euro and uk guided tours

[Tramp]

while i`m sat on the beach counting the sand grains :laugh: :laugh: ..and nowt else better to do than think things through..well thats what you do on hols isnt it? :whistle:

So as I see it we aint all getting younger and the average age of bikers is 40+ but yearn to travel but aint got a clue on whats to see..where to stay and where to ride..

you have the two camps..diy adventure take it as it comes ..and the "sheep" follow someone else..aka the shepard.

The later pay for this..yes? at what cost is variable..depending on trip type and duration..

This goes for both uk and Europe and worldwide..both road and trail..As knowledge of where to ride is down to the tour leader as he`s paid good money and time to discover the little jems be it internet research ..pouring over maps and gpx stuff..or plain old just get out and find out for him self B) ..

who would pay for such a thing...the ABR rallys/ mini meets have shown that a local knowledge of roads and trails is required for "ride out leaders"..but should we expext this to be freely given..or expext to pay ...

If the ride out leaders stop offering there services then nothing happens or we dont ride anywhere..

There is a ever expanding group of riders who dont want to do extreme trails or long iron but riding..but find it hard to find riders to show them around and lead groups..

I personally am suprised how few riders want to lead groups but are happy to follow others and apart from saying thanks offer no money...Am I expecting too much? It seems to be the same old riders doing mini meets and ride outs be it road or trails, oraganinsing the campsites ..pub stop overs etc..

let the gloves fly ...

if we arent prepaired to all put something in we get nothing out..be it help,money or whatever we can give..why should we expect a local rider to give up their knowledge and get nothing in return..

right off of to real in that big "fish"..

[AustinW]

I organise quite a few meets and rideouts mostly through XRV.org. Some of which are quite elaborate and take a lot of time and money to set up and run. But, I actually get a lot of personal satisfaction from doing so and giving people a good time. The axiom the more you put in the more you get out is very true.

I definitely don't expect payment and really appreciate the simple thanks I get face to face or via the write ups. I have been bought a bottle of whisky as thanks a couple of times which embarrasses me and I always put back into the meet to assist with the good time.

What I don't want when I voluntarily organise something is bitching and moaning about the organisation, the route, the accommodation or whatever. What I do expect is tolerance followed by cooperation and help if things start going a little wrong.

I am pleased to say that I have never really had an issue with anyone on any of my meets/rides. . Not do sure that everyone feels the same about me though


Sent from my iPhone with a smile

[V_King]

I used to be heavily involved with organising events and ride outs for our offroad club, which were open to the public.

as Austin I was doing it for personal satisfaction of achievement and to improve my various skills, which help in other areas of life.

I did not expect anything more than the people taking place in the event, enjoying it, and giving feedback. Involving money or expecting to get money out of it is always a bad idea, and maybe you should do something else.

But due to the way more and more businesses are marketing with freebies to attract customers, the people who take place in these events start treating like they receiving a service where everything is catered for. What is more government legislations and claim culture was the final nail in ending my activities.

I still happily participate and support people who are enthusiastic and are organising various rideouts/events etc

[Gavinskii]

Through a group of mates I regularly ride with in the TRF, we have made a number of great friends and connections in various areas of the UK.

For instance we have tended to go down to Devon 3 times a year, and have 2 primary "leading lights" from the TRF group have generously led our little group for typically 1 day each. Payment has never been offered or expected - however the offer of a hot coffee / lunch / end of ride bevvy is always made and often gratefully accepted.

I have also been fortunate to make some great friends in the Peak District, who have led me and a couple of friends several times - once again just the offer of buying lunch or filling up the tank seems very acceptable.

To me that's what an organisation like TRF or forum like the ABR is all about B)

We always offer to reciprocate, and I have personally led groups of riders who visit my area and if they offer me a coffee - I'm grateful - but not bothered if they don't as I get a lot of pleasure at showing them around the area.

If someone is ungrateful and complains at the way someone else guides them, they always have a choice

[africajim]

That Austin guy's rideouts are terrible, I've been on a few and good grief, couldn't/piss up/brewery spring to mind!
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LOL!
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That's a total lie! I've been privileged to have taken part on quite a few of Austin's organized rideouts, I even have stickers on my luggage boxes to prove it and can only say I have never heard anything other than praise for Austin's obvious hard work involved in organizing accomodation, access and routes that no other person has matched for originality. Thank you very much sir, I hope to join you on many more over the years.
I've led rideouts up here in Scotland and in Europe, in fact I led quite a few people on this forum north to Durness on the very first Ullapool rally and agree with Austin, it's the doing it for the personal satisfaction that counts for me, never expected anything for doing it.
But,,,,, I've been shown around Germany by the Legendary Vader and it was one of the best tours ever, also Hudders' tour of the Dales is an absolute hoot, Steve T also puts a lot of groundwork into his rideouts, all would be worth paying for IMHO.
So, yes there may well be a market for guided tours, here in the UK and in mainland Europe. You won't know until you try. Best of luck!
(I'll stick to going out with my mates! Greedy Scotsman!)

