Bike Hire Shops in Reading?

[oneten]

Does anyone know of any bike hire shops in the Reading area? Looking online, I've only been able to find Bromptons or details of the Readybike scheme which wouldn't be suitable for intended cycling parties from abroad. Thanks in advance.

[AndyK]

Cyclezone in Winnersh sell secondhand bikes. Some secondhand dealers will offer a pseudo-hire arrangement where you buy the bike now, then sell it back to them a few days later for a reduced price. Might be worth asking.

[oneten]

Thanks for your suggestion Andy K. Snag is, it's for a large party of cyclists from a foreign bike tour company who will need to book in advance. It's a good suggestion though and much appreciated.

[AndyK]

Well, if it's a "large party", the hire company doesn't have to be in or even near Reading. If the order's big and profitable enough, a hire company might be prepared to deliver from further away. Bainton Bikes in Oxford, for instance, claims it'll deliver up to 200 miles away (for a fee, obviously) and Oxford's only 25 miles from Reading.

<Thinks...> This sounds rather like a certain large US bike tour company that contacted me with a similar request a couple of years ago...