1. Photo identification must be provided on the day of hire. Accepted forms of I.D are driving licence or passport. This will be kept and stored securely for the duration of the hire and will be issued back to you once bikes and equipment are returned in the same condition as was received at the start of hire.
2. A security/damage deposit will be taken from the hirer’s credit/debit card and will be surrendered upon the return of the equipment in a satisfactory condition.
3. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an Adult.
4. All bicycles are routinely safety checked before hand-over and a cycle helmet will be offered to you. We recommend wearing a cycle helmet. You are welcome to wear your own helmet.
5. You will be deemed to be completely satisfied that your bike, and equipment, is fit for purpose. If not please report promptly to a member of staff.
6. The bicycles must be returned in the same condition in which they left the hire centre. All damages however caused will be charged.
Examples of damage may include (but are not limited to) the following.
- Broken or damaged derailleurs, brake levers, shifters, bent crank arms, and ripped saddles due to impact or operator error.
- Flat spots on tyres due to repeated skidding.
- Buckled wheels due to impact, being jumped on or driven over, or placed in a bike rack and allowed to fall over.
- Missing or damaged helmets. Should you experience a serious fall with a head impact, we will need to replace the helmet at your cost.
- Broken pannier racks due to impact or overloading or doubling a person.
7. All bicycles will be provided with a lock and the hirer is responsible for ensuring that it is adequately secured/locked to a fixed object through the frame and front wheel during the period of hire. The hirer will be responsible for the full replacement cost of the bicycle, at current market price, if it is lost or stolen during the period of hire.
8. You must be over the age of 18 to be the person completing the booking form and therefore the person responsible for hiring bikes from us.
9. When booking a bike we will ask from what time you wish to hire and for how long. This will be the hire period that we will reserve your bikes for you. If you do not arrive for your Hire Period you could risk not being able to hire the bikes for the duration you have paid for as other people may have booked those same bikes later in the day. We will endeavour to delay your Hire Period if you are late but only if bikes are available. The Hire Period starts when the Bikes are collected from us at our premises and continues until the Bikes are returned to the premises and handed to a member of staff.
10. All items on hire, including accessories and attachments remain the property of New Forest Bike Hire and it is agreed that you will not sell, hire out, lend or otherwise part with possession thereof.
Payment
2.1 Our hire charges are set out on our website.
2.2 Whether you book online, by telephone or in person, you must pay for the Hire Period for the Bikes before the start of the Hire Period.
2.3 Upon accepting these Terms and Conditions you have provided us with your credit or debit card details for full and immediate payment for the Hire Period you have requested. You also agree to authorise us to charge on that credit/debit card all eventual costs in case of damages, loss or theft of Bikes or their components other than that which can be reasonably classed as normal wear and tear as well as any cancellation or late return fees that you may owe us.
2.4 You agree to pay our additional charges if you return the Bikes after the end of the Hire Period. This will be calculated at a pro-rate rate of the normal hourly rates. If you know you are not going to be able to get back by end of the Hire Period, please call us and let us know.
2.5 We do not give refunds or credit for bikes returned before the end of the Hire Period. If you fail to return the Bikes in the condition required, you agree to pay our reasonable costs of repair (where possible) or replacement of the Bikes or their components. If we have to replace a Bike because it has been lost or is damaged beyond economic repair, we shall be entitled to charge you the cost to replace it with a new Bike of the same standard as the lost or damaged Bike.
2.6 Should any problems with the bicycle arise, you must contact us either in person or by telephone where we will arrange to have the problem corrected. We will not reimburse customers for repairs by another company unless the damage, kind of repair and costs of the repair are discussed with and approved by us first.
How to take care of our bikes
3.1 Please do not clean bikes with a jet wash or any pressurised water. If the bike is muddy then we’ll clean it! If you need to clean it before it goes in your vehicle or house then ensure that you do not under any circumstances use a jet wash. Pressurised water or steam will damage bearings and fork seals of the bike.
3.2 Please do not attempt to fix anything you do not know how to fix. Call us if you damage something or something stops working.
3.3 If taking wheels out of the bike for transportation make sure the brake levers are not squeezed or the pistons will close. You can use a clean flat blade screwdriver or tyre lever to gently separate them if this happens.
3.4 Changing gear under load can result in damage to the drivetrain. Always back off the pressure on the pedals when changing gear and only engage power to the chain once it has moved to the gear you have selected.
3.5 Ensure spray lubricant does not come into contact with the brake pads or brake rotors or brake discs (WD40, GT85 or spray chain lubricant etc).
3.6 We will fit the seat post to your height before the hire commence and we suggest that you do not change this setting to prevent damage to the seat tube.
3.7 Ensure bikes are being transported safely so they are not scratched or damaged. You must use blankets or padding between bikes to avoid friction if the bike is on a rack or at risk of coming into contact with other items.
3.8 Never leave bikes unattended even if locked up, thieves can cut through locks and steal individual components. Bikes must be stored in a secure location overnight. These Terms and Conditions require you to pay for individual parts if stolen.
3.9 The Party Leader agrees to be responsible for payment of all charges not paid by other members of his party.
We endeavour the following:
4.1 We will provide you with the bikes for the hire period booked by you. Where at all possible we will ensure that the bikes provided are of the size and specification booked. If in the unlikely event that we cannot provide the booked bike option we will provide you with a best possible and suitable replacement to your satisfaction.
