Bike It! Frequently Asked Questions:
My Trip is Coming UpHow do I reach your shop?
See our Contact & Location page. Is it going to rain?
Do not use the weather app on your smartphone! We find the most reliable weather site for our area to be 3bmeteo.com, when checked 1-3 days in advance. Forecasts greater than 3 days in advance are unreliable given our location. Remember to look at the hourly forecast. We will use the forecast for the hours of your tour to make decisions on scheduling. Luckily, in Summer it typically rains only in the late afternoon or evening (if it does rain at all!). Generally the weather is great in our area!
What biking accessories do I need to bring? What kind of pedals do you have?
All our rentals include a helmet, pedals, rear bike lights (if available), and a saddle bag (spare tube, tire levers, and co2 cartridge). Hand pumps are included on the e-bikes. *If you are used to using specific lights at home, we encourage you to bring them. Safety first! If you need any accessories beyond these items, such as mirrors, specific mounts, or other light types, it is suggested you bring them. We do have some garmin mounts and phone mounts available but can't guarantee availability at all times. We have several accessories for sale, such as water bottles, energy bars, and wide selection of cycling apparel. Pedals: We have Look Keo, Shimano SPD-SL (road style), Shimano SPD (MTB style), and flat/platform pedals available. All pedals are included with your rental bike. Can I leave my bag at your shop?
We have a changing room area with lockers where you can leave personal items while you ride. Bike It! does not take responsibility for lost items. I can't make one of your shop shuttle times from the ferry station downtown. Could I schedule another pickup time not listed?
Yes, you can! Please e-mail or call us with at least 24 hours notice to let us know when you'd like to be picked up, we will try our best to be available for pick-up at the time of your choice, but cannot guarantee it. Our shop is a 15-20 min. walk from the car ferry station in downtown Bellagio. |
Making My ReservationDo I need to make a reservation in advance?
We encourage you to make your reservation well in advance of your trip. We have great swings in the demand on our bicycles. Especially if you have a specific bicycle model in mind, get your reservation in sooner rather than later. That said, it is always worth checking in on availability. We do our best to get you out on the best bike we have available for you. You can check availability yourself on the rental bike pages, or if you’re checking the day before it is better to email us at [email protected] or send a whatsapp message to +39 33497501604. In your message please include the type of bike(s) you are looking for, your height(s) and the dates you need the bike(s). I’m not sure what size bike I need. Can you help me choose a size?
Use this size chart to help choose your e-Bike size. If you’re looking for sizing advice on a road bike, send us your height, or your bike size and the model you ride at home. It can also be helpful to know if you happen to have especially long legs or torso. Geometry Comp Sites can be helpful. Bianchi sizing is 47, 50, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61. I'm not a serious cyclist. Can I handle the rides?
You can handle anything with one of our electric bike rentals! If the elevation of the ride/s you are looking to do seems too daunting, an e-bike is the way to go! All of our road and mtb routes can be done by e-bike, and our Family Biking Routes are designed to be ridden with e-bikes. What is your cancellation policy?
*All cancellations and reservation changes must be in writing and sent to [email protected]. (We will confirm receipt of your cancellation request in writing.) There will be a 5% change fee (of the total rental fee) for any changes resulting in a partial refund. Reservation changes cannot be guaranteed last minute. It is the renter’s responsibility to ensure the rental dates and bike type are correct. You will receive a confirmation e-mail when making a reservation either from our booking system or by e-mail from our staff. Bike It! Bellagio is not responsible for incorrect dates, and there are no refunds for missed reservations. Online Bike Rental Reservations. When reserving a bike online, the renter pays the full amount. The renter’s credit card details are saved and authorized in Bike It! Bellagio’s booking system until the rental ends. In case of cancellation, the rental payment will be refunded 90% up to 21 days before the rental start date and 50% up to 10 days before the rental start date. Payments are not refunded for cancellations made 9 days or fewer prior to the start of the rental period. E-mail/Phone Reservations. A 50% deposit payment of the full amount is required to confirm a bike rental or tour reservation. The renter’s credit card details are saved and authorized in Bike It! Bellagio’s booking system until the rental ends. Deposit payments are refunded 50% up to 21 days before the rental start date. The deposit payments are not refunded 20 days or fewer prior to the rental start date. For cancellations 9 days or fewer prior the start of the rental period, the credit card on file will be charged for the remaining amount on the rental order. ***Peak Weekend Cancellation Policy. For the GF Lombardia weekend October 11-15, 2024, road bike and gravel bike rentals have increased pricing. There are no refunds on full payments or deposit payments 30 days or fewer prior to the rental start date. Payments on cancellations made up to 30 days before the rental start date will be refunded 50%. No refunds or partial refunds will be given for last-minute cancellations or late bike pickup. In case of extreme weather conditions, Bike It! will provide a 95% refund for the rental date/s. Examples of extreme weather are large amounts of rainfall/downpour or thunderstorm. *Typically on Lake Como, bad weather does not last an entire day, and it usually comes in the late afternoon evening (luckily!). In general, our area has sunny weather throughout the entire rental season; rarely do we get rain. *The typical smart phone weather app is unreliable for weather forecasts for our area. We recommend 3Bmeteo.it for more accurate weather forecasts, checking 1 to 3 days before your scheduled rental. (Weather forecasts made several days or weeks ahead are unreliable.) One rental day is 9:00-18:00 on a single day, not 24 hours. We do not offer half-day rentals. We do not rent by the hour. Upon advance request, reservation, and availability, you can pick up your bike rental the evening before. You must contact us to request this possibility in advance. Bike rentals are due back by 18:00 on the rental end date. You cannot turn in the bike late/after 18:00 nor can you return it the following morning. It is the renter’s responsibility to organize their logistics prior, i.e., making sure they catch a 17:00 or 17:15 ferry back to Bellagio from one of the other sides of the lake, to be at the shop by 18:00 to return the bike. Late returns are unacceptable and will incur a charge of an additional rental day fee for the bike model. A credit card and a valid passport, driver’s license, or other government-issued ID is required to rent a bike. You must bring both of these items with you at the time of bike pickup or when making a reservation directly at our shop. I'm not staying in Bellagio and I'm not sure I can make it to the shop. Could I arrange for my rental bike to be delivered?
