We are getting closer! I’m not going to tell you my favorite….so the one with the best offer and my favorite wins. :wink:

Now, on the serious side of things, has anyone got any sensible ideas? It seems everyone on here today has already had too much chocolate!

wwaswas – Member

try it again with pedals

:lol: & Nah, don’t like Double Deckers – cheers for the offer.

I will take the Curly Wurly, but want a little more cash. :wink:

Roter Stern – Member

A good friend of mine has started a similar business here in Germany. He doesn’t offer only guiding though, he also does skills weekends and training camps (he has a degree in sports science). He mainly has novice MTbers who join the weekends to get some skills advice and to go out riding with riders of a similar ability. He has graded routes based on rider ability (beginner, intermediate and advanced) so all the riders have a good idea of what they are letting themselves in for. He also belongs to a network of similar guides who seem to share clients who want to ride in an area not familar to the guides personally.

There is some good advice/helpful hints in there – thank you.

Mmmmm? Where you thinking of going Bucko? I was thinking I might take the new hardtail out for a spin – but I am not sure yet? (and I’m not sure I need anything ‘big’ on the first ride out on it?)….

druidh – Member

FWIW, I’m in the “grab a map and head off” category – but then I also enjoy all the planning and logistics. Some folk hate that aspect. The only guided ride I’ve been on was a LEJOG I did earlier this year in support of Marie Curie. That was a bit weird for me as they’d obviously planned the route and had booked accommodation etc.

Thanks for that – I believe that catering for people that “grab a map and head off” is going to be just as important as any guiding, if the feedback so far is anything the go by – if all goes well perhaps one day you might be grabbing a map from me.

Just to clear things up – Druidh & stumpynya12 – this is definitely not an advert, as I have nothing to sell, however, being honest this is research and any business plan starts at the beginning, i.e. find out what your potential customers would want/like, that means researching your ‘market’ and seeing that this is a cycling (predominantly MTB) website I thought this a great place to start?

Sorry you feel ‘duped’, but this is a genuine attempt to start researching a potential ‘market’ and yes some of the comments left here may be taken forward (I hope they are) to form a part of a future business.

I am just an ordinary guy who has a love for MTB and I want to do my best to share that with like minded people.

If it all comes together – then look out for my ‘paid’ advert on this forum. Thanks for your comments though guys.

Thanks to all you guys that have given some great feedback. Your opinions do help and mean a lot.

Thanks everyone for the feedback so far – it has been very useful! Keep it coming….

trailmonkey – Member

a combination of losing a whole spring (the busiest period) due to injury, doing an ou degree and falling out of love with cycling for a living did it for me in the end. as i wasn’t providing the lodgings myself, the only profit in the business came from guiding.

you’re going to get a very distorted picture of things from the stw audience most of whom are more than happy to either do things for themselves or hook up with another forum member to show them around. advertising in mbr and what mtb provided the core of my punters although i ran ads on here and got a few results from it. i’d put the same questionaire on the mbr and bikeradar forums if i were you to get a more balanced view.

ygm

Thanks – YGM back.

weeble – Member

Nice bike, like the forks

Yeah, thanks mate – they felt pretty good on the first ride.

curlie467 – Member

Is that my chain on there?

Haha, no mate, yours is for a repair on a mates bike. By the way thanks, the chain arrived this morning.

trailmonkey – Member

I used to run a mtb holiday company on dartmoor called bike-dartmoor.com. i’d be glad to pass on any info that i can.

That would be great! My email is in my profile if you have any pearls of wisdom? How come you don’t do it anymore?

I knew as soon as I posted the pics that the logo alignment was a fail – I promise I will deflate the tyres and line them up over the weekend :oops:

Can’t understand the surprise at it being a winter hacker? Doesn’t really stand me in that much with what I had in my spares box? :D

yunki – Member

will you be employing locally..?

I’d make a useful [part-time] second guide for bringing up the rear and shepherding stragglers.. ( I can’t lead cos I’m way too slow )

Yes, Yunki – that is full intention! If you are serious, you never know…

Done your survey…

I did a short break to Wales with a mate a few years back – I’m in central Spain so it was a trip abroad for me I really enjoyed the trip, B&B accommodation which was pretty reasonable, great riding around Afan and Coed, it even rained on the last day which made a pleasant change from the usual dust-fest I get here.

So would I consider it? Yes. Although it’d be a right pain to get to Devon from Madrid!

Thanks for the feedback. I have considered, but not confirmed that for overseas visitors – there may be airport transfers available, but this will come at at an extra cost? :(

cinnamon_girl – Member

At the risk of receiving abuse, there’s no way I would want to share a bathroom with any blokes!

It would be useful nevertheless to mention any alternative B & B accommodation that’s close by.

B&B could arranged. The showers are separate, i.e. Disabled (anyone can use)/ Women/ Men – and that is aside from the ensuite – so you wouldn’t have to share. Built just for you! :wink:

cinnamon_girl – Member

Would you like to deal with an awkward customer?

I would not stay anywhere without an en suite. You may well find that other girlies feel the same. Maybe some blokes do. Maybe it’s an age thing! Naturally one expects to pay more for this.

The ‘green plan’ sounds commendable and obviously offers flexibility and more scope for exploring.

Looking forward to hearing more about this.

Awkward customers always welcome! :wink:

There are a few choices of accommodation available – one of the bunkhouses has 6 beds ( max 8 ) with it’s own ensuite & small kitchen? So this might suit a group? (and you?).

offthebrakes – Member

Regarding the showers – can they cope with the whole group coming back from a ride with typically British weather, and all heading for the showers en masse?

