Opinions needed

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Hello everyone!

After being out for a few years mostly because I was stuck in an office job I am coming back to the cycling tour business!

That said I am starting small, very small?
All I am going to be offering is my service as a guide, to make sound even better my English speaking habilitéis and local knowledge of the routes, conditions, water stops and traffic areas (I am good!😊)

The thing is what will you be willing to pay for that sort of service???

I am charging 5€ per hour at the moment per person, I believe is cheap but I am not offering that much besides the listed above. Most people end up giving me more than that, like. 4 hour ride would come up to 20 and they either feel sorry for me or love it so much that give me 50 euros and pay for coffee or beer and tapas.

My question to you is:

What will you pay?
What should I ask?

Thank you and hey!!! If you come ask for the CycleChat discount 😜!

 

[DCLane]

Pablo - I've only had two guided rides, one solo in Montenegro and one group in North Macedonia. The Montenegro guide was 35€ per hour including a bike and the North Macedonia was 70€ for a day's group ride including e-bike. Not sure that'll help but I'd suggest you're pricing yourself a bit low.

What do local / regional competitors offer? What rides do they do and equipment do they include? That should give you some indication.

 

[Psamathe]

Maybe also look at it from the other way around. How much do you need to live? How long is "the season"?, how much are overheads eg advertising, tax, insurance, etc.? How many people do you think you could get for how long for how many days?

Does the expected income give you enough and does it give the same rate per hour?

Ian

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Maybe also look at it from the other way around. How much do you need to live? How long is "the season"?, how much are overheads eg advertising, tax, insurance, etc.? How many people do you think you could get for how long for how many days?

Does the expected income give you enough and does it give the same rate per hour?

Ian

Thanks!

At the moment just a try out. Would love to do it full time but seems a bit unreal.

No clue what the insurance would be, advertising so far on my own on social media.

The good thing is that the season here is very much all year around. I could take someone out now and it will be cold but still enjoyable. Today we had from 10 to 3 or 4 15C and sunny.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Pablo - I've only had two guided rides, one solo in Montenegro and one group in North Macedonia. The Montenegro guide was 35€ per hour including a bike and the North Macedonia was 70€ for a day's group ride including e-bike. Not sure that'll help but I'd suggest you're pricing yourself a bit low.

What do local / regional competitors offer? What rides do they do and equipment do they include? That should give you some indication.

Thanks for answering!

Competition plays at another level!
You can find anything from bike, for not less then 25 a day. (Some include guide some don’t, most don’t or they charge like 50 for both)

I am going cheap sort of on purpose so my name start sounding familiar to cyclists in different places, but I totally understand what you mean.

The rides I offer are based on what people would like, based on time available, distance, elevation and fitness of the person (and mine)

There is always classics routes or epic climbs that people ask for or I suggest.

 

[Drago]

I don't know how liability law and the like works over there, but over here qualifications in nav, group riding, and a proper first aid ticket (something higher than FAAW) are considered desirable to avoid being sued every 3rd Tuesday.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

I don't know how liability law and the like works over there, but over here qualifications in nav, group riding, and a proper first aid ticket (something higher than FAAW) are considered desirable to avoid being sued every 3rd Tuesday.

Understand the point, now you need to understand that this is a project that I am trying out, not going to invest thousands without knowing if it going to work, call me naive but what I am offering is a friend that knows the area and can show you around.

If this has a future I will consider all the legal part of it. Unfortunately society developed into a get rich quick and f””” someone to do it.

So far just a friend that you decide t give some money at the end of the ride for his time.

 

[All uphill]

I've never had a guide, but I like the idea; I'd happily pay a fixed rate of, say, €10 - €20 an hour for someone who will help me with language and navigation.

I'd prefer it to be a bit more formal than you are suggesting- I guess that's a cultural thing.

 

[T4tomo]

U

Have you considered speaking to / advertising with local bike hire places (that offer hire only) to get referrals that way for people new to the area that dont want the faff of route planning and would like some local knowledge

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

I've never had a guide, but I like the idea; I'd happily pay a fixed rate of, say, €10 - €20 an hour for someone who will help me with language and navigation.

I'd prefer it to be a bit more formal than you are suggesting- I guess that's a cultural thing.

Thanks for answering, fair point.

I am sure there are people that offer what you are asking for as well. (Not that they will know what I know or be as fun)🤩

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Have you considered speaking to / advertising with local bike hire places (that offer hire only) to get referrals that way for people new to the area that dont want the faff of route planning and would like some local knowledge

Thanks for the advice!

Haven’t recently, did it before but could be another option.!

 

[brommieinkorea]

Most tour companies I see are so wildly overpriced that I am amazed they stay around at all. A translator and someone who keeps me from getting lost for £5/ hour sounds pretty good. Now, where the heck is Malaga ? Why would someone want to tour there ?

 

[T4tomo]

Now, where the heck is Malaga ? Why would someone want to tour there ?

oh dear.... I hope that's a joke

 

[Drago]

Understand the point, now you need to understand that this is a project that I am trying out, not going to invest thousands without knowing if it going to work, call me naive but what I am offering is a friend that knows the area and can show you around.

If this has a future I will consider all the legal part of it. Unfortunately society developed into a get rich quick and f””” someone to do it.

So far just a friend that you decide t give some money at the end of the ride for his time.

I don't know how it works ofer there, but that last sentence would be laughed at in court over here if someone got hurt.

You don't have to accept a penny over here in order to potentially be held liable in it goes wrong - you need only be the organiser. It aucks mightily, but complaining won't alter the reality.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

I don't know how it works ofer there, but that last sentence would be laughed at in court over here if someone got hurt.

You don't have to accept a penny over here in order to potentially be held liable in it goes wrong - you need only be the organiser. It aucks mightily, but complaining won't alter the reality.

You are right!

Thanks!