Need to buy some mountain Bikes to rent out ....

[Gord2]

Need some advice as not really into Bicycles, well I enjoy riding, but don't know much about the makes etc.


We have just bought a small hotel in France, and there is outstanding local area to cycle in so we want to buy approx 6 bikes to rent out. Probably 3 gents and 3 ladies.

Our budget is not great, maybe £100-150 each

I see Halfords have a bunch of mountain bikes under £100 at :

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Are these any good, or do you chaps in the know have any other thoughts?

[CraigVmax]

I bought a £90 halfords mountain bike, I dont ride much so fine for me.

Its quite heavy and I wouldnt want to do any serious offroading in it but for general riding and up kerbs, on grass etc its fine.

[IroningMan]

Rental bikes need to be robust and reliable - I'm not sure £150 will get you either of those things.

[ad551]

Check out what is available in Decathlon.

Do you expect your guests to be riding off road? If so, the real cheap ones won't last so long: http://road.cc/content/feature/12692-scrapheap-cha...

[Roman]

Buy some Btwins from your nearest Decathlon store in France - better quality, aftercare and closer to your business for transporting and servicing:

http://www.decathlon.fr/tous-les-vtt-vtt.html

[Mars]

Another vite for Btwin. One of my cycling buddies has one - it looks bomb-proof.

[snotrag]

Your setting yourself up for a whole world of pain by renting out £150 bikes I'm afraid.

Also bear i'n mind that as a starter you'd need three different sizes of each. So thsts your 3 up to 9?

[Mars]

snotrag said:

Your setting yourself up for a whole world of pain by renting out £150 bikes I'm afraid.

Also bear i'n mind that as a starter you'd need three different sizes of each. So thsts your 3 up to 9?

You say that but the bikes available for rent at KeyCamp and EuroCamp sites are a mixture of makes, sizes, condition, etc, which seems to be more to do with whatever was available for donation rather than a concerted effort to buy something useful, and yet they are all gone by lunchtime when the weather's good.

[Gnarlybluesurf]

Another vote for Decathlon the cheapest ones will do you grand, I'd be sure to learn how to repair a tyre too (look up on youtube lots of "how too" videos as there will probably be lots of punctures over the summer hire.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/leisure-mtb-3964962/

[smifffymoto]

I thought of this idea too for my campsite but decided against it because of the serviceing etc. also the local geography is somewhat challenging.

Where in France is your hotel,put the web link in your profile.

[Gord2]

The Hotel is in The Dordogne. I have added a link on my profile page We've not yet signed the contract yet, but its due any day now, plan is to take it over end September.

[SteveS Cup]

£150 per bike for 6... I'd rather buy 2 decent bikes and add to them... Is your hotel aimed at couples? Families?

[Mars]

SteveS Cup said:

£150 per bike for 6... I'd rather buy 2 decent bikes and add to them... Is your hotel aimed at couples? Families?

I think if people really cared that much, they'd bring their own bikes. Financially it makes more sense to buy strong cheap bikes (don't worry about "light"), surely?

[mk1fan]

You'll want simple, reliable bikes. Forget about suspension or disc brakes as at this price point any system will be arwful.

You say you know nothing about bikes so how do you know what type of bike to buy? What sort of riding are you expecting people to do? How are you going to maintain them?

Sounds like you need to prepare more about the service you want to provide - liabilities, insurances etc....

Very simple idea that could easily end up being a huge headache for the ill prepared.

Decathalon do have a very good range of 'cheap bikes'.

[smifffymoto]

Another thing to consider is how much time you will have or won't have for tweaking faulty bikes.

Customers can be very demanding when things aren't going how they expect/want.
You could very well be making a rod for your own back.

[Gargamel]

mk1fan said:

You'll want simple, reliable bikes. Forget about suspension or disc brakes as at this price point any system will be arwful.

You say you know nothing about bikes so how do you know what type of bike to buy? What sort of riding are you expecting people to do? How are you going to maintain them?

Sounds like you need to prepare more about the service you want to provide - liabilities, insurances etc....

Very simple idea that could easily end up being a huge headache for the ill prepared.

Decathalon do have a very good range of 'cheap bikes'.

You are thinking like an englishman. This is France, people are on holiday.

You open the shed, take the bike out, go for a nice ride in the sunshine and come home again.

[paulrockliffe]

Gargamel said:

You are thinking like an englishman. This is France, people are on holiday.

You open the shed, take the bike out, go for a nice ride in the sunshine and come home again.

This. I'd spend a bit more though, I think once you're in the £200 to £300 region you'll have a much better experience on offer. I ride a lot, but often go on holidays where it isn't practical to take a bike with me, for someone like me I'd probably use your £100 bike once or your £2-300 bike every other day.

Don't get ladies bikes, they're fine on mens bikes so long as you have a suitable range of sizes. You're wasting your sizing/budget going for sex-specific kit. Also, make sure you are able to recop the cost of the bike somehow if someone takes it out, checks out and drives off into the sunset.....

[smifffymoto]

Talking with Mrs smifffymoto about this and think "Dutch shopping "type bikes would be ideal,strong,reliable,baskets for the pic nic,child seat friendley,unisex.

[CraigVmax]

on that ilk i just got one of these cheap off a mate, great bike for what it is etc

[Gooby]

Wouldnt a hybrid be a better option? Rugged enough to deal with a little rough stuff, light enough to be easy (easier) to ride, less expensive components (mostly). You lend someone a mountain bike and you imply that you should go mounain biking. It will shorten the life span of a cheap bike.