Things You Should Know
About Our Bike Tours 

PortCity Bike Tours recommends that riders have experience riding bicycles and are comfortable using multi-gears. Our tours are designed for most adults and teens who find the experience somewhat easy. The Neighborhoods Tour, in particular, is classified as level 1 (easy), making it suitable for riders with varying levels of experience. However, we encourage all riders to feel confident in their cycling abilities before embarking on our tours. ​

A. The Historic Neighborhoods City Tour offered by PortCity Bike Tours is a 1.5-2-hour guided bike tour that will take you through the transformation of each neighborhood in Portsmouth. During the tour, your knowledgeable guide will share historical and cultural insights about the area, making it a truly immersive experience. It is important to note that riders should have experience using multi-gears, as the terrain may vary throughout the tour. Most adults and teens find this tour very easy, but we do request that our guests have prior knowledge of shifting and be able to ride for at least 10 minutes at a time. Whether you are a local or a visitor, this tour provides a unique perspective on the city's history and development, all while enjoying the great outdoors. Join us for an unforgettable journey through Portsmouth's Historic Neighborhoods.

A: Our bikes are kept in working and safe condition. Our bikes are maintained and tuned to be in safe working order by a certified mechanic. We have a selection of fitted comfortable bikes to keep the pace of the group. We'll be traveling on varied surfaces that require special tires. Please call 603-969-1866 to inquire.

The Islands and Harbor tour provides a great overview of the islands off of Portsmouth, New Hampshire such as stops at Prescott Park, Pierce Island and Four Tree Island in Portsmouth, and New Castle Island in New Castle New Hampshire. The Islands and Harbor tour covers both Portsmouth and New Castle and is approximately 10-12 miles and you will pedal to the must-see sites and points of interest along the way. This tour has some small hills to get into New Castle Island. This is our most popular tour and a great tour for riding and sightseeing. The Historic Neighborhoods City tour is a great tour for short periods of riding and covers the City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This bike tour will bring guests to the former North End, South End near Prescott Park, Little Harbor, Brewery Lane, Bohenko Park, and back. The Historic Neighborhoods tour is approximately 6-8 miles and you will pedal to historic points of interest along the way. This tour has some small hills and is a great tour for sightseeing in Portsmouth and for families.

A: Yes, all guests must sign a waiver and release form.

A. We do have a bathroom located at our shop. There are also several opportunities to use the toilet at each of our stops.

A: All of PortCity Bike Tours bikes are top of the line, well maintained, expertly fitted, and safe. We provide each rider with a helmet as well. Moreover, PortCity Bike Tours is a fully insured company. Your safety and comfort are of the utmost importance to us. Be sure to arrive 30 minutes prior to departure time in order to have your bike and helmet fitted by one of our experienced tour guides. All bikes and helmets are fully outfitted with reflectors and reflective strips. Lights are available for those who will be riding at night in the Fall. ​

A: All of our tours will start at our location at a convenient spot in town. You will be notified by text or email once booked. You'll meet at our PortCity BIke Tour location at 43 Middle Street where you will check-in, meet your tour guide, and get fitted with a bicycle and helmet. We will go over the rules of the road, bike safety, and how to operate and shift the bicycle. You will have a chance to test ride your bike to ensure a proper fit and then we’ll get you on your way exploring Portsmouth! Sights and stops vary depending on which tour you have selected, but most tours stop about every mile or so en route to our historical sites or cultural landmarks, where the guide will tell you about the stop and give you some time to take photos. ​

A: Absolutely! For children, we offer tag-a-long bikes and toddler seats that easily attach to the parent/guardian’s bicycle. If renting a tag-a-long or child seat, they must be able to safely ride while you, navigate streets, and traffic and ride for 2 hours. Check out our stock here to learn more. Due to limited children's equipment, we suggest you call us to reserve it in advance. Toddlers must be 2 years and older and up to 40 pounds. We request that if this is a public tour, the child and parent have had experience riding. A frame-mounted rear bike seat will be securely and safely attached to the adult bicycle when you arrive. If you are unsure about being able to ride for 15-20 minutes at a time, please select our private bike tour that has a go-with-the-flow. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute urges parents to take care when dismounting the adult bicycle. ​

Yes, at PortCityBikeTours, we offer personalized, customizable, and unique private bike tours for a variety of occasions. Whether you're planning a private party, a team-building activity, a group outing, a small corporate event, or a family gathering, we can create a special tour just for your group. Our experienced tour guides will work with you to tailor the route, duration, and points of interest to meet your specific needs and preferences. We are located just minutes from most of the city's main attractions, making it convenient for us to customize a private bike tour that suits your group's schedule and interests. Contact us to discuss your requirements and let us create an unforgettable biking experience for you and your group.

