Zipping around Hahndorf on an Electric Bike

Part of running Explore Adelaide is trawling through the country side for new places and local businesses to try. Last week we were contacted by a local business asking us to come and give their electric bikes a go. Over the weekend we travelled to the picturesque town of Hahndorf to try out Blue Sky Rides.

Blue Sky Rides has been operating since February 2017 and is run by two of the loveliest ladies you’ll ever meet. They know the area well and are always ready to help you get the most out of your riding experience. They’ll tell you the best places to visit, teach you proper use of the electric bikes, and let you know where you can get the best local food around.

The Basics

To start off we’ll go over some of the basic requirements for the electric bike hire. Appropriate footwear is a must when hiring one of the bikes, so think closed in shoes, not thongs. This is for your own safety and required as a duty of care. A helmet and a high-visibility vest will be supplied for use by Blue Sky Rides.

Anyone hiring a bike must be 18 years or older, or be accompanied by a parent or guardian also on a bike, and with consent. Any necessary information and training will be provided prior to setting off on the electric bikes, though the bikes are fairly easy to use and don’t require you to hold a license.

Blue Sky Rides do not operate during wet weather for the safety of riders and for the preservation of the electric bikes.

Pack a Picnic

One of the added extras that Blue Sky Rides offer is the ‘Pack a Picnic’ vouchers which will get you discounted picnic supplies from the Hahndorf Fruit and Vegetable Market next door.

Pack a Picnics are a great little addition to your day out. There are a variety of fruits, vegetables and delicious snacks you can get from the market, or if you’d prefer you could ask about one of the local restaurants to stop at along your journey. If you feel like bringing something special, you could even bring your own picnic from home, Blue Sky Rides will supply a backpack for you to carry all your picnic needs too.

The pack a picnic option is not available on Sundays or public holidays, and comes with bike hire.

The Hourly Rate

The prices for hiring an electric bike through Blue Sky Bike Hire are as follows:

30 minutes: $20.00
1 hour: $30.00
1.5 hours: $40.00
2 hours: $50.00
Any bikes returned outside of hire time will incur a $10 late fee for every 15 minutes that it is late.

These prices are current as of 21st October 2017, please refer to the website for any possible prices changes

Oh the Places You’ll Go

There are so many amazing places in and around Hahndorf that you can take the electric bikes. Follow the Main Street to Beerenberg Strawberry Farm for some delicious jams, sauces, and strawberry picking. Take a trip to Mylor to see some animals and have a picnic behind the oval. You could even go further out to Woodside for a scenic ride on your way to Melba’s Chocolate Factory.

There are a myriad of things to do and places to see around the Adelaide Hills.

The Bikes

We had so much fun with this one and tried out as much as possible to get a good idea of what this electric bike hire is all about. There are two kinds of bikes to use.

One bike is a lot like a scooter where as the other is more like a push bike with pedal assist. The bikes are great fun to take out and both are simple to use.

The pedal assist electric bikes are great for an adventure while also getting a bit more exercise. On these bikes you still need to pedal, but as soon as you start moving, it feels like you have someone pushing you along, which makes going up hills a lot easier.

Exploring the countryside is easy on the scooter style bikes, just sit down, twist the throttle, and your on your way. We were able to cruise down the main street of Handorf at around 30km/h, which is a perfect speed to feel a nice breeze on your skin as you zip through the picturesque Adelaide Hills.

Both are extremely fun, easy to use and are our new favourite way of exploring the Adelaide Hills.

In Conclusion

If you’re looking for a fun day out in the Adelaide Hills, hiring an electric bike with Blue Sky Rides is certainly a great way to go. You’ll get to explore the area and benefit from the specialist knowledge from these local ladies. If you’re looking for anymore information or would like to make a booking, you can visit www.blueskyrides.com.au or call them on 0438 746 307.

Do you have any other local businesses you think we should try out? Leave us a comment or message us through our contact page. We love to hear from our readers about businesses, events, and fun places to go.

While Blue Sky Rides invited us out to try out their electric bikes, we were not paid for this post. All opinions on the business were formed on the genuine fun we had using their electric bikes and exploring Hahndorf.