It’s one thing to see Galveston from the window of your car or tour bus as you creep along Seawall Boulevard. It’s a wholly different experience to see the island atop a bicycle. There’s a reason why bicyclists are a common sight in Galveston. Two-wheeled transport is undoubtedly the best way to take in all of the historic landmarks and curiosities, while also allowing you to stop, eat lunch and stroll into a shop or two. For the past 25 years, the folks at the Island Bicycle Company have been providing visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with Galveston.
Jeff Nielsen of Island Bicycle Company
Owner Jeff Nielsen said the shop, located at 1808 Seawall Blvd., not only rents bikes for hourly use, but also sells a variety of bikes, cycling accessories and other recreational equipment. They also rent surf boards, boogi boards, kayaks and even metal detectors. But he says the shop has earned a reputation as the bicycle bell headquarters of Texas.
“We’ve become famous for our selection of over 500 bells,” Nielsen says proudly. “We also carry over 200 different kinds of bicycle baskets.”
While accessories help pay the bills, Island Bicycle’s self guided tours have become a major attraction for visitors. Nielsen says the shop once offered guided tours, but discontinued those a few years ago because more customers were looking for privacy and freedom as they explored the island.
“We use basically the same route now for our self guided tours as we did for the guided ones. We have a map printed out and it usually takes people about four hours to complete it. Most people don’t realize how small the island is and how easy it is to have access on a bike,” he said.
Nielsen says the self guided tours, utilizing comfortable, single-speed beach cruiser models, differ drastically from guided tours in that visitors get a chance to stop, read historical markers, take pictures or simply admire the sights, while guided tours can often feel rushed.
“My philosophy on a lot of guided tours is that they are rush, rush, rush because they’ve got to get back to make more money,” Nielsen says. “We have a flat fee for the tour, so if somebody rents a bike at 9 a.m. they don’t have to be back until 6 p.m. We do that to allow them to go back on the route and see things that interest them.”
One of the biggest attractions of the tours is the four-mile, 40-minute round trip excursion to the Bolivar Peninsula and back aboard the Galveston Ferry. Nielsen says he added the trip to the route as an afterthought, but it’s become one of the major draws. “It’s a piece of untouched tourism that no one thought was tourism,” he smiles.” Most people come back and rave about the ferry ride. A lot of people just thought it was something used by cars to get from point A to point B.”
The tour route, developed by Nielsen, begins on the beach front and continues through the historical district where Mardi Gras is centered and goes through downtown and to the port area. It takes riders from the front side of the island to the bay side and past numerous historical homes and structures. Nielsen also includes some lunch dining tips so riders can grab a bite at hot spots frequented by locals. The total length of the route is roughly seven miles, but riders can add about four more miles to it if they choose.
“I think what people really love about the tours is that they can take their time, get off the bike and look at and touch things. If they want to go shopping, they can lock up the bike and if they buy something, they can carry it back in the basket.”
Nielsen says even if you haven’t ridden a bike since your middle school days, don’t worry. With the beach cruisers, you don’t have to concern yourself with changing gears or wondering if your back is going to hold up to being bent over for hours. The simple design and upright sitting position make taking in the island in all its glory extraordinarily easy.
Island Bicycle Company provides tours year-round. Nielsen says their busiest seasons are from March through April and May through September.
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