Pocono Biking

Scenic bike train review:

- call ahead of time for accurate timing (online says 9, but in person their latest sign says 9:30)
- Be prepared for the train to leave ON TIME
- you can bring your own bike or rent one of theirs (you get fitted very quickly)
- it's an all or nothing event - you cannot get dropped off half way or go back on the train if you don't ride it back
- I'd pack a lighter lunch to make a pitstop rest to eat, but if you don't bring a full lunch MAKE SURE YOU BRING SNACKS + FLUIDS
(There is Renee's cold cut but but you need to find her before the train ride to get the food so I think it's easier to bring your own)

Train ride - I'd recommend sitting on the right to see more things, every window is open so you get a nice breeze and less Covid concerns, the conductor is informative, everyone is very friendly, you don't see any crazy interesting things but it's a nice outdoors experience

Trek bike rental - very quick to get situated with a bike, and helmets are offered but definitely not needed

Trail - very flat and fairly wide lanes, it's a 2% decline so slightly downhill but you can't stop pedaling and expect to continue downwards, there are mile markers to give you an idea how far you've traveled; feel free to interact with other bikers that are clearly more knowledgeable as everyone is very friendly and can give you tips/tell you how many miles you've traveled/etc.

Stops along the way - there are many opportunities to have picnics at tables or in the grass and random informational/historical signs along the way, there are mini waterfalls and you bike along the water and/or train tracks for many portions of the path

For someone who NEVER bikes, this was long but doable. With multiple breaks it took over 4 hours, and I think would be great if you have no plans for the day and can casually bike the whole event and make stops along the way. I've been more sore playing other sports than this bike ride so even though I was sore it wasn't crazy despite 25 miles sounding very intensive. Interested in checking out the white water rafting in the future

Tl:dr - long but doable ride, friendly staff and other bikers, nice casual scenic train ride, wish there was a midway point for those not interested in doing all 25 miles

What an enjoyable day biking! Highly recommend when you visit Jim Thorpe! It was our first time visiting the town and what a sight to see. Their bikes are nice and sturdy and we didn't have any problems with it during our ride. Looking from the front of the train station, if you choose the path to your left, its a smoother less hilly ride. To the right is more mountains and rivers but with little bunny hills, nothing you can't handle. You cant go wrong with either side, although as per the front desk more people opt for the right side. Its a very long trail and you could spend the whole day if you wanted to. We only had an hour and a half to explore before the shop closed so we made the best of it. We both explored both sides of the trail and it was a blast!! Overall, smooth and enjoyable biking experience.

After looking for a bike trip in the region, we stumbled upon the Lehigh Gorge River Trail. We found a competitor, "pocono bike rental," prior to landing on Pocono Biking. After several unanswered calls to the competitor, at the time not aware Pocono Biking existed, we were dumbfounded by the lack of professionalism and downright conceited narcissism offered by Tom W at the competitor.

Then, we found POCONO BIKING.

Pocono Biking is organized, professional, and always has someone ready to answer their phones during business hours who is knowledgable about the services and product they offer, as well as the trail itself. They have a brick-and-mortar storefront and bike rental shop in the heart of Jim Thorpe, PA that is ready to assist you in getting your bikes to you, shuttled to the trailhead if that's your need, and any help needed along the way. As soon as I made the reservation, I immediately received a full confirmation as to what we reserved. The shuttle left on time (that means be on time!) and the bikes were perfect. Not to mention, they have a printed map of the Lehigh Gorge River Trail from top to bottom (and beyond).

Pocono Biking was also reasonably priced (~$30 for the day rental, ~$15-20 for the shuttle) and had a selection of snacks and gear in their bike shop at Jim Thorpe. We had such a great experience, we actually came back 3 weeks later to ride another part of the trail. So glad we found them.

It's important to note that during Fall Foliage (oct/nov), Jim Thorpe gets extremely busy. Traffic getting into the center of town and area parking can be a challenge so definitely recommend getting there early. There's a municipal lot across the street from the bike shop, but it gets full quick.

Staff were super friendly, helpful, and prepared to get us ready for our 25-mile trek along the Lehigh River. They even graciously allowed our golden retriever to ride on the shuttle to our drop off spot. Can't wait to do it again!

