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Does this tour idea interest you? |
Yes, I would consider it. |
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83% |
[ 10 ] |
No, too much cash. |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
No, I dont do tours |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
Great idea, book me in now! |
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16% |
[ 2 ] |
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Total Votes : 12 |
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Electricboogaloo Despatch Rider
Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 185 Location: Wimbledon, or to close to some old duffer that just drove straight onto the roundabout!
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject: new tour business idea. Your thoughts please. |
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Hi All.
Longish post, but please take a couple of minutes to read it. Many thanks in advance.
I am giving very serious thought to starting a bike tour business in Romania, and wanted to ask if you think this is something you might consider going on.
Won't be for a year or two yet, once we are out of the downturn and things are back on track, but the basics are sorted.
Standard tour will be 5 days (3.5 days on the bike), 400 - 500 miles of empty alpine style roads in the Transylvanian mountains, no cops to speak of. Roads like this one http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.travel-images.com/romania100.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.travel-images.com/photo-romania100.html&usg=__doCO6HIoKO37NrbVZcR0Gk-FhsA=&h=525&w=700&sz=193&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=rwbS17PrMtb97M:&tbnh=105&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtransylvanian%2Bmountain%2Broads%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1
Pace will be as fast as you want, up to a safe point, I have no interest in you killing yourself or my bikes.
Bike (hornet or bandit 600), fuel, b&b, guide airport transfers and insurance all included. £500 (most tours charge at least a grand, and then you often have to use your own bike)
And the summer there is long, and very hot, think Italy and Spain.
If there is enough interest, I will be able to offer longer, tailor made tours, but the standard tour will be the starting point.
Some images of the area. http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&resnum=0&q=transylvanian%20mountains&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
So, please answer the poll, does this tickle your fancy, yes or no.
Many thanks
Boogs.
Last edited by Electricboogaloo on Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:55 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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boudicas Kermit
Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 2987 Location: Bletchingley, Surrey
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southernspeed MotoGP Racer
Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 4132 Location: Froststead.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting idea as it would be a chance to ride that country on a short holiday rather than taking several days riding there and back as well making for a 10-14 day jaunt.
Good luck with it. _________________ It's not the speed of life that bothers me, it's the sudden stop at the end!
www.carshaltonmcc.com
www.surreysportsmotorcycles.com
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Tusky Pie Dipper
Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 11549
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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Short escorted tours in Eastern Europe would interest most peeps I guess and your suggested milage would be just right for a bit of sight seeing as well but I would worry about
1) Whether your cost is sustainable once you start adding business overhead costs, flight costs/taxes and advertising etc..
2) Numptys crashing the bikes and increasing insurance costs.
3) Secure parking etc... because you just can't trust them in that neck of the woods.
It would tempt me though.... in the same way as a short ski break would _________________ Boxhill Chippendales
All characters appearing in this post are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. |
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wivvy's dad Cabbage club member #3
Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 14655
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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I think it's a laudable idea, and I could be interested. But I agree with Tusky that your cost is on the low side. Easier to be expensive and offer discounts than to try and bump up the cost at a later date.
I would also prefer to ride my own bike there and back, but that's just me. If you have some personal knowledge of these areas, I would be interested in getting some more details from you via PM.
Don't worry, I won't nick your idea. |
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Electricboogaloo Despatch Rider
Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 185 Location: Wimbledon, or to close to some old duffer that just drove straight onto the roundabout!
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the input guys.
I have factored in a decent advertising budget, and a good whack for insurance, and I have very good contacts in the area as my wife to be comes from Romania.
I have choosen a lowish price, and it is sustainable as long as I hit a target number of clients.
I am considering bumping it up and offering group discounts to encourage people to spread the word though.
And the next step is to consider guided snow mobile tours during winter months!! _________________
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Tusky Pie Dipper
Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 11549
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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Electricboogaloo wrote: |
And the next step is to consider guided snow mobile tours during winter months!! |
Now your talking _________________ Boxhill Chippendales
All characters appearing in this post are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. |
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GT Expert CnutCnut
Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 5099 Location: Probably in ya mirror if you bothered to look!
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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Nope, prefer to do my own hard work! _________________ Speed Limits are Minimums and remember Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one
(\__/)
(='.'=) |
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biggus illitterātus
Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 31748 Location: Hotel California
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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It's something I'd consider, but would probably want to use my own bike, I would suggest other options like bike transportation to the region so people could use their own bikes if they wanted and not have to ride there and back, obviously, this would be expensive, and could well mean you needing a van and enough people wanting to take that option to make it viable. Another point to consider is that if you take unknown groups there will undoubtably be some differences of ability, have you given any thought as to how you would cope with that? I would certainly be interested in touring that area, however, like many others I enjoy organising my own trips, that said, at a keen price it could be tempting. _________________
www.bigguspicus.co.uk
There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand Binary and those who don't
There are II types of people in the world: those who understand Roman numerals and those who don't.
