Explore by Bike
Explore by Bike
5
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
About
We offer a friendly, personal service and will take time to fit you with the right bikes and information for a great day out on the trail. From us you can cycle straight to the Camel Trail - one of the most scenic off road cycle routes in the UK. We are based at the quiet end of the trail away from the crowds where you can enjoy the Cornish countryside in peace. If you want a full day out and don't mind a little busyness then we are the perfect distance away from Padstow to make a full day of it. Alternatively head on the rarely travelled section towards the lovely Snails Pace Cafe at Wenfordbridge for a home made treat before returning to historic Bodmin.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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5.0
98 reviews
Excellent
97
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
LightPacker43038
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Couples
Friendly staff at Explore by Bike supplied us with bikes, equipment and a very nice overview of the trail. We leisurely biked the 11 miles from Bodmin to Padstow. Enjoyed the scenery and points of interest along the trail and walked through Padstow. We stopped at Camel Trail Tea Garden for a fabulous lunch and ended our day at Camel View Winery for a glass of wine. Fabulous way to enjoy a day!
Written 16 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jilly B
Solihull, UK6 contributions
Aug 2023
we hired an electric bike today and it was an enjoyable and comfortable ride. i rode the bike with my family riding their own bikes. . we rode up to the snails pace cafe for a lovely cream tea, and then back again. we had no problems and the electric bike made the ride effortless. the hire came with a hat included, and an emergency kit in case of punctures. the bike was well maintained and needed no attention! definitely recommend this bike shop.
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much, hopefully see you again
Written 26 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matt K
8 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Great hybrid bikes provided and very easy to ride. Martin was very helpful and lent us panniers for jackets, water, and snacks. He also advised us on the best way to go along the camel trail and took time to ensure that the bikes were right for us. Would definitely recommend!
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, i really appreciate your review.
Written 19 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CornishEm
Exeter, UK62 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We decided to hire bikes to explore the Camel Trail while on holiday. I'd tried to book online the previous evening but for some reason the booking wouldn't complete. We called in to see if there were bikes available, which there were.
The hire process was straightforward and Martin kindly gave me a reminder about how the gears worked (it had been such a long time since I'd ridden a bike!). The bikes were in good condition and we were given a puncture repair kit and a bike lock. The car park at the hire centre was useful for a practice lap before we set off for the Camel Trail.
We weren't sure how far we would cycle but went to Padstow and back and returned our bikes tired and a little saddle sore, but pleased we had reacquainted ourselves with cycling.
I would definitely recommend hiring bikes from here.
The hire process was straightforward and Martin kindly gave me a reminder about how the gears worked (it had been such a long time since I'd ridden a bike!). The bikes were in good condition and we were given a puncture repair kit and a bike lock. The car park at the hire centre was useful for a practice lap before we set off for the Camel Trail.
We weren't sure how far we would cycle but went to Padstow and back and returned our bikes tired and a little saddle sore, but pleased we had reacquainted ourselves with cycling.
I would definitely recommend hiring bikes from here.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind review, i'm pleased you had a good day and hope to see you another time.
Written 25 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TJC
St Leonards-on-Sea, UK11 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Really easy to book and Martin was a delight to deal with, friendly, helpful and reassuring. The Camel Trail was a brilliant ride for us beginners! We would definitely recommend Explore by Bike and use again ourselves. Thank you
Written 7 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much, hope to see you again.
Written 8 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stuart Wilmot
Maidstone, UK2 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We frequently travel to Cornwall but have missed this hidden treasure. We have ridden the Camel Trail from Padstow to Wadebridge and back but decided to hire some bikes from Explore by Bike in Bodmin to do it from the other way. The bike hire was seamless on line and easy to find with good car parking. Martin was a delight to hire from and he explained everything that we would need for the days hire. I had a normal bike and my wife had an E bike to help her with the peddling!
We headed north towards Wadebridge and was surprised by how serene and peaceful the trail was running alongside the source of the Camel River. Completely different from the open trail between Wadebridge and Padstow where it widens into a full blown estuary! It’s no wonder that the Porthilly mussels and Oysters are so delicious being washed daily by the ebb and flow of the crystal clear Camel River. We found numerous places to stop and wonder at the beautiful scenery as well as to eat and drink.
We found a lovely nugget on the journey back to Bodmin by diverting off the trail up hill to the Camel Valley vineyard. Quite apart from the panoramic views across the valley the wine tasting was fabulous in the warm late spring sunshine!
We tore ourselves away from the great wines to finish our trip back to Bodmin. This is where I realised that having an E bike was a great way to navigate the last couple of miles which are slightly inclined by a couple of degrees of constant climb. Not mountainous but enough to remind you that the last glass of wine may have taken its toll!
We made it back to base camp and thanked Martin for the fabulous experience using his top notch and reliable bikes. I don’t have any views other than positive for our whole day and the quality of the trail experience and the bikes that we used.
