Introducing (drum-roll please)... MotoGoLoco

[JamesMio]

So - MotoGoLoco, as you've possibly already spotted, is now very much alive and running, with both our very Fallout (Simon) and myself included as part of the team.

What is it?
In it's simplest form, we're a directory of genuinely motorcycle friendly accommodation throughout the UK & Ireland.

"And?! Nothing particularly ground-breaking there..." I hear you mutter, so please allow me to fill you in on a bit of that 'And'.

The Problem
We all know the problems and pitfalls when looking for somewhere to stay when travelling by bike:


"How will they react when I arrive on my bike?"
"What about all my (normally soaking wet) kit?"
"Are they used to having people arrive on bikes – will I be looked down on or made to feel unwelcome?"
"What about my bike? Will it be somewhere safe overnight?"
"Am I going to be treated like a hells angel? Is that what they expect me to be like?"


Where do we usually start?
Normally any combination of Google, TripAdvisor, bike-related web forums, Facebook mates and various 'biker friendly' directory sites until we see something that looks vaguely suitable.

Sound about right?

But I thought you WERE a directory site?
We are, with a big difference. The problem with the overwhelming majority of other ‘biker / dog / cyclist / insert-niche-here friendly’ websites or directories is that there is no real way to back up these claims.

If you're a hotel and are happy to pay the listing fee, you get included. No checks, no questions.

Anybody can claim to cater for motorcyclists, however in reality (as I'm sure we've all had some experience of) – very few places actually have the experience or knowledge of how to make a motorcyclist happy and welcome.

So, what makes you lot so different?
How can we make such bold claims about our accommodation’s ‘biker friendliness?’

We’ve checked them out, personally.
All of them.

Every single hotel, B&B and campsite that you see listed on MotoGoLoco is visited, checked and endorsed by one of us, in person.

Our ‘discovered, visited & endorsed’ stamp of approval is our personal guarantee that the place you’re looking at is somewhere we would genuinely recommend to a biker.

As for who's doing the checking, well depending on their location it could well have been either our very own Fallout or your's truly. The rest of the team includes Dave, Clint & Polly (who I know some of you will have met via their involvement with the Buccleuch Arms Hotel, up in Moffat (http://www.motorcyclescotland.com/buccleuch-arms-hotel.asp)) and Jim - our resident advanced riding & trackday instructor.

The bottom line is, if we wouldn't stay there - it doesn't get included.

It really is as simple as that.

Over the coming weeks and months we'll be running a load of competitions & prize draws (of which I know some of you have already entered via Facebook - thank you, I'll be back in touch with you about those shortly). I've really just scraped the surface of all that we'll be getting up to, so in the meantime please come and check out our progress over on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Motogoloco), ask either Fallout or myself anything you want to know, and I'll keep you all posted as soon as new things kick off.

Cheers all,

James

http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/221645_236404226503247_811775678_n.jpg (http://www.motogoloco.com)

[Geodude]

Good luck with it all guys. When is the website going to be up and running? (im a non farcebooker)

[JamesMio]

Working on it (frantically) behind the scenes now Geo - we'll be launching it in phases, first part being the accommodation listings (which having seen the wireframes and mockups are looking REALLY cool), with a boat load of other stuff to follow on as soon as it's ready.

[Geodude]

Nice one fella will be watching this space as they say. :)

[andrewsmith]

Good luck lads!

[Littlepeahead]

Sounds like a great idea.

But if it's not a rude question, how do you make money out of it?

[Fallout]

Ahh, the secrets are leaking out! I can only hope we get some good coverage in the coming months (down south especially :rolleyes:)

If you have any recommendations of biker friendly hotels/B&Bs/inns you've stayed at, we're all ears. That intel is like gold to us. Are we still entering people into competitions if they submit places by Facebook Jamesy?

[Littlepeahead]

These competitions. Is first prize a night out with Fallout. Second prize 2 nights?

[Fallout]

You'll be aiming to come last then.

[Spank86]

You'll be aiming to come last then.

That'll be a first for a girl on a night out with you!


:p couldn't resist :p

[JamesMio]

That'll be a first for a girl on a night out with you!


