Below you will find some frequently asked questions, separated by category. For more information, please contact us.

—– Rentals ———————————–

What is included with a bike rental?

The rental includes the bike you choose and a helmet. A bike lock and repair kit is also included if requested. All of our bikes come with flat pedals, but you can specify other pedal options during checkout. You can also bring your own pedals and shoes if you’d like us to install those.

What is your cancellation policy for rentals?

Payment is required to confirm the booking. Please contact us if you need to cancel. Rental reservations are

 

  • 95% refundable if cancelled 8+ days before booking date.
  • 50% refundable if cancelled 2-7 days before booking date.
  • Not refundable within 48 hours of the booking date.
What do you have for families with younger kids?

We have kids sized rental bikes with 20″ or 24″ wheels that can fit kids down to about 6 years old and 3’8” in height. For smaller children we have trail-a-bikes that can be attached to an adult bike, and pull-behind trailers.

What if the bike I want is not at the shop I will be visiting?

We are generally able to transport a bike between our shops. This does need to be prearranged, and there may be a small fee depending on the method we use to transport the bike. Please contact us at least a week in advance to inquire about bicycle transport.

Can I rent at one shop and return at the other?

Yes, especially for multi-day rentals we do offer the ability to drop of at our other location. We can also transport luggage between shops.

Do I need a reservation?

We generally have bikes available at both our locations for walk-in customers. On busy days, we may run low on bikes, especially between 10am and 2pm. We suggest making a reservation so that you can specify bike type, size, and time frame.

—– Day Tours ———————————–

How difficult are the tours?

Most of our day tours are appropriate for a wide variety of riders of different ability levels. For information on specific tours:

In Skagway, the Rainforest Bicycle Tour and Triple Adventure Tour have the least challenging riding. Both tours involve cycling along a flat dirt road and some gravel paths through the temperate rain forest. These tours are appropriate for most people with some bike riding experience. The Triple Adventure tour is more physically strenuous as it also includes 2 miles of hiking over some steep terrain and a 45-minute to 1-hour raft float in flat water with a guide.

The Klondike Summit to Sea Bicycle Tour and the White Pass Train & Bike Tour in Skagway are mostly downhill, but do require a little pedaling. The ride starts just above tree line at 3292′, on a paved road with many scenic turnouts that is shared with cars, tour busses, and other vehicles. The descent is a 4-7% grade for most of the 14-mile ride, with a few steeper sections, and a few short flat or uphill sections. These tours are suggested for riders with experience sharing the road with other traffic and using hand brakes to control your speed over the long descent.

The Yukon Train and Road Bike is a more strenuous ride recommended for experienced cyclists who want to ride 25+ miles of scenic rolling terrain.

In Haines, the Glacial Fjord Tour is mostly flat along a paved road shared with some other vehicle traffic. There are many pull-outs along the way and one section of rough pavement with potholes. The tour is appropriate for most people for with the ability to ride 10 miles over flat terrain.

The Bike, Hike, and Brew Tour involves about 5 miles of riding around the hilly Haines town site. E-bikes are available for this tour. The tour also involves about 2 miles of hiking over a well-maintained dirt and gravel trail with some hilly sections.

What are the requirements for participating in a tour?

Our tours are suitable for a wide range of abilities, fitness levels, and ages. The minimum age for most of our tour is between 10 and 13, and the minimum height is 4’6″ to ensure we have a bike that will fit. Tours on the Klondike Highway require passports for entry through U.S. and Canadian customs.

What will the weather be like?

We are in a coastal rainforest environment and regularly experience daytime summer temperatures from the mid-50s to the low-70s. Cloudy skies and light rain are common, heavy rain is less common, and thunderstorms are very rare. We operate rain or shine and rarely need to cancel due to weather. We have rain gear, gloves, and hats available for use on tour.

In the case of unusually strong winds, rain, or dense fog, we may cancel all or part of a tour. In these cases, you will receive a refund.

If I’m arriving on a cruise ship, how should I book a tour?

If the tour that you want to do is listed as a shore excursion on the cruise line web site for the port you are visiting, we recommend that you book directly with them. These tours have the most availability; offer additional included transportation to and from the cruise port, and flexible options if you need to alter your schedule once onboard.

If you are interested in a tour that is not offered on our cruise ship, please inquire with us for availability.

What is your cancellation policy for day tours?

Payment is required to confirm the booking. Please contact us if you need to cancel. Day tour reservations are:

  • 95% refundable if cancelled 8+ days before booking date.
  • 50% refundable if cancelled 2-7 days before booking date.
  • Not refundable within 48 of the booking date.

