Bike Miami Valley’s Link: Dayton Bike Share program is kicking off Bike Month with a great new addition to its bike fleet thanks to the law firm of Thompson Hine. Thompson Hine is sponsoring eight bikes in the system, and one of those bikes is wrapped with a custom design by Thompson Hine’s graphics team.

Thompson Hine works in partnership with various non-profit organizations to help them achieve their goals and define their missions. A good example is the firm’s partnership with Bike Miami Valley, whose mission is to advocate, promote, and create opportunities for cycling in our region. Dayton Partner, Jonathan Hawkins, has been a member of the Bike Miami Valley board since 2011 and was a critical player in bringing the Bike Share program to life for the Dayton community.

Christine M. Haaker, partner-in-charge of the Dayton office, commented, “We are proud of Jonathan’s commitment and pleased to join other community partners to help Bike Miami Valley achieve its goal of providing bike-sharing services to those who live in and visit the City alike. Our contribution to the Link program now includes eight Thompson Hine branded bikes and reflects our commitment to Bike Miami Valley’s mission and the continuing expansion of great City offerings. We hope to see our bikes en route, providing riders enjoyment and easy access to transportation.”

In 2021, the Link: Dayton Bike Share Program expanded, adding ten new bike parking and pick-up locations, known as “hubs.” Users are invited to take advantage of the new locations and check-out the Thompson Hine bikes, using the Link Dayton app. Users can also participate in Link Bingo this month to win prizes while they ride. Participants do not need to register to participate in the bingo challenge, and bingo cards are available for download at Linkdayton.org. “Taking a trip on the specially wrapped Thompson Hine bike will be a bingo square to fill,” says Laura Estandia, Executive Director of Bike Miami Valley. “We hope our users enjoy this cool ride!”

Take your adventure on two wheels. Want to rent a mountain bike for the day?  Renting a bike is easy—here are several places to rent bikes – from single-speed cruisers to tandem bikes to tag-along trailers for little kids

K&G Bike Center
They rent bikes by the hour, day, or week.There is a 2 hour minimum for rentals. Hourly rentals must be returned the same day. Rentals for more than 4 hours receive the daily rate. Full-day rentals must be returned within 24 hours from the time of rental. Since K&G is closed on Sundays, bikes rented on Saturday must be returned by Monday, noon for a one-day rental rate.  Road, Hybrid, & Mountain start at $8/hour, $32/day or $75/week

Located across the street from the Little Miami Scenic Trail for easy access.

XENIA

RiverScape Bike Rentals

237 East Monument Ave.
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 278-2607

RiverScape MetroPark is positioned at the center of more than 300 miles of paved, off-street trails in the Dayton region — the nation’s largest paved trail network. You can rent bikes to explore this incredible bikeway network from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, at our RiverScape Rentals concession window. A variety of bicycles are available, as well as a host of bike attachments for your child.

Hybrid, Road bikes and youth bikes Rate –  $8/hr, $12/2 hrs, $20/3 hrs
Tandem bikes – Rate: $15/hr, $20/2 hrs, $25/3 hrs

Reservations required for the Monday – Friday rentals (9am – 5pm); walk-ups accepted on Saturdays and Sundays (9am – 2pm).

A public work stand is available for use all summer long. Pump up your tires or fix a flat; adjust a derailleur or brakes; and tweak other parts of your bicycle for free with our public work stand.

Mountain bikes are available for rent on select Saturdays and Sundays at the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA) 4485 Union Rd., Dayton, OH 45424
You can try out the nine miles of single track without committing to buying gear. Bring the little ones out — youth bikes are available. The Hilltop Flow Trail and Tot Track are perfect for getting the kids to try something new. Advance registration is required and fees must be paid at the time of registration. 937-275-PARK (7275) Registration will cut-off at 5pm the evening before each rental opportunity if the minimum number of participants has not been met.

Whitman’s Bike Way Bike Shop
18 N Main St

Miamisburg, OH 45342

Spice up your dating lineup with a bike ride around town or explore the trails for the day. We’re bound to have a bike that will fit you and your significant other comfortably.

Road/Cruiser/Hybrid Bikes –  $10 first hour, $4 additional hour
Tandem or Recumbent Rental – $15 first hour, $5 additional hour

Helmets, baby carriers, trailers, and locks are available for rent also. Hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly rentals are available. A valid driver’s license and credit card deposit are required for each bicycle rental.

Call (937) 384-0337 for availability or reservations.

We’re only 300 feet from the bike trail!

Tips for your bike rental

1. Test drive the bike to ensure you are comfortable with the size, and style of the bicycle and that everything is working properly before you leave the rental area.
2. Be aware and follow proper safety and rules of the road.
3. In case of emergency pack a mini first aid kit.
4. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses.
5. Wear a backpack to hold all of the above.

