Flume Trail Bikes

Flume Trail Bikes was a perfect option for us to have some fun and enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Tahoe. We had originally booked a kayak tour that got postponed for weather, and then stumbled on this bike rental company as a backup activity on our rainy morning. We rented trail E-Bikes and it was PERFECT! The pedal assist is definitely the way to go for the hilly East Shore Trail but it was totally manageable with the pedal assist. We did a 2 hour rental and were able to ride down to Sand Harbor and back with several stops along the way for pictures and quick steps down to the shore. Staff here were great and we had an awesome time! The rental shop is right at the start of the paved East Shore Trail, so it’s really the perfect place to go for some awesome Lake Tahoe biking.

Super friendly staff. Jude helped us get our bikes ready and answered our questions about the trails. They hooked us up with some great bikes that handled the terrain with ease. We also had a great time talking with our shuttle driver Kurt who gave us some recommendations and even directed us to a nice beach after our ride to cool off. I definitely plan on coming back.

Excellent and friendly service, availability, and access to East Shore Trail. My husband was pulling a kid trailer and his bike had issues and it threw the chain off several times. I was disappointed we weren’t offered a small refund due to us having to make several stops instead of enjoying the scenery and ride with our kids.

Best bike ride in Lake Tahoe! Beautiful trail, many bikes available. They even give you a little training if you are not familiar with the e bike or switching speeds. We did a 2 hour tour and it was plenty of time - with stops/photo ops. Loved it ♥️

Highly recommend this bike rental shop! Owner/staff are very friendly. Bikes well maintained. Both adult and kids bikes are available. Ample free parking for customers. The paved trail down to Sand Harbor Beach is stunning! Plan for at least 2 hours to enjoy the view and beaches on the trail.

Can’t say enough great things about these guys! Alex was so helpful with our bike rentals and making suggestions about our ride and the shuttle driver Tim gave the best directions and pointers so we would enjoy our ride. I will definitely be renting from these guys again next time I’m in Tahoe!! Great, great company and customer service!!!

Rented bikes for 4 hours to ride the east shore trail to sand harbor. Trail took 15-20 minutes. Nice staff.

Overall, my brother and I are very satisfied with our experience at Flume Trail Bikes. I think some of your staff, one person in particular, needs to improve their customer service. As we were checking in for our appointment and bike rental, he seemed annoyed, and possibly not in the right mind. We brushed it aside and didn’t let his attitude affect our overall experience. He may just had a bad day. Thank you for the great experience!

There is no better way to take in the breathtaking views of the Tahoe East Shore Shared Use Path - the most scenic bike path in the western United States - while getting a little exercise in than on an e-bike. This bike shop is located behind the Tunnel Creek Cafe and adjacent to the parking lot. You can just walk up and rent a bike. No reservations are required. The cost to rent one is $35 for two hours. $49 for the day. $20 for youth bikes. You can reserve e-bikes online. The bike path, which begins from the parking lot, leads you on a beautiful 3-mile ride to Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park - one of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Tahoe, known for its pristine sandy shoreline, crystal clear turquoise waters, and picturesque scenery. There never seems to be a shortage of e-bikes to rent even on the busiest of weekends. Service is friendly and very helpful on how to work the e-bike and explaining the layout of the bike path.

Looking forward to repeating this bucket list ride. Be prepared for a great journey. The inspiring views are always memorable and breathtaking.

Easy bike rental service and right at the East shore trail. $50/bike, $90/e-bike. The trail is beautiful.

Nice trail for a jaunt or bike ride with gorgeous views! There are a bunch of places you could start so incline can vary.

I'm giving an 3 star review because the trail itself deserves 5 stars and the bike rental is located at a great starting point. Strong riders will want to take the high road to monkey rock with phenomenal views from up high. We wanted just an easy roll along the east bay of the lake-paved and very gently sloped. Great views and pull out areas all along the way. We were surprised that our less than helpful sales associate didn't ask a single question about our riding skills- not even the very basics. My husband's bike derailed about 15 min into the ride. I'll spare the details... I highly recommend either trail, but the customer service lacks a bit here.

