Cycling guide in Majorca, yay, nay?

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Comments

  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    I can only add comments from a personal perspective having done this sorta thing when I helped run the dive school. I was also a MTB instr/guide at wotk for 6 years.

    Pros:
    - Get paid to do what you really enjoy
    - Free equipt, repairs if you use your own
    - - Do shed loads of what you enjoy
    - - Cachet of being in charge
    - Meet some lovely people who are really good fun
    - Improve self confidence, people skills, presentation, organising, on feet thinking, etc dkills
    - Great on CV
    - Brilliant for networking/opening new doors
    - Free travel, accomodation, food, etc
    - Brilliant party life and can be a total shagfest if you want

    Cons
    - Really, really long hours - we did 6 in the morning til 10 (and later) at night with a couple of hours downtime in the arvos 6 and 7 days a week - we all ended up knackered
    - - Remember you have to set up all the kit before work, get staff briefing, get game face on, brief punters, deal with last minute stuff, guide, deal with stuff as you guide, get everyone home safely, deal with post ride punters, deal with equipt issues, post ride staff de-brief, sort stuff for next day, do shift in shop for new potential punters. Rinse and repeat everyday. No day will go according to plan.
    - You have to suffer some really, really, really fuckingboring and obnoxious people but keep a smile and you can't argue, etc
    - - It really takes the fun out of what you enjoy - I didn't do a recreationsl dive for years after I finished working
    - It breaks you physically
    - Can be frustrating doing the same sites and running the same courses (or rides in this case) every day
    - You'll be the short term new boy and therefore bottom of the pack. Ensure your ego can handle it.

    Its a bit random and very patronising to read above that people think that people who use guides are "beginners" - clients will vary from beginners to racers to top level dudes who just want to ride with people in new places with full support. Its why its called a holiday.

    You're talking about 5 weeks or so which is no time at all. Tbh, if you want to do it, just do it. Its a free holiday in the sun, you won't be the best there, you won't be the worst. Don't go thinking you'll crush everyone because you won't.

    Remember you have to tailor your behaviour, conversation, reactions to the clients. Spend time briefing yourself up all aspects of current affairs sll sports, etc - no one likes paying to hang out with a dullard who can only talk about themselves or one very specific subject.

    You'll need to get good at on the road puncture repairs, sorting chains, cables, gear issues, first aid, food, water, sun burn,etc - punters won't do it, thats what you are there for. Know the history and current situ of the area to answer questions from punters. Loose knowledge of language, alt routes, cafes, etc.

    if you're not able to think safely, quickly and holistically whilst being chatty, outgoing, gregarious but able to get respect quickly and comand a situation and mixed group of paying punters who may all want different things this isn't the gig for you.

    Anyone can be a shitguide. Don't be a shitguide. If anything, you won't get laid or any free beer.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    MattFalle said:

    I can only add comments from a personal perspective having done this sorta thing when I helped run the dive school. I was also a MTB instr/guide at wotk for 6 years.

    Pros:
    - Get paid to do what you really enjoy
    - Free equipt, repairs if you use your own
    - - Do shed loads of what you enjoy
    - - Cachet of being in charge
    - Meet some lovely people who are really good fun
    - Improve self confidence, people skills, presentation, organising, on feet thinking, etc dkills
    - Great on CV
    - Brilliant for networking/opening new doors
    - Free travel, accomodation, food, etc
    - Brilliant party life and can be a total shagfest if you want

    Cons
    - Really, really long hours - we did 6 in the morning til 10 (and later) at night with a couple of hours downtime in the arvos 6 and 7 days a week - we all ended up knackered
    - - Remember you have to set up all the kit before work, get staff briefing, get game face on, brief punters, deal with last minute stuff, guide, deal with stuff as you guide, get everyone home safely, deal with post ride punters, deal with equipt issues, post ride staff de-brief, sort stuff for next day, do shift in shop for new potential punters. Rinse and repeat everyday. No day will go according to plan.
    - You have to suffer some really, really, really fuckingboring and obnoxious people but keep a smile and you can't argue, etc
    - - It really takes the fun out of what you enjoy - I didn't do a recreationsl dive for years after I finished working
    - It breaks you physically
    - Can be frustrating doing the same sites and running the same courses (or rides in this case) every day
    - You'll be the short term new boy and therefore bottom of the pack. Ensure your ego can handle it.

    Its a bit random and very patronising to read above that people think that people who use guides are "beginners" - clients will vary from beginners to racers to top level dudes who just want to ride with people in new places with full support. Its why its called a holiday.

    You're talking about 5 weeks or so which is no time at all. Tbh, if you want to do it, just do it. Its a free holiday in the sun, you won't be the best there, you won't be the worst. Don't go thinking you'll crush everyone because you won't.

    Remember you have to tailor your behaviour, conversation, reactions to the clients. Spend time briefing yourself up all aspects of current affairs sll sports, etc - no one likes paying to hang out with a dullard who can only talk about themselves or one very specific subject.