:p couldn't resist :p

Beat me to it, haha!!

@All - if you do have anywhere you think we should check out, yes - please send us a note of the details and you'll be entered into a prize draw, oh - and if we end up taking the place on, you'll be entered into a second draw too.

@ LPH, not rude at all - there's a listing fee payable by the places we take on, but and I do stress this because its 100% genuine, we only list them if we'd be happy to recommend them to folks like you guys.

[Fallout]

@ LPH, not rude at all - there's a listing fee payable by the places we take on, but and I do stress this because its 100% genuine, we only list them if we'd be happy to recommend them to folks like you guys.

That ain't no fibbing neither! I'd say I don't even set foot in 50% of the places I visit. Either the areas look dodgy, or the parking doesn't feel secure. Other times I've gone in and been hit by a sea of yokel contempt then walked straight out.

As for this 'coming last' business, I think you chaps have it the wrong way round!

[Tomor]

As for this 'coming last' business, I think you chaps have it the wrong way round!

+1

LPH will be out there finding the best hotels so she comes first and second ;)

[Winder]

Fallout always cums first. I'm off to Ireland in May to tour around a bit so can give you feed back on places over there if you ever fancy a trip across the pond. Only £45 for a bike on the ferry by the way.

[JamesMio]

We got a bit of a deal with Stena, but it might just be for Irish guys coming here? Worth a look, http://www.motorcyclescotland.com/stena-bucc-runs.asp

[Winder]

Good price for a day return is that. Will be telling folk back home about that

[Littlepeahead]

So would this include camping like Huntsman and Hounds? AR venue last year. We know James the owner is biker friendly. OK so no secure parking and facilities like showers are basic but it's more that many campsites are a bit anti biker whereas this place even welcomed Dave Preston.

But if it does make the list Sally can be entered by James and Simon as she found it.


In the draw I mean.

[JamesMio]

Sure thing - we're definitely keen to hook up with bike friendly campsites too, so thanks for the tip off. Simon will probably have that one on his hit-list to visit, but good to make sure and consider Sally's name thrown into the hat for an entering.

I'm sure she'll be over the moon, lucky girl.

[Littlepeahead]

It's the venue for TOGMIE in August this year so anyone coming along to that can give you some opinions.

[SuzukiNess]

nice one xx wishing you every success with your new venture

[JamesMio]

Thanks Nessy - :0)

Oh, @LPH while I remember, can you drop me a PM with your pal's details so I can get her entered, so to speak? Cheers m'dear

[BanannaMan]

Brilliant idea!
Best of luck!

[The Idle Biker]

Well done y'all I really hope it works out for you. Hope you've got good people on the promotion/ marketing side of things. Good luck on it, I love too see innovation and the bottle to give something new a go.

[AJC]

Good idea, and will come in useful!

Liked on le facebook...

[carelesschucca]

James, belter of an idea bud. Good luck with it all.

[Geodude]

I got the mcn motorcyclists welcome book which has loads of info on secure parking accomodation etc so might be worth a look through for ideas if you haven't already.

http://www.motorbikesandparts.co.uk/images/42f8_1.JPG

[JamesMio]

Thanks G - got a copy of that very book here on my desk right now, funnily enough.

Everyone else that's chipped in and sent PM's of support - THANK YOU!

We've been working on this for such a long time it's just fantastic to finally see it coming to life now. I've been scurrying behind the scenes for about a year, and the founder guys a lot longer than that before me.

Onwards & upwards!

[Littlepeahead]

I went to a pub in Suffolk last year that had a campsite attached. The food was great and the roads around it excellent. I may visit it this summer as I have to amuse myself for a weekend while Mr LPH goes to Download so maybe me and Chris8886 will try the campsite and report back as at the time I thought it would be a good spot for an AR.

[maviczap]

I went to a pub in Suffolk last year that had a campsite attached. The food was great and the roads around it excellent. I may visit it this summer as I have to amuse myself for a weekend while Mr LPH goes to Download so maybe me and Chris8886 will try the campsite and report back as at the time I thought it would be a good spot for an AR.

AR in Suffolk, that'd be cool.

