Help with kitting out a chalet for Mountain Bikers!
Discussion
I have a chalet in the french alps, beside Morzine. Plenty of downhill trails and parks for bikers.
I rent it out in the Winter, and am full all season, my summer rentals though are not great.
I would like to kit it out fully for bikers, but would like your expertise as to what a group on a biking holiday would require as essentials.
I have an outside tap for cleaning, but that is about it at the moment.
Would MTB'ers see a secure shed for the bikes as a must? Or are they happy to lock them in the car or van?
Any suggestions would be gratefully received!
Thanks
Max
I rent it out in the Winter, and am full all season, my summer rentals though are not great.
I would like to kit it out fully for bikers, but would like your expertise as to what a group on a biking holiday would require as essentials.
I have an outside tap for cleaning, but that is about it at the moment.
Would MTB'ers see a secure shed for the bikes as a must? Or are they happy to lock them in the car or van?
Any suggestions would be gratefully received!
Thanks
Max
Hi Max
Secure bike storage is an absolute must have - I've been to Morzine a good few times riding and I promise you if you're listing doesn't mention it, you wouldn't get an enquiry from us. Bikes do get stolen all the time in the Alps and having 'lock it up in your car' as an option rules out the people who fly down.
Are you planning to offer a catered shared chalet offering or just rent the whole place out self-catering?
Anyway:
Secure Storage
A Bike stand and tools is nice - most riders will want / have to tweak their bike or make running repairs at least once on a week's riding and tools are a bulky and heavy nightmare to transport.
A hose is good if the pressure is Ok, a pressure washer is better with a couple of brushes.
hot tub, I don't like them, but all the best chalets seem to have them so I assume others do - personally the idea of taking a bath with your mates doesn't really appeal and they just make bruises worse and cuts / grazes sting, but hey ho.
Secure bike storage is an absolute must have - I've been to Morzine a good few times riding and I promise you if you're listing doesn't mention it, you wouldn't get an enquiry from us. Bikes do get stolen all the time in the Alps and having 'lock it up in your car' as an option rules out the people who fly down.
Are you planning to offer a catered shared chalet offering or just rent the whole place out self-catering?
Anyway:
Secure Storage
A Bike stand and tools is nice - most riders will want / have to tweak their bike or make running repairs at least once on a week's riding and tools are a bulky and heavy nightmare to transport.
A hose is good if the pressure is Ok, a pressure washer is better with a couple of brushes.
hot tub, I don't like them, but all the best chalets seem to have them so I assume others do - personally the idea of taking a bath with your mates doesn't really appeal and they just make bruises worse and cuts / grazes sting, but hey ho.
The difference with bikers vs skiers is that skiers might come back wet but bikers may come back wet AND muddy so you need:
- Bike cleaning area.
- Access to a washing machine (if it's wet everyday for a week then kit is likely to need washing at some point).
- Secure bike storage.
- A decent drying room for kit (presumably you already have this for skiers).
- Trail maps available in the chalet.
- Deals with local bike shop/biking guides for discounts for your customers.
Celtic Dragon said:
Once you have your website up and running, drop me the url and I can ask a couple of people to have a look at it and pass their ideas on.
Thanks!I suppose that is the next thing to do, at the moment I have a local french agent who does my rentals, the winter is fine as every week I am not there it is full. They don't seem to have cottoned on to the summer market though. I will take some pictures next time I am out and put together a comprehensive website.
I was just thinking that not having storage or other bits may be putting people off.
Any other bits that would be useful?
I can only offer you suggestions based upon long weekend rides mainly in Wales and all off the top of my head.
On site:
Secure bike storage - pretty much essential, the more 'secure' the better, advertises well.
Bike cleaning - a hose, a sponge, a brush, all very helpful.
A dry room - somewhere to stick your wet & muddy boots & shorts is good.
A kitchen - we use the kitchen just for breakfast duties, it makes the early morning starts easier.
A BBQ area - a great bonus, especially if you can offer a 'meat package' add on for post-ride convenience!
Off site:
Local food - mention the local restaurants for evening food or can you offer food?
Local beer - I personally wouldn't stay somewhere without a local pub but would possibly be interested in a 'beer package', again for convenience...
I've never used one but I would imagine it would also be beneficial to advertise the services of guides in the area.
On site:
Secure bike storage - pretty much essential, the more 'secure' the better, advertises well.
