Cycling Holiday Research

[Drake111]

Hey guys!

I hope that I’m in the right place here, I’m in the process of developing a tailored cycling package holiday service, specifically here in the UK.

With uncertainty in travelling abroad (possibly for the next few years) due to the pandemic, I feel attention should be given to UK based riding, seen as we have some of the best riding locations in the world!

To help get this underway, I’d massively appreciate your say! If you have a spare minute to fill out my 10 question survey I’d be very grateful. This information will allow me to develop this service to the needs and wants of you, the riders.

Survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TV96K3N

Thank you in advance.

 

[IaninSheffield]

You might want to take a look at the responses in the preceding thread in this forum - it seemed to be on the same theme so might help your thinking.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

a tailored cycling package holiday service,

I'm shtumped.

I've no idea what a cycling package holiday is to you, never mind "tailored".

A lot of folks, especially on a cycling forum, will turn their noses up at a "cycling holiday package" (unless it is a seriously well put together package for serious road/mtb cyclists).

And there's a huge, massive, ginormous section of the population who would never consider a cycling holiday for one, other, or both of these reasons;
They think they can't do it, or
They think it's unsafe.

I'm a fan, a big fan, of recreational cycling holidays. I was an overweight, overworked, overstressed, barely a cyclist petrified of my first day's 40km ride.
I'd never have taken the plunge to go on such a holiday without a company to organise everything. You should see where I am now!

From your survey there is nothing to suggest that your service is for recreational, touring cyclists. If that's your market any information you harvest will be less than useless.
If your market is for serious, specialised cyclists then it's nowhere near comprehensive enough to be useful, and likely counterproductive.

I can't even tell if this package is based in one location or moves from place to place?

If you plan on making any decisions based on that survey, I believe you'll be making a big mistake. (Garbage in - Garbage out).

If you're looking for general information to refine and sharpen some thoughts and ideas consider becoming an active participant on the fora.
(I'd suggest not re-regging as I'm pretty sure that's against the rules!)😊

 

[classic33]

I've looked at a few organised cycling holidays in Ireland. But they fail at the start, in that they don't consider travelling to the start point to be their responsibility. This means I'd have to sort out and fork out extra on top, and sort out my travel to the start point.

The second point they've failed on is that having read the itinerary, distances can be unrealistic, even when all baggage is being carried in a van. Checking the overnight stops can be revealing. It's as if they are taking a cut for each booking and adding it onto the price.

Excluding travel to Dublin and back, I've managed to price the same at 20 - 25% less. And be able to do it at a pace that suited me.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

I've looked at a few organised cycling holidays in Ireland. But they fail at the start, in that they don't consider travelling to the start point to be their responsibility. This means I'd have to sort out and fork out extra on top, and sort out my travel to the start point.

That's a Classic (ha! pun!) example of what I'm talking about. It would never cross my mind to think that getting me to the start point was the responsibility of the service provider.
So, two posters with two completely diverging opinions before even getting on a bike

You're absolutely right about the costs which asks the question just what are people willing to pay for? That's a critical question for a startup and it's not being asked in any meaningful way.

My "package" had a choice of different price levels based on accommodation standard preferences, so two people could do the same tour, visit the same places on the same standard of bike and pay different prices. The same route was offered in different time lengths, too.

But, of course, the OP might have a completely different idea in mind - we don't know what their concept is.

I find it hard to resist these threads because what the OP is intending to do is damn important! If my first "bike holiday" had been a disaster I may never have had another. That would have been a big, big loss to me.

 

[classic33]

That's a Classic (ha! pun!) example of what I'm talking about. It would never cross my mind to think that getting me to the start point was the responsibility of the service provider.
So, two posters with two completely diverging opinions before even getting on a bike

You're absolutely right about the costs which asks the question just what are people willing to pay for? That's a critical question for a startup and it's not being asked in any meaningful way.

My "package" had a choice of different price levels based on accommodation standard preferences, so two people could do the same tour, visit the same places on the same standard of bike and pay different prices. The same route was offered in different time lengths, too.

But, of course, the OP might have a completely different idea in mind - we don't know what their concept is.

I find it hard to resist these threads because what the OP is intending to do is damn important! If my first "bike holiday" had been a disaster I may never have had another. That would have been a big, big loss to me.

One was described as everything included. £1,500 for 14 days(13 night's). But didn't include getting to their start point North of Dublin in the price. Advertised in a UK cycling magazine.

From their start point, it was West to the North Mayo coast, down to Galway via Foxford. Ennis, onto the West Coast(Lahinch, Quilty), into The Kingdom, (Shannon ferry fare extra). Tralee onto Wexford, where those on the 7 day tour would leave those on the 14 day tour to meander back to the start, via the Southern and Northern ends of Lough Derg, the Wicklow mountains, and The Curragh.