There are plenty of good roads in our neck of the woods

[Fallout]

I am hitting South to Mid Wales next week. If anyone has any intel on biker friendly accommodation, I would be most grateful for the intel. :)

[JamesMio]

Si - drop Luckypants (Mike) a pm, he might know of a few places to start?

[JamesMio]

So - Monday I'll be nipping down to the Lakes on a reccy mission to find some places to talk to. If anyone's got any suggestions of hotels, B&B's etc that might make my life just that liiiiitle bit easier, I'll a) love you & b) love you (long time).

Cheers all,

Have a top weekend!
JM

[Spank86]

Not sure about places to stay but can give you a cafe recommendation based on word of mouth

http://www.lakesescape.co.uk/Lakes_Escape/Filling_Station_Cafe.html

It's in Keswick and I've heard a lot of good things, run or owned(cant remeber which) by a triumph owner I believe and very definitely biker friendly.

[JamesMio]

Aaah, well I suppose that's Monday's breakfast stop sorted at least! ;)

Cheers Spanky - that's as good a start as any.

[Spank86]

Hey, I've never Been to the Lake District myself so its the best I can do.

Pretty sure they'll also point you in the direction of good roads and possibly biker friendly hotels too.

[punyXpress]

Cross Keys, New Galloway?
phone: (0) 1644 420494
Not the cheapest but has a squeaky gate to the yard that would waken the dead ( drunk )
Best of luck, James

[missyburd]

Fantastic idea, very much looking forward to using the new website when it goes live. I was looking for somewhere bike friendly to stay last summer and found it fairly difficult to find somewhere reasonable and suited to my requirements (so halfway up my route). I searched through the usual recommendation sites but for where I wanted there wasn't much info. So I expect you've already scouted this one, it being not too far from where you're based James, but I did stay here last summer http://www.walstonmansion.co.uk/
Lovely location, very friendly and welcoming family (originating from Yorkshire which I didn't know until I got there) and nice big barn to park in. Oh and cake and tea on arrival, massive thumbsup from me! :D

[DarrenSV650S]

I just want to tell you both good luck, we're all counting on you

[Fallout]

As much as me and Mio love the praise, there is a team of 7 behind it, all of whome have put far more work into it than me. :)

[Spank86]

I never doubted the second half of that for a minute fallout.

[JamesMio]

Cheers for the tip offs so far all, hugely appreciated so thank you!

@Missy - I've passed the details of Walston over to Clint, oor man covering Scotland so I'm sure he'll be very grateful.

I've got a nice wee day planned for tomorrow - nipping down to see a couple of places in Keswick (both are brilliant, so I really hope they come on board) then down to Ambleside and if the mood so takes me I might even go wild and hit Windermere too.

So, erm... at the risk of being lynched, how're your Friday's looking folks...?

;)

[andrewsmith]

Cheers for the tip offs so far all, hugely appreciated so thank you!

@Missy - I've passed the details of Walston over to Clint, oor man covering Scotland so I'm sure he'll be very grateful.

I've got a nice wee day planned for tomorrow - nipping down to see a couple of places in Keswick (both are brilliant, so I really hope they come on board) then down to Ambleside and if the mood so takes me I might even go wild and hit Windermere too.

So, erm... at the risk of being lynched, how're your Friday's looking folks...?

;)

Well...

I'll be lynched too as I'm heading north to fort Augustus

sent from a weapon of mass distraction

[Littlepeahead]

I'm photographing 17 lads aged 18 - 22 from our Academy with the England opening batsman. Nice to spend the morning with my little uns. I wouldn't want to be out on the bike in this weather.

[punyXpress]

Not sure about places to stay but can give you a cafe recommendation based on word of mouth

http://www.lakesescape.co.uk/Lakes_Escape/Filling_Station_Cafe.html

It's in Keswick and I've heard a lot of good things, run or owned(cant remeber which) by a triumph owner I believe and very definitely biker friendly.

Rictus been there

[Spank86]

Rictus been there
Rictus has been everywhere! :D

[JamesMio]

Shedload more hotels & B&B's added to the ranks since I last dropped by - http://www.facebook.com/Motogoloco

[The Idle Biker]

Anglesey! What you got over there in sheep shager territory then?

