eBike rental business.., worth a go?
Discussion
First post for a while... apologies!
As semi retirement beckons - along with a relocation to a picturesque part of South Devon, I’m thinking of ways to make a few quid and to distract me from buying more cars lol.
One idea is e-bike rental. The outline plan would be to market through caravan / camp sites etc (as well as a simple web presence) but crucially we would provide a delivery service.
The logic there being that as a customer I wouldn’t want to drive somewhere and then have to work out either what to do with the car or how to get the bike in the car!
Initial research suggests there is some competition within 20 miles of our likely location, but patchy. Of course this could be because there’s no demand.... or it could be that it’s still an emerging market.
The seasonal aspect doesn’t worry me and I can see no reason why the business shouldn’t be scaleable. I’m also happy that we are able to ensure the legal / insurance aspects are adequately covered.
So, your thoughts ladies and gents?
As semi retirement beckons - along with a relocation to a picturesque part of South Devon, I’m thinking of ways to make a few quid and to distract me from buying more cars lol.
One idea is e-bike rental. The outline plan would be to market through caravan / camp sites etc (as well as a simple web presence) but crucially we would provide a delivery service.
The logic there being that as a customer I wouldn’t want to drive somewhere and then have to work out either what to do with the car or how to get the bike in the car!
Initial research suggests there is some competition within 20 miles of our likely location, but patchy. Of course this could be because there’s no demand.... or it could be that it’s still an emerging market.
The seasonal aspect doesn’t worry me and I can see no reason why the business shouldn’t be scaleable. I’m also happy that we are able to ensure the legal / insurance aspects are adequately covered.
So, your thoughts ladies and gents?
Big set up costs- you’ll need plenty of bikes helmets and a store or location to keep them.
Given lots of cities already have the Boris bike setup you’d be getting into a crowded market. E bike being a little different. It none the less congested
To me it’s big entry cost and really what is the size of the market.
Given lots of cities already have the Boris bike setup you’d be getting into a crowded market. E bike being a little different. It none the less congested
To me it’s big entry cost and really what is the size of the market.
Maintenance of the bikes will be key. Don’t fool
Yourself about how much time and money this can take. I’m a keen MTBer (see below) and need to replace the drivetrains at c£500 a time every 1500 miles max.
E-bikes have a wide spread of cost, lifecycle and battery life (both as a daily use and recharge)
Factor that in and see how it goes.
Over here I have a small stake in a MTB rental business and it’s hard work. We rent out mid-quality MTBs and e-bikes to holidaymakers. Most complain that our decent spec, well maintained bikes are 2-3 times dearer than the bloke down the road renting pig iron 1970s bikes that haven’t seen lube since 1980 let alone any other sort of basic stuff.
People are good at damaging them too not cosmetic damage just poor riding killing chains and gears in no time.
Yourself about how much time and money this can take. I’m a keen MTBer (see below) and need to replace the drivetrains at c£500 a time every 1500 miles max.
E-bikes have a wide spread of cost, lifecycle and battery life (both as a daily use and recharge)
Factor that in and see how it goes.
Over here I have a small stake in a MTB rental business and it’s hard work. We rent out mid-quality MTBs and e-bikes to holidaymakers. Most complain that our decent spec, well maintained bikes are 2-3 times dearer than the bloke down the road renting pig iron 1970s bikes that haven’t seen lube since 1980 let alone any other sort of basic stuff.
People are good at damaging them too not cosmetic damage just poor riding killing chains and gears in no time.
Keoparakolo said:
Maintenance of the bikes will be key. Don’t fool
Yourself about how much time and money this can take. I’m a keen MTBer (see below) and need to replace the drivetrains at c£500 a time every 1500 miles max.
E-bikes have a wide spread of cost, lifecycle and battery life (both as a daily use and recharge)
Factor that in and see how it goes.
Over here I have a small stake in a MTB rental business and it’s hard work. We rent out mid-quality MTBs and e-bikes to holidaymakers. Most complain that our decent spec, well maintained bikes are 2-3 times dearer than the bloke down the road renting pig iron 1970s bikes that haven’t seen lube since 1980 let alone any other sort of basic stuff.