A bike rental spot at the head of the Flume mixed use trail. We rented a couple of eBikes to try them out. The trail follows the north eastern edge of the lake for around 3 miles ending at sand harbor beach. With the zippy eBikes it took no time at all and if we were to do it over again, would have only rented for 2 hours, instead of 3 (which is same as all day price) We lucked out an scored a spot in their small parking lot around 11 am on a bustling Saturday so didn't have to pay for parking. The paved trail is super nice except for big groups of people who would move over causing me a couple of near crashes despite my slow pace as I appreciate. The views along the trail are amazing so you'll want to stop and take pictures. Tip: be SURE to ask them for a lock (we didn't) so you can stop and checkout a couple of small beaches or get some food. The young kids staffing the shop aren't too forthcoming with questions like "hey, do you want a lock?" Bikes were expensive to rent but they've got the ideal location from which to do so at the end of the trail, but views along the way are priceless

Easy process and a fun ride! Bikes were in good working condition and the shop had plenty of parking down at street level if needed.

The shop was equipped with good equipment and the staff were great. I would suggest them in a moment. The other great thing is you rent a bike, you have a choice of different options, to include electric assist. Everyone was very helpful and even the people who had their own equipment were willing to help us find the trail and kept an eye out for us. It made the whole experience great. Working with the staff was easy, and honesty pretty straightforward. Unlike other places that are rigid, they had us set up really quickly, gave us a quick rundown on the bike, loaded them on the van and we were on our way! Easy peasy!

Me and my son booked a couple of shuttles with these guys. Everything went as expected and was easy peezy. We booked online, showed up and parked out front, checked in which took about 30 seconds, and they loaded our bikes on time. The shuttle driver (Bill) was cool and we would have left on time but he waited a few minutes for 2 people who were late. At 10 minutes past he said ok I gave them a chance and we were about to leave then they showed up and were loaded up with just a little friendly ribbing (which was deserved since they ask all riders to be there 30 min early to prevent this exact situation). All the staff was cool with us and shared a few tips about side trails we could look for to lap certain sections if we wanted to. We'd use them again.

We had a great ride on the east shore trail. Since we were visiting from Chicago and in our 50's it was suggested that the 1100 foot climb for the flume trail might be too big a challenge and I think they were right. We rode to Sand Harbor and had a great time at the beach. I would like to plan to train and get acclimated to the altitude to do the flume trail another time. either way it was great.

The brakes could've been tighter, and maybe the seats shouldn't have swiveled. But the bikes they rent out here are extremely serviceable as cruisers. And the staff is super-friendly and not at all judgmental. The rates are extremely reasonable as well. However, when they tell you that the route down to Sand Harbor only involves one "mild" hill, remember that measurement is relative, particularly if you come from a flat area and/or are not used to riding at altitude.

Awesome experience. Gary, our shuttle driver was great. Super nice and answered all of my questions. The Flume was amazing, my first time and on my bucket list for years. A great beer at the cafe to finish off the day!

We spontaneously rented bikes and so glad that we did! The staff was super friendly and we were able to rent two bikes and trailers to ride with our two toddlers. We road Tahoe East Shore Line Trail down to a few of the shore access spots and it was beautiful! This spot is conveniently located and worth the time and money. I highly recommend this place for bike rentals.

Inefficient selection of bikes. When renting, dude at the counter was helpful but other workers in the back getting high.

I can't think of a better business. They will go out of their way to accommodate you, the prices are fair, the staff are extremely chill and friendly, and the trails they service are sick. The cafe at the bottom of the hill is likewise staffed by laid-back folks. Huge props, I can't recommend this business enough.

Very nice ride along the Flume trail, and TRT! And the trail to Sand Harbor is awesome! Nice bike rentals!