Yes, tipping your tour guide is customary and a thoughtful way to show your gratitude for a great service. This gratuity goes directly to your tour guide as a recognition of their hard work and dedication to ensuring you have an enjoyable and memorable experience. If you feel that your guide went above and beyond or provided exceptional service, additional tipping is always appreciated. It's a great way to express your appreciation for their efforts and dedication to making your tour a fantastic experience. ​ ​ ​

A. Parking on State Street out front of the John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street. There is free parking at the Mason Lot corner of Middle Street and Miller Avenue and a five-minute walk to our location.

A. We are located at the Historic John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH. 603-969-1866

We do ask that you bring bottled water. We do have a bubbler to refill your water and we have water for sale. We do have a bottle holder on the bicycle.

A. All of our guides are required to be certified in first aid before they become a tour guide.

A. We have a small bag on the bike to hold a phone, keys and such. The bag is about 8x4x6.

Tour & Rental Rescheduling Policy Refund & Rescheduling Policy  ​ ​ ​Cancellation of the tour (by our guests) — We realize that life is unpredictable. Booking an event for a future date is always a bit uncertain. If for any reason any of our guests need to cancel a booked tour, we will follow these simple guidelines: Cancellations received up to 72 hours before the booked tour date/time ————— refund. (less a 20% cancellation fee) Cancellation of a tour by our guests within 72 hours of a tour date/time --------- will result in no refund. You can convert your tour ticket price to a gift card.  Just give us a call.  Rescheduling requests are processed at the sole discretion of the employee making the transaction. If you are within 48 hours of your tour start time, you may reschedule, (subject to availability) with a change fee of $20 per ticket. Reservations can be rescheduled only once.  Failure to arrive 30 minutes before your tour departure time may result in your space on the tour being given away. You will not receive a refund or credit for your tour. Late arrivals will not be able to catch up to the tour. Our seats are limited for a one-on-one experience. Please understand that our tour groups are very small, and if we receive a cancellation very close to the actual tour date, ( less than 3 days ) it will be difficult to book that canceled space for another guest. 

At PortCity Bike Tours, we understand the needs of families with children. Our private tour is the best option for families looking to go with the flow and have a flexible experience. During our private tours, our experienced guides can tailor the tour to accommodate your family's preferences, including stops for ice cream, skipping rocks in the river, or visiting the around-the-world museum. This ensures that your children have a fun and interactive experience while exploring the city on bikes. Our private tour allows for a more relaxed pace and personalized experience, making it the ideal choice for families with children who can ride on their own. Our options are 20 and 24-inch bicycles, tag-a-long, and a child seat. For families with kids that cycle, we recommend the Nature Adventure Gravel Bike Tour (7+ miles) or the Historic Neighborhoods Bike Tour (6-8 miles), both tours are ideal for children over 8 years old and provide a safe and enjoyable experience for families to explore the natural beauty or the neighborhoods in the area. Children who can fit on a 20 and 24-inch bicycle must know how to ride and take orders from a guide.