[Tramp]

Thanks guys for feed back..which is what this thread is about..while the trf is fine for enduro`s its not for the big bike lets bimble folk..which there are lots of on here..so what do they do?

as for europe trails its a whole new ball park..the French trf equivalant are very good but as expected only speak french..

suppose you want to go riding in the pyrenees or Picos or portugal or long distance in France..who do you turn to the internet has limited info..so you do lots of digging and hopefull emails etc..then post up a ride out or mini meet ..do you expect to be paid ? or more importantly so the other participants repay the compliment..

quite a few have looked but few replies regarding the ..

do you follow or lead..

so come on folks please comment..

[AndyB]

I think the internet has moved the goal posts significantly from the days when you needed to join a club/organisation or pay someone if you wanted to go somewhere you weren't happy to just go and sort out for yourself, with forums like this if someone makes an offer to lead a trip and doesn't directly ask for 'expenses' then they shouldn't really expect anything to be forthcoming but if I tagged along I'd always offer to buy the leader his lunch or a beer afterwards. If I emailed someone and asked if they'd take me round their local area I'd either offer a reciprocal trip near me or offer to pay for their fuel as well as buying them a beer.

I used to be chairman of a caving club many years ago it was just considered to be the normal thing to buy the guy leading the trip his meal and a couple of beers but I packed in caving with the club when I became sick of spending my time off repeating the same old trips week after week and being moaned at when I wanted to do something harder and wouldn't take novices with me.

After I'd moved away from the club scene I used to get fairly regular offers of cash to take small groups who didn't know the area down caves they wanted to visit but weren't confident to lead and when I took them I could guarantee I'd still be offered dinner and beers afterwards so I was more than happy.

Mercenary? Absolutely.

[Bushman_uk]

I don't mind giving up some time and effort to lead a group, i have taken part in a few and been the organiser of a few. What sometimes irritates me is when someone does not pay attention during a briefing, where we are going and corner turn drop off's. Then when you go on a ride you find them breaking their necks and feel them breathing down your neck, they have not got a clue of whats happening because at the briefing they where to busy playing with their I phone.
Next year i do hope to take a few over to Bulgaria, not because i am superman, i would just like to show people how easy it is to travel to these wonderful places.
If you pay for a tour guide then your expectations rise, i have seen someone pull up in a group jump off the bike go in and grab a cool beer and ask the guide if he has his room key yet and is his luggage in his room yet. The guide was nice and polite and explained that it was a self service reception could help him. Got talking to the guide after dinner and he said he had the group from hell, constant complaints about rooms food and weather. So for me voluntary is the way maybe a thanks at the end , maybe not , just be happy to share some of the great places to see at home and abroad and hopefully they can take some fine memories back with them

[-Ralph-]

I used to arrange a lot of rideouts and get involved in arranging weekend trips with another forum. A few people on that forum got very upset (quite rightly) about bitching and moaning that went on, to the point that all rideout and weekend arranging on that forum came to a grinding halt because nobody wanted to do it.

Anything I arrange will be what it is and people can either appreciate it or go swivel, but I don't expect anything for doing it.

I don't like leading road rideouts nowadays. It was fine when I was younger and more reckless and would have been right up the front of any rideout anyway, but it's rare to find me significantly above the speed limit nowadays. If there's a few in the group who want to go 'have a blast' then they don't want to be following me. I'm still happy to make all the arrangements and research the route, but I need somebody else to volunteer to go in front if there are young excitable pups in the group.

It all depends whether you enjoy giving as much as you enjoy receiving really.

(You, yes, I'm talking to you! You have a dirty mind! ).

[AndyB]

I think the TRF have it pretty well sorted in that the different groups are all willing to arrange trips for riders from other areas and the regional groups contact each other and arrange trips on each others patch. We've seen a few posts complaining about the TRF and how they're insular and it's difficult to get involved with them because they keep some information hidden but the reality is they don't and if you join then you'll find that your local group are always in contact with others from different parts of the country and the trips away are there for you.

The best part is that there's often a piss up on the Saturday night and from there even more things are arranged where information is passed on and future trips planned. I've yet to hear of a member asking a different group if they can sort them out a day away from home and being knocked back but I'm quite happy to be corrected on this point.