My friends and I rented bikes here to ride the very popular Flume Trail, which lives up to its hype -- I would say it's the most beautiful bike ride I've ever enjoyed. Amazing views...at least once you get past the first brutal 4 miles. The staff is nice and very helpful, which unfortunately can also contribute to a bit of a wait and a crowd when you get there. They take their time with each customer, explaining the trails and bike options, etc. So it took us about an hour to finally get in the shuttle van and get going. But once you're on that trail, it's all worth it!

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER dealing with local business in Tahoe!!! I came up for the day from Reno with my fiancee to rent a bike and ride the Flume. Dealing with the owner of this shop, I thought I would be in good hands.....I was horribly mistaken! After putting aside him not wearing a mask, his toxic attitude and attempt at up selling us on a bike maintained in poor condition, he proceeded to become increasingly hostile. When he made some comment about us not being locals and that I could take it (the bike) or leave it, I decided to not do business any longer with someone like this!! Worst of all, as we went to leave, he sprayed my truck with a spray bottle, hitting my fiancee in the face with what smelt like bleach, while he smiled and said what sounded like obscenities under his breath. I could not believe it! I will never use these guys for rentals or shuttles, as I routinely have......ever again!! I would suggest staying far away from this toxic LOCAL lunatic and his business.......if you plan on having a good time in Tahoe! Update- In response to the owners comment, as you can see, even the owner is ok with his "shuttle driver's" (It was the owner!!!) customer service. It appears to be their business culture over there!! No where in your response do you deny the accusations made or apologize for what took place. Instead you elect to produce a strawman argument. One in which you neither address the problem but instead redirect attention with, "oh I wouldnt be in business then, if that were true." There are plenty of business out there a float with terrible employees.......hence the purpose of YELP......sir!!! Its obvious you are only in this business to get as much money out of tourists (up selling) as you can and treat them poorly when you think you can get away with it. All the while providing no quality of customer service or quality product as bikes are poorly maintained and break down, as many other comments on other platforms have reveled. If I would have done my research before doing business with you, I would have found another shop to go to!!! You guys are what give LOCALS a bad name and you seem to enjoy mistreating people from out of town.......which is SICK!!!! I think others should be informed prior to selecting you as their bike rental and shuttle!! That is all!! Cheers

A huge shout out to these guys. My wife and I were shopping for an electric mountain bike for her and no one had anything in stock. We stopped here and asked if she could try a few bikes to get an idea on size so we'd know what to look for. Jon was eager to help. Super knowledgeable and accommodating even though they were busy and we weren't renting a bike. Jeff also helped with some advice and suggestions. Businesses are all about the people and these guys rock.

I live in South Reno (retired from California), and I'm 45 miles from this trail. I've hiked this trail at least 20 times. Beautiful views of the lake too. Great for hiking AND biking. Easy parking along road and their lot. If you need more water, the cafe has water for you next to the juice refrigerator. Wooden chairs outside on the patio to have a beer after a long ride or hike. Sandwiches and breakfast are tasty and quickly made. The employees work various jobs like ski patrol rescue in the winter.

Review is for trail Great views of lake. Incline 90 percent of the time Barely any shade U share the 6 ft wide trail with bikers

Great trails for trekking as well as mountain biking! Gorgeous view of the lake from above ! Not too crowded either! Easy to moderate hike level. Perfect for daytime hiking!

Local vibe and super helpful. My go to for a shuttle ride to Spooner to start the Flume Trail.

This place was wonderful. We booked a shuttle for Tahoe Rim and they were ready to go on time. The guy (if I remember his name, I will edit) showed us a map and gave tips on where and how to go. He warned us about possible sketchy areas and then loaded our bikes with care. A 20 minute or so drive and we were ready to ride. We were told to call if we get lost and then began our beautiful ride. Precautions were taken in transit for health and safety. Great place! There were no mean people in sight :-)

The staff is awesome and bikes are super fun. Just pls don't be an annoying tourist when you rent/ride; Be mindful of locals, hikers, walkers, runners, & etc. and please don't block car traffic when u ride on the side of the street. This isn't Europe, our roads in the US are not built to be super accommodating for bikers. I recommend sticking paths meant for bikes only. Otherwise happy trails :)

Amazing experience that you must try. Flume trail is a long a dangerous trek but Flume Trail Bikes has the perfect high end mountain bikes to have a safe and epic journey! No need for electric....go all in!!

