Are you vacationing in the area and want to ride a bicycle? There are several nearby places to rent a mountain bike or a hybrid, but not too many that rent road bicycles.

At Cycle Tech you can now rent a vintage road bicycle from the 1980s or 1990s - all bikes have drop bar brake/shift levers just like today's bikes, they're just earlier-model parts (operating perfectly, of course)! I have a limited stock, so call for availability and sizes (610-792-2974).

Rates are $10 per hour up to $40 for a full day. Bring your own pedals or request some basic platform versions. Helmets are recommended, and you will be required to sign a rental agreement/waiver form before use. 

Just a couple blocks from the Cycle Tech shop is the Schuylkill River Trail. You can set off to the west and do about 7 miles, closely following the river out to Kenilworth in North Coventry Township. A recently completed connection crosses back over the Schuylkill to Pottstown and beyond another 4.5 paved miles to Stowe. However, to the east it is just over 32 miles of nearly traffic-free pedaling. You'll head through Phoenixville, Valley Forge, Norristown, Conshohocken and Manayunk to the Philadelphia Art Museum. From there it is about another 4 miles out to the new Grays Ferry Crescent connection towards Bartram's Garden.

If you have your own transportation for you and a bike, the Amish country is about an hour away. There are also plenty of lower-traffic roads in the northern part of Montgomery County into Bucks County, and just across the Schuylkill from Royersford in Chester County. I have plenty of great cycle routes close by if you are interested - just ask!

This 57cm Vicini from the '80s is an example of my vintage rentals.