People are good at damaging them too not cosmetic damage just poor riding killing chains and gears in no time.
Sounds like you're in the wrong job with the wrong attitude, no wonder people complain to you.Yourself about how much time and money this can take. I’m a keen MTBer (see below) and need to replace the drivetrains at c£500 a time every 1500 miles max.
E-bikes have a wide spread of cost, lifecycle and battery life (both as a daily use and recharge)
Factor that in and see how it goes.
Over here I have a small stake in a MTB rental business and it’s hard work. We rent out mid-quality MTBs and e-bikes to holidaymakers. Most complain that our decent spec, well maintained bikes are 2-3 times dearer than the bloke down the road renting pig iron 1970s bikes that haven’t seen lube since 1980 let alone any other sort of basic stuff.
People are good at damaging them too not cosmetic damage just poor riding killing chains and gears in no time.
I've rented e-bikes for myself and the family quite a few times for biking around the mountains in the Giffre Valley area.
Fat e-bikes are a big thing around there - very low pressure in the tyres and with electric assistance, they really are pretty much go-anywhere machines.
Talking to the owner of the shop, what they do is buy brand new bikes every few months, tape them up to protect the main areas of the frame which would otherwise get scratched/damaged.
They buy in-bulk so get a nice discount from the manufacturer. They then sell them few months old. Because of the discount they achieve up-front, and because the bikes cosmetically look in good condition due to the protective tape (which is then removed prior to sale) the depreciation is minimal. And they always have pretty much new machines, which is a good selling point.
Another point to consider is adding a guiding service. Lots of people are experts bikers, but personally I like having a guide to show us the best runs, the nicest views etc. It also means I don't have to worry about reading a map - we can just concentrate on enjoying the time on the bikes.
TBH I'm not sure if that is as relevant in Devon as it is in the alps, but I thought I would mention it.
Fat e-bikes are a big thing around there - very low pressure in the tyres and with electric assistance, they really are pretty much go-anywhere machines.
Talking to the owner of the shop, what they do is buy brand new bikes every few months, tape them up to protect the main areas of the frame which would otherwise get scratched/damaged.
They buy in-bulk so get a nice discount from the manufacturer. They then sell them few months old. Because of the discount they achieve up-front, and because the bikes cosmetically look in good condition due to the protective tape (which is then removed prior to sale) the depreciation is minimal. And they always have pretty much new machines, which is a good selling point.
Another point to consider is adding a guiding service. Lots of people are experts bikers, but personally I like having a guide to show us the best runs, the nicest views etc. It also means I don't have to worry about reading a map - we can just concentrate on enjoying the time on the bikes.
TBH I'm not sure if that is as relevant in Devon as it is in the alps, but I thought I would mention it.
johnwilliams77 said:
Sounds like you're in the wrong job with the wrong attitude, no wonder people complain to you.
Firstly the OP asked for advice and I thought I’d give him some of the reality. There’s a lot more too. Secondly, nobody complains to me. I don’t work in the business I simply have a small stake in it. I just see the aftermath when picking up a bike to ride myself.
I'm an ebike rider but take an interest in the ebike hire around the areas I ride
Glentress(MTB park) full suss ebike £80 a day
Aviemore hard tail ebike £40 a day
Kirroughtree (MTB park) hard tail ebike £30 half day, Full suss ebike £45
Mikes bikes in Aviemore do a weekly guided tour in the Summer. 3 hours- £50-60 IIRC
Glentress(MTB park) full suss ebike £80 a day
Aviemore hard tail ebike £40 a day
Kirroughtree (MTB park) hard tail ebike £30 half day, Full suss ebike £45
Mikes bikes in Aviemore do a weekly guided tour in the Summer. 3 hours- £50-60 IIRC
Location is key here. Do people want to ride ebikes there? In places where there is an mtb route (like Dalby forest https://www.dalbyforestcyclehub.co.uk/) it can work well
It works well in Majorca
Would it work well in a hilly, narrow but busy road area with no ‘reason’ to cycle: like some parts of south Devon
Less likely imo
It works well in Majorca
Would it work well in a hilly, narrow but busy road area with no ‘reason’ to cycle: like some parts of south Devon
Less likely imo
Have a look at this website:
https://www.forestleisurecycling.co.uk/
These guys seem to know what they're doing - admittedly they're in a great spot to take advantage of tourists; but they seem to be very good a turning their stock like mentioned in the post above; their second hand bikes always seem to sell well.