When you plot those first seven days on a map, you'll see what I meant by unrealistic distances. Compare them to the second seven, and it didn't make sense.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

@classic33
Is that company still in business? Is the route / distances the same? That 7 day route is mad!
Have a linky?

And that price? Meals included?
Had to laugh at the Tarbert Killimer ferry being extra!

Mine was along the Danube. Ferry (usually a small boat) crossings included to give several options on routing.
A train ticket was included to skip over an area where the bike path had been damaged by that season's flooding (I missed it in my relaxed state and managed it on the bike) and a train ticket to return to starting point.
Couldn't imagine that being possible in Ireland, unfortunately.

This all highlights the point to the OP how different people will have different needs, even on the same route.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Well yes , the ferry is €4.50 for a single, so strange not to be included in a so called package holiday.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Well yes , the ferry is €4.50 for a single, so strange not to be included in a so called package holiday.

I'm sure that's just down to simple logistics. I'd bet that the company don't sell tickets in bulk to the likes of the operator who then can't supply (and charge for) them.

It's a simple example of the kinds of things that the op could be learning about by dialogue rather than a survey. Imagine how peed off you'd be if you rolled up to the ferry and didn't have the fare!

 

[classic33]

@classic33
Is that company still in business? Is the route / distances the same? That 7 day route is mad!
Have a linky?

And that price? Meals included?
Had to laugh at the Tarbert Killimer ferry being extra!

Mine was along the Danube. Ferry (usually a small boat) crossings included to give several options on routing.
A train ticket was included to skip over an area where the bike path had been damaged by that season's flooding (I missed it in my relaxed state and managed it on the bike) and a train ticket to return to starting point.
Couldn't imagine that being possible in Ireland, unfortunately.

This all highlights the point to the OP how different people will have different needs, even on the same route.

I don't know if they are, but somehow I doubt it. Their advert in the magazine looked good though, got me sending away for further information. I baulked at the price, and told them when they sent a follow up letter. Pressed to actually book it. If I'd not had some idea of the places mentioned, and the distances between*, there's a chance I'd have done it. They made it sound so easy.

If they are still going, with those sort of distances and price, they've done something right. I very much doubt it, but you have me wondering now. I stopped buying the magazine some years ago. As for meals included, at that price! I hope they were. Two hotels they used include breakfast anyway, The Old Ground in Ennis and the Lakeside in Ballina(Southern end of Lough Derg).

When over on holiday, I sometimes see large groups of cyclists, with a support van and wonder if they actually have time to take in the view.

Dublin to the West is doable in a day, but you'd not really be looking at where your going. Hoping everything worked whilst watching the clock, and watching the miles.

The Shannon ferry fare, stood out to me because of "what would happen if people didn't want to pay it. Would the group split?"


*My cousin once did part of a planned tour, his first and only one. He was confident, having driven between the places many times it was doable. On the piece from Foxford to Tuamgraney, they were caught out in a downpour. Clear one moment then five minutes later you lost sight of your front wheel. He's not been back on a bike since.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Thanks for the detailed reply.
I might do a little researching over the weekend

There's a whole lot of useful information in there for the op.
For some people Dublin to Galway in a day would be a perfect day's riding but most certainly not for me.

Your cousin's experience is very interesting too! Let's face it, in these islands the weather can make or break a bike holiday, especially for recreational cyclists.

 

[classic33]

Thanks for the detailed reply.
I might do a little researching over the weekend

There's a whole lot of useful information in there for the op.
For some people Dublin to Galway in a day would be a perfect day's riding but most certainly not for me.

Your cousin's experience is very interesting too! Let's face it, in these islands the weather can make or break a bike holiday, especially for recreational cyclists.

I got caught in the same downpour, but I decided to stop undercover. They were cycling to a timetable, with very little if any allowance for things going wrong.

Mechanicals can be worked round, Mother Nature is not so easy.

 

[classic33]

@HobbesOnTour, from "cycling holidays in Ireland", first result.

If you thought the price I mentioned was steep see,
https://www.wildatlanticcycling.com/tours/mizen-to-malin-12-day

The price I was given was for one person.

Then check out what is included, transfers to/from airports, to/from start & finish. Nothing for those arriving by ferry it seems.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Thanks @classic33
As it turned out I'd more interesting things to be doing this weekend

I work that out at £146 per day!! That's madness for a route that is well known and easy to route, even for a beginner.

My week on the Danube is €389 at current prices and I don't recall paying a single supplement. Mind you, I was only B&B.

Personally, I wouldn't be too bothered about expecting every mode of arrival to be covered and I'd reckon anyone bringing their bikes on a ferry wouldn't use the service anyway.

It seems as if we're more interested than the op!

 

[classic33]

Mountain bike riding, North Wales.
If so, there's a few centres in the area already doing them.

@Drake111, if the above is correct, will the price, whatever that may be, include insurance?