    You'll need to get good at on the road puncture repairs, sorting chains, cables, gear issues, first aid, food, water, sun burn,etc - punters won't do it, thats what you are there for. Know the history and current situ of the area to answer questions from punters. Loose knowledge of language, alt routes, cafes, etc.

    if you're not able to think safely, quickly and holistically whilst being chatty, outgoing, gregarious but able to get respect quickly and comand a situation and mixed group of paying punters who may all want different things this isn't the gig for you.

    Anyone can be a shitguide. Don't be a shitguide. If anything, you won't get laid or any free beer.

    Thanks, I wasn't planning on making it competitive in any form and I always thought the job was beyond the pedal turning bit... anyone can probably do that bit. My skills are elsewhere... common sense, first aid and mechanical primarily and probably inter personal and cultural.
    I just replied this morning, putting the ball firmly in their court, making sure they are aware that I can only do what I can do and if they want more or different, then they'll have to look elsewhere.
    At £2 an hour after tax, surely they can't be choosers!

    left the forum March 2023
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    ugo.santalucia said:

    MattFalle said:

    I can only add comments from a personal perspective having done this sorta thing when I helped run the dive school. I was also a MTB instr/guide at wotk for 6 years.

    Pros:
    - Get paid to do what you really enjoy
    - Free equipt, repairs if you use your own
    - - Do shed loads of what you enjoy
    - - Cachet of being in charge
    - Meet some lovely people who are really good fun
    - Improve self confidence, people skills, presentation, organising, on feet thinking, etc dkills
    - Great on CV
    - Brilliant for networking/opening new doors
    - Free travel, accomodation, food, etc
    - Brilliant party life and can be a total shagfest if you want

    Cons
    - Really, really long hours - we did 6 in the morning til 10 (and later) at night with a couple of hours downtime in the arvos 6 and 7 days a week - we all ended up knackered
    - - Remember you have to set up all the kit before work, get staff briefing, get game face on, brief punters, deal with last minute stuff, guide, deal with stuff as you guide, get everyone home safely, deal with post ride punters, deal with equipt issues, post ride staff de-brief, sort stuff for next day, do shift in shop for new potential punters. Rinse and repeat everyday. No day will go according to plan.
    - You have to suffer some really, really, really fuckingboring and obnoxious people but keep a smile and you can't argue, etc
    - - It really takes the fun out of what you enjoy - I didn't do a recreationsl dive for years after I finished working
    - It breaks you physically
    - Can be frustrating doing the same sites and running the same courses (or rides in this case) every day
    - You'll be the short term new boy and therefore bottom of the pack. Ensure your ego can handle it.

    Its a bit random and very patronising to read above that people think that people who use guides are "beginners" - clients will vary from beginners to racers to top level dudes who just want to ride with people in new places with full support. Its why its called a holiday.

    You're talking about 5 weeks or so which is no time at all. Tbh, if you want to do it, just do it. Its a free holiday in the sun, you won't be the best there, you won't be the worst. Don't go thinking you'll crush everyone because you won't.

    Remember you have to tailor your behaviour, conversation, reactions to the clients. Spend time briefing yourself up all aspects of current affairs sll sports, etc - no one likes paying to hang out with a dullard who can only talk about themselves or one very specific subject.

    You'll need to get good at on the road puncture repairs, sorting chains, cables, gear issues, first aid, food, water, sun burn,etc - punters won't do it, thats what you are there for. Know the history and current situ of the area to answer questions from punters. Loose knowledge of language, alt routes, cafes, etc.

    if you're not able to think safely, quickly and holistically whilst being chatty, outgoing, gregarious but able to get respect quickly and comand a situation and mixed group of paying punters who may all want different things this isn't the gig for you.

    Anyone can be a shitguide. Don't be a shitguide. If anything, you won't get laid or any free beer.

    Thanks, I wasn't planning on making it competitive in any form and I always thought the job was beyond the pedal turning bit... anyone can probably do that bit. My skills are elsewhere... common sense, first aid and mechanical primarily and probably inter personal and cultural.
    I just replied this morning, putting the ball firmly in their court, making sure they are aware that I can only do what I can do and if they want more or different, then they'll have to look elsewhere.
    At £2 an hour after tax, surely they can't be choosers!

    Totes negatorn big U - they can be choosers because plenty of people want to do it and aren't bothered about the money. they see it as a stepping stone/something to do for a while/chance to liverlsewhere.

    Look how msny people are PGL/climbibg/kayak/etc instrs - none of these pay unless you own the business, and even then its v v v tight margins..

    we used to employ people to train them up to divemaster/AI and dooper dooper scooba diver or whatever PADI used to call it when you got 5 specialities: no pay, no accomodation, lunch on the boat, free use of eqipt if they didn't have their own but in no way did they own it, option to buy at staff rates though.

    At the end of the 7months or so they would have their DM ticket and experience and thats it.

    They asked in droves and you had to turn people away.

    Your face/personality doesn't fit they'll just let you go.

    Look at it from their point - what are you bringing to the party that that Tom, Dick and Harriet can't?
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    MattFalle said:



    At the end of the 7months or so they would have their DM ticket and experience and thats it.

    They asked in droves and you had to turn people away.

    Your face/personality doesn't fit they'll just let you go.

    Look at it from their point - what are you bringing to the party that that Tom, censored and Harriet can't?

