Just wanted to share the positive experience I had renting a 'Trekking – touring bike' from Cycle Classic Tours. https://www.cctbikerental.com/rentals/cannes-bike-rentals/. I hope this is helpful to someone else considering hiring from them.
Prior to hiring it, I couldn't find any reviews of them or details about what they offer. I was suspicious to rent a bike from a random company, but when I got there (Cannes) they were totally legit. The bike was a hybrid and came with a back rack, one pannier, a hand pump, two inner tubes, a very weak front light, a back reflector, two plastic tyre levers, and a choice of thin cable locks or big chain lock. The wheels and saddle were quick release. I attach photos. It said 'Escape' on the crossbar, and had 21 gears and front suspension. The tyres said 35-622 700x35C on them. I think it weighed about 14kg. It cost about £130 for 11 days IIRC, and this was their cheapest bike.
I had tried to ask them in advance over email what the bike came with, so I knew what to bring. They seemed kind of evasive over email, but I think it may have been a language issue. The headquarters seems to be in the Netherlands, and they possibly have country offices who ship the bikes between their different shops. The guy in the shopfront in Cannes said they had a wider range of bikes in his Nice shop, for example.
Anyway, I couldn't get much out of them on email so I just decided to bring everything I might need, so: two panniers, a hand pump, an inner tube, by own allen keys and 15mm wrench, bungee cords, 3 metal tyre levers, elastic bands. They had said I could get a lock there and I was cycling in peak summer (last week) so I shouldn't need lights.
When picking it up in the shop, I was surprised by the pannier and other things so I gave them back to the man, he gave me an extra inner tube and I chose my lock: a feeble little cable lock. Then I put in my deposit of £230 and rode off. The bike gave me no issues at all throughout the journey, no flats, I even took it up some proper hill climbs (500m, 250m, 170m) in the lowest gear. I didn't need my wrench, allen keys, bungee cords, and probably could have left them at the shop if I had asked.
The shop is closed on Sundays so I had to return the bike on a Monday. The guy in there (different one) didn't even inspect the bike, he just handed me a receipt and said my deposit was back in my account. In the event, 6 days later it's actually not been returned, so I need to chase that up.
But other than that, I had a really good experience renting a bike from the genuine company Cycle Classic Tours. Their website doesn't do them any favours, it doesn't give many details and they're not forthcoming on email. But now I know what I get I would definitely use them again, and they have other countries too: Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece.
by Specialist-Sign3532