Bike cleaning - a hose, a sponge, a brush, all very helpful.
A dry room - somewhere to stick your wet & muddy boots & shorts is good.
A kitchen - we use the kitchen just for breakfast duties, it makes the early morning starts easier.
A BBQ area - a great bonus, especially if you can offer a 'meat package' add on for post-ride convenience!
Off site:
Local food - mention the local restaurants for evening food or can you offer food?
Local beer - I personally wouldn't stay somewhere without a local pub but would possibly be interested in a 'beer package', again for convenience...
I've never used one but I would imagine it would also be beneficial to advertise the services of guides in the area.
P-Jay said:
Hi Max
Secure bike storage is an absolute must have - I've been to Morzine a good few times riding and I promise you if you're listing doesn't mention it, you wouldn't get an enquiry from us. Bikes do get stolen all the time in the Alps and having 'lock it up in your car' as an option rules out the people who fly down.
Are you planning to offer a catered shared chalet offering or just rent the whole place out self-catering?
Anyway:
Secure Storage
A Bike stand and tools is nice - most riders will want / have to tweak their bike or make running repairs at least once on a week's riding and tools are a bulky and heavy nightmare to transport.
A hose is good if the pressure is Ok, a pressure washer is better with a couple of brushes.
hot tub, I don't like them, but all the best chalets seem to have them so I assume others do - personally the idea of taking a bath with your mates doesn't really appeal and they just make bruises worse and cuts / grazes sting, but hey ho.
The Chalet is self catering, sleeps 8-10 in comfort. I have an agent locally who sorts any issues if need be.Secure bike storage is an absolute must have - I've been to Morzine a good few times riding and I promise you if you're listing doesn't mention it, you wouldn't get an enquiry from us. Bikes do get stolen all the time in the Alps and having 'lock it up in your car' as an option rules out the people who fly down.
Are you planning to offer a catered shared chalet offering or just rent the whole place out self-catering?
Anyway:
Secure Storage
A Bike stand and tools is nice - most riders will want / have to tweak their bike or make running repairs at least once on a week's riding and tools are a bulky and heavy nightmare to transport.
A hose is good if the pressure is Ok, a pressure washer is better with a couple of brushes.
hot tub, I don't like them, but all the best chalets seem to have them so I assume others do - personally the idea of taking a bath with your mates doesn't really appeal and they just make bruises worse and cuts / grazes sting, but hey ho.
I presume you can buy a heavy duty basic stand fairly reasonably, tools are a bit of an issue as they may 'walk'. I presume most who bring their own bike will be kitted out to repair them anyway. I will have a think about this though.
Water pressure is fine, a pressure washer just needs one person too abuse it.....
I dont have a hot tub, not being on site leaves the potential for disaster, i.e 'Wouldn't it be funny to put bubble bath in here...' also broken glass etc in it could lead to injurys. (Also I am not a fan, so wouldn't use it!)
ewenm said:
The difference with bikers vs skiers is that skiers might come back wet but bikers may come back wet AND muddy so you need:
Bike cleaning area, I have a tarmac drive, so no problems there.- Bike cleaning area.
- Access to a washing machine (if it's wet everyday for a week then kit is likely to need washing at some point).
- Secure bike storage.
- A decent drying room for kit (presumably you already have this for skiers).
- Trail maps available in the chalet.
- Deals with local bike shop/biking guides for discounts for your customers.
There is a washer and a dryer for guests and a drying area so that is covered.
Would a shed with a lock suffice for bike storage?
There is a gagage, but it has my French mass murderers car in it and our kit, so I don't really want to give access to that.
CocoUK said:
I can only offer you suggestions based upon long weekend rides mainly in Wales and all off the top of my head.
On site:
Secure bike storage - pretty much essential, the more 'secure' the better, advertises well.
Bike cleaning - a hose, a sponge, a brush, all very helpful.
A dry room - somewhere to stick your wet & muddy boots & shorts is good.
A kitchen - we use the kitchen just for breakfast duties, it makes the early morning starts easier.
A BBQ area - a great bonus, especially if you can offer a 'meat package' add on for post-ride convenience!
Off site:
Local food - mention the local restaurants for evening food or can you offer food?
Local beer - I personally wouldn't stay somewhere without a local pub but would possibly be interested in a 'beer package', again for convenience...
I've never used one but I would imagine it would also be beneficial to advertise the services of guides in the area.
