Bike Rental cost? Why so much?
03-16-13, 11:03 AM
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Bike Rental cost? Why so much?
Just got back from two weeks away on business. One in St Pete, FL the other in Atlanta area. Basic road bike rentals were $35 a day! You can rent cars for this much per day!
These were just LBS type places.
Why so much?
These were just LBS type places.
Why so much?
03-16-13, 11:34 AM
#2
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The small bike rental guy has to take out extra liability insurance.. for the dufus on the saddle.
to rent a car, now, you have to have your own driver's licence & insurance.
and they are large corporations with the ability to get the best terms
with any group insurance carrier they use.
try opening a similar bike rental business? see if you can do it cheaper, maybe they will use yours, instead.
to rent a car, now, you have to have your own driver's licence & insurance.
and they are large corporations with the ability to get the best terms
with any group insurance carrier they use.
try opening a similar bike rental business? see if you can do it cheaper, maybe they will use yours, instead.
03-16-13, 11:40 AM
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Next time look for a thrift store and buy any used bike that looks like it might roll for a couple of days. When done return it for whatever you can get or give it away. Plan it in advance and bring an adjustable wrench, screwdriver and a cheap lock with you on your business trips.
Last edited by I-Like-To-Bike; 03-16-13 at 11:43 AM.
03-16-13, 12:26 PM
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You went away on "business", and you ask why businesses charge the way they do? Let me guess... "business" is not your strong suit is it? 
03-16-13, 12:35 PM
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I used to own a fleet of 8 rental bikes, so I'll throw out a couple of things you may not have thought about.
First, a reputable shop is going to ensure the bike is functioning properly and safely before you wheel it out the door. That means, even if it underwent a mini service after the last person returned it, they will take the time to give it a quick safety check and air the tires. They will also take the time to fit the bike to you, probably making seat adjustments, and possibly handlebar adjustments.
Then when you return the bike, it gets a cleaning and another mini service to ready it for the next rider. All of this takes time.
$35 per day does not make this a huge profit centre for the shop.
First, a reputable shop is going to ensure the bike is functioning properly and safely before you wheel it out the door. That means, even if it underwent a mini service after the last person returned it, they will take the time to give it a quick safety check and air the tires. They will also take the time to fit the bike to you, probably making seat adjustments, and possibly handlebar adjustments.
Then when you return the bike, it gets a cleaning and another mini service to ready it for the next rider. All of this takes time.
$35 per day does not make this a huge profit centre for the shop.
03-16-13, 12:40 PM
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Why so CHEAP?! How the heck can they make any money renting anything for $35 a day?
With cars, it's different. What you actually pay to rent a car is usually much more than $35 a day; They buy the cars for rock-bottom dollar (literally wholesale) and they sell the car after a year or so, retail, for almost what they paid for it. What's the rental bike worth after a year or two?
Shoot- I rented a bike in NYC once, back in the 80's, and it cost me $35! I'd say $35 for a bike rental today- 'specially if it's a decent bike, is a BARGAIN!
Would you rent your bike(s) out for $35 a day?
With cars, it's different. What you actually pay to rent a car is usually much more than $35 a day; They buy the cars for rock-bottom dollar (literally wholesale) and they sell the car after a year or so, retail, for almost what they paid for it. What's the rental bike worth after a year or two?
Shoot- I rented a bike in NYC once, back in the 80's, and it cost me $35! I'd say $35 for a bike rental today- 'specially if it's a decent bike, is a BARGAIN!
Would you rent your bike(s) out for $35 a day?
03-16-13, 12:44 PM
#8
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
We rent bicycles at our co-op and carry 5,000,000 in liability insurance, have to pre-service / check bicycles before they go out, make fitting adjustments, and then when the bicycle comes back we have to repeat the pre-service check before the bicycle can go out again.
At $35.00 a day the shop that is renting out bicycles and having to set aside staff time and shop resources to maintain a rental fleet is not making very much money and is probably breaking even if they are lucky.
At $35.00 a day the shop that is renting out bicycles and having to set aside staff time and shop resources to maintain a rental fleet is not making very much money and is probably breaking even if they are lucky.
03-20-13, 03:29 PM
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I rent bikes at least a couple of times per year, sometimes by the day, sometimes by the week. It often is $200 or more for a week for a decent, but low level bike (e.g. with Sram Apex or Shimano Sora or Tiagra level stuff). It seems high, but what are the alternatives?
Buy a decent travel case for $350+
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour packing it
Spend $50 to $150 to transport the bike to destination
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour unpacking and assembling it
Ride your own bike (this is the benefit)
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour repacking it
Spend $50 to$150 to transport it home
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour unpacking and assembling it
$350 for the case - kind of a long term "investment" but none the less a cost, call it $25 per trip (which is what a local guy rents a Trico case for)
Case: $25
Baggage fees: $100 - $300
Time and hassle of packing and working on the bike in your hotel room: 2 - 4 hours
Hassle getting your bike to and from and in and out of the airport
Makes a couple hundred to rent a ready to go bike for a week seem OK to me, once I tried traveling with my bike a couple of times.
I usually bring a saddle, helmet, shoes and pedals, small stocked saddle bag and mini pump, along with my cycling gear. Most of this stuff fits inside the helmet and/or inside the shoes, so it doesnt' take up any more space than the helmet and shoes alone.
Buy a decent travel case for $350+
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour packing it
Spend $50 to $150 to transport the bike to destination
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour unpacking and assembling it
Ride your own bike (this is the benefit)
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour repacking it
Spend $50 to$150 to transport it home
Spend 1/2 to 1 hour unpacking and assembling it
$350 for the case - kind of a long term "investment" but none the less a cost, call it $25 per trip (which is what a local guy rents a Trico case for)
Case: $25
Baggage fees: $100 - $300
Time and hassle of packing and working on the bike in your hotel room: 2 - 4 hours
Hassle getting your bike to and from and in and out of the airport
Makes a couple hundred to rent a ready to go bike for a week seem OK to me, once I tried traveling with my bike a couple of times.
I usually bring a saddle, helmet, shoes and pedals, small stocked saddle bag and mini pump, along with my cycling gear. Most of this stuff fits inside the helmet and/or inside the shoes, so it doesnt' take up any more space than the helmet and shoes alone.