4.2 We cannot take responsibility for customers booking the incorrect frame size(s) but will always aim to exchange for the correct size(s) should an alternative be available.
4.3 We will carefully check that the bikes are in good and safe condition before releasing them to you.
4.4 We will give you a safety briefing explaining some basics of how the bikes should be used before the hire period.
4.5 A puncture repair kit and pump is available upon request and is included within the hire charges.
4.6 A helmet is also included in the hire charges and we recommend that one is worn at all times while you are riding. All young persons (aged 17 or younger) MUST wear a cycle helmet as a condition of hire, and will only be issued with equipment when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Your Responsibilities
5.1 During busy periods you may have to queue to collect your bike. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before your session is due to start and will always endeavour to allow you your full time on the bike unless you are late arriving and the bike you have booked is needed for following customers who have paid.
5.2 We recommend that you make sure you cycle within your current skill and experience levels. You should not attempt any trails or techniques which are outside these.
5.3 We recommend that you wear a suitable cycle helmet at all times when riding. This can be the helmet provided by us or one provided by you. If it is your own helmet, it is your responsibility to ensure it is suitable and undamaged.
5.4 You must ride responsibly at all times, with due consideration for other cyclists, pedestrians and road and trail users. You must not ride on any paths, tracks or areas where cycling is not permitted. Please observe normal trail etiquette (such as giving way to faster riders and pulling over to the side of a trail if you intend stopping). Safe cycling is dependent on your alertness and good judgement. Please cycle sensibly, with respect for others and the natural habitat. Cyclists are expected to follow the Highway Code and New Forest Cycling Code.
5.5 You are responsible for all bikes and other equipment hired or loaned to you and it your responsibility to keep these items safe from damage, loss or theft, use it in a proper manner and not subject it to any misuse or unfair wear and tear. When unattended, you must ensure that your bike is securely locked. You will be responsible for any loss of, or damage to, a bike or other equipment provided to you and you must make payment for any loss or damage.
5.6 While cycling off road, it is recommended you keep to public rights-of-way where cycling is permitted and exercise due care to all other users. When using public highways riders must observe the Highway Code. All equipment will only be used in the manner for which it is intended. Bicycles must not be used on the beach, in the sea or immersed in water.
5.7 During the Hire Period, you must check your bike from time to time (and particularly after a crash) for damage which may affect your safety. If you find any significant damage, you should not use the bike and return it to us without delay. It is not permitted to continue using the bicycle if it’s damaged, when its use can lead to aggravation of the damage or affects traffic safety.
5.8 If you take the bike(s) away by vehicle, you are responsible for ensuring that you have an appropriate bike rack or other method of securing the bike(s) to the vehicle which is both safe and will not damage the bike(s).
IMPORTANT
6.1 You are responsible for your own safety. Cycling involves personal risk and you must ride responsibly.
6.2 We recommend that first-time or novice riders, or riders under 16 must use the bikes under the supervision of an experienced rider.
6.3 You must not cycle when intoxicated or under the influence of medication. You are advised not to cycle when fatigued.
6.4 We will give you a short safety briefing before we allow you to take the bikes. It is essential that you listen carefully to the safety briefing and tell us if there is anything you do not understand or you are not entirely comfortable with.
Liability and Disclaimers
7.1 I fully indemnify New Forest Bikes against any claim of death, injury, loss or damage which results from:
7.1.1 your own actions or omissions;
7.1.2 the actions or omissions of any third party not connected with the provision of your bike hire;
7.1.3 the condition of the trails, weather conditions or other environmental conditions;
7.1.4 anything else not caused by us.
7.2 We will not be responsible for any death, injury, loss or damage to the extent that it was not reasonably foreseeable.
7.3 If we are unable to honour your booking for any reason, we will refund to you the charges already paid but we shall have no further liability.
7.4 We are not responsible for any trails or routes. They are maintained by third parties. Any information we provide in relation to any trails or routes is provided in good faith based on the information provided to us, but we cannot guarantee that this information is accurate or complete at the time you intend to use the trail or route.
Personal Data
8.1 On our Booking Form, we require you to provide personal information such as name, email address and phone number. We will retain this information in accordance with our privacy policy. If you provide credit or debit card details, we will use this information only for processing payments.
8.2 If you opt in to our marketing, we will use your name and email address to provide you with information about our services and our news. However, we will not release this information to anyone else.
Other Important Terms
9.1 These terms will take precedence over any contradictory terms elsewhere (for instance on our Booking Form).
9.2 Nobody else has any rights under this contract. This contract is between you and us. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms. Neither of us will need the consent of any person acquiring rights under our guarantee to end the contract or make any changes to these terms.
9.3 If a court finds part of this contract illegal, the rest will continue in force. Each of the paragraphs of these terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.
9.4 Even if we delay in enforcing this contract, we can still enforce it later. If we do not insist immediately that you do anything you are required to do under these terms, or if we delay in taking steps against you in respect of your breaking this contract, that will not mean that you do not have to do those things or prevent us taking steps against you at a later date.
9.5 These terms are governed by English law and you can bring legal proceedings in respect of the services in the English courts. If you live in Scotland you can bring legal proceedings in respect of the services in either the Scottish or the English courts. If you live in Northern Ireland, you can bring legal proceedings in respect of the services in either the Northern Irish or the English courts.