[JamesMio]

Oor Si'll be working his way over that way just shortly I'd imagine...

[Fallout]

Strictly speaking, I am relegated to the south of Wales, but if Dave wants me to head north I will take one for the team and motorcyclists everywhere.

[Spank86]

Oor Si'll be working his way over that way just shortly I'd imagine...

So we'll be seeing sheep with motogoloco tags on their ears then?

[Geodude]

You enjoying your new biking roll then fallout?

[Fallout]

It's a real mixed bag mate. Relentless pressure and no down down time until the weekend, but when the weather is good and I'm riding through somewhere like Dartmoor, for a while its the best job in the world. But despite all the pressures, it's really satisfying to know we're doing something for bikers which is genuinely needed. Every time I go through that pain of researching a place (which is frustrating and boring tbh), then the slight intimidation of actually turning up at a place, it's not fun, but when we've signed a place up I know you guys can just rock up fear free with the knowledge you'll be welcomed and have somewhere safe to park your bike. It's good to feel I'm doing something of value for other bikers. :)

[Geodude]

I appreciate your (and the others) hard graft to ensure our motorcycle touring happiness and i nod happily in your general direction and may the sun shine on all your rides :)

[Fallout]

and may the sun shine on all your rides :)

I wish dude! Kind thoughts appreciated though! :D

[punyXpress]

What's the MotoGoLoco sticker on the post at Druidale IOM?
Will add pic when p-bucket decides to upload it. :(

[JamesMio]

What's the MotoGoLoco sticker on the post at Druidale IOM?
Will add pic when p-bucket decides to upload it. :(

Uh-oh.....looks like someone's onto us Si...

;)

All will be revealed in the (very) near future Mr Xpress... All will be revealed!

[andrewsmith]

Uh-oh.....looks like someone's onto us Si...

;)

All will be revealed in the (very) near future Mr Xpress... All will be revealed!

Romantic camping weekend lads? ;)

[JamesMio]

Romantic camping weekend lads? ;)

If you can find a tent long enough to fit him in, you're a better man than I...

[andrewsmith]

Never seen Preston in a tent?? :lol:

sent from a weapon of mass distraction

[JamesMio]

Cracking B&B deal going at the Star Hotel in Twynholm (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Twynholm&hnear=Twynholm,+Dumfries+and+Galloway,+United+King dom&gl=uk&t=m&z=15) for MotoGoLoco fans (and Orgers ;)) this Saturday night - £45 for TWO people. Bargain, get booking!

Visit www.starhoteltwynholm.org.uk and enter MOTO45 to get the discount.

You can view more details about the hotel, including our 'visited & endorsed' promise of a biker-friendly welcome here - The Star Hotel on MotoGoLoco (http://www.motogoloco.com/the-star-hotel-ac-50-a-10)

Enjoy!

[punyXpress]

Gorrit:

http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss267/punyXpress/P1030644.jpg (http://s582.photobucket.com/user/punyXpress/media/P1030644.jpg.html)

[punyXpress]

You'll recognise this place as well, James?
http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss267/punyXpress/TT%202013/P1020906.jpg (http://s582.photobucket.com/user/punyXpress/media/TT%202013/P1020906.jpg.html)

[DarrenSV650S]

Cracking B&B deal going at the Star Hotel in Twynholm (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Twynholm&hnear=Twynholm,+Dumfries+and+Galloway,+United+King dom&gl=uk&t=m&z=15) for MotoGoLoco fans (and Orgers ;)) this Saturday night - £45 for TWO people. Bargain, get booking!

Visit www.starhoteltwynholm.org.uk and enter MOTO45 to get the discount.

You can view more details about the hotel, including our 'visited & endorsed' promise of a biker-friendly welcome here - The Star Hotel on MotoGoLoco (http://www.motogoloco.com/the-star-hotel-ac-50-a-10)

Enjoy!

You should add the Burnbank Hotel to your site too! It's just down the road from the Coulthard museum. I've been there twice on biking weekends with a local forum. Very biker friendly and the food is amazing!

(and the bar was always busier than the Star ;))