We will be doing this route and using Explore by Bike for future trips along the Camel Trail.
Thankyou again Martin!
We headed north towards Wadebridge and was surprised by how serene and peaceful the trail was running alongside the source of the Camel River. Completely different from the open trail between Wadebridge and Padstow where it widens into a full blown estuary! It’s no wonder that the Porthilly mussels and Oysters are so delicious being washed daily by the ebb and flow of the crystal clear Camel River. We found numerous places to stop and wonder at the beautiful scenery as well as to eat and drink.
We found a lovely nugget on the journey back to Bodmin by diverting off the trail up hill to the Camel Valley vineyard. Quite apart from the panoramic views across the valley the wine tasting was fabulous in the warm late spring sunshine!
We tore ourselves away from the great wines to finish our trip back to Bodmin. This is where I realised that having an E bike was a great way to navigate the last couple of miles which are slightly inclined by a couple of degrees of constant climb. Not mountainous but enough to remind you that the last glass of wine may have taken its toll!
We made it back to base camp and thanked Martin for the fabulous experience using his top notch and reliable bikes. I don’t have any views other than positive for our whole day and the quality of the trail experience and the bikes that we used.
We will be doing this route and using Explore by Bike for future trips along the Camel Trail.
Thankyou again Martin!
Written 25 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such a lovely review. Really pleased you enjoyed your day. Next time you will have to try the top section to the Snail's Pace Cafe as it is really quiet and very scenic. Hopefully see you again.
Written 26 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
urbantravelrating
uk8 contributions
Apr 2023
Highly recommended - fantastic service at Explore by Bike. Martin came to the rescue when my son’s bike got a puncture (a bike brought from home) and expertly fixed it for the journey back home. Glad to say the repair is still holding strong. Very friendly and knowledgable service. I think next time I’ll leave my own bikes at home and pick up hire bikes from here: 1) less hassle to hire than lugging your bikes on a rack, 2) this hire location is great - enables you to bike all the way along the Camel Trail and end in Padstow for lunch, the best way round IMHO 3) plenty of parking available by this hire centre rather than the other way round 4) great hire bikes.
Written 17 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for the review. I'm pleased the repair held for you. Hopefully see you again sometime. Thanks.
Written 18 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simon W
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Family
Great location for a family cycle on the Camel Trail to Padstow and Wenford Bridge. Friendly and efficient service with well maintained, clean bikes and helmets. Added bonus of a new e-bike for one of the group.
Written 7 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much, glad you had a good day.
Written 8 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Riberts
Leeds, UK14 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Very helpful when I called to book, checked us in on the day efficiently and with a warm welcome and gave and told us everything we needed for a great family day out.
The bikes we hired were great quality (the adults were on Raleigh hybrids which were an easier ride than mountain bikes) and seemed very good value for money. Everything we needed (helmets, panniers, locks and puncture repair kits) were rolled in.
We took a 10 and 8 year old the 24 mile round trip from Bodmin to Padstow and back. With lunch and a wander through Padstow in the middle of the trip it makes for a full day out. Challenging but a great achievement at the end. The Camel Trail is a lovely route and I highly recommend both the activity and especially booking through Explore By Bike in Bodmin.
The bikes we hired were great quality (the adults were on Raleigh hybrids which were an easier ride than mountain bikes) and seemed very good value for money. Everything we needed (helmets, panniers, locks and puncture repair kits) were rolled in.
We took a 10 and 8 year old the 24 mile round trip from Bodmin to Padstow and back. With lunch and a wander through Padstow in the middle of the trip it makes for a full day out. Challenging but a great achievement at the end. The Camel Trail is a lovely route and I highly recommend both the activity and especially booking through Explore By Bike in Bodmin.
Written 2 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G C
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Family
Emailed booking request and with a few ping pong emails checking our requirements, 5x bikes booked 30mins later, and collected within an hour. Really good service: bikes, locks, helmets, repair kit and helpful info on route advice, it made a great day... even if the weather was a bit iffy! Parking was also easy!
Written 22 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingEXPLORE BY BIKE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Explore by Bike
- Explore by Bike is open:
- Sun - Sat 09:30 - 17:30
- Hotels near Explore by Bike:
- (0.06 mi) Roscrea Bed and Breakfast
- (0.20 mi) Bedknobs Bed and Breakfast
- (0.17 mi) Westberry Hotel & Restaurant
- (0.22 mi) Boleyn House
- (0.25 mi) Premier Inn Bodmin
- Restaurants near Explore by Bike:
- (0.07 mi) Flory Restaurant
- (0.09 mi) The Weavers Inn
- (0.10 mi) The Pad
- (0.06 mi) Coby’s Coffee Shop
- (0.09 mi) Bodmin Chicken House