Category: FAQ

FAQ

How to rent a bike in Greece?

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date December 11, 2020

Welcome to the most complete bike rental solution out there. Why our project is the best? Simpy because everything you see has emerged out of thousands rental bikes delivered. It is our curiosity, combined with your feedback that made this project possible and we are committed to further make it better and faster.

Step 1: Select your location

By typing the name of the location you want us to deliver the bike, a list of locations that match the search criteria appears. Using your mouse, your keyboard or your finger, select the one you are looking for.

Tip: you may also search using any Greek post code; that is extremely helpful in case of a hotel or an airbnb.

Step 2: Choose your dates

This is a straightforward section. You just select the dates 🙂

Tip: Make sure you select the ones matching the duration of your holidays and do not forget to check the option of delivering/collecting the bike at the airport, right the moment you land.

Step 3: Fill in your height

Enter your height in imperial or metric units. Here, you can also add extra cyclists and the software will allocate bikes of the same type to each one of them.

Step 4: Search for bikes

By clicking the search button: You made it! Please allow a moment or so, for our booking engine to display the results. The software combines offerings, availability and delivery cost by various vendors who cover the region. The total price you see there, is the total that you will pay for the bikes – this may change in case you add extras and accessories

Step 5 [optional]: Fine tuning your results by bike type or time

You can screen out all non related bike types by selecting only the ones you are interested in. If you are looking for an ebike, why seeing results for those lightweight road machines? Furthermore, you may specify when you want you bike to be delivered; yes, we can deliver 24/7 (charges apply for deliveries outside the normal working hours)

Step 6: Choose your bike

After you review the various bike rental options, press the “Book Bike” button. Your selection is made and that will get you to the next page where you can provide us with more information related to your booking.

Step 7: [Optional] Change the frame size

All bikes sizes are categorized to suit your height. However, there are a few cases where cyclists prefer a bigger or smaller sized bike than the one selected by the software. Here you can override the preselection and choose the one you think is best (Note: only available bikes will be listed)

Step 8: Contact details and extras

Here you just input the contact details for us to contact you for any matter related to your booking. In the case of multiple cycling, it is very important to enter the contact details for each one of them and select who is the group leader. Based on our experience, it i very helpful to deal with minor issues with the riders directly, plus that this enable us to have more phone numbers in case of an emergency (e.g. in the mountains, not all have the reception).
Select your extras: Every bike comes with particular extras and accessories. By clicking what you need you instantly get an overview of the extra cost, and upon selecting that it is automatically added to the total cost.

Step 9: Share more on how we will find you

This is where you fill in your address, the hotel name, the contact details of your Airbnb manager or anything else that would help us deliver the bike to you.
Fun fact: the best of all times note we had to process was “I have left the key of the porch gate under the yellow flower pot. Please enter, lock the bikes and send me a message where you have left the lock’s keys” Cool euh?

Step 10: Complete your payment

That is the ONLY way to confirm your booking and, of course to keep our project going. The payment processor is a fully compliant with the latest regulations and safety standards. For any issues please email at info@grcycling.com.

FAQ

Parts replacement costs

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date November 19, 2020

Upon your bike’s return to us, our mechanics check if any items are missing or asses the damage caused on your rental. Below there is a detailed list of the items along with the cost of us replacing them.

All prices below is to replace the part mentioned.

The list below is a firm price table for us toreplace the missing items or repair the damages in the shortest possible time. In the case a part replacement cost is not listed here, our agents will let know about the total cost.

Disclaimer: prices may change with no further notice

Accessories

Helmet – €35
Mini pump – €13
Mini pump premium – €25
Tire levers – €2
Flashing lights USB – €10 / light
Touring light USB – €50 / light
Bell – €7
Pedal flat – €10
Pedals cleats – €35
Floor pump – €35
Floor pump premium – €95
Cycling shoes – €50
Lock – €20
Saddleback spare kit – €10
Saddleback touring (14l) – €130

Groupset

Chain – €15
Lever / Mechanical / Road, Gravel – €120
Lever / Mechanical UDi2/ Road, Gravel – €160
Lever / Hydraulic / Road, Gravel – €200
Lever / Hydraulic UDi2 / Road, Gravel – €220
Lever Braking / Fitness, MTB – €30
Gear Shifter / Fitness, MTB – €50
Derailleur – Road bike, MTB – €80
Derailleur – Road bike Dura Ace – €150
Derailleur – Road bike UDi2 – €170
Derailleur – Fitness bike – €40
Derailleur hanger – €15
Cassette – Road Bike, MTB – €55
Cassette – Other – €40
Braking Calliper Hydraulic -€ 40
Cranks (pair) Road, MTB – €170
Cranks other – €50
Bottom Bracket – €50
Uid2 Charger – €90

Other

Handlebar – €70
Stem – €35
Handlebar tape – €12
Handlebar grips (pair) – €15
Saddle – €40

Electric Bikes

Keys – €60
Battery Socket – €90
Battery – €750
Light Front – €60
Light Rear – €50

Tags Damage deposit

FAQ

Damage deposit: how banks handle that as a transaction

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date November 8, 2020

What is “normally” happening?