I think you'd need to be swapping the stock out every 3/6 months so the fleet remains current and the depreciation/recon is minimal.
https://www.forestleisurecycling.co.uk/
These guys seem to know what they're doing - admittedly they're in a great spot to take advantage of tourists; but they seem to be very good a turning their stock like mentioned in the post above; their second hand bikes always seem to sell well.
I think you'd need to be swapping the stock out every 3/6 months so the fleet remains current and the depreciation/recon is minimal.
H6CJF said:
First post for a while... apologies!
As semi retirement beckons - along with a relocation to a picturesque part of South Devon, I’m thinking of ways to make a few quid and to distract me from buying more cars lol.
One idea is e-bike rental. The outline plan would be to market through caravan / camp sites etc (as well as a simple web presence) but crucially we would provide a delivery service.
The logic there being that as a customer I wouldn’t want to drive somewhere and then have to work out either what to do with the car or how to get the bike in the car!
Initial research suggests there is some competition within 20 miles of our likely location, but patchy. Of course this could be because there’s no demand.... or it could be that it’s still an emerging market.
The seasonal aspect doesn’t worry me and I can see no reason why the business shouldn’t be scale-able. I’m also happy that we are able to ensure the legal / insurance aspects are adequately covered.
So, your thoughts ladies and gents?
I'm based in East Devon, (near Honiton) and do a bit of cycling locally. We've done a lot of the nearby family-centric cycle rides, so I might be of use to you. If you're looking at renting to campsites, I guess you're looking at MTB or commuter style bikes, rather than road bikes, right?As semi retirement beckons - along with a relocation to a picturesque part of South Devon, I’m thinking of ways to make a few quid and to distract me from buying more cars lol.
One idea is e-bike rental. The outline plan would be to market through caravan / camp sites etc (as well as a simple web presence) but crucially we would provide a delivery service.
The logic there being that as a customer I wouldn’t want to drive somewhere and then have to work out either what to do with the car or how to get the bike in the car!
Initial research suggests there is some competition within 20 miles of our likely location, but patchy. Of course this could be because there’s no demand.... or it could be that it’s still an emerging market.
The seasonal aspect doesn’t worry me and I can see no reason why the business shouldn’t be scale-able. I’m also happy that we are able to ensure the legal / insurance aspects are adequately covered.
So, your thoughts ladies and gents?
matc said:
Have a look at this website:
https://www.forestleisurecycling.co.uk/
These guys seem to know what they're doing - admittedly they're in a great spot to take advantage of tourists; but they seem to be very good a turning their stock like mentioned in the post above; their second hand bikes always seem to sell well.
I think you'd need to be swapping the stock out every 3/6 months so the fleet remains current and the depreciation/recon is minimal.
Thanks for the link and I think your comments are spot on... https://www.forestleisurecycling.co.uk/
These guys seem to know what they're doing - admittedly they're in a great spot to take advantage of tourists; but they seem to be very good a turning their stock like mentioned in the post above; their second hand bikes always seem to sell well.
I think you'd need to be swapping the stock out every 3/6 months so the fleet remains current and the depreciation/recon is minimal.
Devon based (north) and a holiday based business owner here, plus an ebike user.
Ive thought about buying 2/3 and renting them out to my holiday makers as an extra, issue is, i think, only having 2/3 properties they would sit unused 80% of the time.
Obviously I could rent them out to the million local cottages/campsites but would then need more bikes, kids bikes, more storage, a van etc.
So Im in the middle ground of being too small or to big to make it work with no middle ground I can see working.
Ive thought about buying 2/3 and renting them out to my holiday makers as an extra, issue is, i think, only having 2/3 properties they would sit unused 80% of the time.
Obviously I could rent them out to the million local cottages/campsites but would then need more bikes, kids bikes, more storage, a van etc.
So Im in the middle ground of being too small or to big to make it work with no middle ground I can see working.
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