Best Bike Rentals In Chicago

Chicago may be a busy city, but you can avoid the traffic, even while hitting the roads, while riding a bike. Biking makes it easy to see the Windy City, as there's a variety of bike rental companies and organizations in and around the city. So whether you're looking to enjoy a leisurely ride along the lakefront path or commute the city streets, these five bike rentals have a bike for you.

Bike And Roll Chicago
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 729-1000
www.bikechicago.com

With over two decades of experience, Bike Chicago (also doing business as Bike and Roll) has some of the longest experience outfitting Chicagoans and out-of-towners alike with quality bikes to explore the city. All rentals come with a helmet and bike lock, as well as a map to help you navigate. Rental cost varies depending on the kind of bike you rent, but you can nab a set of wheels for as short as an hour, and as long as a full day. And the bike offerings? They're immense; opt for recreation or professional road bikes, or even a tandem. If you're looking for a bit more guidance around the city, Bike Chicago also offers bike and segway tours. They offer four pickup locations around the city, including at Navy Pier and Millenium Park (see listing below) and the city outskirts.

This bike center, located at the northeast end of Millennium Park, offers much more than bike rentals. The two-floor center offers a variety of amenities to the cycling crowd, including lockers, showers, bike repair, 300 bicycle parking spaces, as well as a snack bar that includes outdoor seating during the warmer months. As for bike rentals, they offer a variety of rental options, from daily to monthly.

ChainLinks
1100 W. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 508-2440
www.chainlinksluc.com

Situated in the northern neighborhood of Rogers Park, Chainlinks is a Loyola student run bike rental and repair place. As if that alone isn't cool enough, all rentals include a 2012 Specialized Sirrus bike, B-cyce or Civia, and they're incredibly reasonably priced. For a quick two-hour trip, get a bike for just $6/hour. Need a bit more time? They also offer 24-hour rentals ($13 for budget bikes and $18 for premium), as well as weekly ($40) and monthly ($60) rentals. For students, they also offer semester, academic year and summer rentals. In addition to the awesome price, you'll also get stellar service from students who have a passion for cycling.

Related: Ask An Expert: Best Bike Rides In Chicago

No matter which Chicago neighborhood you're in, chances are there's a blue Divvy station nearby. These bike stations make it easy to get around the city and take quick 30-minute trips. Divvy offers two kind of passes, either annual or 24-hour pass. Either way, take a ride in any neighborhood; just be sure to check into a bike station every 30 minutes. While the bike stations aren't manned, they're easy to use and super convenient. Divvy personnel also monitor the stations and make sure there's always enough bikes, as well as room to park your bike if it's your final destination.

Located out in the nearby suburb of Oak Park, Greenline Wheels operates under a simple but wonderful philosophy: experiencing a place by bike is a great way to explore an area's treasures. They also make it easy for the whole family to ride bikes, as they offer lightweight adult bikes, as well as youth and kid bikes. Simply enjoy a ride around town, or use one of their maps to see all the local Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

Related: Best Family-Friendly Bike Trails In Chicago

Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not blogging about food, she's working part-time at a culinary vacation company, The International Kitchen, based in the Windy City, as well as repping Younique cosmetics and skincare products. Some of her writing can be found at Examiner.com.