The moment we charge the damage deposit on your card, the majority of the banks handle that as a successful transaction.

Appearing a completed transaction

There are a few banks out there which display the amount authorisation with no visual differentiation compared to the rest of completed transactions. That may cause a significant amount of frustration, but rest assured, that there is no chance us charging any amount prior notifying you.

What happens when I receive the email of the damage deposit refund

In the case of a reversal of the damage deposit amount, you will see a refund credit on your statement or you’ll just see the original damage deposit charge drop. Your bank should be able to confirm this for you. Depending on your card issuer, the original charge will disappear from your pending charges within the next 7 calendar days of the reversal – refund. (Assuming no charges as per our Damage Deposit guidelines)

Tags Damage deposit

FAQ

Is there any insurance plan?

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date June 6, 2020

Currently there is no insurance plan that we can offer during your bike rental. We are constantly in discussions with insurance companies that will enable us to offer you an affordable and complete plan.

FAQ

Damage Deposit: All you need to know

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date June 6, 2020

What is the Damage Deposit?

The Damage Deposit (or in other bike rental companies you might find it as cushion deposit) is an amount allocated, for us to be able to replace any parts that during the use of your rental bike, have been damaged, lost or it is very hard for us to use them.

Some of the examples are listed below:

spare tubes used
bended rims
lost levers or multitools
destroyed tyres
broken shifters

See a more detailed parts’ list and costs.

In case of no accidents or actual damages, we may use part of the damage deposit to offset any payments for cancelling or prolonging your booking.

Why the damage deposit is necessary?

In the unfortunate event where a bike upon its return is found to be damaged, it is our top priority to repair it the soonest possible, so that it doesn’t have an impact on all the bookings that follow. Also, we need to ensure that the rest of the cyclists using this bike are going to enjoy a safe and trouble-free time on the saddle.

Is this an insurance plan?

No, this is not an insurance. You are still liable for the total loss or damages exceeding the damage disposit amount.

Example: when after a crash and the bike is not usable at all (broken frame) or if your bikes was stolen, we will need to order a new to replace it. In that place, customer bares the cost of replacing it.

Charging the damage deposit

Approximately three days prior your bike rental plan starts, you will receive an email to remind you to cover the damage deposit, if you haven’t done that before.

(Please note that in the case your rental period begins in less than 3 days of your booking confirmation, the damage deposit will have to be allocated simultaneously)

After our staff collects your rental bike(s), our mechanics thoroughly inspect the bike and asses any costs incurred to repair any damages. In case no damages found, the amount on the damage deposit amount is fully refunded and within 2-3 working days that is also reflected in your bank’s statements.

In the unfortunate event that we our mechanics notify us of damages, we keep you updated on every stage of this process, transparently communicating all the costs needed to repair the bike or its part. In that case we charge the amount for the repairs accordingly.

How we calculate the costs? GrCycling has a a significant number of bikes, which enable us to trade on wholesale terms with the various bike manufactures and spare suppliers. Therefore, our charges are based on:

wholesale rate from the suppliers
time to repair the repair the bike
administration and bank fees
a mindset to minimise the above

What happens if I do not have the damage deposit in place?

Our staff will not be able to deliver you the bikes unless the damage deposit is in place. If there is no other way for you to cover the amount needed (e.g. you card is blocked) we will have to cancel the order as non-show.

How we know that a damage has occurred?

It is part of our procedure, that after ever bike collection our mechanics inspect, document and service the bike, so that it is closer to its original condition. Every bike has a record of pictures, notes and comments that enable us to know in detail the status of each bike. That said, being cyclists ourselves, we understand that using the bike might result minor scratches, chain issues, braking pads replacements or others, and we do not count them as damages.

Tags Damage deposit

FAQ

Bike Rental Delivery at Athens Airport

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date June 3, 2020
Sticky post

Rent your bike
booking.grcycling.com/airport

Can I have my bike rental delivered at the airport?

Yes! That is an exciting and straightforward service we have designed. You are welcome to use it start your cycling days by driving to your destination without entering the busy roads of Athens centre.

I have rented a car, can we meet there to collect my bike?

Renting a car upon your arrival, is the most common scenario. In that case, the only thing we would need

is your inbound flight
time of your scheduled arrival
the car rental company you will use

and we will meet you there.

Can I rent a rear bike rack?

In the case your rental car is not big, or there is no space to get the bike in the passenger’s cabin along with the rest of yours belongings, our staff can can provide you with a rear rack with straps. Using the rack you will be able to transfer the bike(s) at the back of the car, with no ability to easily open the trunk door (the bike is going to be placed there, that makes sense right? 🙂 )

We will the bike rack fit on my rental car?