98% of all Harleys ever sold are still on the road. The other 2% made it home |
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andjel TT Racer
Joined: 05 Apr 2009 Posts: 1070 Location: On my way
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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I think you will find everyone on here will consider it.
I think it is an admirable idea and think it has much potential.
As for myself I would love to see that part of the world. _________________ Seguy il tuo corso el lashi di lagente
'mothman' - half man, half moth
Success is the result of good judgement. Good judgement is the result of experience. Experience is often the result of bad judgement.
"Ad acta" |
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wivvy's dad Cabbage club member #3
Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 14655
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Tusky Pie Dipper
Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 11549
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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Was chatting about that at the weekend but you said no one was invited _________________ Boxhill Chippendales
All characters appearing in this post are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. |
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andjel TT Racer
Joined: 05 Apr 2009 Posts: 1070 Location: On my way
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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Definitely on my cards this would be a trip I would want to do. Especially Serbia & Croatia _________________ Seguy il tuo corso el lashi di lagente
'mothman' - half man, half moth
Success is the result of good judgement. Good judgement is the result of experience. Experience is often the result of bad judgement.
"Ad acta" |
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biggus illitterātus
Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 31748 Location: Hotel California
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Now this looks like fun to me
Having chatted to you last night (nice to meet you by the way), one of the considerations for travelling in a remote area of somewhere like Romania, is are the Emergency services up to it, god forbid you ever need them.
My only "gripe" with Alpine roads are long sections of hairpins, first few are fun, but then they do start to get tedious, I've not studied the area or indeed the roads, but variety being the spice of life and all that, try to scope out routes that have everything from 1st gear hair pins, to *cough* mph sweepers
what are the chances of this being a sh!thole? -->> gmap click
I can see the "amusing place names ride out" starting in Pratts Bottom, going to Turda in Romania, via W@nk in Germany
Looks to be about 1200 miles at least to get to Romania, another point of research that might be worthwhile is if there are any train links that you can take bikes on? Often the cost of doing such mileage on a train is cheaper than the sum of tyre wear, fuel, and accomodation. _________________
www.bigguspicus.co.uk
There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand Binary and those who don't
There are II types of people in the world: those who understand Roman numerals and those who don't.
98% of all Harleys ever sold are still on the road. The other 2% made it home |
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darkdreamsgal MotoGP Racer
Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 2074 Location: Wimbledon
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Great idea Would personally go for it - great alternative to a long ride there and back, particularly as I'm on a smaller bike, and great for those who haven't enough experience with long-distance tours yet.
I might be reading this wrong, but cost of flights out to Romania would be on top of the £500, right?
What about adding to the option of transporting a bike, an option of a big discount for those using their own bike but arranging their own transportation (so they can choose to ride there or ship their bike over) etc? Whilst there may not be much of a margin on this, it could help make up the numbers if you're short on a particular tour, and may appeal to those who prefer to make their own way there
Jo x _________________ Baby Biker Babe!
"You must be a lawyer"
"What makes you say that?"
"You've got that sharp, useless look about you"
Yes, they are, and no, you can't |
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Electricboogaloo Despatch Rider
Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 185 Location: Wimbledon, or to close to some old duffer that just drove straight onto the roundabout!
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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hi all, and thansk for all the input.
With regards ot riding own bike, I would obvisouly give a substantial discount for that, goes without saying.
Getting bikes there, to be honest, I don't think I want the agro if a bike gets lost, or damaged, so I think I will see what can be done, if anyone offers a special service, and let clients make their own arrangements.
And the price doesn't include flights, as I have no idea where people will be flying from, so I can't factor that in as it makes things far too variable to forecast and plan for.
Looking at other tours in other countries, I could probably up the price and add about 300 miles and still be competitively priced.
Lastly, emergency services, I don't know to be honest what their response time will be like, but if the worst happens about 50 miles from the largest town, it could get dicey.
Having said that, their health care is actually pretty good. So, I would ensure anybody leading a tour was suitably trained in first aid.
Any othe suggestions are gratefully recieved.
Cheers
Adam. _________________
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Tusky Pie Dipper
Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 11549
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:45 am Post subject: |
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I have never skied in Romania but I would imagine that there will be an air-ambulance service in the mountains and some good orthopaedic surgeons as with most skiing areas. These guys rent out helicopters and might provide you with information for any available heli-rescue scheme that you could subscribe to.
http://www.rent-a-helicopter.com/index.html
Switzerland have the REGA scheme which cost £30.00 per year but entitles the bearer to unlimited heli-rescues. _________________ Boxhill Chippendales
All characters appearing in this post are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. |
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Electricboogaloo Despatch Rider
Joined: 29 Sep 2009 Posts: 185 Location: Wimbledon, or to close to some old duffer that just drove straight onto the roundabout!
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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now that is very interesting!
There is a national firm in romania for mountain rescue, so I will check that out.
Top info, thank you. _________________
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