 100% on asphalt. For all off-road mountain bike tours, mountain bikes are the only suitable bikes and front suspension is recommended.
Our detailed factsheets will contain information on the appropriate bike to bring for each trip as well as advising you on the best tyres to fit.
Taking a bike on the plane
Most airlines will accept a bike as part of your total luggage allowance - i.e. your bags plus the bike should not exceed the luggage allowance. This varies with the airline and the route; as a general rule the limit is 20kg, but the exact amount is shown on your ticket. A boxed bike typically weighs about 16kg, which does not leave much space for your luggage.
Bikes should be boxed for air travel in order to prevent damage and some airlines will not carry bikes that are not properly boxed. Most good bike shops will box your bike for you so if you are going to have your bike serviced before the tour it may be a good idea to have the shop box it too.
We cannot be held responsible for any excess baggage charge, and some airlines, especially in the US, have a fixed charge for taking bikes, regardless of the weight.
