Morzine Bike Hire - Insurance

fasterthanaspeedingbullet

A group of us are going to Morzine in June for four days of riding.

We are going to hire DH bikes over there and have paid a deposit for some Giant Furys from Alpine Sports Warehouse. After a few emails to and fro it sounds like we need to find our own insurance to cover the hire bikes while we've got them.

I've been looking around at several insurance brokers and none of them seem to cover hired sports equipment over £600. Alpine Sports Warehouse have said that each Fury is worth 3000 EUR so obviously £600 worth of cover doesn't come close.

Has anyone else that has been in a similar situation able to throw a few suggestions my way please?

Has anyone else hired bikes from Alpine Sports Warehouse before?

Thanks in advance.

Dave_P1

I've only hired bikes once when I've been in France and I never needed insurance. Paid a refundable deposit and that's it.

UH DH

Most hire bikes out there will have been ragged. Even with the best maintainance, they're still rough as hell. What are you paying to hire them for 4 days? Because I'd imagine they're asking something stupid. They might be ok at that time of the season, though I'd advise looking for some second-hand bikes, get them set up, go out with them, ride, return and sell them. Check out the cost of doing that compared to hiring. In theory, if you buy the bikes for only a fortnight total, you should get roughly the same amount back for them, or more if you sell them right.

Something to think about.

fasterthanaspeedingbullet

Apparently the bikes are brand new 2012 models, and as we're going at the start of the MTB season I reckon they'll be in good shape.

Dave_P1

I hired a couple of morewood makulu whilst in Les Gets and the standard of the bikes were the best in the town by far. Apart from some new brake pads these bikes wanted for nothing.

bighitjas

imoff the lez gets/morzine 10th june for a week with alpine elements and the bike hire is £125 for 4days and the only insurance is personal at £29. so its a little more than £75 to take your own but when you check your bike in theres no guarantee the bike will arrive with you. and as youve said beginging of the season so looks good for new bikes and fresh tracks.

fasterthanaspeedingbullet

I ended up phoning Alpine Sports Warehouse to clear things up.

Basically the way they operate is that they bill you for whatever breaks at trade prices and they fix it up in their own workshop. Theft is a bit different, if the bike gets robbed in your care then you pay for a replacement! She said it's simple, never take your eyes off the bike! If you go for a beer, toilet, whatever, then someone always stays with the bikes. There is also the option to return the bikes back to the shop at the end of each day rather than keeping them at the chalet, as they are insured whilst they are in the shop.

So, it turns out that we only need the personal insurance.

Dave_P1

That sounds fair enough and no different to taking your own bike out there.
I had the same option about returning the bike to the shop everyday, which I took up for piece of mind!