Once you’ve got your bike rented, you may want to access info on where to bike- here’s a great resoure:

Here in the Great Miami Riverway, we are home to the nation’s largest paved trail network. With over 340+ miles to explore, where will you begin? Here are 4 different itineraries to get you started. These itineraries range from 5 miles to 96 miles long and have something for every ability.

Spokes and Strokes Public Art Ride – 5 miles

Starting at Rentschler Forest MetroPark in Butler County,  take the Great Miami River Recreational Trail to the Fitton Center for Creative Arts (5.64 miles). Explore the Center and take a class – or just be inspired by those who have already created their masterpieces. If you’re up for continuing your journey, ride through the city and enjoy the multiple murals and sculptures scattered throughout downtown Hamilton. On your way down 2^nd Street, lock your bike to one of the city’s many sculptural bike racks. The one next to Renaissance Fine Art Supplies looks like a paper airplane. Once you’ve done that, walk down High St. to the Alexander Hamilton sculpture and enjoy boutique shopping. Once you’re riding again, make sure to look backwards at the city’s beautiful mural as you approach the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. You’ll wind through Marcum Park, enjoy a splash pad, and end your ride at Municipal Brew Works* (and another sculptural bike rack).

Wheels to Wings Aviation Ride – 20 miles

If you are looking for amazing aviation history, this is the route for you. From WACO Air Museum in Troy to the Wright Cycle Company and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (20 miles), this route on the Great Miami River Recreational Trail stretches through beautiful countryside and under large shade trees. Before you head back north on your return trip, make sure to stop for a bite to eat at Texas Beef and Cattle Company located just across the street from the National Historical Park.

Pedals and Pals Ride* – 10 miles

Whether it’s through a craft brew or boutique shopping, this ride is all about our local culture. Visit Miamisburg’s historic Main Street for boutique shopping and then take a ride over to the Second Street Brewery District*. You’ll notice many stores with Bicycle Friendly designations. After that, hop on the Great Miami River Recreational Trail at Riverfront Park and ride to Carillon Historical Park in Dayton (10.59 miles). Eat at Culp’s Café or enjoy a refreshing cold drink at the only brewery located in a museum. Learn about the region’s history and climb the Brethren Tower before heading back south. Keep your eye out for eagles soaring overhead!

Weekend Century Ride – 96 miles

Here is a ride for cyclists ready for a century challenge. Each length of this trip is 96 miles long and takes you through historic downtowns while you meander through forests along the Great Miami River. We recommend you stop and rest at Rotary Park in Hamilton, spend a few hours exploring in the Dayton Art Institute, and definitely grab a piece of pie at The Spot in Sidney. If you are looking to spend the night before you head back to Hamilton, visit the Riverway’s ‘places to stay’ page for suggestions.  Most of this route is located on the Great Miami River Recreational Trail.

*Please remember that cycling under the influence is a criminal offense. Please cycle and drink responsibly!

Link: Dayton Bike Share is planning to expand its network of bike hubs to two Dayton neighborhoods. The Huffman Historic Area and Carillon neighborhoods will see hubs installed next spring.

The City of Dayton, who is supporting the expansion, is a critical partner in helping Link connect to neighborhood leadership. “Link: Dayton Bike Share has been an amazing resource for keeping our city active and bike-friendly. I am glad to see this expansion happening in the Carillon and Huffman neighborhoods, and I know it will be a great amenity to our residents,” says Mayor Whaley.

“Bike Miami Valley has spent some time at a few neighborhood meetings now explaining the project and gathering neighborhood input. Our neighbors are looking forward to using the bikes on the Great Miami River Trail and connecting to the restaurants on Brown Street,” said Carillon Neighborhood President Gwen Buchanan.

Link: Dayton Bike Share recently evolved to a hub-based system this past summer that uses the Link Dayton app to access the fleet of Green Link bikes and electric eLink bikes. “One of the goals of this evolution was to make it less capital intensive for Link to expand,” says Laura Estandia, Executive Director of Bike Miami Valley. “We are thrilled to be bringing bike share to more Dayton neighborhoods as a result of this change.”

Exact locations in both neighborhoods are still in the planning phases. “The Huffman Historic Area has been experiencing such exciting reinvestment and revitalization, and the decision to add a new Link hub within or boundaries is just one more fantastic element to continue that excitement,” says neighborhood President Matt Jahn. “It not only adds an amenity to our residents but helps better connect Huffman, its neighbors, and businesses to Downtown in a responsible and sustainable way. We can’t wait to have the Link hub finalized and support its use.”