My cousin and I have almost zero experience on bikes. We were just looking for an easy ride. We rented path bikes to ride around Sand Harbor. Levi helped us get set up. He was super nice. I had no issues with the bikes. He gave us an easy lock to lock them up. He adjusted the seats for us since I have long legs. We had tons of time to get the bike back. We had a great ride. It was so beautiful and the highlight of my weekend. When we returned, it was a super easy checkout. Totally worth the money and I would definitely come back. Thanks Flume for the good times!

By far the most epic biking experience ever. These guys were super accommodating and friendly. Bikes were awesome and the views were insane. The uphill was mildly brutal at times but once you get to the top it's downhill from there after an epic swim in a beautiful alpine lake. Do it.

Pedal fell off during ride on a paved path. Took a half hour to get back on the road while waiting in the sun and they didn't offer to compensate or discount the ride. Beautiful scenery. Just check your pedals before leaving the rental station.

These guys are great - they really do a good job checking people in and giving them the short tour for first time bike riders such as myself. I really loved the positive upbeat energy and atmosphere. They had all different sorts of bikes and helmets. Gave a great tutorial of what to expect without scaring you (if you want to be semi scared, read my review for the actualy Flume trail

The kid under 13 that helped us didn't have a care. There was a 16 yr old around with glossy eyes....he must have been sick or something! He gave us bikes that he claimed were "good enough". I insisted that I needed at least one working brake and a seat the wasn't angled up in the front (ouch!). Realizing that he didn't have any with two working brakes, we decided on the pink cruisers so we could use our feet as a backup. He said the trail was flat so I didn't think working gears were that important. Well....it was not a flat path. We had 4 pink bikes. 1) gears changed on its own will biking 2) chains fell off and bike needed to be walked 3) crappy gears and barely a front brake that was very loud 4) about the same as #3 I have found that bike shops usually have pretty cool people with a passion for biking and nature. Not this place. Very disappointing.

Such a well run operation. We rented mountain bikes, hopped on the shuttle, and rode the beautiful Flume Trail. Super easy to reserve bikes and shuttle spots online and would highly recommend booking in advance especially if you're hoping to ride on the weekend. Hilarious and friendly staff and well-maintained bikes.

We have hiked a few trails around Tahoe and saw Flume Trail Bikes shuttles drive bikers to their starting point and wanted to try it. This past weekend we tried it and LOVED IT. We are beginner level mountain bikers so the first 4 miles were pretty difficult for us being at a steady incline. But it was worth the sweat. The views are like being in paradise, so when you have to walk your bike up some hills you feel you are not missing anything since you are surrounded by such beauty. The guys at the shop and driving the shuttle are very helpful and knowledgeable. You can tell mountain bikes and the Tahoe area are their passion and we learned a lot from them before adventuring onto the trail. We had such a blast and look forward to doing this again soon.

What an incredible trail! We are so glad we rented bikes here to check this out! The views are insane and it's such a beautiful adventure. Renting was easy online and it was perfect to have a shuttle to the trailhead. The first four miles uphill were difficult and we walked a bit of it but the rest was worth it! It would have been great to have a bike water bottle or a snack -- we've rented elsewhere for a similar price and for more of a package deal.

