Need to know your opinion....

Would you come to France to visit the Biker cafe

  • No, I don't go to France

    Votes: 2 4.4%

  • Yes, I'd visit it once

    Votes: 26 57.8%

  • Yes, I'd come over regular

    Votes: 11 24.4%

  • Yes, I'd move to France

    Votes: 6 13.3%
  • Total voters
    45
Mike Werner

Mike Werner

Cloggie amongst Frogs
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After having been to Steve Wesson's cafe 2 weeks ago in Southern England, I'm very much in the process of starting a "Bikers Cafe" in Normandy.

The Cafe would be open mostly on the weekends Friday-Monday, serve food (breakfast/lunch), possibly have camping space, away from "normal" people, and have dual language staff (French/English speaking), close to really nice biking routes, possibly close to the sea.

The location would be somewhere between Le Havre and Dieppe (close enough to most trans channel ferries - 2 hours max from Calais, and 1.5 hours from Paris).

I'm currently making a business plan, and need to know a bit more about the potential UK "market", hence these questions. It would really help me out if you folks could participate in the survey.

Would this interest you people ? Would you come ? Would you come more than once a year? Would you want a place to stay ?
 
Hmmmm...that's an odd location Mike IMO........

I'd certainly pop in if passing, and if it were two hours from Calais it could be a destination site maybe if it were in a nice enough place for just a weekend away, but TBH maybe further south would interest me more.......perhaps a place that could be a stopover between Blighty and the alps., or Blighty and the pirenees or wherever.....but a place where you're describing maybe doesnt fall into either the 'destination' category or the 'stop-off-en-route' category.

Dunno....but interesting nonetheless....keep us informed and don't give it up!


:)
 
PS if i had a wish list of biker friendly, GS face friendly places to stop/stay that I could place anywhere in France, then somewhere around Dijon would be very high on that list.......It's a days easy ride from the Alps......and a days easy ride from Calais......and if I knew the bloke running it knew It was biker friendly, I'd book it everytime.

(twice a year for me minimum)

HTH
 
Fanum said:
Hmmmm...that's an odd location Mike IMO........

I'd certainly pop in if passing, and if it were two hours from Calais it could be a destination site maybe if it were in a nice enough place for just a weekend away, but TBH maybe further south would interest me more.......perhaps a place that could be a stopover between Blighty and the alps., or Blighty and the pirenees or wherever.....but a place where you're describing maybe doesnt fall into either the 'destination' category or the 'stop-off-en-route' category.
Dunno....but interesting nonetheless....keep us informed and don't give it up!

:)
Click to expand...

Interesting point. I was thinking about day trips from the UK or Belgium, but a stop of point for long distance is something I didn't really think about. But you're right, the location I'm looking at is too far away from those tracks to be of use.

I'm looking for regional traffic, Parisian traffic and UK day/weekend trippers.

And I'm planning to only hire bikers to man/woman the place :cool:
 
Hey folks, even if you're not interested, please vote !!!!

I need to see percentages. So far 54 people read this thread and only 8 voted........
 
Shame !

Pity it's not open today, just setting off for Normandy !
 
I'm in Belgium and I'd come over if you had lodging possibilities / camping space. Normandy is a nice long weekend trip from here.

A stop near Dijon would be nice too. Actually I need one next Wednesday!

Cheers,
Michel
 
MiGSel said:
I'm in Belgium and I'd come over if you had lodging possibilities / camping space. Normandy is a nice long weekend trip from here.

A stop near Dijon would be nice too. Actually I need one next Wednesday!

Cheers,
Michel
Click to expand...

That's indeed more or less the tought at this moment. To have at least an area where you cabn pitch up a tent, and possibly several rooms. I'm not planning to setup the Hilton Hotels, but comfy nd clean should do it (I think).
 
richie said:
Normandy is a really great place for riding bikes. I especially like riding away from the coast. Rather than along it.
Click to expand...

Hi Richie. Actually, I know several really nice routes close to the coast. Lots of twisties, through forest, hills etc......
 
Mike,

It's a good idea if you have the "go" and the financial backing to get it off the ground. I guess trying to get the right area will be the biggest job once you have decided your market. if you are after the French market, then the Parisian weekenders may be looking towards something as you say clean and tidy, perhaps with tent space for the those that like life under canvas as well as B&B?

As for a cafe with a bike shop attached, then that goes with the territory I guess to make your shop more attractive than the next one?
 
Mike Werner said:
Hi Richie. Actually, I know several really nice routes close to the coast. Lots of twisties, through forest, hills etc......
Click to expand...
Why not install a pc with MapSource and some gps routes for guests to install on their Garmin...
 
Invicta Moto said:
Mike,

It's a good idea if you have the "go" and the financial backing to get it off the ground. I guess trying to get the right area will be the biggest job once you have decided your market. if you are after the French market, then the Parisian weekenders may be looking towards something as you say clean and tidy, perhaps with tent space for the those that like life under canvas as well as B&B?

As for a cafe with a bike shop attached, then that goes with the territory I guess to make your shop more attractive than the next one?
Click to expand...

I'm trying to stay away from the bike shop stuff, since that needs far more investments. I was looking at providing some general repair facilities for the bikers themselves, maybe a lift and tools, so they can help themselves. Maybe hire a waiter with mechanical expierence...
 
MiGSel said:
Why not install a pc with MapSource and some gps routes for guests to install on their Garmin...
Click to expand...

That's not only already thought off, but available on my VisitNormandy.org site. I'm starting to put GPS routes and roadbooks there.

I'd foresee some "internet" corner in the cafe aswell for the bikers who need to consult routes and weather....

keep 'em coming the ideas...
 
Hi Mike,

Great Idea..........

I voted 'I don't go to France'........from up here we always end up in Begium or Holland ferry wise.........

I like this idea of a place for Bikers........... Bike Loft.........

I'd love to do something like that in Scotland, but it would be a BIG committment.........time and Money....:(

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do though........

CC

:cool:
 
The guys who live in the South would probably visit more than once a year but for us who are further North once a year would be as much as you could expect, but it could be combined with shopping trips to France for an overnighter.
 
Mike nice idea...

Have you thought about having a some dome tents and basic equipment to rent.

A camp site where I did'nt have to pack and carry my stuff would be great!

I suppose I'd pay 20 pounds a night for a neat dome tent in a nice location with a couple of sleep mates and some basic equipment

Dome tent
2 sleep mats
Gas burner
Kettle
Pan
2 mugs
2 bowls
2 Knife and Fork etc
And a cool Box with a few goodies
Bottle of water, milk tea bags etc avalible on the first night for 5 quid...

Hope that helps
 
Wreford Miles said:
Mike nice idea...

Have you thought about having a some dome tents and basic equipment to rent.

A camp site where I did'nt have to pack and carry my stuff would be great!

I suppose I'd pay 20 pounds a night for a neat dome tent in a nice location with a couple of sleep mates and some basic equipment

Dome tent
2 sleep mats
Gas burner
Kettle
Pan
2 mugs
2 bowls
2 Knife and Fork etc
And a cool Box with a few goodies
Bottle of water, milk tea bags etc avalible on the first night for 5 quid...

Hope that helps
Click to expand...

Very good idea !!!
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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