FAQ: RENTALS

How far in advance must I make my advance reservation?

12 hours minimum. Head right HERE to do so.

Can I just walk in to rent a bicycle?

Absolutely! Please remember that we cannot guarantee availability without a reservation, though!

I reserved a bicycle or booked a tour and it looks like it might rain. What is your weather policy?

We ride rain or shine! We only cancel our rides or reservations for safety reasons such as extremely high winds, thunderstorms, excessive heat or cold, or other severe conditions. All cancellations are at the discretion of Wheelhouse Detroit.

Refunds will be issued only if Wheelhouse Detroit issues a cancellation. 

I reserved a bike or a spot on a tour and something came up. What is your cancellation policy? Can I change dates?

Our cancellation policy applies to both rental and tour reservations. Cancellations (for a refund less a $10 service fee) or requests to reschedule a reservation (with an additional $10 administrative fee due at check-in) must be made 48 hours in advance. We do not offer refunds or requests to reschedule for any reason once within 48 hours of the scheduled time.

Why do you charge a $10 service fee to refund or to reschedule my reservation?

We have to cover our credit card processing and administrative costs.

What is your helmet policy?

We require helmets on our tours and will provide them at no extra charge. For rentals, we do recommend (and provide for no additional cost) helmets, but they are not required for riders over 18 years of age. We do, however, insist that anyone under age 18 wear a helmet. We have helmets to fit all head sizes and we sanitize them after each use.

What do you recommend I wear while riding?

First and foremost, be comfortable! As long as you are dressed for the weather, wear whatever you want: jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts, saris, leggings, joggers, t-shirts, hoodies, tanks, chinos, slacks, dress pants, sneakers, platforms, sandals, loafers...we mean it, anything goes! 

Headed out on a tour? Our tours are casual-paced and really do not require specialty gear, ie. spandex. We do not recommend clip-ins or flip-flops on our tours.

We encourage riders to dress for the weather — and since this is Michigan, be prepared for it to change. We can lend you a poncho if you think you might need one!

Don't forget your sunscreen!

Do you accommodate private groups?

We sure do! We offer group rentals and private group tours. Both of which make for a great team-building exercise, pre-wedding excursion, or friend and family outing; we also can deliver up to 20 bikes to your event. More information is available HERE.

What is required to rent a bike?

For two hour rentals, we require a valid ID, which we will hold onto until your return. For anything longer, we will authorize your credit card, but not charge it, when you rent the bike for the value of half of the replacement cost of the bicycle. The manual authorization slip will be destroyed upon your return the bicycle undamaged. When you sign the waiver, you agree to reimburse us for the cost of the bicycle if it goes missing while you are renting it or for the cost of repair if it is damaged.

I'm planning on renting a bike for a few days or weeks while I am visiting town. What should I know?

We think that is a great idea! Lights, a helmet, and lock will be included with your rental. A credit card authorization for deposit will be required. We recommend that you do not leave a bike outside, even if locked, overnight. Most hotels will let you bring a bike inside.

Check out our rental rates HERE. If you wish to rent a bike for multiple days, email us at info@wheelhousedetroit.com to set up and confirm your reservation.

What happens if I lose the lock, key, and/or lights that you loaned me while renting?

We have a lost key fee of $50. If the bike is u-locked somewhere, you will be responsible for a locksmith charge so we may acquire our bicycle(s) back. If you've lost the set of lights we've loaned you there will be a $20 charge.

Where can I ride?

The world is your oyster! But lots of people want to cruise the Riverwalk, Dequindre Cut, &/or Belle Isle. A great map to save to your phone can be found HERE.

I need a bike later than your time of close or earlier than your opening. How do I go about reserving?

Normally, any rental that is kept overnight is considered a two-day rental and can be picked up anytime between open and close on the first day of the rental and returned anytime we are open on the second. But, if you have a shorter window of need, we do have a way to save you a bit of cash: if you pick up the bike within two hours of close and return it within two hours of the next day's opening, we can offer you the price of just a full day rental rate. If you're looking to do just this, please reserve your bike for the 2-hour rental rate and request your bike pick-up two hours before business closing hours, you can pay the difference upon arrival.

We can also accommodate an after-hours drop-off. Please indicate at pick-up and we will share our procedure.

Can I rent a bike for my child?

Yes! We do rent child accessories and kids bikes, so come on down and we will set you up with a kids bike, seat, trailer and/or tag-a-long and send you on your way for an exciting Detroit bike adventure! The Riverfront, Dequindre Cut, Belle Isle, and Eastern Market are all popular family destinations. All minors (under the age of 18) must have a parent or guardian sign the rental waiver. No grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends, or cousins are allowed to sign the waiver for the child. If you are planning a rental without the minor's parent/guardian present, you can have the parent/guardian sign the waiver ahead of time HERE and bring it with you.

I'm under the age of eighteen, can I rent a bike?

Only with a parent or guardian present to sign the rental waiver. No exceptions.