Based on our experience, our bike racks normally work with those affordable series of rental cars. The key here is the rear door (trunk); it has to be framed with metal components, which will allow a safer attachment of the rack’s straps. Typically, in affordable series rental vehicles (small, city type) that is the norm and we expect no surprises with mounting the rack. However, and sadly enough, the only way for us to truly know if mounting the bike rack is possible or not, it going to be when we meet you at the airport. In the unlikely event that we fail to mount the rack, we will help you disassembling the bike and try to fit in the car. If the case all efforts fail, resulting in you not being able to enjoy your bike during your vacation time, there will be no charge for the bike rental, other that the amount of us getting to airport. (We will issue a full refund expert for the amount of €60)

Tags Athens Airport, Delivery & Collection service

FAQ

How the delivery costs are being calculated? Is booking earlier better?

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date May 31, 2020
Sticky post

A lot of cyclists ask us for more information on the delivery costs, since those can significantly impact the order’s total amount. Below, we share a few insights and examples for you to understand more how this works.

An overview of a sophisticated, complex system makes the pricing.

For years now we collect a lot of data for the locations cyclists prefer to rent a bike. At the same time we have modelled how our operations should work in order to ensure efficient occupations of our resources, increased bike availability and respect for the environment. All these parameters are constantly being calculated from our booking servers, aiming to find the optimal scenario for every request. Therefore, the moment you select your location and your desired bikes, this complex system checks the availability and once the bikes are available, it factors in where there are located, where were are our van and which is the most cost effective way to delivery to you.

Perhaps sharing a example would make things a bit easier.

Example 1: On 1st of May, one of our cycling vans is scheduled to travel from the city of Kalamata to Athens. At the same time a cyclist is looking for a bike in the region of Corinth for the next day, the 2nd on May. This bike happens to be located in Kalamata. In that case the delivery costs would only reflect the fees for storing the bikes at our Corinth Hub for one day, since Corinth imposes no deviation time to the scheduled van’s route from Kalamata to Athens.

Example 2: Additionally to the above, a cycling group, which resides at Kiato, a town 30 minutes of driving away from Corinth, requests for 4 bikes on the 2nd of May. The system checks the availability and finds out that the optimal scenario would be to allocate 2 bikes in Kalamata, which will be shipped with the cycling van used in the example 1, at no cost, and 2 bikes from our hub in Athens. Here, the costs are calculated based on storing 2 bikes in our Corinth hub, plus the intra-transfer for 2 bikes from Athens to Corinth and the employment service from Corinth to Kiato.

Complex scenarios: In the cases where a request has a more complex impact on our operational load, the software can also advise our operation team to spend the night at the place en route to our delivery destination.

Fun fact: for the wildest of cases, the software might recommend our ops teams to… camp. That really blows our mind!

The earlier the better, fair pricing for all any time.

Approximately 70% of our resources (bikes and cycling vans) are allocated at least 6 months before. That gives us a great opportunity to plan and offer you the best possible rates. Therefore, last minute bookings is possible to come with a premium, since the bikes availability is not elastic, mainly due to already confirmed bookings and fixed transportation van routes. We refrain from making last minute offers, since such practise increases the exposure of our delivery service to unforeseeable events (e.g. a bike is destroyed and finding a replacement for the bookings to follow might result a great cost for us), therefore we strongly recommend all cyclists to confirm their bikes the soonest they have their travelling plans confirmed.

Tags Delivery & Collection service

FAQ

Is it sufficient to present a copy of my driving licence / ID?

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date May 20, 2020
No Comments on Is it sufficient to present a copy of my driving licence / ID?

Unfortunately, a copy of your licence /id will not be accepted at the pick-up point. You will need to present the original document at pick-up.

If you have had your licence lost or stolen and have already booked a bike rental through us, we recommend that you either request a name change on the reservation to someone traveling with you, or cancel the reservation if this is not an option. If you change the name to a new main driver, remember that they will need to present all the mandatory documents in their own name at the pick up desks.

FAQ

What do I need to pick-up the bike(s)?

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date May 20, 2020
No Comments on What do I need to pick-up the bike(s)?

Do not forget to bring along any official government document that can prove your identity. That are:

valid national ID
passport that hasn’t been expired
driving licence

All the above documents should have your details written in english, containing a photo of your and official stamp.

FAQ

Can I rent a bike if I am under 16 years old?

Post author By GrCycling Team
Post date May 20, 2020
No Comments on Can I rent a bike if I am under 16 years old?

No. We would require an official parent’s consent dated not earlier than 1 month prior your pick-up date. Alternately, one simple email from your parents would be enough, as long as they provide us with proof of the parental relation

Please note that during your booking process, we will not request you to provide us with your age. Upon your pick-up, you will require to provide us with an official id to complete the rental agreement and validate your age.