Sockeye Cycle Co. may cancel a tour for any reason, in which case you will receive a full refund. If you plan to visit on a cruise ship that has a change in itinerary, we will re-book you if possible or offer a refund.

Where do we meet for our tour?

If you booked directly through our website or on the phone, the meeting location for tour is at our bike shop. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your tour departure time.

 

Skagway Tours – 381 5th Ave, Skagway, AK

We are located about a 10 minute walk from the cruise docks.

Haines Tours – 24 Portage Dr, Haines, AK

We are less than a 5 minute walk from the docks in Haines.

 

If you booked through your ship’s Shore Excursions department, your tour includes a dock pickup. Check in with your Shore Excursions Agent onboard for further questions.

—– Multi-Day Tours ———————————–

What is included with a multi-day tour?

Our supported multi-day tours include:

  • Experienced local guides
  • Accommodations for all days of travel (camping or hotels, see each tour for specifics)
  • All camping equipment and provisions if needed
  • Three meals and snacks for all tour days, gratuities for restaurant meals included
  • Vehicle transportation and support
  • Luggage transfer
  • Fees and permits for special sites or included experiences
  • Bicycles and helmets if requested, you may also bring your own

Our tours do not include airfare or travel to the arrival and departure points, lodging and meals beyond tour days, trip insurance, alcohol, and guide gratuities. 

Can I bring my own bike on tour?

Yes, generally flying with your bike is cheaper than shipping it to our locations. We are available to assist with assembly and re-boxing, please make arrangements with us in advance if you will need these services.

What bike options do you offer?

For tours on paved roads, we usually use Specialized Sirrus Elite Disc flat-bar hybrid bikes or Trek Domane AL3 Disc road bikes. On unpaved roads, The Trek Dual Sport or Specialized Crosstrail are our most popular options. All tour bikes are outfitted with a light rear rack and trunk bag to carry some supplies.

E-Bikes are also available for some multi-day tours for an additional fee. The Trek Verve+ 3 and Allant+ 7 are two options depending on terrain. Both have the ability to plug in a range extender battery to make sure you make it through the day. E-Bikes are not available on all tours due to a lack of charging options in some remote areas.

What are the accommodations like?

Most tours will mix stays in hotels or B&Bs where available with wilderness camping. We choose lodging that is reputable, local, and comfortable.

Wilderness camping is an integral part of our touring experience, but it does not mean a lack of luxury. Our camping experience offers amenities like bug nets, a dining tent, a portable toilet and shower, and comfortable tents, sleeping pads, and pillows. Single travelers will be paired together in hotels unless single supplement is requested. Tent can be shared among partners or individual upon request at no additional cost.

How difficult are the tours?

For all multi-day tours, guests should be comfortable riding the average daily distance listed. We also list our routes on RideWithGPS.com. Other activities on some tours like kayaking, hiking, or wilderness camping can make these tours a little more strenuous than the mileage may indicate. Our multi-day tours are fully supported by van, and any section may be shuttled in the van. By tour, from least to most strenuous:

The Inside Passage tour is our least strenuous, with lower mileage days and comfortable hotel stays each night. 

Bike Nome includes longer, moderately strenuous riding each day with comfortable hotel stays each night. 

The Golden Circle route contains mostly moderate days with a few more difficult sections. A few nights camping are mixed with comfortable hotel stays.

The Yukon Canoe and Bike has a mix of moderate and more strenuous riding and is primarily wilderness camping, and the river section is in a remote area with minimal road access. The 100 miles canoeing the Yukon River is not difficult, but some recent paddling or rowing experience is suggested. Each canoe pair must have at least one person with moderate paddling experience.

The Canol Road tour has generally lower mileage days, but is our most strenuous trip. This is due to the mixed gravel surface, the mostly short but steep climbs along the route, and the extended wilderness camping involved.

Do you recommend travel insurance?

Travel insurance covers you if you need to cancel for many reasons, including illness. We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance for your protection in the event of trip cancellation, illness, injury or medical evacuation. Travelexinsurance.com is an option that previous guests have recommended.

What is your cancellation policy for multi-day tours?

We require a $500 per person deposit at the time of booking to reserve your space on a tour. The outstanding balance is due 60 days before the tour departure date.

If you need to cancel your reservation, we will determine your refund based on the date we are notified of your cancellation:

  • 60+ days prior to tour departure date: Full refund less $50 per person fee
  • 30 – 59 days prior to departure date: refund of 75% of total tour cost
  • 15 – 29 days prior to departure date: refund of 50% of total tour cost
  • 14 days or less notice: No refund available

Any amount kept by Sockeye Cycle can be used toward a future Sockeye Cycle booking through the end of the following calendar year.