We really enjoyed the bike ride from flume to sand harbor beach. I Was worried about them running out of bikes due to them not taking reservations. Granted we went mid week in the afternoon around 2 o'clock. But they had plenty of bikes and the ride was amazing. They didn't give us helmets. And when we right away I was wondering if they were supposed to or we had to ask. So if you want to helmet be sure to request one

Another fun mountain biking experience with Flume Trail Bikes. They make it easy to book on-line for both the bike you want and the shuttle you want. The staff of kids that pull out the bikes are super helpful and excellent at what they do. The shuttle drivers are knowledgeable and friendly and did a great job directing us the day we did the Rim Trail to make sure we ended up where we wanted to be. It was a wonderful experience again and when you live too far away to bring your own equipment - they make it easy. Their bikes are in great condition and they offer options for beginners to the seasoned technical riders. The cafe at the shop is great for lunch and a cold one after you ride. Book ahead of time in the summer they do sell out of certain bikes and shuttle times

Shuttle service is a great option for Rim or Flume trail. Staff is solid and very knowledgeable of trail system. Will be great once last part of singletrack is ready to bypass tunnel creek sandy area

The Flume trail is really quite exceptional. A beautiful flowly trail high above the lake with A+++ views. The bike rental place is set up for enthusiasts, having nice bikes and great service. There are a bunch of bikes to choose from. I thought the hardtail I rented was plenty, but you can go full suspension if you want. Once you get your bike, there are two shuttle drop off options (one of which is only available on even numbered days due to trail restrictions). You can incorporate the flume trail section in both. The longer, even days option has some tougher technical riding in the beginning. I liked that one best. But the standard flume trail route I took the first day was fantastic as well. 14 miles vrs 24 miles on the even days route most people take (there are several routes). Overall, great experience. These guys are set up to get you on these great trails. To boot, the owner actually 'discovered' the flume trail in the 80s, clearing obstacles and eventually getting it legal. There is even a park service sign along the way, pointing that out. There are a bunch of youtube videos showing the trail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7qfySRG7-4

A great location and great service. I used their shuttle to get to Tahoe Meadows and they were super friendly and organized and are very conveniently located at the bottom of the iconic Flume Trail. They don't take reservations unless you're renting a bike so get there early to secure your spot and the Tunnel Creek Cafe is right next to it for a spot of pre and post-ride refreshments. I had so much fun on the first ride I took my wife back and rented a bike from them to do the Flume Trail and that was equally as great. They have great bikes available. The trail itself is awesome with some amazing views. From the drop off point at Spooner it's a meandering climb up about 1,000ft over almost 4 miles, which isn't as bad as it sounds. Then the trail drops down to Marlette Lake and a dirt road winds around to the top of the flume trail. From there it's pretty much a slow descent along a narrow path about 6ft wide with some amazing views of the lake and the last 2.5 miles or so are a steeper decline. From the Tahoe Meadows drop-off point it's about 9 miles of meandering through some amazing paths with scenery on both the Tahoe and Carson City sides. You eventually end up at the 'bottom' of the Flume Trail and can then cycle up the gently sloping path back up to Marlette and join one of the other trails. I had three great rides in 6 days and am already planning a day trip back up to Incline for more riding.

This place is the best for your MTB in Tahoe. I've used them twice and every time they've been great. I use their shuttle service to Mt Rose and Spooner lake. Great rates and folks.

