Saddles & Paddles offers bike, canoe and kayak hire for all the family, from Exeter Quay. They are also a fully functioning bike shop, for sales, accessories and repairs. Located on Exeter’s historic quayside, they are just a 5 minute walk from the city centre.

The shop is easy to reach by foot, bike or by public transport. You can park nearby at the Cathedral & Quay car park or use Exeter’s Park & Ride services.

A Family Day Out

Saddles and Padles specialise in families – for either boat or bike hire, or sales. they have a range of bikes, tag-alongs, child seats and trailers, for children of all ages. The location on Exeter quay offers direct access to both the canal for canoe or kayak hire, but also the traffic free cycle network, connecting to the Exe Estuary Trail, which is the perfect environment for cycling as a family.

The shop offers families fun and affordable activities and our position within the popular historical quayside cellars, surrounded by pubs, cafes and craft workshops, makes the perfect day out.

Dogs are welcome in the shop, and can even go in the canoes! You might even fit a small dog in the baskets on our bikes!

Saddles and Paddles say:-

We are particularly proud of our service and have a loyal following as a result – we love what we do and aim to be as helpful as possible, whatever your needs!

Bikes For Hire And For Sale

The range of hire bikes includes:-

There is also a wide and interesting range of bikes for sale which include mountain bikes, hybrids, road and touring bikes, dutch style basket bikes, cruisers and single speeds.

As a bike service centre, we offer fast, affordable and quality repairs, providing a same day service where possible, with a courtesy bike while yours is being repaired, if needed.

Famous Bikers

Andrei Burton – a world champion Mountain Bike Trials rider (as seen in the Berocca adverts on tv!) is from Exeter and worked for Saddles & Paddles as a mechanic for several years before his career took off.

One of the current weekend staff is a sponsored rider. Harry Mills-Wakley is a semi-professional BMX rider, competing across the country and sponsored by several leading brands. (Harry was recently featured on the front page of Ride UK BMX magazine!)

The Saddles and Paddles Story

Heather Baker, Owner says:-

Saddles & Paddles has been in business at the quay for 25 years but I took over in February 2013 as the new owner. New to business, but not new to Exeter, bikes or boats, I had been working for Devon County Council on cycling projects for nearly ten years and knew the business well, having worked with them in the past. So when it came up for sale, it felt like too good an opportunity to miss!

I have always loved the outdoors and cycling particularly – commuting to work by bike and regularly mountain biking – and taking over the shop has given me an opportunity to share my enthusiasm with customers!

I know the local market extremely well and so was confident in my plans to maximise the potential of the business. I have also done a lot of work to promote family cycling and to enable more women to cycle, which fits perfectly with the shop.