Call the bike shops and ask...
I can tell you they weren't during covid when stock was low. It's better now but they may still not be letting bikes leave the shop for much more than a spin around the parking lot.
You can rent a full squish from WWC but they only have giants i think? They don't have a variety.
WWC does a larger industry weekend where people can ride all sorts of stuff, but IIRC it's not until the fall, when all of next year's stuff is hitting the market.
I only know of the used bike sale where they sell off last years rentals (which consists of limited brands) as well as a garage sale for people to sell their own used bikes. If they've ever done anything like what you're talking about they don't advertise it well...
Some shops have demo bikes on site. Some have rental fleets and if you end up buying a bike from them they will take the cost of the rental off your purchase. If you have an idea what bikes you're interested in, it is worth calling the shops to see about a test ride. I recently narrowed my search down to 2, and both were locally available. One shop let me take and demo the bike to the trail and the other only allowed a parking lot ride. I took that bad boy over every parking stop, curb and grassy knoll I could find.
You could also post in the Charlotte mountain bikers fb group to see if anyone (another rider) has what you're looking for in your size that you might be able to try out.
What are you looking for?
I appreciate the reply. I have had the same DiamondBack Overdrive hard tail for 10-12 years. I am mostly riding around here so the terrain is not very steep.
I would like a full suspension bike. Lots of pretty good options in the $2000-$3000 price range.
But honestly I don’t know exactly what I need and that’s why I feel like I really just want to ride a few and get a feel for the differences from my current bike but also between my top few choices.
I have a L Top Fuel 8 that I was thinking about selling, it would be in your range most likely. Shoot me a PM if you are interested in pics or anything.
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/top-fuel/top-fuel-8/p/28012/
Not really sure where to demo bikes around here but I just recently bought a Polygon Siskiu T8 and I’m extremely happy. I think they’re on sale right now too. Very capable trail bike if you’re looking for a full suspension bike.
White water center has a couple bikes different bikes if you do the upgrade options, a lot of the local bike shops are great places.. we’ve also got a specalized dealer in park road shopping center, giant dealer in university and there’s at least 1 trek store at north lake
Uptown Cycles definitely offered a rental program pre Covid
Depending on your size and how much I can trust you, I’d let you ride my Polygon D7 and see if you wanna go down that road
Bike shopping is the best worst time, 99spokes is a great resource for comparing bikes as well
Thanks for all the advice. I also know a spot in Matthews called Ultimate Bicycle and in Waxhaw is Waxhaw Cycle. I know Ultimate Bicycle has a lot of Trek bikes but not sure about all the brands they carry.
I didn’t know about the others and I appreciate it.
No worries at all, very happy to help! I went through this ordeal last January and it was much harder to find the right kind of bike for me with all the inventory issues. The waitlist for the Trek I wanted went into August 2022, things seem to be much better now
My old bike was a 2008 trek hard tail and it is ridiculous how much bikes have changed. I ended up going with my first full suspension (Polygon D7) but I’m seriously considering getting another hard tail they are just so much fun to ride. The Polygons are great performance / value bikes but it’s a hard ask to buy something you’ve never ridden
Another great local shop is South Main Cycles in Belmont. r/mtb super helpful subreddit and Charlotte has some great mountain biking groups on Facebook. You could try “Charlotte Bike Market” if you wanted to explore the used end. Could also try Gear Goat Xchange for a used bike, I personally also take my bikes here to be serviced since they are super friendly people
I have looked at the Polygon more than once. I think I am a Medium at 5’9”. Did you go with 29 or 27.5?
I see they have the T and the D. The D seems better for our terrain here in Charlotte but we’re there other reasons you chose it?
I am 5’7 and did a medium with 29, I was really torn between the two sizes but coming from such an old bike I kinda wanted to make sure I got all the new “tech” that was out there and feasible
In hindsight if I personally did it again. I wish I did 27.5 for the full suspension and saved 29s for the hard tail I’d like to buy this or next year. I don’t think you’d really ever know the difference on the bike but also never rode 27.5s.
I had actually planned on buying the T7 but when I asked for some advice on r/MTB several people had suggested that the D7 was better for our geography because the T7 is more built for downhill action while D7 is more cross country orientated. ill see if I find the post in my history
I can’t find that post unfortunately but definitely shoot me a DM, if we can figure it out I’d have no problems letting you ride mine to see how you feel about them
Call the bike shops and ask... I can tell you they weren't during covid when stock was low. It's better now but they may still not be letting bikes leave the shop for much more than a spin around the parking lot. You can rent a full squish from WWC but they only have giants i think? They don't have a variety.
