Why Do We Have a Minimum Rental Period?
28/02/2025At Cycling the Camino, we strive to always offer the highest quality bicycles and the best maintenance to prevent any issues or breakdowns along the Camino. To achieve this, we renew our fleet of bicycles every two years at most, ensuring a better overall experience for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Based on this commitment to renewal and maintenance, we decided years ago to establish minimum rental periods that guarantee a perfect balance between economic sustainability and the best possible experience for cycling pilgrims. With this in mind, we set a minimum rental period of 3 days (or the equivalent price) for Standard MTB bikes, 5 days (or the equivalent price) for Premium MTB and Gravel bikes, and 7 days (or the equivalent price) for E-MTB bikes.
Sometimes, we are asked if we can make an exception for shorter rental periods. However, our response remains the same: "Unfortunately, we do not make exceptions." This policy is in place to ensure that every pilgrim receives equipment in top condition. Please keep in mind that we already offer the best possible rates based on the cost and maintenance requirements of each bike model, as not all bicycles require the same level of upkeep. Among all the bike models we offer, the most frequent inquiries are about our E-MTBs. Some pilgrims wish to rent them for just one or four days, but our answer is always the same: "The rental period must be at least 7 days or the equivalent price". Additionally, with the E-bikes, we require that they be returned to our store in Santiago de Compostela, where we inspect the bicycle to ensure it is in the same condition as when it was delivered. The reason we do not allow returns at a different location is that, once the journey is completed, a storage and logistics process is required. If the bike were stolen during that time, the pilgrims, the hotel, and the transport company would likely not take responsibility. For this reason, we require the bike to be returned exclusively to our store in Santiago, with no exceptions.
In addition to standard cleaning, inspection, lubrication, and testing, E-MTBs require meticulous maintenance, including motor servicing, battery care, and software updates for Bosch systems. All of this is done exclusively at authorized service centers to maintain the highest quality standards. The 7-day rental price for an Focus E-MTB is €375.20, which we believe is more than reasonable for a bike equipped with a 750Wh battery (625Wh for smaller frame sizes), full servicing after every rental, and a state-of-the-art Bosch motor, ensuring a hassle-free journey along the Camino de Santiago.
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