Renting a bike or bringing your own (during a visit to Novigrad)

Renting a bike or bringing your own

A difficult question, isn’t it?

To be honest, there is no simple answer. The decision should depend on a range of factors and personal preferences.

If you are planning an active cycling holiday during your stay in Novigrad, it is better to bring your own bike. If cycling will not be your main holiday activity, we suggest renting a bike during your stay in this small fishing town in Istria.

A few more important things you should consider are:

• how much you love your bike
• whether it is adjusted to you
• whether you have bad memories of poorly equipped bikes

We all know how painful it can be to pack your beloved bike into a bag or box. Hours are spent carefully packing and securing the entire frame, stacking as many bags of clothes as possible into the trunk in the hope of further limiting any potential damage.

At that moment your luggage weighs around 23 kg or more. You carry it up and down stairs, on public transport, and finally check in at the airport, where it will spend the next few hours under the care of baggage handlers.

Alright, let’s not make this any more complicated. In this section we want to point out some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of both options.

Renting a bike in Novigrad gives you peace of mind

You won’t have to worry about separating from your bike, carefully packing it into a bike bag or box, hauling it across half the world, and assembling it again. And most of all, it is good to know that you won’t risk damaging your bike while it is in transit. Just think of the baggage handlers.

Bringing your own bike to Novigrad is a safer option

Bringing your trusted two-wheeler with you means relying on a bike you know inside out. A bike that is perfect for your riding style and fits you like a glove.

If you decide to rent, you might end up with a bike you don’t like or that doesn’t suit you. You already know you will be riding unfamiliar trails (although more than 500 km of Novigrad trails are an ideal way to discover its natural beauty), but do you really want to ride an unfamiliar bike as well?

Renting a bike is an opportunity for a new experience

Renting a bike is, without exception, an opportunity to test some new “wheels”. At Villa Bionda we can offer you lightweight aluminum bikes as well as electric ones.

Whether you want to try a 29er racing machine, an electric bike, or a regular bike, renting gives you the perfect opportunity to try something new. And if you are already thinking about a new riding experience, is there a better way to test compatibility than on a holiday in Istria?

Bringing your own two-wheeler to Novigrad might be cheaper

Depending on the duration of your trip and the bike you transported by plane, your cost will be around €50–€100 one way.

Accidents can happen whether you ride your own or a rented bike – right? The only difference is that you might be surprised by the cost of repairs if the bike shows signs of damage, often much more than if you repaired your own bike.

Renting a bike in Istria gives you freedom and flexibility

This is intended for those of you who are not planning a purely cycling holiday.

If you plan to travel before or after the cycling part of your holiday, renting a bike allows you to get up and go wherever you want, without worrying about carrying a large box with you or finding a safe place to store your bike.

So… what now?

The decision whether to rent a bike or bring your own on your dream holiday in Istria will largely depend on your accommodation, the length of your trip, and your overall travel plans.

One way or another, cycling is an eco-friendly way to spend your holiday in Istria. We fully support this way of discovering the beauty of Novigrad, Istria, and Croatia.