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) 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

[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 )

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.

Originally Posted by Fallout

You'll be aiming to come last then.

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


couldn't resist