    Fair enough... but it's a bit different here. It's not a job that will ever pay any bill, it's not a career, there are no qualifications to gain... it's a working holiday. They can probably find a a number of 20 something who want to do it as part of their gap year and maybe the odd early retiree who has enough money not to worry too much about money, but other than that...
    Anyway, we'll see

    left the forum March 2023
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    And people taking time out between jobs, people travelling, people on cycling tours, on gardening leave, training for events, full time riders out of season, prople just taking a break from life'sshit for personal reasons, locals, the list goes on.

    its a pretty big pool of potentials.

    keep us updated though.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 680
    "what are you bringing to the party that that Tom, censored and Harriet can't?"

    Gotta love the swear filter auto censor feature on here :)
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    Imagine going through life being called censored. 🤣😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    Munsford0 said:

    "what are you bringing to the party that that Tom, censored and Harriet can't?"

    Gotta love the swear filter auto censor feature on here :)

    MF didn't even see that 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

    mental, innit.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    I worked for less than that teaching sailing in France.

    If you put the ball in their court, they will probably pick it up and take it home.

    I'm sure there are plenty of sensible people out there who'd do it for net-free, without the 2 EUR/hour.
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    I'd do it for nothing for shitz'n'giggles

    Also means they can't use the "well, this is what you're being paid for" line
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    shirley_basso said:

    I worked for less than that teaching sailing in France.

    If you put the ball in their court, they will probably pick it up and take it home.

    I'm sure there are plenty of sensible people out there who'd do it for net-free, without the 2 EUR/hour.

    You might be right, we'll see. If they find younger folks who are happy to work harder, 7 days a week and they are hungrier for this role, then good on them
    left the forum March 2023
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    edited December 2022
    pblakeney said:

    Imagine going through life being called censored. 🤣😉

    it would be prettyshit, tbh
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 680
    My wife worked briefly for an insurance company and helped run their Youth Training Scheme (remember that?). One of the aforementioned youths had the unfortunate monicker of Richard Head...

    What were his parents thinking???
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,331
    edited December 2022
    MattFalle said:


    - Brilliant party life and can be a total sausagefest if you want

    FTFY.
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    .
    Munsford0 said:

    My wife worked briefly for an insurance company and helped run their Youth Training Scheme (remember that?). One of the aforementioned youths had the unfortunate monicker of Richard Head...

    What were his parents thinking???

    that hd was a mistake and that he had fuckeduptheir very nice life?
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,379
    Munsford0 said:

    My wife worked briefly for an insurance company and helped run their Youth Training Scheme (remember that?). One of the aforementioned youths had the unfortunate monicker of Richard Head...

    What were his parents thinking???

    I had a uni lecturer called Richard Pincock.

    He'd given up on trying to be called Richard by the time I met him.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,379
    And I had a few cases for a US law firm a while back, called Harness, Dickie and Pierce.

    Safety first, I suppose.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    edited December 2022
    I knew a Social Services manager called Michael Hunt. He was never too chuffed at being called Mike.
  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    I worked for an outfit in Germany that, back in its Bristol office, had a bloke called Paul Mycock.
  • laurentian
    laurentian Posts: 2,568
    I know a lad called Max Speed
    Wilier Izoard XP
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    Two boys in my class at school. Ross Allan and Allan Ross.
    Not as funny but presumably rare.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • de_sisti
    de_sisti Posts: 1,283
    ugo.santalucia said:


    March/April...

    We went last few days of March/first few days of April this year and the weather was apalling. Lots of cold, strong winds, accompanied by rain.
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    de_sisti said:

    ugo.santalucia said:


    March/April...

    We went last few days of March/first few days of April this year and the weather was apalling. Lots of cold, strong winds, accompanied by rain.
    https://www.abc-mallorca.com/mallorca-weather-april/
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    Well, I said I was happy to join the team with a couple of caveats (I can't lead a 19 mph ride in the hilly part of the Island and I probably need a day off each week)... haven't heard anything since. They are not the quickest to reply... I guess we'll see, I'm not holding my breath.
    left the forum March 2023
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    mega curry sauce U - keep us updated
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,227
    ugo.santalucia said:

    Looks like it’s going to happen… :)

    Smart - as you've told them what you can do, it should be a great way to spend a few weeks.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    kingstongraham said:

    ugo.santalucia said:

    Looks like it’s going to happen… :)

    Smart - as you've told them what you can do, it should be a great way to spend a few weeks.
    Yes, I think ultimately you have to prefer having someone who knows what they can and can’t do, rather than someone who claims can do it all but then turns out to be unreliable.

    left the forum March 2023
  • johnnyfartpants
    johnnyfartpants Posts: 566
    ugo.santalucia said:

    kingstongraham said:

    ugo.santalucia said:

    Looks like it’s going to happen… :)

    Smart - as you've told them what you can do, it should be a great way to spend a few weeks.
    Yes, I think ultimately you have to prefer having someone who knows what they can and can’t do, rather than someone who claims can do it all but then turns out to be unreliable.

    In short 'capabilty'.
    Good man - Good luck. Lucky b@stard!! :wink:

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