Tour & Rental Rescheduling Policy Private and Group Tours  Payments are fully refundable if canceled more than 14 days in advance. After this, you will only receive a 50% refund if you cancel. Cancellations within 7 days of the tour, for example, 10 a.m. on Monday, is the deadline for a tour that runs on Sunday at 10 a.m.) are non-refundable.   Amendments to group number can be made at any point up to 72 hours before the tour, there will be no refund for a reduction in the number of guests. We plan on a guide, blocking off the tour availability, and have an 8:1 tour guide ratio. In some circumstances, tours may be canceled up to an hour before the event's start time. The decision to cancel the tour is up to the sole discretion of PortCity Bike Tours. If we do cancel the tour or event, ticket-holders will be allowed to reschedule tickets (subject to availability) or we'll refund the ticket. Rescheduling requests are subject to availability and are processed at the sole discretion of the employee making the transaction. Rescheduling requests within 48 hours of the scheduled tour date will be subject to a fee of $20 per ticket to reschedule. Reservations may be rescheduled only once, subject to the discretion of the PCBT employee processing the transaction. Reservations made within 48 hours of a scheduled event are final and cannot be changed. Failure to arrive 30 minutes before your tour’s departure time may result in your space on the Boston tour being given away. You will not receive a refund or credit for your tour. Late arrivals will not be caught up to the tour. Inclement Weather Policy Inclement Weather Policy Our tours run rain or shine, except in the case of extreme weather conditions such as lightning, hail, torrential rain, etc. We will have rain ponchos just in case. If inclement weather is forecasted for the day of the ride (inclement weather is defined as the forecasted certainty of sustained, soaking rain and/or high-speed winds…NOT scattered, passing, or intermittent showers) you will be given the option of rescheduling or moving the tour to a later time or the opportunity to ride on another available date. If we cancel the tour, you will receive a full refund.

No, you do not need to be an expert rider to join a tour with PortCity Bike Tours. However, we do request that you know how to ride a bicycle and shift gears. Our tours often involve riding on city streets, so participants must have a level of proficiency with cycling. If you are an inexperienced rider, we may need to direct you to a private bike tour. Additionally, in some instances, if we feel that you are a safety risk and have a high probability of injuring yourself or others, we may have to cancel your tour. Our priority is to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all our participants, so we appreciate your understanding in this matter. If we feel that you are a safety risk and have a high probability of injuring yourself or others, we may need to cancel your tour and you will not be refunded.

A. We are at the beautiful John Paul Jones Historic House Museum, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Our PortCity BIke Tour shop is located in the carriage house on the same. We do not have a storefront to walk into, although we have this shop in this incredible garden instead :) Please type in John Paul Jones House when searching in google.

Our rental is a city/hybrid bike, perfect for exploring the city streets and nearby trails. In addition to adult bikes, we also offer ebikes (limited supply), kid’s rental bikes and various attachments such as child seats and trailers. Whether you're looking for an enjoyable family ride or a solo adventure, our rental page has all the options to suit your needs. With PortCity Bike Tours, you can count on finding the perfect bike for your exploration of the city.

All of our rental bikes come with helmets, locks, lights, and flat tire repair kits at no additional charge. Just ask! We want you to have a safe and enjoyable ride, so we provide everything you need to make your biking experience hassle-free. From protecting your head with a helmet to ensuring your bike is secure with a lock, we've got you covered. The flat tire repair kits offer peace of mind in case of unexpected punctures. Our goal is to provide a complete bike rental experience, so you can focus on exploring the city without any worries.

If you have reserved your rental for the 9 am or 1 pm slot and you realize that you will arrive late, please call us as soon as possible. We understand that unexpected delays can happen, and we will do our best to accommodate your new arrival time. However, please note that if you do not arrive within 15 minutes of your scheduled rental time without notifying us, we may have to release the bike to other customers. Our goal is to provide you with the best experience possible, so please reach out to us so we can make the necessary arrangements for your late arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

It's important to take precautions to ensure the safety of your rented bike. First, make sure to lock your bike properly when not in use, using the lock provided by PortCity Bike Tours. This will help prevent theft and unauthorized use of the bike. Additionally, it's recommended to store the bike inside overnight to minimize the risk of damage or theft. While PortCity Bike Tours takes measures to maintain the bikes, you are responsible for the rental equipment once it leaves the shop. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy a worry-free biking experience while exploring the city.

Flats Happen! Avoid potholes. BUT, if you get a flat tire (or other mechanical issue) on one of our rental bikes, you have a few options for getting back on the road or where you need to go: Fix the Flat. We offer flat kits with all of our rentals, included in the seat pack of our e-bike and bike rentals. Need some help? Find the Nearest Bike Shop. There are shops dotted all around the greater Portsmouth area, and any one of them will be able to fix the flat for small parts and labor fees. Get the Bike Back to PortCity Bike Tours If you’re close enough to walk, great! Last Resort: Lock Your Bike and Call for Pickup. Call us at 603-969-1866 and we will talk you through locking the bike up properly and get the details of where you’re locking up the bike so we can pick it up later. Please understand that you will be charged a pickup fee of $50 for retrieving the bike(s).