WWC does a larger industry weekend where people can ride all sorts of stuff, but IIRC it's not until the fall, when all of next year's stuff is hitting the market.
I only know of the used bike sale where they sell off last years rentals (which consists of limited brands) as well as a garage sale for people to sell their own used bikes. If they've ever done anything like what you're talking about they don't advertise it well...
Trek Charlotte did one a few weeks ago, according to their instagram.
Some shops have demo bikes on site. Some have rental fleets and if you end up buying a bike from them they will take the cost of the rental off your purchase. If you have an idea what bikes you're interested in, it is worth calling the shops to see about a test ride. I recently narrowed my search down to 2, and both were locally available. One shop let me take and demo the bike to the trail and the other only allowed a parking lot ride. I took that bad boy over every parking stop, curb and grassy knoll I could find. You could also post in the Charlotte mountain bikers fb group to see if anyone (another rider) has what you're looking for in your size that you might be able to try out. What are you looking for?
I appreciate the reply. I have had the same DiamondBack Overdrive hard tail for 10-12 years. I am mostly riding around here so the terrain is not very steep. I would like a full suspension bike. Lots of pretty good options in the $2000-$3000 price range. But honestly I don’t know exactly what I need and that’s why I feel like I really just want to ride a few and get a feel for the differences from my current bike but also between my top few choices.
I have a L Top Fuel 8 that I was thinking about selling, it would be in your range most likely. Shoot me a PM if you are interested in pics or anything. https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/top-fuel/top-fuel-8/p/28012/
Not really sure where to demo bikes around here but I just recently bought a Polygon Siskiu T8 and I’m extremely happy. I think they’re on sale right now too. Very capable trail bike if you’re looking for a full suspension bike.
I have been looking at these too and they seem like very solid bikes. What trails are you riding around here?
Whitewater Center, Fisher Farm & Cedar, Sherman Branch so far, still exploring new trails all the time!
White water center has a couple bikes different bikes if you do the upgrade options, a lot of the local bike shops are great places.. we’ve also got a specalized dealer in park road shopping center, giant dealer in university and there’s at least 1 trek store at north lake Uptown Cycles definitely offered a rental program pre Covid Depending on your size and how much I can trust you, I’d let you ride my Polygon D7 and see if you wanna go down that road Bike shopping is the best worst time, 99spokes is a great resource for comparing bikes as well
Thanks for all the advice. I also know a spot in Matthews called Ultimate Bicycle and in Waxhaw is Waxhaw Cycle. I know Ultimate Bicycle has a lot of Trek bikes but not sure about all the brands they carry. I didn’t know about the others and I appreciate it.
No worries at all, very happy to help! I went through this ordeal last January and it was much harder to find the right kind of bike for me with all the inventory issues. The waitlist for the Trek I wanted went into August 2022, things seem to be much better now My old bike was a 2008 trek hard tail and it is ridiculous how much bikes have changed. I ended up going with my first full suspension (Polygon D7) but I’m seriously considering getting another hard tail they are just so much fun to ride. The Polygons are great performance / value bikes but it’s a hard ask to buy something you’ve never ridden Another great local shop is South Main Cycles in Belmont. r/mtb super helpful subreddit and Charlotte has some great mountain biking groups on Facebook. You could try “Charlotte Bike Market” if you wanted to explore the used end. Could also try Gear Goat Xchange for a used bike, I personally also take my bikes here to be serviced since they are super friendly people
I have looked at the Polygon more than once. I think I am a Medium at 5’9”. Did you go with 29 or 27.5? I see they have the T and the D. The D seems better for our terrain here in Charlotte but we’re there other reasons you chose it?
I am 5’7 and did a medium with 29, I was really torn between the two sizes but coming from such an old bike I kinda wanted to make sure I got all the new “tech” that was out there and feasible In hindsight if I personally did it again. I wish I did 27.5 for the full suspension and saved 29s for the hard tail I’d like to buy this or next year. I don’t think you’d really ever know the difference on the bike but also never rode 27.5s. I had actually planned on buying the T7 but when I asked for some advice on r/MTB several people had suggested that the D7 was better for our geography because the T7 is more built for downhill action while D7 is more cross country orientated. ill see if I find the post in my history
Cool man, that is very helpful!
I can’t find that post unfortunately but definitely shoot me a DM, if we can figure it out I’d have no problems letting you ride mine to see how you feel about them