Of course! We do bike deliveries all around Lake Como. We kindly ask that you try to schedule your delivery at least 48 hours in advance in order to guarantee a great delivery service. Delivery fees depend on where the bike is being delivered and/or collected. Please e-mail us to arrange a delivery and/or pick-up. Where should I stay in Bellagio? Which Restaurants should we go to?
There are numerous lodging possibilities on Lake Como! Ranging from luxurious resorts to campsites. . There are many other possibilities as well, such as small B&Bs and camping areas. We can proudly say that all of the hotels and accommodations in Bellagio offer amazing and unique stays, you can't go wrong! Please contact us if you want a more personalized recommendation based on your vacation needs. If you are a group of cyclists looking for Villa accommodations, we work directly with Villa Vassena. For mountain-biking or E-MTB groups we recommend TreeB Bellagio, a new and beautiful mountain lodge right in the middle of several great trail rides above Bellagio. In terms of restaurants and other things to do, check our our Cyclist's Guide to Bellagio Blog. We hope this helps! Where can I read the rental contract and tour waiver I'll be signing at the shop?
Here it is: Bike It! Rental Contract and Tour Waiver |
On the RoadThings to remember before your ride:
-Need a pick up from Bellagio town center (meeting point in front of Banca Intesa)? Book a pick up by calling the shop at least 24 hours before your tour/rental. When you call, please know your exact ferry arrival time at Bellagio. The ferry is about 15 minutes from Varenna or Cadenabbia. The Menaggio line sometimes stops in Varenna before arriving in Bellagio (hence 30 minutes). Use Navigazione Laghi -Unless otherwise requested, your bike rental will come with flat pedals, comfortable for use with sneakers or flat shoes. -If you are taking a ferry to start or end your route, please know the Ferry times to return to the shop before close (18:00). These are posted in the shop entrance. We do not accept late returns. -We welcome you to leave small bags/shoes in our changing room. Bike It does not accept responsibility for lost items. -Do not use the weather app on your smartphone! We find the most reliable weather site for our area to be 3bmeteo.it, when checked 1-3 days in advance. Forecasts greater than 3 days in advance are unreliable given our location. Luckily, in Summer it typically rains in the late afternoon or evening (if it does rain at all!) -We do have garmin mounts available (stem mounts only) for road bikers but not unlimited amounts. Please plan on bringing your own mount if you want to be 100% sure to have one for your bike. Bike Safety -- Helmets and Locking Your Bike
-Your rental comes with a helmet and bike lock for your safety and the security of the bike. This is included in the rental price. -Helmets are not mandatory by Italian law, however, wearing a helmet when renting a bike with Bike It! Bellagio is mandatory. We prioritize safety for our customers. -We provide bike locks free of charge with your rental. Please lock them in a place where you can still keep an eye on them (e.g. You’re at a restaurant or café’ and you can see where they’re parked and locked from your table). If you can’t keep an eye on them, please lock them in a place you feel will be secure, with people around that would hopefully intervene in case of a possible theft. Theft is not too common in our area but it can and has happened. Please use your best sense of safety and treat our bikes as if they’re your own! -If you elect to not bring a lock with you, but want to stop at the Ghisallo Cycling Museum, your bike will be safe. Just ask for a lock at the door and they kindly provide them at no cost to cyclists. They have a bike rack right outside of the museum to park your bike. Please park your bike at the museum before visiting both the museum and chapel Following Rules of the Road and Flat Tire Help
,-ride on the right side of the road, always single file when on roads with cars, respect stop signs and stop lights, use signals when turning) -Your rental comes with a saddle bag that includes a bike tube, tire levers, a pump or co2 cartridge (road bikes), and a multi tool or Allen wrench. Flat tires are unusual, but they do happen. You should be equipped to change a flat if needed. Here is a link for a step by step guide on changing a flat: How to change a flat tire (using co2 or hand pump) How to use co2 canister -Please remember the bike parking rules (for road and mtbs), for ebikes used the kickstand! We have a sign outside our shop for bike parking rules: use the rear wheel or saddle to park them against a wall if no specific bike rack is available, do not use the frame! - Keep our phone number at the ready (+39 3349751604). We respond to phone calls and WhatsApp messages and can talk through small problems or send help when we are available. We can’t guarantee immediate roadside assistance nor is it included in your rental contract. We try our best to be available in case of emergencies but cannot guarantee it at all times. We will assist you in finding a solution if we cannot come to the rescue. -There are many bike shops around the lake who can provide assistance or parts if we’re not able to help out, please let us know if you plan on getting assistance from another shop. We do not cover labor or part costs for repairs that are due to customer error. Lenno (bici sport 2000) Argegno (guti bike rental) Cernobbio (run & bike, lake como cycling) Como (cicli ferca and the Specialized store) Menaggio (canajas e-bikes) Lecco/Malgrate (rush cycle and the specialized store) How to use an E-bike, Tips and Troubleshooting
Check out our video on How to Use an E-bike, please watch before your rental!
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