We've used Pocono Whitewater for white water rafting in the past & always had great experiences, so we decided to book a biking trip through Pocono Biking (same owners) located in Jim Thorpe. We had to make our reservation via phone. We booked the Lehigh Gorge trail trip, which is a 25 mile bike trip from White Haven to JT. There is a huge parking lot located across the bike shop that you can pay to park at (your car can be parked there for 24 hours). Our bus was due to depart at 10 am, but you have to get there at least 30 minutes prior to sign a waiver & get fitted for a bike (you can bring your own bikes, so you don't incur a rental fee if you just want to use their shuttle service). The employees were pleasant & the bus did leave on time. Masks were required on the bus. The bus took about 40 minutes to get to White Haven. Our bus driver was very safe - we thought this was great & tipped him a few dollars, which he really appreciated. There was a porta potty at the beginning of the trail which was convenient. The 25 mile bike trip is very scenic, there are great views of the Lehigh Gorge & small waterfalls. There are plenty of picnic benches along the trail for you to stop for lunch. The nice thing about the bike trip is that you go at your own pace. When we went on a Friday, we had to turn the bikes back in by 8 pm when they close, but there was plenty of time for us to enjoy the bike ride & not rush back. When we went it was a very hot and humid day - 90 degrees to be exact. I'd recommend you try to book on a day when the weather isn't super humid if you're going in the summer. There were a lot of points of the trail where there was no shade, so it was quite uncomfortable sometimes. I'd recommend if you don't bring your own bike, maybe bring a bicycle cushion if you have one, because our butts were sore the day of & the day after. I'd highly recommend this place & would love to try out the other bike trips they offer.

There are several different bike rental options in Jim Thorpe, and I would absolutely recommend going with Poconos Biking.

Their location is super convenient to the Lehigh Gorge Trail entrance and a parking lot to leave your car. I've only used their hourly rentals, but they are very reasonably priced. You really can't beat it.

In addition to the rentals, they have a full store where you can buy water, sunscreen, snacks, souvenirs and a whole slew of similar things. The gentleman working the store was very friendly and welcoming. The other two guys who helped with bike fittings were very laid back and helpful with the selection process as well.

I went with a mountain bike, but they also have comfort bike options. Of course, you have the option to use their helmets at no additional charge. Their fleet of bikes are Treks, a solid brand that are easily rideable.

They offer a handful of other trips and services but I can only speak to the rentals. As far as the rentals go, they are a win in my book.

Had a great time today, we did the 25 mile bike route. The staff are very friendly, the checkin process was quick and painless. The bike path was nicely maintained. We rented their bikes rather than being our own - so glad we did. It rained a little so the bike was muddy by the time we finished, we just turned in our muddy bikes and they did the rest. The shuttle service left within a minute of their departure time - very punctual!
I am looking forward to coming back next month.

I was so excited to hear about all of the bike trails in Jim Thorpe. We decided on the Lower Gorge 15 mile package including bike rental & shuttle. It was recommended that we book ahead and show up 1/2hour prior to shuttle.
While getting the bike, I noticed that my rear tire was low and asked the attendant to add air. He brushed it off, saying it was ok.
Unfortunately this made my ride much slower. And as a safety measure it's seems that a helmet should be included, but they charge an extra $5 for one.
I grabbed a seat just behind the shuttle driver and noticed that he was was driving one-handed while checking his cellphone email for a good 15 minutes while driving on a mountain road.
We arrived at the trailhead and saw such beautiful scenery. The bike trail follows the river. Near the end of the ride, beware a fork in the road. We took the wrong turn, thinking it was a shorter and ended up on a very hilly road. I tried to call the bike shop for help, but no one answered. Luckily a friend was available to pick us up and take us back to the bike rental. Upon our return , I relayed our problems to the check in gal, and it fell on deaf ears. Just doesn't seem to be any concern for the customer.

We used Pocono biking for renting bikes and the shuttle to White Haven. We had a great experience and no issues with our bikes. It's a beautiful and easy bike ride.

Very pleasant experience with renting bikes from this outfitter in White Haven. Bikes were in great condition and the maintenance person helped us get situated on our bikes. Took the Lehigh Gorge trail 26 miles down to Jim Thorpe where we dropped them off at their other location. The young man taking bikes back gave us some recommendations about the area while we waited to get the shuttle bus back. All staff were wearing masks. Don't confuse this outfitter with Pocono Bike Rental (steer clear of that one!!).