Or will those at the back of the queue find there’s no hot water left?

There are 6 showers all designed specifically for walkers/bikers etc. (i.e. can take the mud without need to ‘hose’ down first) and say if it’s a group of 8 for instance, two might have to wait a little longer (maybe allowing for those that faff about with their bikes etc. – I have riding buddies like that??). There is constant hot water, so it would never run short!

Some more great feedback – thank you.

It seems that some want guiding, some don’t.

I am also hearing that – transport (i.e. shuttle), decent accommodation & food is a big plus?

When I talk about a bunkhouse, this one will have all the facilities that I would want when mountain biking – i.e. On the doorstep to Dartmoor (able to ride out the door straight onto Dartmoor), Secure bike storage, Central Heating (for the less warm days in the UK), a drying room for all kit, hot showers (there are plenty of them and they are designed to take the grim & muck of MTB’ers), you will get a full english breakfast (all with local Westcountry produce!), a ‘homecooked’ evening meal (again all with local produce) & finally a packed lunch can be provided.

The price will be very attractive and will include either: Guiding or shuttle & maps (inc. GPX) – so the price won’t vary, just your choice of how you want to do it?

Also thinking of doing a ‘Green Plan’ – we have excellent transport links via train that comes within 1 & 1/2 miles of said destination and within this option, collection & drop off at the local station (trains stop here from all major locations) will be included – so if you want to leave the car behind, then you can!

Please take the survey and leave as many comments on here as you can – the more I get filling in the survey, the better I can make the experience!

Thanks All.

Thanks for the feedback TJ – I added those comments, because it extremely difficult to describe how I would want you to feel. I just want MTB’ers to have fun somewhere different!

Me and a mate went away with Saddle skedaddle to the peaks a couple of years ago and our overall impressions were favorable. We reckon for the cost it would have been hard for us just to feed ourselves and get accommodation, the fact that we also got guides and lunch bought out to us on the trails were a bonus.

In fact the only down side was having to wait for slower riders to catch up (and i’m no whippet!).

Would reccomend and will probably go again one day.

Excellent – thanks for the feedback.

nickjb – Member

I think I’d struggle to see the benefit in the UK. If I wanted a weekend somewhere there are plenty of accommodation options and lots of routes available either on-line, in mags or by asking the locals. I’m not sure how guided riding or an organised break could add value.

Thanks – some valid points there.

What about those weekends you just want to go away and ride somewhere different?

Maybe not guided, but how about shuttles to the best riding stops, maps of routes (or GPX etc.), accommodation sorted (with riding from the doorstep) & grub served in the morning and the evening.

Maybe looking at it as a ‘riding weekend’ rather than an MTB short break? What do you think?

barn – Member

^ltheisinger

Wow! Thanks for doing that.
Really kind. Shame though.

No worries buddy – only sorry it wasn’t what you wanted to hear.

I have a contact with Ritchey, so just gave them a call for you….

Unfortunately such a thing does not exist for your hub. Sorry to the bearer of bad news.

jonny m – Member

I’m pretty sure it used to have washers and bolts on either side, could be wrong though…..

I got mine from new and it’s always been the same?

It doesn’t look like anything is lost?

Mine has it on the other way around, i.e. the cap & allen bolt is on the non drove side on mine, and what you can see there is on the drive side?

I don’t use M970 (XTR) I have the M770 crank (XT) and I have a 22t Middleburn lower ring, 36t M771 Middle ring & 44t M770 Higher ring and never found mixing an issue?

Yep. I have run 22t, 24t, & 26t without changing the middle ring. Now I run 22t, 36t & 44t which s good for me.

Good service here too – ordered on Saturday night and the item arrived today. :D

Bucko – Member

I got there at 1305 and you were gone

Bet your gutted Bucko! :twisted:

Are you going on ‘Crispy Bacon’s’ (Les) Ride on Sunday by any chance?

All sadly gone now – the same issue as many (the missus didn’t like me on them!) :cry:

Restored CBR 600 – loved this bike!

Bandit – Wheelie Machine!

MX – I later put a day time MOT on it (Brake light, horn & No. Plate) and used it as a ‘Greenlaner’….great fun!

Forget my second statement Hope tech M4 are post mount calipers, so you will need adapter J.

Is the rear caliper post mount? If it is you will need mount J. If it is a IS mount rear caliper then it will bolt right on.

hora – Member

IMO he’d be better off on a secondhand decent hardtail

+1

Macgyver – Member

‘spose I should point out that my bouncy forks were 100mm travel and the steering was nice and direct but not snappy.

Thanks buddy – I have taken the plunge on a set of Fox F100 RL for it about 5 mins ago, so hopefully the right choice?

Thank guys! Been away for a week and loads of response for me now to trawl through, on first glance some of them look very nice!

Thanks for the help guys. Not sure I am going to go down the rigid fork fork route. I reckon it’s going to have be be trial and error, so going to go for 100mm to start and see how I get on with them?

I quite like this as an alternative (and I’ve seen it in action as a pretty nimble machine!)….

Gary Fisher Rumblefish 2

singlecrack – Member

why oh why is it all the midweek rides are when I’m flat out at work.

+1!! :evil:

YAY! :D Thanks guys particularly WW who came up with the first suggestion, I have now removed it! Anyone got any idea if the bolt on the X0 Mech (Redwin) can be replaced? If so, how?

paulrockliffe – Member

If it’s a replaceable mech-hanger then if all else fails, you can just buy a new hanger.

Yep,I have a spare mech hanger, but my mech is still stuck to the old one :( I’m going to give the torx thing a go.