What's new

How I rented a Road Bike in Tokyo and survived to tell the story

made2last

Warming-Up
Oct 5, 2012
8
0
'where can I rent a road bike in Tokyo?' is a FAQ but there aren't many answers.

I was able to rent a bike in the outskirts of Tokyo in Chigasaki (1 hour from Shibuya by JR train). The place where I got my bike was called Athpa (www.athpa.net) http://goo.gl/maps/ep8Rv .

Atpha's website list the road bikes that they carry. The largest bike they carry is a size 54cm. For 2000 yen a day you get:

Bike, helment, gloves, spare tube and tire levers, bottle cage, Cateye cycle computer, mirror attached to handlebar, and I got a blinky light as well after I asked for one. I received a Felt Z100 bike that was fairly decent with Shimano 105 components. The bike had hood brakes and handlebar brakes.

For an extra 700, you get also receive a bike bag which must be used to carry the bike on Japanese trains. The shop owner gave me instructions on how to use the bike bag while I was in the shop. The bike bag is fairly large but I was able to attach it to the seattube using the straps provided. After carefully rolling the bag, the attached bag was narrow enough not to hit my crank arms.

Atpha has lockers for free. I brought a change of clothes that I left there overnight for when I returned the bike. They also have showers for 700. The showers have soap, shampoo, face wash, conditioner, lotion, cotton swabs, etc. A towel is provided with the 700 fee. After a long ride, the shower was awesome!

I brought my own clip-in shoes, helmet, water bottle, cycling kit, and pedals. The shop owner helped me install my pedals (he has a beefy pedal wrench).

I picked up the bike on Friday afternoon at 5pm (shop closes at 6 in the winter, 7 in the summer) and took the bike to my hotel in Tokyo. On Saturday morning I did a ride up Mount Takao and after all the climbing fun, I took a train straight to the shop to return the bike, take a shower, change and head back to Tokyo.

Getting the bike so far from Tokyo is a bit of a hassle but it was worth it to me. Especially for the price, 4700 yen for 2 days with bike bike bag, and another 700 for a nice shower.

The shop owner wanted to give me 2000 yen back because I only had the bike for one day and I paid for 2 days. I didn't accept it because I thought the price I paid was fair enough and I wasn't sure if he turned away other potential reservations.

The shop owner speaks English. Cash only!! No credit cards. More information here: http://www.athpa.net/topics/index4.html
 
Cool! ATHPA is part of the Aoyama Flower Group , they are expanding this kind of 'lifestyle' business around Tokyo. The pricing is great! I wonder if they offer similar service from the Tokyo downtown locations?? Chigasaki is quite far (unless you plan to hit the beaches).
 
Cool! ATHPA is part of the Aoyama Flower Group , they are expanding this kind of 'lifestyle' business around Tokyo. The pricing is great! I wonder if they offer similar service from the Tokyo downtown locations?? Chigasaki is quite far (unless you plan to hit the beaches).

I really like the store concept and the owner was super nice as well. I think the only location that has bikes is Chigasaki :-( My Japanase coworker was kind enough to do some research for me and I spent a couple hours looking as well. I found another place that rented steel road bikes if one is into that:
http://rinprojectnews.blogspot.jp/p/rental-cycle.html
 
I found another place that rented steel road bikes if one is into that:
http://rinprojectnews.blogspot.jp/p/rental-cycle.html
I haven't rented a bike from them, but I have lots of time for RinProject. Nice, innovative company that make interesting (and sometimes great) products. I particularly like their gloves, but they also make lots of cycle clothing that doesn't necessarily look like cycle clothing.
 
they also make lots of cycle clothing that doesn't necessarily look like cycle clothing.

I have always liked the idea of getting a lycra version of a bankers suit, with a bowler hat cover for the helmet.

Combining that with a Dom Joly style massive Bluetooth ear piece, bellowing 'SELL!!!!!! SEEEEEELLLLLLL!!!!!!' into it as loud as possible whilst hammering laps around the Tokyo Stock Exchange would give me the giggles.
 
Back
Top Bottom