We do a guys trip ever year. All of our trips have been successful and fun until using this company. The location and place looked lively and filled with happy people....until you get to the actual bike rental spot. it's behind the cafe. Not a single smile was to be found from any of the staff members there. From the very start of filling out our names til the very ending. The equipment expert started calling out our names, he missed pronounced my name but I get that all the time so I wasn't upset. He repeated and I said oh it's actually pronounced this way. He then said "Ok, whatever'. That made my blood boil. I told him "No, this is how you say my name." This time he just shrugged his shoulders. We got our bikes and got dropped off at the starting point, 14 miles away. We asked the guy what the difficulty level was and he said it was beginner to intermediate. We were all new to mountain biking. Believing our expert guide we shrugged off the negativity and were ready to begin our exciting adventure. We started off great for the 1st mile but I could already see all of our guys struggling and two of our bikes broke down. They would not shift gears.(We just paid $70 each for broke equipment. Great. ) The guide said the first 4 miles was the most difficult but wasn't that hard. It was an incline so we expected it but boy was he wrong. It was not easy, it kept getting harder and more steep. Definitely not something to try if you have not been before. By the 3rd mile we were all off the bikes and pushing them up hill. We were winded, cramping up, sweating profusely and stopping every 20 yards. Most of our group are fairly fit. We play 3-4 hours of basketball 3 days week. So I'd say we were fit but this trail is not one I would recommend for people new to mountain biking. As a matter of fact after our events we did some research and it was actually rated as intermediate to expert level. After about 3.5 miles into, more than half the group decided it would be safe to turn around than to finish the 14 mile trail. At the rate we were going it would be dark and and cold also not to mention we had no cell service. 3 of us continued and it got even more dangerous as we proceeded. After you pass the summit its a down hill shot which could get very dangerous if you are not experienced. There was also ice on the trails and once you start getting to flume trail, the actual trail starts getting narrow. At the most dangerous spot it was bout 2 feet wide, hundreds of feet high and only enough to fit 1 person at at time. One side was rock and the other side was the side of the mountain. One misplaced footing means a fall to your death. Not something I would recommend to a beginner. The views were breath taking if you were brave enough to look during the ride. Even taking your eyes of the trail for second could spell disaster. Loose sand and narrow trails make it extremely dangerous. This continued for a good 5 miles. The end was fairly easy as it was just downhill. Myself and 2 others proceed onward and about half way through we got a call from one of our guys (we finally got cell reception at the top) saying two of our guys had a major accident. One of the guys wiped out and the guy behind him ran into the him, flipped over and landed on his back. He could not get up. The other guys had to ride back to get cell signal and call and ambulance and the tour guide to come pick them up. We later found out the guy that flipped over had broken his back. Fractured the T-7 on his spine. It would take surgery and 6 months of physical therapy. When this all happen the equipment guy was more focused on going back and getting the bikes than our injured friend. He said "We need to figure out how to get those bikes". Luckily the paramedics bought the bike back with them when they got our friend. If that's not enough reason to second guess this place then I don't know what else to tell you. Again not a trail for beginners. We didn't sign waivers now that I think about it. Highly DO NOT recommend for anyone new to mountain biking or not very active.

Great experience. The bikes we rented were in excellent shape, the staff was friendly and accommodating of various requests, and the Flume Trail ride itself was amazing. Highly recommended.

These guys really have it together! Perfect service, perfect location, coffee shop/cafe to boot. If your going during peak season, A couple of things (they state this on their site as well). 1. Make a reservation and pay online! 2. Arrive about an hour early We went on a prefect July Summer day. Checked in an hour early for a 9:30 shuttle. We were #1 & #2. Easy ride to the drop off. The staff answered all of our questions.

Four of us 50-something, reasonably fit adults had an amazing ride today from Spooner Lake back to Tunnel Creek Road along Marlette Lake and the spectacular Flume Trail thanks to Flume Trail Bikes. Reading previous reviews, we were excited for the ride but nervous about the first four uphill miles, which we had heard were so steep that most riders have to walk their bikes up the hills. When we arrived we talked to the guys at Flume Trail Bikes about trying the electric version of their high-end mountain bikes and decided we would try them today. What a great decision!!! The e-Bikes are fabulous!! You still pedal the bikes and get a great workout but have some electric assistance when pedaling that makes the steepest hills totally do-able. The rest of the ride was relatively flat, and while narrow and rocky in some parts, was well worth the effort to get the fantastic views of the lake, Sand Harbor and other memorable spots. Not a ride for beginners or those with fear of heights and narrow trails, but with the e-bikes, nearly anyone can make it successfully. Thanks Flume Trail Bikes!

The guys here are very helpful and made my first mountain bike ride around Tahoe memorable.

