New Forest bike hire, England
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Energy:
We reduce our energy and find local renewable energy sources for our energy. We run our hire centre exclusively on off-grid renewable power. We have been using this since 1998. As we are a mainly seasonal business, there is plenty of UV going spare and we minimize our power consumption with low rated appliances. In the winter, we adjust the position of our solar panels to catch the optimum UV light but when the batteries reach a critical level, we use a generator which has been modified to run on gas rather than petrol or diesel. When the appliances are being powered by the generator, the batteries are being charged so that the gas consumption is kept to a minimum.
Transport:
We recommend low carbon transport and make the journey as stimulating and sustainable as the stay. Our business model is inherently based on low carbon transport as a cycle hire provider! We were the first bespoke all season cycle hire business established in 1993 and rather than promoting cycle hire as simply another mode of transport we have created a model which equally considers the bike, the level or service and the wide choice of routes we have designed to maximize the enjoyment of the visitor. The whole package focuses on the quality of the cycle, the local knowledge of the staff and the route design which allows people to experience the many different flavours of the new forest whether it is open heathland, closed woodland, disused railway, village hamlet, local tea shop or ale house.
We also offer people a mechanical back-up service in case of emergency! Our location at Brockenhurst rail station means that people need not bring their car to enjoy a day out of short break in the New Forest National Park. For people arriving by car and staying in a hotel or guest house, we also have arrangements with selected accommodation providers to provide bikes onsite which reduces the need of the visitor to use their car. We are always looking at ways to improve our service and design new routes and try different styles of bike each season.
Community
We have always seen our business as a package of experiences and generally our customers only embark on one of our bikes after they have been offered suggestions on where to go. The route choice is key to our package and we will offer advice based on group size, level of fitness and peoples intrinsic ambition for their day out. This largely includes a refreshment stop on route and Brockenhurst is well placed to reach many of the local villages with its pubs and cafes. We often receive thanks from local publicans for the year round custom we bring them and sometimes, demand can outstrip supply! Our staff are encouraged to vary the route choice to try and balance the impact on certain popular haunts by offering different alternatives.
We always respond to charity requests whether it’s a local church or school raffle prize by donating bikes or accessories but we support a few main cycling events each year in the New Forest by providing free bike hire or free staff to help at the event. One of our main charity clients is Oakhaven Hospice who hold a sponsored bike and hike every Autumn. We have provided free bike hire and delivery to the event with onsite mechanics giving free technical help and advice for nearly 10 years. We have worked closely with the New Forest National Park Authority to develop and deliver New Forest Inclusive Cycling – an innovative new project giving young people with disabilities the opportunity to experience cycling in the National Park. This initiative has been received exceptionally well as it allows access to parts of the forest that only able bodied cyclists would previously have been able to experience. 10 bespoke therapy cycles catering for a range of disabilities have been grant funded; we are supporting the logistics for 10 closed group sessions per year, delivered at no cost to end users. Beyond this the bikes are available to rent at heavily subsidised rates for individual sessions.
Landscape
The New Forest National Park landscape is at the heart of our offer. We believe that cycling is simply the best way to experience the special qualities of the New Forest National Park.
The majority of our employees are local people who have grown up enjoying cycling in the New Forest. Our recommended routes have been developed and infuenced through generations of local knowledge and guide our customers to the best places to experience a true sense of wildness and tranquillity in the busy south east.
If you’re looking for the sights, sounds and smells of the New Forest’s ancient woodland with veteran trees, heathland, autumn colours and an unspoilt coastline then hire a bike from us and let us show you the way!
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