It has a kitchen! also bathrooms and bedrooms.....On site:
Secure bike storage - pretty much essential, the more 'secure' the better, advertises well.
Bike cleaning - a hose, a sponge, a brush, all very helpful.
A dry room - somewhere to stick your wet & muddy boots & shorts is good.
A kitchen - we use the kitchen just for breakfast duties, it makes the early morning starts easier.
A BBQ area - a great bonus, especially if you can offer a 'meat package' add on for post-ride convenience!
Off site:
Local food - mention the local restaurants for evening food or can you offer food?
Local beer - I personally wouldn't stay somewhere without a local pub but would possibly be interested in a 'beer package', again for convenience...
I've never used one but I would imagine it would also be beneficial to advertise the services of guides in the area.
BBQ area and small garden too.
OscarIndia said:
Would a shed with a lock suffice for bike storage?
It has to be somewhere you'd be happy to leave several thousand pounds worth of kit. It also needs to be set up so that if one bike is put in first you can still get that bike out easily when other bikes are in the shed as not every rider will arrive or leave at the same time. So a big secure shed with a bike rack inside it (the bikes can then be individually locked to the rack too) with enough room to move the bikes around, and with access for each guest.A track pump and workstand would be useful (and both can be chained down!).
Morzine is easier to get around to the rest of the PdS...
I think everyone has pretty much summed everything up.
I use the morzine resa service so if you get everything in the ad you will do better.
It may be that you need to advertise through single track world, dirt etc and it depends on what you offer and how much involvement you have. Self catered, catered etc....
you probably know the operators in the area you can study.
I think everyone has pretty much summed everything up.
I use the morzine resa service so if you get everything in the ad you will do better.
It may be that you need to advertise through single track world, dirt etc and it depends on what you offer and how much involvement you have. Self catered, catered etc....
you probably know the operators in the area you can study.
OscarIndia said:
We Have ahd the Chalet for 3 years, it is actually in Les Gets, which is the next village, but all linked in for the trails and skiing. Although in my mind the links are actually better than form Morzine centre.
For Mountain Biking Morzine / les Gets are "much of a muchness" when it comes to a place to rest your head to most people I think - the riding in Les Gets is slightly better IMO, you've got the bike park and good trails either side of the valley, whereas Morzine is slap-bang between les Gets and Chatel so is more central and has the cooler bars for nightlife. But when it comes to the riding it's no big thing, Morzine is a quick ride up the lift and descent down the Pleney side, it's a trip you'd do for fun if it didn't lead anywhere and it's not unusual for a day out riding to involve say a couple of runs on the bike park in Les Gets, a couple of runs down the Pleney side, have lunch in Morzine and head over to Chatel bike park in the afternoon before a triple lift/descent run home, it's easier to cover big distances like that on an MTB.
Edited by P-Jay on Tuesday 30th July 13:55
From staying in places in wales than seemed about perfect for it..
secure, large shed.
outside area for working on the bikes or having a bbq
bike wash area, no pressure washer, just a hose and maybe a brush or two if you're feeling generous
kit washing and drying facilities
an amazing, powerful shower
maps of the trails and directions / recommendations for bike shops and guides
and lastly, a telly + dvd player with a couple of mtb videos e.g. seasons on it
secure, large shed.
outside area for working on the bikes or having a bbq
bike wash area, no pressure washer, just a hose and maybe a brush or two if you're feeling generous
kit washing and drying facilities
an amazing, powerful shower
maps of the trails and directions / recommendations for bike shops and guides
and lastly, a telly + dvd player with a couple of mtb videos e.g. seasons on it
Whenever I go to the Alps (or anywhere) the bikes are always stored in the chalet/apartment (after being thoroughly cleaned).
Absolutely no way are thousands of pounds worth of easy to steal, difficult to insure machinery being stored in a garage or lock up.
Maybe utilise the drying area for bike storage and even incorporate a secure rail or fixings for cable or U locks.
Also - any free trail maps (if available) & locations of nearest supermarket/mini market, bar, restaurant, cashpoint, medical center, local police & bike shop.
Absolutely no way are thousands of pounds worth of easy to steal, difficult to insure machinery being stored in a garage or lock up.
Maybe utilise the drying area for bike storage and even incorporate a secure rail or fixings for cable or U locks.
Also - any free trail maps (if available) & locations of nearest supermarket/mini market, bar, restaurant, cashpoint, medical center, local police & bike shop.
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