Nice operation. I just used their shuttle service with my own bike for the Tahoe Rim Trail / Flume Trail combo and service was nice and efficient and great information provided on their website and at the location as well as good signage at the end directing back to the parking lot. Fair price for the shuttle for how much pain it saves you and allows you to fully enjoy the high-alpine wilderness with just 1 tough climb during the ride.

Might be good for mountain-biking on the flume, but now they are situated perfectly on the brand new east shore riding trail (which is Epic!) and they have no knowledge and no appropriate bike rentals for this. The service is horrible & complete idiots running it. They actually said to us, "you need to have the bikes back by 5pm (but they close at 6??) because you know we want to get out of here to ride ourselves too". Wtf?!! Olympic bike shop in Tabor City is where it's at, still.

If you enjoy pushing bikes uphill for 4 miles in sand, at a 1,000 foot incline (not exaggerating) for approximately 2 hours, and then riding on a 15-inch wide trail with a drop of a cliff on one end and a mountain side on the other, this is for you!! The view once you get past the first part is gorgeous. Just stunning. Definitely a saving grace for the horrendous 2 hours before. This trail is TOUGH. I am a very fit person as is my husband who also biked this trail, but I have to say that we were not expecting it to be as advanced as it was... and none of the staff told us. One blog tagged this trail "perfect for beginner to intermediate bikers." Maybe if the beginners are coke addicts who get loaded before riding. I thought there was no way I would finish the trail at many points. We only saw professional mountain bikers on this trail who all seemed surprised to see us, obvious strugglers. The bike rental staff was not necessarily friendly but they were helpful. The bikes were in pristine condition and functioned really well. The shuttle to pick us up was late to get to the trail head. In short: This is a $50+/person ride. It starts with a shuttle taking you 20-minutes south to a bend in the highway and letting you off. You then have to ride **on the highway** over to a national park to get to the trail head. The fee to get in is $2/person cash. It's then a 4-mile, 2-hour, uphill battle, then a 10-mile ride across and down the mountain. There is a lot of sand and silt that was super hard to ride through. I wiped out once when going downhill, but it was not fatal as I lived to tell about it. :) Be prepared. Bring lots of water. This is not for people looking for a joy ride. This was kicked my ass so hard that I was sore for the rest of the week of our vacation.

I called Flume Trail Bikes a week in advance to reserve some bikes and shuttle rides for a Thursday morning. Two days before our ride, two people from my group had to back out due to an illness and an injury. Then the night after that, due to scheduling issues, we decided to break up our remaining group into two separate rides. Unfortunately for the second group, the first group finished the trail too late and didn't allow the second group to bike at all. All this to say that the FTB was very accommodating with all the change: setting aside the bikes for the second group at the last minute and refunding me the cost of the bike rentals and shuttle rides for all those who ended up not riding at all. I really appreciated the fact that they didn't charge for last minute changes or cancellations. For anyone planning on riding this trail, I would HIGHLY recommending renting your bikes through these guys. I don't even know if there are other rental shops in the area, but the FTBS has a bunch of high-end bikes that are perfect for the trail for great prices. And during the shuttle drive to the trailhead, you are well-informed of the trail so that you know what to expect during your ride. (Just a quick FYI, the shuttle vans are not as bad as JJ M claimed they are. I understand that review was from a year ago, so maybe they've replaced their vans. In any case, yes, they're not brand new, but I would hardly call them a disaster. They're your typical passenger vans that are meant to carry all those people. If you're high maintenance and require some sort of luxury bus for this 20-minute shuttle ride, then maybe mountain biking isn't your thing. All I expect from FTB is to get me to the trailhead safely and inform me of the trail, which they did.) Lastly, the Flume Trail literally ends in the parking lot of the bike shop; you ride in, return your bike, grab a drink or a meal at the café, and then you're on your way. Very convenient. All in all, it was a great experience. I'll go to them again when I return to do the Rim Trail.