Mountain Biking Getaway

AIRBNB Comes to Mountain Biking – But will it work?

Innovative new program allows mountain bikers to ride with passionate locals.

Airbnb is one of the world’s fastest-growing companies, disrupting the entire hotel industry in its wake. Its popularity lies in offering renters the opportunity to experience towns and cities around the world via unique accommodations that let them feel like a local, in real neighborhoods, rather than a package tourist in a big chain hotel.

That same philosophy is behind a new program being offered by leading mountain bike adventure company Sacred Rides. With their new Getaways program, the company is equipping passionate mountain bikers around the world with the tools, training and support they need to guide other mountain bikers on their local trails, via 1 and 2-day adventures.

Spokane, WA mountain biker Ken Hoekema was among the first 20 people to sign up, and is eagerly looking forward to his spring 2017 launch. His personal Getaways site – at spokane.sacredrides.com – is ready, with his first few trips designed and ready for hosting mountain bikers when the snow melts.

“I’ve been passionate about mountain biking since I was 20 years old,” says Hoekema, “and have lived and mountain biked in Spokane for the last 10 years. Our area has an incredible variety of trails and I’m excited to share them with the world.”

Ken will continue his training with the Getaways staff over the winter; in addition to completing Sacred Rides’ in-depth training program (both online and in-person versions), he’ll also need to procure permits and purchase liability insurance (Sacred Rides is working with insurance partners to access discounted rates for their Getaways affiliates).

The company seems to have done their homework and have put a lot of work into providing almost everything a mountain biker would need – including discounted bikes, gear, and even trail snacks via their industry partners – to get a guiding business off the ground.

But will mountain bikers pay to go mountain biking with other locals? That’s the acid test and time will tell, but if Sacred Rides and their affiliates can answer that in the affirmative, the sky’s the limit for this program and it could scale rapidly all over the planet.

For more information on joining the program, visit the Getaways website. They’re not taking any more applications at the moment so they can focus on their existing affiliates, but their founder tells me they’ll be taking applications again in early March.

Who knows? It just might work.Would you go on one of these trips? Are you intrigued enough to want to apply? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below

ABOUT SACRED RIDES
Ranked “#1 Mountain Bike Tour Operator on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure magazine, Sacred Rides offers small-group singletrack mountain bike adventures and skills camps in some of the most spectacular destinations on Earth, with a focus on responsible tourism that makes direct, meaningful contributions to local communities.

www.sacredrides.com

ABOUT THE GETAWAYS PROGRAM
Launched in late 2016, Sacred Rides’ Getaways program gives mountain bikers around the world the tools, training and support to sell and deliver 1 and 2-day mountain bike adventures in their local area and on their local trails. Under the globally-respected Sacred Rides brand, Getaways affiliates receive a beautiful website, robust backend booking and operations system, and in-depth training on all aspects of operations, sales, and marketing.

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