The Forth & Clyde Canal (National Cycle Network Route 754)
A traffic-free towpath route between Glasgow and Edinburgh by the Forth & Clyde and Union canals, passing the Falkirk Wheel boat lift.
Route 754 on the National Cycle NetworkTouring & bikepacking hire
Start your Scottish tour in the West End.
Customers have taken our bikes up Route 7 to Inverness, down the Great Glen, along the west coast and across the John Muir Way. Leave your cases with us, load up two Ortlieb panniers, and go.
Add the accessory pack – £10.60 for your whole hire
Your touring set-up
Everything on one bike
The bike
Ridgeback Vanteo: hybrid / road touring bike with a Topeak rear pannier rack and two bottle cages.
Ortlieb panniers
A pair of 20-litre bags (40 litres in total), per bike. Book them with the bike.
£5.30 a day per bike
Accessory pack
Two spare tubes, a pump, tyre levers and an Allen key set in a frame-fit tool holder. It's yours for the whole hire: keep it with you and hand it back at the end, used or unused.
£10.60 for your whole hire
Free luggage storage
Leave your cases at the shop while you're away, with no limit. Customers pack and unpack their gear right here.
Arriving by train or plane?
Your suitcase waits here. You ride.
Bring your luggage on collection day and we'll store it for free while you tour. Pick up any time in opening hours, and bring a passport or driving licence as ID.
- Collect 10am–6pm Monday to Saturday, or 12pm–5pm on Sunday
- Book the panniers at the same time as the bike
- No delivery or collection: start and finish at the shop
Ride ideas from our door
Where to go
General ideas only. Always check the official route pages for current conditions and which sections suit a touring bike.
Towards Loch Lomond and the Highlands (Route 7)
National Cycle Network Route 7 leaves Glasgow following the River Clyde to Dumbarton, then heads north through Loch Lomond & the Trossachs towards Inverness.
Route 7 on the National Cycle NetworkThe John Muir Way
One of Scotland's Great Trails, coast to coast from Helensburgh to Dunbar, open to walkers and cyclists. Hire customers have ridden it on our bikes.
The John Muir Way on Scotland's Great TrailsThe Great Glen
Customers have taken our bikes up Route 7 to Inverness and down the Great Glen. Check the official trail guide for which sections suit a touring bike.
The Great Glen Way on Scotland's Great TrailsMost riders navigate by phone or GPS – ask us for route tips.
Tour reviews
“The perfect start”
Riders who toured Scotland on Gear bikes, word for word from Google.
“Me and my son rented a couple of bikes from Gear bikes to do the National cycle route up to Inverness and down the Great Glen, some 300miles.”
Read the full reviewMe and my son rented a couple of bikes from Gear bikes to do the National cycle route up to Inverness and down the Great Glen, some 300miles. The bikes were ready for us, first thing in the morning and were in perfect condition. The bikes were extremely good value, and were robust enough to tackle certain N7 roads which were not tarred. Joe the owner was super friendly and made sure we had any extra equipement and tools necessary. His can do and solicitous attitude gave my cycling hoilday the perfect start. A credit to Glasgow!
“We had a great experience renting bikes here for a one week bike packing trip through the Highlands. Bikes worked perfectly and Ian and Joe are just really nice. Highly recommended!”
“Just rented a touring bike and pannier bags for a 12-day bikepacking holiday. The rental was extremely affordable and came with everything you might need, including a helmet, lock, tire patch kit - they even have camping stove gas in the shop if you need it.”
Read the full reviewJust rented a touring bike and pannier bags for a 12-day bikepacking holiday. The rental was extremely affordable and came with everything you might need, including a helmet, lock, tire patch kit - they even have camping stove gas in the shop if you need it. The bike was brand new and honestly the nicest piece I’ve ever ridden - light as air. It was a joy to rent from these champs, who were kind enough to let me pack and unpack all my gear in the shop. Would recommend this place to any foreigner who is trying to go touring in Scotland!
“We had fantastic and friendly service from Gear Bikes. Four family members - two from USA, two from England - rented bikes (and one set of panniers) for a week to cycle the *John Muir Way*.”
Read the full reviewWe had fantastic and friendly service from Gear Bikes. Four family members - two from USA, two from England - rented bikes (and one set of panniers) for a week to cycle the *John Muir Way*.
When we came in, Sandy could not have been more thorough. He took a good hour to make sure all bikes and helmets were the right fit. He was so friendly and passed on lots of JMW tips.
Joe was also friendly, helpful and responsive, right from the get-go when we first made an inquiry. He was responsive out-of-hours when we wanted to extend the rental by a day.
Really friendly shop, and great prices! For our next Scotland bike trip, we’ll be back. Big thanks to the team.
Need a spare or a fix mid-trip?
The workshop is right here. Text Joe on WhatsApp on +44 7831 694830, or call the shop in opening hours.
The workshopYour tour starts on Gibson Street.
Book the bike and panniers together, and leave your luggage with us.
19 Gibson Street, West End, Glasgow, G12 8NU · Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 12pm–5pm